| - Being modest. There are times and places for | | | | most impressive experiences in sufficient detail. If |
| modesty, but your law school application is not | | | | you need to remove one of two items that are, |
| one of them. Avoid the classic mistakes of | | | | in your estimation, equally impressive, remove the |
| underselling yourself, understating your | | | | one that less fits the overall theme of your |
| accomplishments and roles in organizations, and | | | | application. |
| not communicating the true extent of your | | | | - Forgoing the "optional" essays. It's true: Writing |
| aspirations. You should, of course, at all times be | | | | an optional essay does take time and energy. But |
| completely honest. By no means should you | | | | you care about where you go to law school, and |
| stretch the truth. But if you, for example, | | | | it's a BIG mistake to take a shortcut when doing |
| managed a team of fundraising volunteers, don't | | | | so puts a dent in your admissions chances. |
| say "I helped my organization raise money." Do | | | | Submitting optional essays helps for more than |
| say "I led a group of 35 volunteers, raising | | | | one reason. It signals to the admissions reader |
| $18,000 during the annual fund drive. My daily | | | | that you're really interested in his or her school |
| duties included team- and motivation-building. | | | | (that's always a good thing), and it gives you a |
| Under my management, our team far surpassed | | | | chance to present additional arguments for your |
| our fund-raising goal of $10,000." | | | | acceptance (i.e., your application package will |
| - Failing to address weak spots or red flags. When | | | | contain more material that might catch the eye |
| you're ready to submit your applications, ask | | | | of an admissions officer). Treat the optional |
| yourself: If I were reading these materials without | | | | essays as mandatory. This is a (relatively) easy |
| knowing anything more about me, would I have | | | | way to differentiate yourself from the pack. |
| any open questions, or would I notice anything | | | | - Writing an addendum attempting to explain a |
| that makes me scratch my head? Try your best | | | | poor LSAT score or GPA, without a compelling |
| to resolve these questions or issues by | | | | reason. With increasing frequency, applicants are |
| incorporating the necessary information into your | | | | submitting addenda regarding low LSAT scores |
| resume, personal statement, or optional essays. If | | | | and GPAs. Before you go this route, carefully |
| that won't work, write an addendum. | | | | examine the situation. How strong a case do you |
| - Taking the LSAT without proper preparation. | | | | have that your LSAT score, for example, should |
| Treat the LSAT with respect. Your score | | | | be given less weight than it otherwise would? If all |
| matters, a lot. Even if you are a standardized-test | | | | you have to say is that you don't do well on |
| superstar, there's simply too much riding on the | | | | standardized tests, you're out of luck. You would |
| exam to not at least ensure that you'll have the | | | | need to argue, and show evidence of the fact |
| mental stamina necessary to perform at your | | | | that your standardized test scores aren't a good |
| best on test day. Many applicants will want to | | | | predictor of your ability succeed. For example, |
| take a prep course (beware: some are much | | | | you would need to show that despite low SAT |
| better than others), but even if you don't, make | | | | scores, you went on to do very well in college. If |
| sure you sit down and take more than a few | | | | you want to explain a terrible semester in college, |
| recent, real LSATs under testing conditions. | | | | you can't simply explain that you partied too hard |
| - Applying late in the admissions cycle. Plan to | | | | during that term. If you suffered from temporary |
| submit your applications in September or October. | | | | health issues, say so and offer evidence to |
| The "rolling admissions" schedule is not your friend | | | | corroborate your explanation. |
| if you don't get your applications in within the first | | | | - Choosing the wrong job or summer opportunity. |
| few months. Although applying late will hurt your | | | | Many applicants are under the misconception that |
| chances at some schools more than at others, | | | | summer or post-college experience in a law office |
| don't risk it. When your application reaches | | | | is so helpful to your admissions chances, that it's |
| admissions offices can significantly impact whether | | | | worth choosing for that reason alone. To be clear, |
| you receive acceptances, or are wait-listed into | | | | it's not a mistake to work in a law office if that |
| oblivion. | | | | sounds appealing to you (perhaps because you |
| - Asking for a letter of recommendation from | | | | want to get exposure to the realities of practicing |
| someone who can't write one based on first-hand | | | | law, or a particular area of practice); the mistake |
| experience. It's easy to fall into the trap of asking | | | | is choosing to work in a law office over some |
| for a recommendation from someone with a big | | | | other opportunity that is genuinely more |
| name or impressive title. The only time you should | | | | interesting to you, or fits your likely career path |
| consider someone's fame or position when | | | | more closely. So, if you're strongly interested in |
| weighing possible recommenders is to break a tie. | | | | issues related to the environment, do yourself a |
| Your first criterion must always be the extent to | | | | favor and find an interesting opportunity at a |
| which potential recommenders would be able to | | | | company or non-profit organization related to that |
| write about your ability to succeed in law school | | | | field. Law schools will make the connection |
| and the likelihood that you would contribute | | | | between Green Peace and environmental law. |
| positively to the law school community, based on | | | | - Ignoring location in school selection. Compared to |
| their personal knowledge of you. If you are | | | | almost any other degree, and certainly compared |
| choosing between two potential recommenders | | | | to a college degree, location matters much more |
| who know you equally well and who you believe | | | | for the usefulness of a law degree. If you earn |
| would be able to write an equally impressive letter | | | | your degree on the west coast, expect to have |
| on your behalf, only then should you consider their | | | | a much easier time finding work there than on |
| relative reputation or title. If you're deciding | | | | the east coast (and vice-versa). This effect |
| between a letter from a visiting assistant college | | | | becomes more prominent with decreasing school |
| professor who knows you well, and a prominent | | | | rank (a degree from a third-tier school won't |
| judge or alumnus of the law school whom you've | | | | travel nearly as well as a degree from a first-tier |
| never met, choose the professor. | | | | school). Because of this, when you're selecting a |
| - Submitting a resume that hasn't been | | | | school, you must give serious thought to the part |
| custom-tailored for the law school application | | | | of the country in which you'd like to live and |
| process. Law schools don't care about your | | | | practice. If facing a decision between school A, |
| computer skills! Although your standard resume | | | | ranked #50 but located in a part of the country |
| might include skills or abilities that are relevant for | | | | that's unappealing to you, and school B, ranked |
| a job hunt, these items should be removed from | | | | #70 but located in your dream city, it very often |
| your law school application resume. Of course, | | | | makes sense to choose school B. Do your |
| there are exceptions: If an item indicates | | | | research: Talk to students, alumni, a |
| something positive about your character or work | | | | knowledgeable law school admissions counselor, |
| ethic, list it even if it isn't particularly relevant to | | | | and / or the schools' career offices, to find out |
| law school. Remove work or volunteer experience | | | | where the schools' alumni end up practicing. |
| items when doing so is necessary to explain your | | | | |