CALI's Pre-Law Blog

6 Sep, 2006

About.com has a nice timeline for future law school applicants. It's a good idea to keep up with this or another checklist/timeline to see where you should be in your application process.

Prospective Fall '08 Applicants
If you you want to start law school in Fall '07 (2 years out from law school) you need to start seriously thinking about the LSAT and researching different law schools. More importantly now is the time to research the LSAT and different schools even if you are not 100% sure you will be attending law school.

I know 2 years from now sounds like a long time. But you'll end up in a better position if you start the process in motion now than you would if you wait too long to start the process.Waiting too long to start the process can hurt you in a number.

Prospective Fall '07 Applicants
For those of you looking to start law school in Fall '07 (next year), hopefully you've started the whole application process and taken the LSAT or at least plan on taking the October LSAT by now. If not, you're in a tough position and have to take the December LSAT to get in next year.

To be honest, it is possible though as I did take the December LSAT the year before I entered law school. I decided very late in the application cycle to go to law school. But I would not recommend doing this because I had only one shot at the LSAT and I'll never know if my late application and LSAT score hurt my chances of being accepted at some schools.

In reality here are the things the About.com timeline says that you should be doing in the September, a year before you start law school:

• Order the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) catalog and application or complete an electronic version.
• Finish writing your personal statement.
• Update your resume.
• Ask faculty for letters of recommendation.
• Ask a professional acquaintance or employer for a reference. Provide employers with a sample reference.
• Request financial aid information.
• Continue to visit Law schools.

So you should still be having a pretty busy month! Check out the timeline and make sure you are now on track.