Law School Admissions Council
Alright, so you think you’ve got what it takes to pursue a legal education and eventually a legal career — here’s how you get started.
You must register with the Law School Admissions Council as soon as possible. LSAC was created “to coordinate, facilitate, and enhance the law school admission process.”
Most schools require you to be a member so they can utilize the Law School Data Assembly Service. This is a LSAC service that “centralizes and standardizes the undergraduate academic records of law school applicants to simplify the law school admission process.”
The LSAC makes the admissions process so much easier. However, you do have to pay for the service. You will learn very quickly that applying to law schools is not cheap, so make sure you set aside a budget that fits the amount of schools you want to apply to.
You are required to send an official copy of a transcript from every college you’ve attended. Take care of this as soon as you register. You will also submit Letters of Recommendation to LSAC and they will send them to the schools when you apply. Some schools require up to 3 letters, others require none.
Prepare personal statements and cater them to the specifics for each school. Do not send out one personal statement to every school, make sure to show that you’ve taken the time to apply and that you care about getting in. Also most schools want your resume and a list of awards and honors.
Each school will have specifics about what they want you to submit. Be sure to research these items and make sure you include them, the last thing you want is for the admissions officials to throw out your application because you didn’t follow directions.
Take this application seriously, it is just like applying for a job. Put your best foot forward but be sure to explain any problems that may be apparent in your transcripts or history. Always write an addendum statement explaining anything that might negatively affect your admissions application.
What you have to pay for:
- Law School Admissions Council/Law School Data Assembly Service = $115
- Law School Admissions Test = $132
- Law School Data Assembly Service reports = $12/per report (You need one report per school, paid when you apply.)
- Application Fees = Free – $75 (Varies per law school. Paid to the school you apply, sometimes electronically or by check/money order.)
Additional Costs:
- Cost of visit to a law school – It is suggested you tour the school you would like to attend before applying.
- LSAT Exam Prep Materials – Guides and Books can add up quickly, only purchase items that you know you will utilize in your preparation.
- LSAT Prep Course – These courses can be expensive, but a lot of students learn important skills specifically for improving their scores.
ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST:
- Register with LSAC/LSDAS
- Register for LSAT/Take LSAT (Be sure to prepare!)
- Visit law schools, talk with admissions counselors
- Apply to multiple schools, pay fees immediately.
- Submit your honest information.
- Do not call the admissions council about your application being processed, only call if you have specific questions.
- Be patient and wait for the good news!
- Do not be discouraged if you receive a denial letter, try another school or fix any problems with your academic career and apply again.
