The Honors College

Law School Preparation Timeline

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Law School Preparation Timeline

The following timeline is recommended for students who plan to attend law school in the fall following spring or summer graduation. Adjustments will likely be necessary for each individual student. Meet with your pre-law advisor regarding a four-year plan.

Summer Before Freshman Year

Freshman Year

  • Earn good grades!
  • Explore majors that interest and challenge you.
  • Get to know your professors and supervisors and build rapport with them for future recommendation letters.
  • Explore activities and organizations that interest you, provide leadership opportunities, and offer community service and involvement.
  • Register for courses that will build skills necessary to succeed on the LSAT and in law school.
  • Examine your goals for your future – begin your research to explore whether a legal career is what you want.

Summer Before Sophomore Year

  • Seek jobs or experiences that provide exposure to the legal profession.
  • Conduct informational interviews with legal professionals and alumni who have attended law school.
  • Continue to explore and research your goal of pursuing a legal career.

Sophomore Year

  • Earn good grades!
  • If still undecided, narrow your focus on what major you want to declare.
  • Continue building rapport with your professors and supervisors for future recommendation letters.
  • Register for courses that will build skills necessary to succeed on the LSAT and in law school.
  • Sign up for a course in logic or critical/analytical reasoning to take during the fall semester of your junior year.
  • Refine your goal of pursuing a legal career explore specific areas/fields of law.
  • Begin to identify specific law schools to which you may want to apply.
  • Become familiar with the LSAT and its components; research and plan how you will prepare.
  • Review information for pre-law students found at LSAC.org.
  • Speak with your Honors and departmental advisor about planning for any internships or study abroad plans so that it does not conflict with your LSAT study during your junior year.

Summer Before Junior Year

  • Seek jobs or experiences that provide exposure to the legal profession.
  • Conduct informational interviews with legal professionals and alumni who have attended law school.
  • Review LSAC.org for information regarding registration, the LSAT, and the CAS.
  • If possible, attend a Law School Forum or visit law schools to which you intend to apply.

Junior Year

Fall

  • Earn good grades!
  • Plan your course schedule carefully for the Spring so that it does not compromise your ability to properly prepare for the LSAT.
  • Continue to familiarize yourself with the LSAT; establish a firm plan regarding how you will prepare.
  • If possible, attend a Law School Forum or visit law schools to which you intend to apply.
  • Create a list of law schools to which you want to apply, including their admissions statistics.
  • Meet with your pre-law advisor to assess your academic, extracurricular, and work experiences, and to discuss your application plan.

Spring

  • Earn good grades!
  • Register for the LSAT.
  • Online registration becomes available in December for the June administration of the LSAT. Early registration will help secure your preferred testing center.
  • PREPARE FOR THE LSAT!
  • Meet with your recommenders and confirm those who are willing to write your letters of recommendation. Provide them your information packets and application deadlines.
  • Take the June LSAT.

Summer Before Senior Year

  • Enter your LSAT score and current GPA into LSAC's online search tool found in its Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools to help narrow your choice of law schools.
  • Evaluate your June LSAT score and determine whether you should retake it in October to enhance your competitiveness in your targeted law schools.
  • Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply.
  • Review the prompt questions on the applications of your law schools and prepare your personal statement/essays.
  • Prepare your resume.
  • Check on the status of your letters of recommendation. Provide your recommenders with any updates to your information packet.

Senior Year

Fall

  • Earn good grades!
  • Register early for CAS on LSAC.org (should be no later than September).
  • Send all transcripts to CAS.
  • Meet with recommenders to confirm completion of letters and submission to CAS. Send hand-written "Thank You" notes to your recommenders.
  • Edit and complete your personal statement and resume.
  • If retaking the LSAT, register for the October administration of the test and prepare.
  • Prepare application forms and submit (Thanksgiving or earlier).
  • Request Dean's certification letters for law schools that require them.

Spring

  • Earn good grades!
  • Complete the FAFSA form (try to have your tax returns completed early).
  • Complete each law school's financial aid application and submit according to each school's requirements.
  • Send updated transcript to CAS reflecting fall grades.
  • Follow-up with law schools to make sure your files are complete.
  • Wait.
  • Weigh offers of acceptance/scholarships.
  • Make a decision.
  • Pay seat deposit and notify other schools that accepted you so they can offer your place to someone else.