2014 LAW SCHOOL RESOURCE GUIDE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE AND EVENTS GUIDE
Chicago’s Practice-Ready Law School John Marshall prepares students with the skills, knowledge, and experience to be practice-ready from day one.
Visit jmls.edu/ImReady or call 866.575.7878.
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Prepare to Succeed
Visit Us on Law Day
Michigan Union, Second Floor University of Michigan Tuesday, September 23, 2014 | 3–6 p.m.
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Table of Contents 2 The John Marshall Law School • 3 Table of Contents 3 University of Wisconsin Law School • 4 Applying to Law School 5 University of Miami School of Law • 6 Pre-Law Fall Programs 8 Where Should You Apply? • 10 The Law School Personal Statement 10 Maurer School of Law • 12 Letters of Recommendation 13 William & Mary Law School • 14 Law Day Participating Schools 16 The Career Center’s Law Day Content on pages 3, 4, 6-16 provided by The Career Center and the Newnan Academic Advising Center.
You can schedule pre-law advising appointments with the Career Center (734.764.7460) or the Newnan Advising Center (734.764.0332). Students and alums from all UM Schools or Colleges are welcome.
Business Manager Douglas Solomon Designer Nolan Loh
Account Executive Evan Copeland Account Executive Anna He Account Executive Breahna Nowak
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Applying to Law School
Suggested Application Timeline
This timeline is also available on the Career Center’s website. The highlighted text below indicates links to more information.
careercenter.umich.edu
Pursue Med, Law, Grad
Law
Application TImeline
Summer of Your Application Cycle
• Decide when to apply (this year vs. in the future) • Look into fee waivers if applicable • Register for/take the LSAT as applicable • Register with the Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) • Approach your writers to discuss and obtain letters of reference • Investigate schools and decide where to apply • Consult with a Career Center pre-law counselor and/or a LSA pre-law advisor • Start working on your main application essay and schedule a review • Mark your calendar now for the UM Law Day on September 23, 2014
September Through December of Your Application Cycle
• Register for/take the LSAT • Send your official transcripts to CAS • Gather and send reference letters • Fine-tune your list of schools based on your GPA, LSAT scores and other factors important to you • Write multiple, tailored application essays • Have your essays reviewed by multiple parties for feedback • Complete and submit law school applications • Monitor your applications after submission for completeness
January and Beyond of Your Application Cycle
• Await results • File your FAFSA • If waitlisted, consider sending an application update • Manage admission offers • Pay deposit and send final transcript You may also find it helpful to peruse the LSAC application checklist. 4
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Pre-Law Fall 2014 Programs Mark Your Calendar The listed events are designed to help students prepare a successful application to law school. From information sessions to workshops to courses, events are offered for students of all levels.
We encourage all interested students to attend as many events as possible.
Applying to Law School 101 Are you considering applying to law school? We will review the law school admission process and provide tips on how to submit a strong application. Students at all levels are encouraged to attend. Thursday, September 11, 12:00 PM–1:00 PM, 3200 Student Activities Building, Career Center Program Rm Friday, October 17, 2:00 PM–3:00 PM, 3200 Student Activities Building, Career Center Program Rm
LSAT Familiarization Course Participate in this nine-session course to jumpstart your preparation for the December 2014 LSAT and beyond. Learn how the LSAT is structured and scored, assess your baseline competence by practicing with real LSAT questions, enhance your test-taking strategies, and develop a study plan for additional post-course preparation. Pre-registration required: http://careercenter.umich.edu/article/med/lsat-familiarization-course Fridays, September 12 through November 7, 12:00 PM–2:00 PM, Location TBD
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Personal Statement Workshop Learn what law schools are looking for in your personal statement and participate in writing exercises designed to help you write a strong and inspired essay. Thursday, September 18, 2:00 PM–3:00 PM, G243 Angell Hall, Newnan Advising Center Conference Room Monday, October 6, 1:00 PM–2:00 PM, G243 Angell Hall, Newnan Advising Center Conference Room Wednesday, October 22, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM, G243 Angell Hall, Newnan Advising Center Conference Room
Law School Admissions Committee Panel Join Michigan Law School’s Dean of Admission and Admission Directors from University of Pennsylvania and University of Chicago Law Schools as they discuss a host of topics ranging from how to decide whether law school makes sense for you, to how to maximize your chances of admission, to how to select among the various choices you have. Monday, September 22, 5:00 PM–6:00 PM, 100 Hutchins Hall, University of Michigan Law School
Law Day Meet with representatives from over 100 law schools. Students at all levels are encouraged to attend. Tuesday, September 23, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM, Michigan Union 2nd Floor
Pre-Law Walk-In Advising Walk-in advising is designed for quick discussions of recent LSAT scores and simple questions regarding your application. Tuesday, October 28, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM, 1255 Angell Hall, Newnan Advising Center Library Thursday, October 30, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM, 1255 Angell Hall, Newnan Advising Center Library Wednesday, November 5, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, 1255 Angell Hall, Newnan Advising Center Library
Visiting Law Schools’ Information Sessions Harvard Law Information Session
Friday, October 17, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, 3200 Student Activities Building, Career Center Program Room
One-on-One Pre-Law Consultations with MSU Law Admissions Dean Wednesday, October 29, The Career Center Pre-registration required: https://cosign-umich-csm.symplicity.com/
University of Detroit Mercy Law Luncheon and Information Session Wednesday, November 12, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM, Michigan Union Welker Room
Financing Law School Workshop Lindsey Stetson, UM Law School’s Director of Financial Aid, presents information on financing your legal education with a focus on minimizing your debt. Students at all levels are encouraged to attend. Wednesday, November 19, 12:00 PM–1:00 PM, Room TBD, University of Michigan Law School 7
Where Should You Apply? A quick list of things to consider
This information is available in greater detail on The Newnan Academic Advising Center’s website. The highlighted text below indicates links to more information.
www.lsa.umich.edu/advising Academic Planning
Pre-Law
When and where do I apply?
Choosing a law school
The application process and law school are costly so take the time to carefully research schools. Create a table or spreadsheet to help you evaluate all of the information you gather.
Create your initial list by considering multiple criteria: availability of specific programs, student publications, law school atmosphere, career services, employment statistics, location etc. 8
Narrow the list by considering GPA and LSAT score data reported for each school. This information can be found on The Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) website. Your edited list should include:
How do your scores fit with the schools that you are considering?
100%
Safety Schools
Your LSAT & GPA overlap the upper 25% of LSAT and GPA scores reported for the school. 75%
Target Schools
Your LSAT & GPA overlap the middle 50% of LSAT and GPA scores reported for the school. 25%
Reach Schools
Your LSAT & GPA overlap the bottom 25% of LSAT and GPA scores reported for the school.
Three key sources of data for researching law schools:
1. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) - lists American Bar Association
(ABA) approved schools by state and region, provides GPA and LSAT information and links to the online application known as the Credential Assembly Service.
2. The Book of Law School Lists - an online resource that lists law schools
according to specific programs, journal opportunities, student organizations etc.
3. The ABA provides employment statistics on recent graduates.
Make a pre-law advising appointment to help you further evaluate your list. 734-764-7460 734-764-0332
According to the Law School Admission Council, “…about half of all applicants applied to five or fewer schools.” Do not apply to a school unless you would be happy to attend. Before accepting an offer of admission, we strongly encourage you to visit the school. 9
The Law School Personal Statement A Self-Reflection Excercise
An effective personal statement is based on sound self-assessment. To help you reflect on some of your accomplishments, interests, personal traits and characteristics, ask yourself:
You
• What’s your background, your values? (First generation college student, parents’ occupation, role models, spirituality, social justice, etc.) • If applicable, reflect on the diversity/uniqueness that you bring (culture, age, major, special life experiences and perspectives.) • How would you describe yourself? • How would your professors, employers, family members, classmates, and friends describe you? • What are you passionate about? • What kind of learner are you? • What do you want the law schools to know about you?
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Your Experiences
• Think of your proudest moment. Why was that accomplishment particularly meaningful to you? • What skills are you learning in your classes, research experiences, and other academic endeavors that are relevant to the legal profession? • What are you learning about yourself through your experiences inside and outside of the classroom? • Reflect on your extracurricular experiences: remember critical incident moments, “revelations” etc. • What kind of hurdles did you have to overcome in your life? • What experiences have enabled you to interact with people of different backgrounds and cultures?
Your Plan
• How have you formed your own opinion/perception of the nature of legal practice and the daily demands placed upon lawyers and their families? • What kind of lawyer would you like to be and why? • What impact do you want to have on your community? In what ways have you already started this process? • What are your goals for the future, both personally and professionally?
Bottom-Line Points
• Why do you want to become a lawyer? Be as sincere as you can. • What experiences have confirmed your career choice? Be as specific as you can. • What do you want law schools to know about you beyond what is stated in your application?
Five Tips For Writing A Law School Personal Statement! • Follow the prompts provided by each school. Make sure your statement addresses the question(s).
• Don’t repeat your resume. Focus on the “why” of the experience(s) rather than the “what.” • Start by recording or blogging your thoughts rather than trying to write THE statement. • Write the stories you want to tell rather than second-guessing what the admissions committee wants to hear. • Seek feedback from multiple people; however, make sure the final draft is your statement. 11
Letters of Recommendation This information is available in greater detail on The Newnan Academic Advising Center’s website. The highlighted text below indicates links to more information.
www.lsa.umich.edu/advising Academic Planning
Pre-Law
How do I apply?
Application Process
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation (LORs) can be quite influential in admissions’ decisions. We encourage you to consider the following:
Whom should you ask to write your LORs?
• Request a minimum of two academic references from instructors or GSIs since this will cover the recommendation requirements of most schools. • Choose someone who knows you well. The prestige of the letter writer will have little influence if the letter is superficial. • Additional letters of reference from employers/supervisors will help to round out your application (check with each school to verify that they will accept more than 2 references).
The characteristics of a “good” LOR
• The letter should assess the student’s academic achievement and potential, particularly research skills, capacity for analytical thinking and writing ability. Additional comments that reflect on the candidate’s maturity, insight, organization etc. are also valuable. • Whenever possible, the letter should include concrete examples.
How should you ask him or her?
• If possible, ask to meet with the letter writer in person. • Bring relevant materials such as a resume, brief statement explaining why you are interested in law school and a writing sample, if available. • Politely ask if he/she is able to write a strong recommendation for you. • Be sure to discuss a specific deadline for submitting the letter.
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When should you begin thinking about LORs? • Begin early in your academic career.
Cultivate relationships with your instructors by going to office hours, asking meaningful questions, actively participating in class discussions, seeking advice and demonstrating that you can follow it. • Plan to acquire recommendations by the end of your junior year if you are applying in your senior year.
How should the letters be sent?
• Most law schools require that applicants use the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) to process all aspects of the application. Your LORs could be stored at the Career Center’s Reference Letter Service (RLS) and later forwarded to CAS or your LORs can be directly submitted by your recommenders to the CAS.
Fun Facts • “…26 % of all law school applicants were 22 years old or younger; about 37 % were 23 to 25…” (Based on 2013 data provided by LSAC.org)
• At least one UM graduate is currently attending each of the top 15 law schools. • During the 2012-2013 application year, the average of the highest LSAT scores achieved for all applicants was 153.1 and the average undergraduate GPA was 3.26. (Based on January 2014 data published by LSAC.org)
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Law Day Participating Schools September 23, 2014 3pm-6pm Michigan Union 2nd floor American University Washington College of Law
New York Law School
Appalachian School of Law
New York University School of Law
Arizona State University - Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Northeastern University School of Law
Ave Maria School of Law
Northwestern University School of Law
Baylor Law School
Notre Dame Law School
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad Law
Boston College Law School
Center
Boston University School of Law
Ohio Northern University College of Law
Brooklyn Law School
Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, The
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Penn State Law
Catholic University of America - Columbus School of Law, The
Penn State’s Dickinson Law School
Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law
Regent University School of Law
Charleston School of Law
Roger Williams University School of Law
Charlotte School of Law
Saint Louis University School of Law
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Santa Clara Law
Columbia Law School
Seton Hall University School of Law
Cornell Law School
SMU Dedman School of Law
DePaul College of Law
South Texas College of Law
Duke University School of Law
Southern Illinois University
Duquesne University School of Law
Southwestern Law School
Elon University School of Law
St. Thomas University School of Law
Emory Law School
SUNY Buffalo Law School
Florida Coastal School of Law
Syracuse University College of Law
Florida State University College of Law
Touro Law Center
Fordham Law School
Tulane University Law School
George Mason University School of Law
UC Hastings College of the Law
George Washington University Law School
UCLA School of Law
Gonzaga University School of Law
UConn School of Law
Howard University School of Law
Univeristy of Houston Law Center
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law
University of Alabama School of Law
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
University of Arizona James E Rogers College of Law, The
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
University of Baltimore School of Law
John Marshall Law School, The
University of California Davis School of Law
Liberty University School of Law
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
University of California, Irvine School of Law
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
University of Chicago Law School, The
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
University of Colorado Law
Marquette University Law School
University of Dayton School of Law
Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Michigan State University College of Law
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
New England Law | Boston
University of Florida Levin College of Law
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University of Illinois College of Law
University of Washington
University of Iowa College of Law
University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law
Valparaiso University Law School
University of Miami School of Law
Vanderbilt Law School
University of Michigan Law School
Vermont Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
Villanova University School of Law
University of Nebraska College of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law
University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill, The
Washburn University School of Law
University of Oregon School of Law
Washington & Lee University School of Law
University of Pennsylvania Law School
Wayne State University Law School
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
West Virginia University College of Law
University of Richmond School of Law
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School
University of San Diego School of Law
Western New England University School of Law
University of San Francisco School of Law
Western State College of Law
University of South Carolina School of Law
Widener University School of Law Wilmington, DE & Harrisburg
University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
William & Mary Law School
University of Tennessee College of Law
List compiled 9/2/2014
University of Texas School of Law, The University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law University of Utah SJ Quinney College of Law
5 Tips For Making the Most of Law Day! 1. Come! Law Day is a fun event and a great place for chatting with law schools. 2. Prioritize your list of schools in advance to make effective use of your time. 3. No need for a suit, however, give some thought to what you wear. Business casual works; keep in mind though “business casual” doesn’t mean “classroom casual”. 4. Bring your questions about the schools and be prepared to answer questions about yourself. No need to bring a resume. 5. Look beyond the rankings and visit with familiar and new schools. Multiple perspectives are always helpful and you may find new possibilities!
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The Career Center’s Law Day September 23, 2014 3pm-6pm Michigan Union 2nd floor
Law Day is a great way to connect with a large number of law schools right here on campus! Typically, 100+ schools and over 300+ students participate in the event. Law Day offers something for everyone:
Juniors, Seniors and Recent Grads
• Learn about specific programs from law school representatives • Collect application and financial aid information • Get tips on personal statements, applications and reference letters
First Year Students and Sophomores
• Ask questions about undergrad coursework and extra-curricular activities • Explore law school options • Build networks for the future
Registration
• Registration is on-site the day of the event. No registration fee... just bring your ID
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