Law schools tend to give preference to applicants who exhibit a diverse background. This means taking part in extracurricular activities and holding leadership roles within these organizations.
Admissions committees also evaluate other characteristics, such as undergraduate GPA, LSAT score and personal statements written by applicants. A strong personal statement allows admissions officers to understand how closely an applicant ties his or her academic experiences to professional ones.
About 57.000 to 64.000 applicants per year
Experts cited multiple factors for the decline of law school applications this year; among them were COVID-19 pandemic and job market issues for recent college graduates; plus prospective students deferring applications due to Donald Trump administration.
2022 was still an extremely competitive year for law schools despite its decrease. LSAC lists 17 North American law schools on its website; Alexis Archbold, assistant dean at University of Toronto Faculty of Law notes that these figures tend to reflect US experience more strongly.
As part of their application package, applicants should focus on their undergraduate degree program, LSAT scores and extracurricular activities to increase their chances of acceptance. They should also devote some time towards crafting a personalized statement which allows candidates to show how they stand out beyond grades and test scores.
LSAT Scores
As the economy improves, more individuals are considering law school. Unfortunately, judicial clerkship opportunities have declined since graduation compared to prior years; fortunately there are other options available to students who do not wish to work directly for government.
Law school applicants should research the median LSAT and GPA scores of their target schools to get an idea of what needs to be done for acceptance. Furthermore, applicants should apply to multiple schools – and consider adding one as a “safety school”.
Applying with lower LSAT scores should retake or take another attempt of the exam to increase their chances of admission to law school. Furthermore, many law schools now permit students to write an addendum explaining their low LSAT score and strengthen their application. ABA now permits the use of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) instead of LSAT as admission criteria to law schools; additionally it is often used by MBA programs as well.
Undergraduate GPA
Credential Assembly Service reports are submitted to law schools by applicants, and having an excellent undergraduate GPA is key for admissions officers assessing candidates. Although admissions officers typically evaluate students using various factors including LSAT scores and personal statements as indicators, admissions officers may accept students with lower college GPAs if the applicant can make a compelling argument that their grades do not accurately represent their abilities.
An older student with a low college GPA might provide details regarding why it declined, such as an illness or job loss. Or an applicant who took courses that were particularly challenging could write an addendum explaining why their grade did not reflect their abilities.
GPA and LSAT scores are vitally important when applying to law school; however, prospective students must also understand the context behind them. Many intelligent students tend to pursue law as an automatic career choice without giving it much thought – this mentality often shows up in their applications.
Personal Statement
Every law school application requires a personal statement. This essay gives applicants an opportunity to share any additional details that might not otherwise be revealed within the application form, whether that be intellectual interests, significant accomplishments, obstacles overcome, personal and professional goals or why this particular school would be ideal.
Descriptions should include details about specific achievements and their effects, while still sounding humble. An emphasis should be on helping others, while leadership qualities are also showcased to convince readers that an applicant has thoroughly investigated a school and fits right in with them.
This example employs a conversational tone that helps build rapport with admissions committee members and avoids overly formal language like jargon and “big words.” An overly formal tone may signal arrogance or pretension and reduce its overall effectiveness; additionally, the writer highlights early setbacks as motivation to take responsibility and change directions, while their experiences helped shape their passion for law practice.