Too Early or Too Late? A Guide to the Law School Application Timeline
Spring is here, bringing with it the close of one law school application cycle and the beginning of the next. Many students come to me during this time as they begin to consider applying to law school in the fall. A common fear that students have is that they have somehow already “missed the boat” on law school admissions.
Thankfully, nothing could be further from the truth. I take this time to break down the general law school application timeline including an examination of timing for the LSAT, essays, and letters of recommendations.
General Application Timeline
January - March:
Plan and begin your LSAT preparation
Cultivate relationships with recommenders
Think about your goals and reasons for applying to law school
Register with LSAC
April - May:
Continue LSAT preparation
Develop your list of schools based on baseline score and reasonable expectations after studying
Research law school clinics and journals, employment data, bar passage rates, and historical scholarship information
Attend LSAC Forums
Begin brainstorming personal statement
June - August:
Take the LSAT 1-2 times
Work on personal statement and diversity statement
Secure letters of recommendation
Continue to attend virtual information sessions and create relationships with admissions professionals
Revise school list based on LSAT score
Send transcripts
September - November:
Draft additional/supplemental essays
Submit your application as early as possible, ideally by October (Halloween!)
Prepare for and receive interview offers
Respond to early Waitlist offers
December - January:
If you applied by October, you should receive the majority of your decisions by the end of January.
You may also have some additional interview offers during this time.
Respond to any waitlist offers
Send updated transcripts (if still in school)
Search for and apply to scholarships and pipeline programs
February - April:
You should receive the rest of your law school decisions during this time
Attend admitted student events to determine which school will be the best fit for you.
Continue to apply to scholarships and respond to Waitlist offers
Deposit deadlines are usually around April 1.
May-August:
Continue to create updates for letters of continued interest
Continue to foster relationships with schools on your waitlist
Understand that waitlist offers can come as late as August
Timelines Specific to the Three Main Application Components
The LSAT
Amount of preparation: Most students need at least 3-6 months to study for the LSAT. I believe it takes a minimum of 100 days of commitment and preparation to succeed and do well on the LSAT. Of course, many students may need longer, but 100 days is the minimum amount of time I would block off for true studying of the LSAT. I suggest students aim to take the LSAT between June-August the year they want to apply. Ideally, you want to take the LSAT once, but taking the LSAT over the summer allows you to revise your application list, if necessary. Taking the LSAT over the summer also allows you the opportunity to take it again in October should you need to and still turn your application in during the early part of the application cycle.
When should you begin: Begin researching different methods of LSAT prep January-March. There are a few free resources that may help you decide how much preparation you may need. Kaplan has a free LSAT practice test and Testmasters has a free digital LSAT practice test. Taking a free practice test can be a good way to get a baseline score. With this baseline score, you can decide what format class might be appropriate for you, if one-on-one tutoring would be beneficial, and if you need to give yourself extra time to study. If you know you don’t have 3 hours a day every day to study for the LSAT, then give yourself at least 6 months to study.
Watch this video on the Top 5 Mistakes Students Make When Studying for the LSAT for other tips on preparing.
Essays
Amount of preparation: Students should be prepared to write a personal statement and a diversity statement for every school. Students may need to write additional/supplemental essays depending on the schools they are applying to. As a rule, students should plan to write at least 3-4 drafts of each essay. The essay process will take at least four months. While your GPA and LSAT are very important in the law school admissions process, the role of the essays cannot be overstated. Keep in mind that you will be juggling writing your essays with school or work commitments, so you want to give yourself enough time to do your best thinking and writing.
When should you begin: Some students can simultaneously study for the LSAT while working on their essays. Some students need separation in order to properly focus on each part of the application. The most important thing is to know yourself. There is nothing wrong with requiring more time to do your best work. If you plan to apply by October, you should start your essays no later than June.
Letters of Recommendation
Amount of preparation: Depending on whether you are coming straight from college or coming from the workforce you may need different preparation time frames. Some students may need to grow and cultivate a relationship with a professor over a semester before they feel comfortable asking for a letter of recommendation, others may want to finish a large project at work that shows their leadership skills and abilities before making the request of their supervisor. At a minimum, you will want to provide your potential recommenders with a summary of your accomplishments and insight into why you are applying to law school. It is common courtesy to give recommenders at least one month to write your letter.
When you should begin: If you are planning on applying in October, you should ask your recommenders no later than August, and ask them to furnish your recommendation in September. This will account for any delay in sending or processing your recommendation letter to LSAC, and of course any delay on the part of your recommender. In the unlikely scenario that you need to ask someone else, it gives you enough time to make that decision.
Interested in learning how to accelerate your law school application process?
Want to know the best way to get ahead for the next application cycle?
I enroll law school application boot camps every month from January - November. Click below to learn more about how you can work with me and maximize your law school applications, gain confidence, break barriers, and build generational wealth.