Not all advice is ideal while applying to law school. An prospective lawyer’s plans might occasionally be derailed by unwise counsel from friends and family, and even a strong GPA and LSAT score do not guarantee a successful application.
Meri Althauser, director of admissions at the University of Montana’s Alexander Blewett III School of Law, remarks, “While, yes, it takes a certain academic aptitude to succeed in law school, the more important factors are the intangibles that are necessary when working in a human service field.”
Are you thinking about applying to law school? The worst advise you may receive is as follows, along with reasons to avoid it:
Myth: There’s No Harm in Retaking the LSAT
The Law School Admission Council, which administers the LSAT, allows you to take it five times during the current reportable score period. But retakes aren’t always a good idea.
“Retaking the LSAT can help you improve your score, but it is not without danger. Law schools frequently review all of your results, and some may average them or see several tries as a lack of readiness,” says Andrew Ingalls, a litigation partner at Day Pitney.
If you intend to retake the LSAT, “ensure you’ve genuinely addressed the weaknesses in your prep to make the risk worthwhile,” he advises.
You’ll probably submit your application later if you retake the test. Additionally, “retaking the LSAT may impact negatively on the timing of action on your application,” according to Heidi Reavis, managing partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP, because the majority of law schools employ rolling admissions, which assess applications as they are received.
“You should think about which schools you are applying to and understand their policies before making the decision,” she says, adding that different law schools have different procedures about retaking the LSAT.
Myth: Schools Hardly Read the Personal Statement
According to experts, law school admissions committees scan your personal statement to assess your writing abilities, ability to communicate goals, and suitability for their program.
The essay is what “sets law school applicants apart in an otherwise impersonal data-driven process,” according to Reavis.
A well-written personal statement “can be the difference-maker, especially if your GPA or LSAT score is borderline,” according to Ingalls. It’s frequently the only portion of the application where an applicant’s personality may come through, he adds, “so don’t squander this opportunity by assuming it doesn’t matter.”
However, Althauser advises against wasting it on stories like “My grandma told me I’m good at arguing so I should be a lawyer,” which appears at the beginning of a few applications each year.
She claims that the tale demonstrates a lack of understanding of the work that attorneys perform as well as the sensitivity, curiosity, and adaptability that they require. As an alternative, concentrate on developing a story that highlights your “character, self-awareness, and a commitment to an important cause.”
Myth: You Don’t Need to Prepare for Law School Interviews
Not all law schools require interviews for admission, but “a well-prepared interview can leave a lasting impression and may ultimately play a role in determining your acceptance,” says Laura Arango, an associate at Davis Goldman.
“Even if interviews are rare, they’re critical when offered,” Ingalls says. “Law school interviews evaluate not only your qualifications but also your interpersonal skills, professionalism and fit for the program.”
He advises doing your homework about the institution, rehearsing your answers, and formulating intelligent queries “to demonstrate a genuine interest in both the school and becoming an attorney.”
Reavis advises emphasizing “how you will impact the world as a lawyer, how the law schools to which you are applying should be eager to be a platform for your success,” in addition to describing why you are a good fit for that specific law school.
According to her, students should be able to persuade a school that their success is a school’s success. “If not, try a different line of work.”
Myth: There’s Only One Path To Law School
There’s no one “right” path into law school, experts say.
“The reality is that law school applicants come from a variety of academic, professional and personal backgrounds,” Ingalls says. “Admissions committees value diverse experiences, whether that’s candidates with job experience in STEM, the arts, the military or nontraditional careers.”
Law is a people-centered profession, Althauser says, and lawyers “work with people who made mistakes, work all types of jobs and come from all walks of life.”
An overly cultivated path through school “can limit exposure to relatable, real-world challenges that are vital in a human service profession,” she says. Althauser recalls working with an applicant who had been advised to remove 10 years of progressive work experience at a fast food restaurant from her resume because it wasn’t law-related or impressive.
“I can bet that person had more patience and people skills from that experience than many other applicants,” Althauser says.
In a pool of similar applications, describing a unique journey to the profession can make your application stand out, Reavis says.
“Those who believe a different path, seemingly irrelevant work history, or personal challenges are not applicable to law school should think again,”
