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An Overview
Qualifications and Application Process
Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation
Application Costs
LSAT (Law School Admissions Test)
Utilizing Cal Poly Resources
An Overview
Typically, law school is a three-year (six semester) program in which graduates receive a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. A number of law schools have part-time evening programs for those who work full-time. Many law schools have joint degree programs in which the law student also works toward another professional degree, such as a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) or a Master's Degree in Public Policy (MPP). As of December 2006, there are 195 American Bar Association (ABA) legal education programs that the ABA has approved. Keep in mind that a law school also may be on probation. It is important that students attend an ABA-accredited law school. In many jurisdictions a law graduate's ability to practice law is severely limited if he or she has not received a law degree from an ABA-accredited school. Be sure to check the status of the law schools that you plan to apply to on the Law School Admission Council's website before applying.
Qualifications for Law School and the Application Process
Although qualifications for each law school vary, most admissions committees use similar criteria when evaluating applicants. In order to be eligible, applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university. In deciding whether to accept or reject an applicant, admissions committees try to determine whether he or she has the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills to become a successful law student and lawyer. Generally, admissions committees make their decisions based on two criteria: undergraduate GPA and Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score. In fact, these days, admissions committees often weigh LSAT score more heavily than any other variable. That said, committees may also take into account other variables, such as the difficulty of the applicant's undergraduate major, the rank of his or her undergraduate institution, the quality of his or her personal statement, unique background or life experiences, and the enthusiasm of the writers of the applicant's letters of recommendation concerning the applicant's academic abilities, motivation, maturity, and character.
The majority of law schools now require that applications be submitted online through an electronic database, the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). The LSDAS is a comprehensive electronic application procedure in which materials such as LSAT score(s), transcripts, personal statements, and letters of recommendation are submitted electronically. Once they have compiled a complete package, the LSDAS sends reports to the law schools that the applicant has chosen. The majority of law schools insist on using the service for the application process. As such, before you apply to law school, you must register online with the LSDAS.
Back to top of pagePersonal Statement
The personal statement is a short paper, approximately two to three pages, which discusses the interesting aspects of a student's life -- the things that make him or her an interesting person and, equally important, make him or her an attractive candidate for admission. The statement should not be a laundry list of achievements, a C.V. with full sentences, or a chance for brute self-promotion; it should be a sincere attempt to help the admissions committee understand why the admissions committee should accept the applicant. The personal statement should be a narrative that is clear, concise, grammatically correct, and easy to read. The personal statement can be submitted online through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). Some schools require specific personal statements, which may include the student's interest in the school and the programs that it offers. Pay careful attention to the instructions of each school.
Although the personal statement may not be as important in the admissions process as the LSAT score or grades, it can sway a close decision for admission or rejection. If you have any questions about how to write a personal statement, e-mail Professor Ron Den Otter at rdenotte@calpoly.edu.
Back to top of pageLetters of Recommendation
Almost all law schools require at least one letter of recommendation in the application file, but most schools require two or three letters. They should come from academic professors in classes the student has done well in or from others, such as employers, who know you well. It is important to contact professors as soon as you decide to apply to law school to ensure they are given ample time to write a good recommendation. To assist a professor in writing a recommendation, students should provide a resume, papers written in the course, and the personal statement with their request for the recommendation. Students should also include a pre-addressed, stamped envelope with their request, include the LSDAS letter of recommendation form (which can be found online), and sign and date the part of that form that waives the applicant's right to see the letter. Without such a waiver, the admissions committee may think that the recommender is not being candid.
The LSAC provides a form for general letters of recommendation. Once a professor or employer has submitted the form to the LSAC, the letter is distributed to all schools that request an applicant's LSAT scores.
Back to top of pageApplication Costs
Law school admissions have become increasingly competitive over the last ten years. A common question among potential law students is how many schools they should apply to. On average, students apply to six schools. Application fees range from $30 to $100, so the process can be very expensive for students. When deciding how many schools to apply to, students should diversify their risk, that is, they ought to consider a diverse body of schools. The pool should include schools in which the student easily meets the admissions criteria, borderline schools where the chance of admission is about 50 percent, and schools in which the chance for admission is slim.
LSAT (Law School Admissions Test)
The LSAT is a critical part of the application process and is often considered the most important variable in the admissions process. The LSAT is a half-day exam given in six parts. The exam is comprised of approximately 100 multiple-choice questions with one section of reading comprehension, two sections of logical reasoning, one analytical reasoning section, and a trial section that is unscored. Students are not told which section is the trial section. Students will also do an unscored writing sample at the end of the exam, which is submitted with the LSAT score to the schools the student applies to. The entire test lasts about three and a half hours. The test is scored based on the number of questions answered correctly, which is then converted into a scaled score ranging from 120 to 180. A percentile score is also given which indicates performance on the LSAT compared to that of other test takers. Because doing well on the exam is almost always contingent on preparation, preparatory classes and practice exams are strongly recommended. Practice exams are available online at www.LSAT.org.
The LSAT is administered four times a year, usually in June, late September or early October, December, and February. Those who plan to attend law school during the 2008-2009 academic year, for example, should take the LSAT no later than December 2007. The Cal Poly test office offers the exam and preparatory classes. Test dates for Cal Poly can be found at the test office Web site. Registration for the LSAT can be done online at www.lsac.org or by phone at (215) 968-1001. The test office also offers a hard copy official LSAT information and registration bulletin, which includes a mail-in registration form. The official LSAT booklet is available at the test office in Building 124, Room 121. Further information on taking the LSAT is also available at the Cal Poly Undergraduate Law Association, www.calpolyula.org
Back to top of pageUtilizing Cal Poly Resources
Please feel free to contact Dr. Den Otter, the Political Science department pre-law advisor and Undergraduate Law Association (ULA) faculty advisor, before applying to law school. His office is located in Building 47, Room 11R, almost directly across from the Political Science department main office. His e-mail address is: rdenotte@calpoly.edu and work phone number is 805-756-6147. If you would like to arrange an appointment with him, send him an e-mail or leave a message on his phone and he will get back to you. He can help you decide which schools to apply to, give you advice on obtaining recommendations, and review your resume and personal statement.
Test Office
Bldg. 124, Room 121
(805) 756-1551
Email: testing@calpoly.edu
testoffice.calpoly.edu/lsat.htm
Career Services
www.careerservices.calpoly.edu
Important Websites
Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)
(215) 968-1001
www.lsac.org
Political Science Department
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
805-756-2984 Last Updated: 04/28/2008
Email: politicalscience@calpoly.edu