Choosing Law School
Advising on course selection, LSAT preparation and application completion.
Law school graduates have multiple career paths open up to them. With a law degree, you can work in non-profit management, health care, politics and public service. Additional career opportunities exist in industries where knowledge of the law is crucial to an organization’s operations and, ultimately, its success.
To be successful in law school, you will need a diverse skill set, like:
Analytical & Problem Solving
Critically analyze complex situations and principles, including abstract or hypothetical situations, taking in all the information and making the most appropriate decision given the situation.
Writing
Write concisely yet convincingly, articulating your thoughts in a compelling fashion. Your ability to eloquently convey your message is vital to your success in a legal profession.
Reading Comprehension
Read and extract important information from various reports, logs, and other written items to help best establish your own perspective.
Interpersonal Communication
Ability to speak persuasively, both in a group setting and in a personal environment, will be vital. You also will need to be an effective listener in order to understand the nuances of the situations you will encounter in your career.
Research
Ability to review information from a wide swath of sources, whether you are an attorney preparing for a case or serving as a legal consultant for a business or nonprofit.
Public Service & Promotion of Justice
A commitment to Public Service and the Promotion of Justice will aid you as you commit to the endeavors that are of most importance to you. You will be advocating on behalf of your client, an organization, or an issue. You will be creating compelling insights and arguments to reflect your position and achieve your end.
Application materials
While different law schools will have slightly different requirements for Admission (such as grade point average, application deadlines, and LSAT scores), there will be a few consistencies that most law programs seek from applicants, like:
Credential Assembly Service
Offered by the Law School Admission Council, the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required by American Bar Association-approved law programs, as well as many other law schools. The CAS incorporates your academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, evaluations and other documents into a report that is sent to all of the law schools to which you apply.
Law School Application
Every competitive law program will have an application that must be completed. There may be some differences, such as short answer questions that are asked.
LSAT
The Law School Admission Test is a way that law programs can immediately begin to discern applicants, as well as determine placing in the coming class. Preparation for the LSAT should begin as soon as you think you would consider law school as an option following graduation.
Personal Statement
You will provide biographical background information that will provide context to the admissions counselors about why you are applying for law school. This personal statement typically includes information about your academic background, life experiences, and your personal and professional goals that you hope will be attained by attending law school. You are encouraged to work with your faculty adviser to ensuring that it is as good as it can be when applying to law school.
Resume
For many law school programs, you also will need to submit your resume that conveys the experience you’ve had so far. You can take advantage of on-campus leadership opportunities, Extended Studies offerings including community service and off-campus study, and job shadowing to create a well-rounded DePauw experience which help prepare you for law school.
Letters of RECOMMENDATION
You will need to get letters of support from a faculty adviser and others who will be able to speak to your strengths, accomplishments, and skills that will make you an asset in law school. Always meet with faculty members in person to discuss your letters of reference. Provide them with a list of the schools you are applying to and a quick summary of what a particular law school is seeking in a letter of recommendation.
Financing
Your particular cost for three years of law school is a major factor to consider; different schools will vary in total cost. Also, you may qualify for Federal Work-Study, through that will be in your second and third years of law school. Fellowships, scholarships and other monetary awards may be offered or available at some institutions.