On last Monday’s episode of the 180 Live!, our scheduled guest, Elie Mystal, had to call out sick, which gave all the members of our illustrious audience an opportunity to ask in-depth questions of our host (and Kaplan Executive Director of Pre-Law Programs), Jeff Thomas, about any and all law-related subjects. We wanted to share the questions and following resources with you, since they are probably similar to what a lot of your advisees are asking.
How concerned should we be with law school ranking? Not everyone can go to Harvard or Stanford or Yale… but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the resources of a particular law school to get ahead. Focus on the specific programs that lower ranked law schools offer, and how they might help you get a job. Check out this great guide by our scheduled guest, Elie Mystal.
How exactly do law schools use academic transcripts when considering applications? There are a ton of factors that go into an undergraduate GPA: easy vs. difficult classes, what school you went to, weighted classes, different majors. Law school admissions officers are aware of all of that, and dig way deeper than you might have assumed into what a GPA actually means. Check out what they have to say about the process.
What does it mean to be a minority applying to law school? Will that help me? Issues relating to affirmative action are always tough to discuss, but the most current news is the significant case that recently was decided in Texas, Fisher vs. the University of Texas at Austin. Different practices apply at different schools and different states, so do your research and figure out what the policies are at the institutions you are interested in. A good rule of thumb: anything that makes you stand out is a good thing on an application.
What kind of timeline should be my goal for law school admissions? A really great question, because it can be very difficult to make sense of all the different dates, LSATs, and rolling admissions reminders floating around out there. Here’s a great article adapted from law school admissions expert extraordinaire Ann Levine’s book from the Above the Law blog. Bookmark it– trust me.
So what’s the deal with joint JD degrees? The most common (by far) of this kind of joint degree is the JD/MBA, so we can give you some general information. But it is definitely worth it to look into the specific programs you’re interested in, and figure out what the qualifications are and what kind of work it will entail.
What should I write my personal statement about? Not “why I want to go to law school”… make it personal, everyone! Here’s what the admissions folks have to say.
But really, what areas of law are actually a good bet on jobs right now? Fear not– we have just the thing! The hottest areas of law list, coming your way!
What exactly is the diversity statement on a law school application for, and should I fill one out? Diversity statements are not limited to our traditional knowledge of what “diversity” entails– ethnicity, cultural background, etc. Law schools define it very broadly; literally anything that you think makes you a unique applicant and possible addition to their ranks. Check out what some of the experts we had on the show in September have to say about it (including Anne Richard and Kenneth Kleinrock, who will be joining us in November’s episode).
How do law schools view law-related work experience on applications? How does that weigh against academic results? Unfortunately for those of you out there working in legal fields, law schools do not focus on work experience the same way that business schools do; undergraduate GPA and the LSAT remain the big movers and shakers on your application. There is a big exception to that rule amongst high-ranked law schools, however: Northwestern. Check out one of their admissions officials explain exactly why they utilize work experience as such a heavy factor in their application pool.
So Obama said what about two year law school? Is that really a good idea? Get the scoop on what exactly President Obama had to say about the possibility of 2 year law school.
What kind of LSAT score do I need if I have a [insert number here] GPA? The LSAC has got you covered with a really great tool; the LSAT/GPA calculator.
How many times is too many times taking the LSAT? Well, the LSAC has certain rules about how many times you can actually take the test, but law schools are pretty understanding about multiple LSATs– hear them weigh in, but remember your goal should be to take it just once.
Is going to law school a terrible idea in this economy? You probably have an idea of how we might answer this question, but you can eavesdrop on the larger context of this debate here. It really depends on how hard you’re willing to work; law school is not the best fall back position right now, but it’s a great opportunity to those with the drive to succeed.
