During the 1980's when the number of law school applicants
exploded, law schools made a number of adjustments that affect
how you apply for admission. The two changes that have the most
affect on you and your application schedule are the shift to
rolling admissions and the lengthening of the admissions process
— it now extends from October through the following spring.
The Best Time to Apply
Generally, law schools send out application forms in August and
September, begin accepting applications in October, and start
mailing acceptance letters by November. While accepted applicants
are notified beginning in November, most law schools do not mail
out rejection letters until January. Application deadlines may
still be in February or March, but because the schools have begun
filling their classes in the fall, it is not unusual for more
than 75 percent of the anticipated acceptance letters to have
been sent by the spring deadline date.
Applying early provides you with three major advantages:
1. Credentials are evaluated more carefully later in the
process.
2. The later you apply, the tougher the competition.
3. Your application will look fresher.
Kaplan Quick Tip:
Begin planning your application and getting yourself ready
financially 15-18 months before you hope to register for
classes.
Plan Ahead
Some pre-law advisors and even a few admissions officers dispute
the importance of early applicants — and at a few schools, there
may be no special advantage. Law schools are almost always open
to exceptional applicants and sometimes will admit someone well
after the deadline if there's space in the class.
A few schools will routinely accept applications up until a
week or two before classes start. But these are exceptions. You
increase the risk of not having your application fully considered
if you submit it right at the deadline. If you want to complete
all of your applications by late November, your planning should
begin five or six months before that.