How to Get Into an Elite Law School

Do you dream of graduating from a top law school? Of being courted by the most prestigious firms even before you get your J.D.? Sounds great, but there's no guarantee you'll be happy at one of these schools. Before you jump in, study the culture to see whether you truly want to attend an Ivy League or comparable school. If you do, apply early, stay on top of the paperwork and show what a valuable asset you'll be.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Attend a college that successfully feeds students into the top law schools (see 150 Get Into a Top College or University). The best bet is to get your undergraduate degree at Harvard, Yale or Princeton, but other colleges are devising ways to make their students attractive to top graduate schools. Pomona College in California, for instance, has upped its success by helping students with interviews, letters of recommendation and more.
2. Strive for a 3.5 or above grade point average (GPA). Be aware that a 4.0 at one school may not be comparable to a 4.0 at a less-competitive school. Admissions directors look at the level of your coursework, too. Major in English/literature, philosophy, history or political science/government. Be able to write well.
3. Take a good look at the law schools you think you want to attend. Harvard, for instance, has a premier reputation and just about guarantees you a big firm job, but will you like the large classes, busy faculty and fellow students? Find out all about highly ranked law schools in America's Best Graduate Schools from U.S. News & World Report (www.usnews.com).
4. Understand that good grades aren't enough--you need to ace the Law School Admission Test (LSAT.com). Look into LSAT preparation courses (which can cost upward of $1,000) on Web sites such as PrincetonReview.com and Kaplan.com, and take practice tests. Be aware that effective studying for the LSAT usually takes at least 50 hours. See 151 Ace the College Admissions Tests and 157 Prepare for the Bar Exam for study tips.
5. Take the exam in June or October of the year before you plan to enter law school. In theory, the LSAT is a consistent measure for an admissions officer to compare all applicants with each other. Scores range from a low of 120 to a high of 180. You'll want to score 164 or above to stay in the running. (The national average is about 152.)
6. Register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), which will compile a report about you and send it to any law school you want. The LSDAS report includes your official test scores, transcripts and recommendations, and it's a requirement at nearly every law school approved by the American Bar Association (abanet.org).
7. Request applications from the law schools you want to attend-- you can often download them from the schools' Web sites. To make it easier, start a Web account with LSDAS or buy its CDROM so you can electronically access the application of nearly any law school you can imagine.
8. Get all your ducks in a row and submit your application early. By the end of summer, request transcripts and line up letters of recommendation, which you'll need to send to LSDAS. Ask the people who recommend you to be specific about what makes you a great candidate and how you stand out from other students (see 152 Organize Your College Applications).
9. Apply by November of the year before you want enter law school. This is especially important at schools such as Harvard that have rolling admissions. They make a decision on each application as it comes in, and the class starts to fill up as the months go by.

Tips & Warnings

• If you've been out of school for a while, emphasize how your work and other real-life experiences make you a strong candidate.
• Before you apply, read The Paper Chase by John J. Osborn Jr. and One L by Scott Turow.
• The LSAT is not a test of knowledge about the law or other legal matters. So law-related classes (like business law, constitutional law or criminal law) don't necessarily prepare you more effectively for the LSAT than other courses do. Rather, the test is designed to measure reading comprehension, and logical and analytical reasoning, because that's what both law school and the practice of law require.
• There's also a writing section of LSAT that's not scored but is sent to law schools when you apply.
• The registration fee for the LSAT is $112. Late registrants must pay an additional $56.
• Look into scholarships and other financial aid if the $30,000-plus-a-year price tag makes you shudder. Start searching at Finaid.org. See 234 Organize Your Financial-Aid Package.
• Your personal statement may not be as important as your LSAT scores and undergraduate grades, but it may set you apart from everyone else. Let your top choice know who you are, what you believe in and what you hope to accomplish as a lawyer.