Law school is typically a three-year (six semester) program in which graduates receive a Juris Doctorate degree. There are more than 108 American Bar Association accredited law schools in the United States. 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 and ABA-accredited school.

Qualifications for Law School and the Application Process

Although qualifications for each law school vary, there is a general criteria used when evaluating applicants. In order to be eligible, applicants must have a degree from an accredited four-year college or university. When evaluating an applicant, law schools examine the student's undergraduate performance and their writing and critical thinking abilities. Law school admissions committees generally make their decisions based on two criteria: GPA and scores on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Usually, a personal statement and letters of recommendation are also required.

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 transcripts, personal statements, and letters of recommendation are submitted electronically. Once they have compiled a complete package, the LSDAS sends reports to schools that request a student's LSAT scores. The majority of law schools insist on using the service for the application process.

Personal Statement

The personal statement is a short paper, approximately one page, which discusses the interesting aspects of a student's life - the things that make them unique. The statement should not be a laundry list of achievements or a chance for self-promotion; it should be a sincere attempt to help the admissions committee understand the student. The personal statement should be concise, grammatically correct, and easy to read. A general personal admissions statement can be submitted online through the Law School Admissions Council. Some schools require specific personal statements, which may include the student's interest in the school and the programs it offers.

Although the personal statement is not a critical part of the application process, it can sway a close decision for admission or rejection. The personal statement is explained in-depth on the Cal Poly Undergraduate Law Association website at http://www.calpoly.edu/~ula/.

Letters of Recommendation

Almost all law schools require at least one letter of recommendation in the application, but most schools require two to three letters. They should come from academic professors in classes the student has done well in. 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 and, most importantly, should always be sure to thank the professor for their time.

Letters of recommendation from employers are also acceptable if they can attest to your character and abilities. The Law School Admissions Council 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 a student's LSAT scores.

Application costs

Law school admissions have become increasingly competitive over the last 10 years. A common question among potential law students is how many schools they should apply to. 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 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. Students should also take into consideration the geographic region of the school and where they hope to practice law in the future. Because the Bar exam varies from state to state, it is sensible to study in the same state as that which the student hopes to practice.

LSAT (Law School Admissions Test)

The LSAT is a critical part of the application process and is often considered in the admissions criteria as even more important than undergraduate GPA. 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 will also do an unscored writing sample at the end of the exam, which is submitted with the LSAT score to schools the students applies to. The entire test lasts about three and a half hours, depending on the test center and the number of students taking the exam. 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 other test takers. Doing well on the exam in contingent on preparation, so 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, September or October, December, and February. The Cal Poly test office offers the exam and preparatory classes. Test dates for Cal Poly can be found at the test office website at www.testoffice.calpoly.edu/lsat.htm. 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 rm. 121. Further information on taking the LSAT is also available at the Cal Poly Undergraduate Law Association, www.calpoly.edu/~ula.

Utilizing Cal Poly resources

Prelaw advisor: Talk to your prelaw advisor as soon as you consider going to law school. He or she 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
www.testoffice.calpoly.edu/lsat.htm

Cal Poly Undergraduate Law Association
www.calpoly.edu/~ula

Career Services
www.careerservices.calpoly.edu

Important Websites

Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)
(215) 968-1001
www.lsac.org