Law School Expert HAS MOVED

PLEASE NOTE THIS IMPORTANT CHANGE

2009-02-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

Law School Expert Blog has MOVED to
http://www.lawschoolexpert.com/blog/

All new posts and comments will be made at
http://www.lawschoolexpert.com/blog/

It's still Ann Levine, and it's still completely candid, honest, optimistic and wise advice, but it's now at http://www.lawschoolexpert.com/blog/

Please subscribe at the new blog address
http://www.lawschoolexpert.com/blog/

Please change all bookmarks, google reader links, etc. to
http://www.lawschoolexpert.com/blog/

I promise to reward you with pithy, insightful information about the law school admission process!
Thanks for reading, thanks for following,
and thanks for sharing this blog with friends.

I look forward to your continued readership, feedback
and comments at:
http://www.lawschoolexpert.com/blog/

Ann

Law School Expert Blog News

2009-01-26T19:46:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys,
This is the first warning I'm issuing that the url for the blog will be changing in the next two weeks - it's going to be based on my LawSchoolExpert website.

The downside is that while things are in transition, I'm unable to comment (long, technically depressing story....)

.....but for some recent people who posted questions, I do want to answer them here:

First, Minah: You won't be rejected without an LSAT score. No one will read your file until it's complete.

And, for the person who submitted the work resume: If it was a good resume that showed your strengths then don't worry. Substance rules.

Goodnight everyone, and keep an eye out for the Great Blog Migration of 2009.....

Ann

Yale taking February LSAT this year

2009-01-20T09:43:00.001-08:00

See the Yale Law Blog for details.

Ann Levine Interviewed by LSAT Tutor Blog

2009-01-15T14:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Steve Schwartz for posting my interview on his LSAT Blog today.
In the interview I discuss the February LSAT, the LSAT writing sample, and common (awful) mistakes made on law school applications.

I look forward to your comments!

Law School Expert's 250th Blog Post

2009-01-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

I have been very busy assisting clients through the application process and have not had as much time as I would have liked to share my thoughts on the blog and/or respond individually to as many comments. I am reading everything and responding when I am able, and I do not want to post fluff, but only share information that will truly be useful to law school applicants. I have some fairly random thoughts for this time in the admission cycle that I would like to share.

Some housekeeping:
First, this is my 250th blog post. Thank you for reading with me along the journey, and thank you especially for telling your friends about the blog (especially friends considering applying to law school for the Fall 2010 admission cycle).

Second, I just re-launched a new design of www.LawSchoolExpert.com and would love any thoughts you have about the new look.

Third, I will soon be migrating this blog onto my own domain. Please don't be afraid if you come to read the blog and it suddenly looks professional and/or "pretty" - I promise it's still me, just a version of me planning to join 2009.

Fourth, many of you ask very specific questions about your situations - schools to apply to, your chances for admission, etc. I know these are the questions most pressing on your minds, and I do my best to answer them to the extent that I am able. Please be understanding about the fact that these are not questions that are amenable to simple answers; responding appropriately would require significant time to evaluate and consider all of the relevant issues. The blog format is not conducive to this, and -after all - I do give this kind of advice for a living and my clients must continue to be my first priority. Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time to leave positive feedback about the blog being helpful to you; that means a great deal to me and is the reason I spend the time to do this.

Lastly, I do want to tell you I am working on a book based on this blog and it will feature (anonymously) many of the questions I've been asked throughout the last 250 posts. Please stay tuned. It may not come out in time to help Fall 2009 applicants, but Fall 2010 applicants will benefit from all of your experiences and any kernels of wisdom I might have shared in response. Keep an eye out for that announcement in the next few months.

Ok, Now let's talk about law school admission trends/recent observations:

1. Applying late. It feels like more of you are applying later than ever before. This might just be because the December LSAT was a week later (and hence scores were a week later being released) but it definitely concerns me that so many people are still working on applications in mid-January. This is especially true for those of you retaking (or taking) the LSAT in February. I don't want anyone to panic reading this, but I do want you to have a Plan B in the back of your head. Plan B is retaking the LSAT in June/October and applying in September/October of Fall 2010. Of course, this only works if you have gainful employment or no need for gainful employment, but I just want to put this out there.

2. The waitlists haven't gone crazy yet, but they will. Don't get upset about a waitlist decision, just do something about it! If you sit around twiddling your thumbs instead of campaigning to get into a school, then you don't deserve the precious acceptance letter in the first place.

3. General impatience is an unfortunate trend. Please be polite to people who work at law schools. Most of them are not paid well, they are overworked, trying to do a good job, but mistakes do happen. Be professional in all of your dealings; remember that if you act like a jerk (or spoiled brat) these people have the power to walk right into the Dean of Admissions and share a story about the unkind applicant. (An important lesson for aspiring lawyers- treat secretaries/assistants very, very well.)

4. Overestimating your soft factors. I have heard from a lot of people this year touting their extensive, impressive work experience that - after reading 20-some-odd-thousand law school applications- is just not that impressive. This happens with diversity factors too - people who write diversity statements about things that have very little to do with the diversity they bring to the table and more about their parents, grandparents, brother, or best friends or neighbors.

The good news:
1. Law schools are acting predictably, and not crazily, this year.
2. Application rates are not as crazy as people predicted either.
3. I will still be here in the coming months to write about these issues, to share the trends I'm seeing, and to entertain your comments, questions and concerns.

Part III: Observations of the Legal Job Market

2009-01-05T14:25:00.000-08:00

9 to 5: 9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market & 5 Strategies for New Attorneys Entering the 2009 Legal Job Market – A 3 Part Series (Part 3 of 3)

By Amanda C. Ellis, Esq.

Parts 1 and 2 of this post examined 9 observations regarding the legal job market: (1) layoffs; (2) hiring freezes; (3) pay freezes and bonus cuts; (4) increased bureaucracy in lateral hiring decisions; (5) busy small firms; (6) hot practice areas; (7) geographical variance among practice areas; (8) a slow moving hiring process; and (9) importance of law school grades. For recent graduates looking for jobs or third-year law students who are expected to graduate in 2009 and have not secured permanent employment, I offer 5 strategies in light of these 9 observations.

5 Strategies for Attorneys Entering the 2009 Legal Job Market:

1. Look at smaller firms. Did you notice that 4 of the 9 observations discussed in Parts 1 and 2 applied specifically to large firms? And, did you notice that they were all negative observations? So much of the news we hear about the legal job market is from and about large firms. And, there is so much emphasis (some say too much emphasis) on large firms at the law school level. I am sure the focus on large firms during law school is attributable to the larger firms conducting on-campus interviews and establishing a presence among law students.

However, you must remember that the overwhelming majority of new law graduates do not begin their careers in large firms. The National Association for Legal Career Professionals conducted a study on attorneys who graduated in 2006 and found that only 20% went to work for large firms (defined as law firms with more than 100 attorneys); the majority of new graduates went to work for firms with fewer than 50 attorneys. So, while you may feel like your only employment option is with a big firm, there are many, many other firms out there – and, they are busy (see observation #4). It just may take a little work on your part to find them since they aren’t actively recruiting at law schools. Knowing which firms specialize in the hot practice areas will help!

2. Hang your own shingle. I am amazed at the resources and support system available for attorneys looking to open their own practices, and I imagine a significant number of new attorneys (even seasoned attorneys) don’t even realize they exist. Susan Cartier Liebel maintains the site Build Your Solo Practice and wrote a blog post in October suggesting that now, in a shaky economy, is the best time to start your own business. Susan also runs Solo Practice University, a web-based educational community where attorneys can learn from other solo practitioners, marketing consultants, technology consultants and other business professionals about how to plan, build and grow a solo practice.

Carolyn Elefant is another solo practitioner who blogs frequently at MyShingle.com about what it takes to make the leap to solo or small-firm practice. Carolyn (@carolynelefant), Susan (@SCartierLiebel) and a host of other solo practitioners actively engage in discussions on the social networking site Twitter. If you don’t have a Twitter account, create one (it’s free) and join their conversations! Additionally, most state and local bar associations also have sections or committees devoted to solo or small-firm practice and offer resources, including resources focused on starting your practice. If you have the entrepreneurial spirit, going solo might be a great option for you.

3. Network creatively. Networking is critical in a good economy and even more critical in our current economy. Every job seeker knows this so you must get creative with your networking. For example, if you had a career before entering law school, how can your previous career help you get a legal job? Perhaps you were a teacher or worked in the education field prior to law school? Network with your old contacts in the field and ask them which attorneys represent the school, the district, etc; if they don’t know, perhaps they can put you in touch with someone who does? Market yourself to firms/attorneys that specialize in education/school law and express your desire to continue your work in the field only in a different capacity (as a lawyer).

Another example of creative networking is to engage alumni from your college or high school or hometown who are also attorneys. Many colleges and universities have their own list-serves or networking groups for alumni attorneys; if your college doesn’t, create one! Finally, if you haven’t added social networking to your networking mix, do so now! This is a topic worthy of an entirely separate blog so I won’t go into great detail here. At a minimum, you should maintain a profile on LinkedIn.

4. Consider relocating to another legal market. Consider other legal markets where you have connections or ties; if the other markets are thriving, particularly in practice areas in which you are interested, consider relocating for a few years.

5. Clerk for a judge on a temporary basis. I know several attorneys who recently clerked in a non-traditional capacity. One attorney clerked for a federal judge for a few months while the judge’s career clerk was on medical leave. Another attorney was hired for a specified term (one year, I believe) to serve as an additional clerk to the bankruptcy judges in the Northern District of Texas after the 2005 Bankruptcy Reform Legislation led to a significant increase in consumer bankruptcy filings. It is certainly conceivable that the current increase in consumer and commercial bankruptcy filings could create a demand for similar temporary positions. Keep your eyes open for positions like these. The website for the Federal Judiciary lists employment opportunities in the Federal Judiciary.

In sum, do not let the negative news headlines discourage you. If you entered law school knowing you wanted to be a lawyer, there will be an opportunity for you; it will just take some longer to find that opportunity so be patient. My first-year torts professor (now, the President of the University of Texas) gave our class some advice that I still remember and believe to be true – no matter where you rank in your class, you will be doing something in 10 years that truly makes you happy. He was right! And, I know the same is true for you!

9 Observations About the Legal Job Market - Part II

2009-01-04T08:42:00.000-08:00

9 to 5: 9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market & 5 Strategies for New Attorneys Entering the 2009 Legal Job Market – A 3 Part Series (Part 2 of 3)

By Amanda C. Ellis, Esq.

Part 1 of this post examined 4 observations regarding the current legal job market and all 4 observations concerned large firms – (1) layoffs; (2) hiring freezes; (3) pay freezes and bonus cuts; and (4) increased bureaucracy in lateral hiring decisions. Part 2 of this post continues with more observations of the current legal job market; this part examines observations 5-9.

9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market (cont.):

1. Smaller firms are busy. Almost all of my small-firm clients are busier now than they were a year ago. Some are litigation boutique firms that are busy as a result of litigation related to failed financial institutions; others are bankruptcy boutique firms that are thriving as a result of the increased bankruptcy filings. And, many are busy as a result of corporate clients seeking smaller firms with smaller fees, a trend that is likely to continue. My small-firm clients definitely have a positive, upbeat vibe.

2. Certain practice areas thrive in an economic downturn. Certain practice areas spike during economic downturns. Bankruptcy is an obvious example. Litigation is another practice area that usually spikes during downturns; securities and white-collar litigation are expected to be strong during the current recession. Labor and employment litigation usually increases during recessions as well since more companies implement layoffs. IP litigation also remains a strong practice area in most markets.

3. “Hot” practice areas vary by legal market. The demand for attorneys in a particular practice area varies by legal market – what is hot in one market could be dead in another market. For example, asbestos litigation is cold in Texas due to tort reform but hot in California and Pennsylvania. Even among the practice areas that thrive during an economic downturn, there is still some variation. For example, there will always be a greater demand for bankruptcy attorneys in those markets where the majority of the large Chapter 11 cases are filed such as New York and Delaware. We are witnessing this trend today.

4. Firms (of all sizes) take longer to make hiring decisions. Obtaining a lateral position takes longer during a recession. Firms of all sizes are now more particular about which candidates they interview and take their time deciding which candidates to interview. Recently, I’ve seen firms take as long as 4 months before deciding to interview someone. And, I’ve seen firms take as long as 6 months before eliminating candidates from the interview process. So, don’t assume that the firm is passing simply because you haven’t heard from them!

5. Law school grades are more important than ever. At least 90% of the firms I work with (both large and small) inquire about lateral candidates’ law school grades. I won’t get into a discussion here on whether law school grades are more important than the rank of the law school, but I can tell you that the majority of the firms I work with scrutinize a lateral candidate’s grades more closely than the rank of the candidate’s law school. In the past month, I’ve seen 3 large firms move forward with candidates who graduated in the top 5% from a Tier 4 law school; this illustrates that a candidate can do well at a lower tier school and still land in a large firm. The one caveat I would emphasize is that a large firm typically only hires candidates from Tier 4 law schools within the firm’s legal market. For example, a graduate of a Tier 4 school in Texas will have a harder time finding a job outside of Texas even if he or she finished in the top 5% whereas large Texas firms are likely to consider the candidate.

Certain legal markets give greater weight to grades than others. Based on my experience placing lateral attorneys in multiple states, Texas firms have one of the most stringent grading scales. The major firms in Texas base their hiring criteria on the U.S. News Law School Rankings. Generally, a candidate from a Top 15 law school must finish in the top 40-50% in order to qualify as a potential hire for large Texas firms. Candidates from other Tier 1 schools typically must finish in the top 15-25% and candidates from Tier 2 schools must finish in the top 10-15% in order to qualify. Candidates from Tier 3 and Tier 4 schools typically must finish in the Top 5-10% in order to meet the hiring standards for large firms in Texas (though certain Tier 4 schools are favored over others). I’ve worked with firms in other legal markets that are not this strict; for example, the cutoff for Tier 1 schools is the top 50% in some markets. However, I predict that as the recession lingers, many firms will gravitate toward a more stringent scale like the one used by many large firms in Texas.

This part of the post concludes the 9 observations of the current legal job market; part 3 will examine 5 strategies new attorneys can employ as they seek to enter the 2009 legal job market – a market described by the 9 observations in Parts 1 and 2.

9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market

2009-01-02T20:47:00.000-08:00

I am not a career counselor, but everyone applying to law school should be thinking about the marketability of a lawyer's skills and education. I called upon a real expert in legal hiring, Amanda Ellis, president of Amanda Ellis Legal Search (www.aellislegal.com). Amanda focuses on the placement of bankruptcy attorneys nationwide and of all attorneys in Texas, with a special emphasis on attorneys relocated to Texas. She very kindly agreed to write a 3-part post about the legal job market for new attorneys, which should be of great interest to my readers.

9 to 5: 9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market & 5 Strategies for New Attorneys Entering the 2009 Legal Job Market – A 3 Part Series (Part 1 of 3)
By Amanda C. Ellis, Esq.

If there’s one question I’ve been asked repeatedly over the past few months it is this: “how has the economy affected the legal job market?” In the past few weeks, I’ve also received numerous inquiries from contacts on Twitter and friends who are in law school about how the current legal job market and economy will affect new attorneys graduating in 2009 (or those who graduated in 2008 and are still looking for a job). I’ve compiled a list of 9 trends I’ve observed in the current legal market and have outlined 5 strategies to help new attorneys find employment in the 2009 legal job market. Because of the length of this post, I’ve divided the post into 3 separate blog entries: (Part 1) observations 1-4 which happen to be observations about large law firms; (Part 2) observations 5-9; and (Part 3) the 5 strategies.

9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market:

1. Large firms lay off associates and staff, rescind offers. According to the Law Shucks Layoff Tracker, 1,762 lawyers lost their jobs in 2008 (this information is also contained in The American Lawyer’s The Layoff List, a comprehensive list of all large firms that eliminated associates during 2008). The layoff trend began in January 2008, primarily in firms with large structured finance practices; however, the trend spread rapidly in the fall months as certain financial institutions collapsed and credit markets froze. The disaster in the financial markets also caused some large firms to pause and reconsider some outstanding offers. At least one large law firm rescinded offers to 2Ls, and I’ve heard from lateral candidates about a few large firms that rescinded offers to lateral candidates because they wanted to see how quickly the economy rebounds.

2. Large firms invoke hiring freezes (or disguised freezes). In late October, a large firm announced that it had instituted a hiring freeze on lateral associates and staff; the firm made it clear that the freeze would not apply to the firm’s 2009 summer associate class. I’ve seen many other firms take similar steps though they don’t call their action a hiring freeze. Probably the most common approach I’ve seen is the one where firms fill their current hiring needs by pulling associates from slow practice areas – for example, moving a structured finance associate to the firm’s bankruptcy section. Other firms that normally post all of their job openings on their websites have removed all job openings. Another common approach is firms informing candidates (or recruiters) that they don’t have any hiring needs at this point and plan to assess their hiring needs in “a few months.”

3. Large firms freeze associate salaries and cut associate bonuses. It probably doesn’t surprise you that large firms’ bonus announcements to date have been significantly lower than 2007 bonuses. The Above the Law blog tracks 2008 bonus announcements and details in its Associate Bonus Watch. Additionally, at least two large firms have announced salary freezes. I’ve even seen a few firms (primarily, firms dependent on their real estate practices) actually reduce associates’ base salaries; in each case, the firms explained that their actions were preventative measures to avoid layoffs.

4. Large firms seek firm-wide approval on lateral hiring decisions. Most lateral hiring decisions are made by either the department head or by the firm’s hiring committee. In the last few months, I’ve seen more and more firms seeking firm-wide approval on hiring decisions. For example, an IP partner of an AmLaw 100 firm recently informed me that he would have to obtain approval from all IP partners firm-wide before interviewing an IP lateral candidate. It did not matter that the candidate graduated in the top of her class from a top 10 law school; the firm implemented the firm-wide review and approval process as a checks and balances approach in light of the economic downturn.

While observations 1-4 may sounds grim and depressing, you must keep the news in perspective. For example, look at the 1,762 layoffs in the context of the total number of attorneys in the US -- 1,143,358 in 2007 – we are talking about 0.15% of all US attorneys. Also, the observations relate specifically to large firms, yet the vast majority of new attorneys begin their careers at smaller firms (discussed further in Part 3). Part 2 of this post will continue with observations 5-9 and will include some positive observations about the current legal market.

New Year's Resolutions for Law School Applicants

2008-12-31T17:05:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to one of my favorite LawSchoolExpert posts ever - New Year Resolutions for Law School Applicants. I posted it a year ago, and I hope this year's class of law school applicants finds it just as comforting as last year's.

Happy New Year.

Law School Expert's Best of 2008

2008-12-29T14:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all of my readers for your wonderful comments and feedback this year.

Over 63,547 of you visited the Law School Expert blog 93,719 times. WOW. Thank you. I love how many of you left comments and sent me e-mails about how the blog has helped you through the law school admission process.

I'd like to share with you my favorite posts from this year: (There were 122 posts, so choosing them proved difficult)

January: The benefits of attending law school part time. and 5 Things You Can Do To Be Admitted Off the Waitlisted

February: Law School Discussion Driving You Crazy

March: Thinking About Multiple Seat Deposits

April: What Do The Law School Rankings Really Mean?

June: Most Popular Pre-Law Questions and What a Law School Admission Consultant Can Do

July: Choosing an LSAT Prep Course

August: Tips for Law School Applicants Interested in Public Interest Law and Top 5ou S Mistakes Made When Re-Applying to Law School

September: Over 30 and Applying to Law School and Should You Re-Take the LSAT

October: Are You Suffering From Application Panic Syndrome? (my personal favorite post of the year!)

November: Mistakes to Avoid in Law School Applications (with a whopping 32 comments!)

December: How Binding is Binding Early Decision?

Thanks so much for the great inspiration - many of my topics come from questions and comments posted to the blog and things that my law school admission consulting clients express concern regarding.

Wishing you all a wonderful and happy New Year in 2009.

December LSAT Scores Out Today!

2008-12-29T14:31:00.000-08:00

Just heard back from my first client about December LSAT scores - Congrats on the big increase, B! Looking forward to hearing more news..... Check your email.... (not to make you totally paranoid, but keep your eyes out!)
Good luck!
And for those of you who haven't yet applied, let's get started ASAP. I'm here to help.

Holiday Cheer

2008-12-24T17:03:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone! In honor of the holiday season, today's blog post exists to congratulate some of my law school admission consulting clients who have heard good news from the following schools:

M - Miami, PSU, Drexel (with scholarship)
R - Cornell, Georgetown
S - UCLA, Georgetown, Berkeley
D - William & Mary
B - Richmond
H - Georgetown
K - Wisconsin, BU, W&M (with scholarship!)
J - Georgetown, Washington University, Fordham (with scholarship!), USC (with scholarship!)
M- Baltimore, Rutgers Newark, Suffolk, Catholic
K - Rutgers Newark
E - U. Texas and UCLA (with scholarship!)
E - U. of Miami
T- Marquette (with scholarship!), DePaul, University of Miami
A- Rutgers Newark (with scholarship), Maryland, Catholic (with scholarship!)
L- Iowa (full tuition scholarship!), George Mason
J - NIU, DePaul, Marquette, John Marshall
M - Whittier (after applying last year to a bunch of schools and not getting in anywhere!)
K - U. Illinois (with scholarship!), W&M (with scholarship!)
A- Quinnipiac, Catholic, Widener (with scholarship!)
N- Case Western (early decision!)
J- St. Thomas
C- Nova
L- UVA, W&M
J- U. Miami

I love to hear about your success stories. Please continue to keep me posted. Happy Holidays to everyone.

How Binding is "Binding Early Decision"?

2008-12-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

"Exactly how binding is early decision?"

Thanks to Nathaniel for this great (and timely) question.

LSAC lists obligations of the law schools and obligations of law school applicants in the admission process, and one of the key obligations of a law school applicant is in regard to binding early decision programs. I urge all law school applicants to read this one-page fact sheet.

The bottom line is that, after June 15th, law schools will be able to see where you've submitted seat deposits. If a school sees that you have multiple deposits, the school enforce any policy it has with regard to withdrawing offers of admission.

My personal advice:
You're entering a profession where your success will be based largely upon whether others regard you as being good for what you promise. It's a little early to start playing games with your reputation. Plus, you'll learn in law school that although it's not against the law to break a contract, there are certain liabilities and downsides for breaching a contract. While a law school won't send the police to cuff you, bring you to their campus, and make you pay the tuition, a law school very well might say "Nevermind" to your admission offer, as could the other school where you've submitted a deposit. Then where would you be? And would all of this trouble have been worth it?

For those of you applying for Fall 2010 admission and wondering about Early Decision admission to law school, this link should answer your questions.

Your Law School Admission Questions Answered!

2008-12-18T07:23:00.000-08:00

Hello law school applicants! I am currently accepting suggestions for blog topics..... Fire away by leaving a new comment here - and please give yourself a name (rather than "Anonymous").

I look forward to answering your questions.

Ann

101 Ways to A Higher LSAT: Featuring Law School Expert!

2008-12-09T07:35:00.001-08:00

I am very excited to announce that I am a featured case study in the book: 101 Ways to Score Higher on Your LSAT: What You Need to Know About the Law School Admission Test Explained Simply by Linda C. Ashar.

If you're just starting to think about the LSAT (especially those of you applying for Fall 2010 admission and beyond), this book is a great, unbiased resource from a company that's not trying to sell you anything.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the book.

After taking the December LSAT - 3 tips

2008-12-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

You took the December LSAT today? My three most important tips:

1. DO NOT SPEND TIME TODAY ON DISCUSSION BOARDS. If you feel good walking out of the test, don't change your opinion of your own performance based on what the mob says on discussion boards. Why would you trust total (anonymous) strangers over your own instincts? Instead of fueling hits to Law School Discussion and Top-Law-Schools today, rent a guilty pleasure movie (or download it, I'm sounding my age by saying you have to "rent" it), enjoy a glass of wine, and only surround yourself with people who are supportive of your endeavors.

2. Thinking about canceling your LSAT score? I've written quite a bit on that topic since starting this blog. (I can answer a few questions in the comments section, but can't give specific advice about whether you should cancel within the blog format. There are just too many factors to consider.) Please also remember that taking the February LSAT is less than ideal for Fall admission.

3. I know that LSAC said you'd get your scores in January. And they might be telling you the truth. But last year scores were released on Dec. 21st. Just keep this in mind so you're mentally prepared to submit all of your apps before the end of the month.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and tell your friends who plan to apply for Fall 2010 admission to take the June or October LSAT so they don't have to go through this agony.

December or February LSAT? 6 Tips for LSAT Test Day.

2008-12-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

Here are the 4 most common questions that I'm hearing this week from people scheduled to take the December LSAT:

1. I have the flu. What do I do?
2. This is my first time taking the LSAT and I'm not ready. What do I do?
3. If I postpone until February, is that too late in the rolling admission process?
4. Why do law schools say they will accept February LSAT scores?

If December would be your first time taking the LSAT and you're feeling unprepared or ill, then you have 2 options: (1) take the LSAT and see how you feel about it, keeping in mind you can cancel it if you really feel terrible during the exam, or (2) wait until the February LSAT.

If it's not your first time, you have to decide how you feel about relying on your previous score(s). If you are ok with the options that score will leave you in terms of a schools list, then go ahead and submit your applications and see what happens. If you aren't happy with your results, you can take the LSAT next June or October and apply early in the cycle for Fall 2010.

If you are someone who is scoring in the 140s on practice tests, please don't take the exam when you're sick. You'll come back with a score that won't get you serious consideration at any school, and this is especially true if your GPA is not strong. Plus, you'll have to deal with the ego blow that will haunt you whenever you do retake the test, and you'll have to write a pathetic "Boy, I sure do wish I'd done better on the LSAT" Addendum.

Waiting until February is not ideal, but if you get your applications submitted in the next few weeks you may be able to mitigate some of the disadvantage from applying so late in the cycle. Of course, it's always a gamble to come up with a schools list without a final LSAT score. You can create a schools list based on the range of practice LSAT results you've gotten, erring on the side of your lower scores to be safe and to make up for applying late in the cycle.

Lastly, I know schools say they "accept" February LSAT scores. However, you need to understand what that means. The earliest your application will be reviewed is March, at which point most schools will already have dozens or hundreds of applicants on their waitlists. So, in order for you to be admitted you would need to have an LSAT score that makes them want to take you over the others already on the waitlist. When schools say they "accept" February LSATs, it means they hold out for those really competitive candidates.

6 TIPS FOR LSAT TEST DAY:

I hope those of you taking the LSAT this weekend are ready, healthy, and well rested.
1. Go in with the attitude of proving what you can do.
2. Don't think about your final score.
3. Look at each question as a challenge that you welcome.
4. Don't worry about the guy next to you.
5. Don't talk to anyone during breaks (especially people who talk about already having a 172 but trying for a 179).
6. Do what works for you - eat the snacks that work for you, entertain your own superstitions, and try not to get distracted by rude proctors or clicking pencils. After all, those factors will be present in law school and during the bar exam - get used to them now.

Good luck everyone!

A Note to My Readers

2008-12-02T10:47:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to my loyal readers - I just started running Google Ads as an experiment. For the first 18 months of this blog, I did not run any advertisements. I have decided, however, that I'm not scared that you might learn about my "competition" - rather, I welcome you to learn about other law school admission consulting options. I think, after exploring the options, you'll be rather impressed by all that I offer - particularly my accessibility, affordability, and the quality of the coaching you receive. I welcome your comments about having Google Ads on the blog, as this is an experiment and I want the blog to offer valuable information to law school applicants.

And, yes, I am currently accepting clients who are taking the December 2008 LSAT. I always offer a free initial consultation if you have questions about how we could work together.

If you sign up for my Option A "The Works" package between today and December 15th, you can get 10% off the total price by entering the coupon code DECLSAT.

Good luck on the December LSAT!

Choosing an Area of Law as a Specialty

2008-11-26T13:58:00.001-08:00

You've probably heard (or read) my speech about not "picking a major" when applying to law school unless you can really, really, really back it up.

Anna Ivey's recent post about the downside of choosing International Law as an area of specialization when applying to law school is extremely relevant and I hope you'll find it helpful (although I'm sure a portion of my audience will find it discouraging).

I do agree with Anna on this point: most people applying to law school really have no idea what being a lawyer is really all about. I think that Anna has a great idea - if you're interested primarily in a specific area of law, you should try out that area as your profession before trying out the law part. (For example, try out the Entertainment Industry before trying out the Entertainment Law Industry).

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

LSAT Advice

2008-11-26T08:29:00.001-08:00

I'm not an LSAT tutor, but sometimes my clients give me great tips to pass on. Here are a sampling:

From S:

I am feeling much better about my LSAT progress ever since I finished the PowerScore books and utilized the materials at: www.testsherpa.com .

Back when I was in college my favorite calculus professor used to say, "If you don't understand a particular concept in your text book, don't give up . . . just get a different text book." He was right. Often times a different text author would explain something in a way that even a knucklehead like me could understand. Eventually I would find that author.

The games were still killing me so with my teacher's words in mind I went online looking for a different explanation, and I found TestSherpa. The owner of TestSherpa gave me links to his four-hour long "Logic Games Workshop" and I'll be doing that tonight at home, after I leave work. I have a feeling that's going to solidify things a lot for me and then I'll resume taking practice tests tomorrow. The material's good and helpful. Why does he charge so little? I'm thinking maybe he's a disgruntled ex-LSAC employee or something.

Anyway, I think www.testsherpa.com is a wonderful little find. I'll let you know how much I improve. I have a feeling I'll have some good news about TestSherpa to share with others.

From J:

By the way, the Powerscore Logical Reasoning Bible is also good. I liked the Logic Games one so much I decided to order another to try to further improve my Logical Reasoning scores, and I'm glad I did. Both books include good information and techniques for approaching formal logic and conditional reasoning, and they interact well with each other. I was in the US for the last few weeks and skimmed through a few of the general-purpose LSAT prep books (Princeton Review, Barrons etc) in a bookstore, and I was amazed at how superficial and generic they were in their advice. I've always been quite suspicious of the whole standardized-test-prep racket, so I feel strange writing these gushy testimonials, but Powerscore really does offer exceptionally effective methods.

Applying to Yale Law, and Applying ED t o Another School?

2008-11-25T13:52:00.001-08:00

A very interesting (and a tiny bit self-serving) post from the Yale Law Admissions blog.

Why I Help People Apply to Law School

2008-11-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

I got a great phone call today from a client I helped 3 years ago in her law school application process. She had a REALLY low LSAT score - I think it was a 140 or something. And she has sent me a new client every year for the last 3 years. And today she called to tell me she's graduating from law school - and graduating as a member of the law review and on the moot court board. And she wanted my address to send me an invitation to her graduation!

Calls like this make my whole day! And they only emphasize that the LSAT isn't everything, and that if you really submit the best possible application materials, there is hope.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Concluding a Personal Statement

2008-11-20T10:21:00.001-08:00

Most of my law school admission consulting clients struggle to state the reasons why they are applying to a certain law school. I want to offer some hints and tricks in this regard:

1. Do I have to say why I want to go to Law School X?
No. You don't. Unless X Law School asks you to, and then - yes - you do.
And if they offer this as an optional essay topic, and you don't do it, then - yes- I think (as a former director of admissions) that you're being lazy.

2. Is there some advantage to saying why I want to go to Law School X?
Yes. If you can convince them, they'll be more likely to admit you rather than wait list you and make you prove you deserve a coveted admission letter that they'll then have to report for rankings purposes.

3. So, what can I possibly say?
It's true - sometimes law schools just don't seem to be that different from one another, especially when they are ranked similarly.

Here are some tips:
a. Don't say you love their Environmental Law program if nothing in your application supports your interest in Environmental Law.
b. Don't pick a study abroad program as your reason; you can do any ABA school's study abroad summer program and transfer the credits (generally).
c. Don't list reasons that could be applied to any law school equally like 'esteemed faculty' or 'national reputation' or 'bar passage rate.' Be specific.
d. If you're applying part time, tell them why. Otherwise they'll think you're just using the part time program to be admitted through the "back door."

Good luck, and I hope I've inspired you to do a little more research and critical thinking about why you're choosing each law school on your list.

The Best Personal Statement Samples

2008-11-17T17:11:00.001-08:00

BU has posted some amazing personal statement samples. They are the best I've seen on the Internet. So, this is for all of you who love to beg me for examples of law school personal statements.

5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Law School

2008-11-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

Don West, Jr . is THE guy. I admit, I was his unofficial campaign manager when he ran for SBA president 10 years ago, and the first in line for a hug when he won. And so it is no surprise to me that he is now SuperLawyer of the Universe. So, I asked Don to share with my readers his thoughts on the "Five Things I Wish I'd Known Before Law School." As someone who went to law school with Don, I can tell you he put a lot of thought into this and into his own experience during those very important 3 years. And, I think our continuing friendship proves his point about the importance of networking while in law school. So, without further ado..... Here's Don:

When Ann asked me to write a posting for her, my first response was, “Sure, no problem.” But upon further review of the question she posed, “What are five things you wished you knew before applying to law school?” That question ultimately caused me a severe case of writer’s block. There were so many unknowns and variables that I simply did not understand before I attended law school in 1997 that I was not sure what was valuable and what could be trimmed as trivial or inconsequential. I share all of that in part to apologize to my great friend Ann for the extreme delay in comprising this list of “Five things I wished I knew before I applied to law school”, so here it goes:

1) An understanding of the business principles of the legal practice. In most law schools excellent instruction is provided on legal reasoning, legal theory, research and writing. However, in many instances we are acquiring these skills for the purpose of generating an income to support ourselves and our families. Most law schools fall short in preparing students for handling the business behind the practice of law. It is important for all of us as legal practitioners to also be astute business men and women as it is a foundational element to our professional craft. I wish I had a more thorough understanding of this point going into law school.

2) An understanding of the value of networking. Law School Campus. In a way your law school becomes a part of your extended family. I say this because once you graduate with your Juris Doctor degree you are essentially married to that particular institution. So, no matter what your experience or opinion of the place, when people ask, “where you went to law school?” your alma mater is a name you cannot escape. I suppose you can get a new JD, but I have not met that person in my journeys just yet. With these facts in mind, the individuals that attend law school with you will be your life-long “partners” as you all progress from a common starting point. Understanding the basic principles of professional networking and utilizing the knowledge while on your law school campuses will reap a lifetime of rewards and many genuinely enhancing relationships.

3) An understanding of the value of networking. American Bar Association, Local Bar Associations & other Professional Organizations. Many people say, “You should go to law school where you intend to practice law.” I believe that one of the reasons that this is mentioned is because of the network you build in that local community in addition to the benefits of learning the laws of the local jurisdiction in your classes. The American Bar Association and your local bar association(s) can also be career long partners for your professional growth and development. Getting involved early allows you to explore the plethora of committees and sections throughout these organizations. Active participation will allow the astute networker to build meaningful national and local contacts to aid in your career’s numerous twists and turns.

4) A greater appreciation for academic excellence. As most law students know, grades are an important part of the law school process. I knew this fact going in, but I really could not articulate all the reasons why they were important. During my first year in law school I had the privilege of meeting Mary Ann Connors and she shared this insight, “Law students with superior academic records correlate into faster producing workers on the job. The skills they mastered in keeping up with their classroom assignments amidst all of life’s challenges are the same skills a law firm needs from its associates.” In addition to the great benefits of post-graduation employment, many law firms will ask to see your law transcripts five, ten and even fifteen years after you have graduated.

5) An understanding of the globalizing economy. Our next generation of super lawyers will work in a complex highly international marketplace. Understanding how the world is flattening and how a flat world impacts the legal sectors is an essential tool for the millennial lawyer.

Thanks, Don!!!!!!! I know this is really important and sage advice for all law school applicants and pre-law students and truly appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts with my readers.For more about Don, see DonWestJr.com

Best Law Schools for Public Interest

2008-11-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

National Jurist just picked the Best Law Schools for Public Interest, so check it out....

Tips for December LSAT Takers

2008-11-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

Here are some previous posts that will offer insight and advice for those of you taking (or retaking) the LSAT in December:

Pre-LSAT Advice (with just a caveat - I am no longer accepting clients with LSATs below the mid-140s because I have not seen them be overwhelmingly successful in their admission attempts recently and I do not want to give anyone false hope - only realistic hope.)

Countdown to the December LSAT (it's a little early for this pre-Thanksgiving advice but I hope it will still make you feel better)

What if you don't feel ready for the December LSAT? What are your alternatives? When reading this post, remember it's from last year so you have to change the dates in your head.....

Mistakes to Avoid in Law School Applications

2008-11-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, been reviewing a lot of applications this weekend so I want to tell you of some common mistakes people have been making:

1. Pay attention to whether a school wants you to list things in chronological order or reverse chronological order.
2. Don't submit a 4 page personal statement when 3 will do. Especially when a school has a 3 page limit.
3. Don't forget to check a school's guidelines for their personal statement topics.
4. Don't try to write a diversity statement if you have nothing to say. If it feels like a stretch, it is a stretch.
5. Be very, very careful about the things you attach electronically. Turn off Track Changes!!!!

Hope this helps!

Dean's Certification Letters

2008-10-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, what is the deal with these? I know I'm supposed to be answering the questions and not asking them, but they just started really appearing on the scene a few years ago and schools are incredibly inconsistent about what they mean by them, when you need one, whether or not there's a form, who should fill it out, etc. I thought I'd open this up and just let everyone share about their lovely Dean's Cert Letter experiences, any feelings you have about them, anything you've learned about what certain schools mean when they ask for one, etc. Have a good time.
(This is an experiment in my blogging career... Let's see what happens! Besides, I don't have time to keep answering all of these wonderful comments so have fun answering each other!!! I look forward to reading them myself)

Thank You!

2008-10-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say thanks to all of my readers - we hit some major records this weekend.
More than 10,000 people read my blog this month!
On Friday alone, almost 2,000 of you checked my site!

In appreciation of your readership and Loyalty, I'm offering 2 rewards:
1. If you sign up for my Option A "The Works" package on or before Friday, October 31st, 2008, I will honor the following coupon code for a surprise discount at checkout. (Enter Coupon Code: Blog Reader)

2. I will entertain any blog post topics you would like me to write about, and will try to write about then in the next week or two. Just leave comments to this post with your suggestions.

Now, since my blog readership has grown so much answering the comments has been getting a bit overwhelming. So, I'm going to ask everyone to abide by the following courtesies:

1. Please use a name when commenting, even it's a pretend name. It's way too confusing to answer to "Anonymous" because it is unclear which anonymous reader I'm responding to.

2. There are certain questions that are not conducive to being answered in a blog format. These include your chances at particular schools, whether or not you should retake the LSAT, and what you should write your personal statement about. These are the kinds of questions you need a law school admission counselor to answer, and I always offer free initial consultations to anyone considering using my services. See www.lawschoolexpert.com for more information.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. And thank you so much for all of the nice comments about how much you appreciate my blog!

Ann

More about Retaking the LSAT in December

2008-10-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

One of my former clients who writes the pithy postings about her 1L year has a funny scenario that is very typical law school classroom fare so definitely check it out. She also read my posting yesterday about people who improved their LSATs in December and reminded me of the following:

"P.S. Regarding LSAT score retaking, don't forget me - 160 in June to 173 in December!
P.P.S. I still think that going through the Admissions process was harder than actual law school."

Have a good weekend everyone!

Should You Re-Take the LSAT

2008-10-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, LSAT scores are out. (Boy, am I glad I was right about that early release! Phew!).

So, you're either ready to go ahead and put together your schools list and apply to law schools or else you're agonizing about the pros and cons of re-taking the exam in December. (or both!)

I know what you're worried about:

1. You're concerned about rolling admissions and taking advantage of applying early.

2. You're concerned about the likelihood of actually improving your score enough to make it worthwhile.

3. You don't know which schools will average multiple scores and which rely on the higher score.

4. You don't know how to explain away this score in an addendum.

5. You're freaked out about spending more time and money on this #@@!*&$^@ing test.

So, what advice is the wise "LawSchoolExpert" lady going to give you tonight?
First, relax. You're exhausted from the anticipation and anxiety. Your score might look better to you in the morning.

Then, once you've taken a deep breath and gotten some sleep (or had a few drinks, whatever works for you : ), check out this post I wrote last year about the decision whether to retake the LSAT in December.

Some peppy news:
1. I had an a client who re-took the LSAT in December when his original score was a 167, got a 171 and is now at NYU Law School.
2. I had a client last year who jumped from a 157 to a 164 to a 173.

Some realistic news:
1. I had a client last year whom I thought should not retake the LSAT but she insisted and got the exact same score as her original. She is at a Top 20 law school, by the way, despite her LSAT being way below its 25th percentile.

What does this tell you? It means you have to know yourself. You have to analyze the likelihood of having a different (and better) result. And you are way too exhausted to make that call tonight, so get some rest and call me in the morning. I'll be here.

And, yes, I am still accepting clients for Fall 2009 admission...

Are you Suffering from APS? 3 Things To Do to Avoid Panic.

2008-10-21T06:59:00.001-07:00

My husband came up with a name for a syndrome I'm seeing a lot of right now - "Application Panic Syndrome." There are many specific (and cumulative) causes of APS, including:

1. Seeing the LSAC common application form.

2. Trying to remember every job you've ever held and how many hours you worked when you were in college ten years ago.

3. Waiting for your LSAT score.

4. Watching Law School Discussion and Top-Law-Schools and seeing that (a) some people may have already been admitted to law schools; (b) some people have already applied to law school; and (c) those people are really enjoying their bragging rights (and are probably the same people who will be known as "jerks" in your section next fall~!!).

5. Trying to come up with the most brilliant and effective law school personal statement ever written.

So, what can you do to treat APS? Here are 3things that can help:

1. Get yourself on a timeline. Approach one piece of the application process at a time. Stick to the timeline. Knowing what to prioritize and how long to struggle with each ingredient is key to avoiding the panic that overwhelms almost every law school applicant. (And those who aren't affected probably aren't spending as much effort on the process as they should be, quite honestly).

I give each of my law school admission consulting clients a personalized timeline. I want everyone to take advantage of the rolling admissions process as much as possible, and to avoid feeling overwhelmed. You may have fallen behind where you'd originally hoped to be, but it doesn't mean you should pack up and wait for the next admission cycle. Just be proactive NOW.

2. Don't fixate on any one part of the application process. If it's been weeks of toiling on your personal statement, put it aside for a week and take care of everything else, then look at it anew or just begin again with a fresh slate. In either event, remember that you have a sense of humor and try to write a silly (pretend) personal statement just to take the edge off. This is why I take my clients through a brainstorming exercise and questionnaire. I'm a big fan of flushing out ideas.

3. Call someone who can offer perspective. It might be a parent, a friend, a sibling - whomever that person is in your life who motivates you, calms you down, and makes you feel empowered all in one conversation. (Or, of course, it could be your law school admission consultant! You're paying for a coach and that person should be available to you in your moments of panic, weakness, frustration, and exhaustion as well as when you're celebrating).

Hang in there this week. October LSAT takers, concentrate on those things within your power until Friday night. And, yes, I'll be available this weekend! December LSAT takers, you're up next and I'll start posting tips and tricks for y'all soon. (I just got back from Alabama and I don't want to give up saying "y'all" quite yet, so please bear with me).

And, in the words of my high school AP Government teacher (whom I visited this weekend in Huntsville), for all of you suffering from APS, Bless Your Heart.

When the Economy Lags.....

2008-10-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

Law school applications increase when there are popular law related television shows and when the economy is in a downturn. What better way to duck out of the job market for a few years and increase your chances of a good job when (hopefully) the economy is on an upswing again. This is especially true with regard to top-ranked law schools because people are even more concerned with post-graduation employment than usual. However, I also think it will encourage people to take scholarship offers and attend (relatively cheaper) public schools since loans and cash are problematic at this point.

See Brian Leiter's post today.

6 Things You Didn't Know About Me

2008-10-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

My amazing web marketing woman, Lorrie Thomas at WebMarketingTherapy, actually blog-tagged me this morning - whatever that means. I think it's like a perverse chain letter but for blogs. So now I am supposed to blog about the 6 Things You Didn't Know About Me.

Here Goes:

1. I felt compelled to start this at 6:43 a.m. for the simple reason that it's in my in-box. I cannot let things sit in my in-box. It's compulsive. I check e-mail constantly and worry I'm not quite fast enough. Even though I didn't have coffee yet and it's 6:48 a.m., and I parked my two daughters in front of Elmo in order to do it. (Lorrie, does this count, or is it a cop out in the things to know about me? I'm pretty sure my readers already figured this one out.)

2. My sister is getting married next weekend in Huntsville, Alabama, which is actually where I graduated from high school.

3. A career in higher education came naturally. I was born on a college campus (Syracuse University) and because my father is a professor/dean, I always lived in college towns. I even was admitted to a PhD in Higher Ed Program when I worked at the University of Denver College of Law. In fact, I have never lived more than a few miles from a university. Ever.

4. I knit.

5. I am the Santa Barbara Tri-Counties Regional Board Chair of the Anti-Defamation League, which works to educate and advocate for the equal treatment of all people.

6.Ok, here's the big secret. (I saved it for #6). It's also the reason some of you ask me why I don't charge as much for law school admission counseling as some other people out there....I work from home.

Ok, Now I think I'm supposed to tag 6 blogs, and my mother-in-law's 50somethinginfo has already been tagged so I can't use it.

Here are the 6:
1.My friend JC Ridley's Amazing Photo Blog
2. A new blog I just found called CoolMomPicks.
3. Confessions of a Teenage Scrapbooker. (We'll see if one of her 6 tells you how I know her!)
4. Legal Andrew
5. Frugal Law Student
6. Integrated Learning LSAT Blog

While Waiting for the October LSAT Scores

2008-10-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, you're counting the minutes and seconds until the scores are released by email on the 24th. (OMG, if you didn't know that and thought there was no reason to be nervous until the 27th then boy did I just change your plans that weekend!).

In the meantime, be productive!
Here are some tips:
Things to do while waiting for your LSAT score and After the LSAT.

Cancel the LSAT?

2008-10-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on Finishing the LSAT Today!
Now, for those of you thinking about canceling your score see these previous posts:

Thinking About Cancelling Your LSAT Score
Whether to cancel your LSAT score.

For details about how to cancel your LSAT score see LSAC.org.

Here are the basics from their web site:

We must receive a signed fax or overnight letter with your request within six calendar days of the test. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt of your request within four calendar days after your request was submitted, contact LSAC immediately. If your request has not been processed, you may submit proof that your request was received at LSAC within the required period. Documentation of proof of receipt will not be accepted beyond 14 calendar days after the test. You can also cancel your score at the test center if you are absolutely certain you want to cancel your score.

No LSAT Advice Today; Just Life Advice

2008-10-03T07:11:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to wish all October LSAT takers good luck.
No LSAT advice today, just life and coping advice:

1. Put away all of your study materials. Find a remote corner and cover them with a blanket. Don't look at them. Don't be tempted to look at them.

2. Stay away from discussion Forums. This advice is good for tomorrow and Sunday as well.

3. Don't talk to anyone during test breaks. Especially not about the test.

4. Eat, and prepare to spend an hour before the test even starts listening to inane instructions.

5. Don't let anything or anyone psych you out. I always sat in the front for classes (yes, I was that student) but in a back corner for exams. (Proctors are a noisy and inconsiderate bunch).

Last piece of pre-LSAT advice: Instead of thinking of tomorrow as the day that seals your fate (ala Yom Kippur), think of it as a chance to show your hard work, preparation, and abilities. Think of LSAT day as the day you really move the application process forward and commit to reaching your goals.

Good luck!

No Grades at Harvard Law?

2008-09-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a very interesting discussion about a potential grading change at HLS on Brian Leiter's blog.

More Public Interest Loan Repayment News

2008-09-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

Aaron at Equal Justice Works sent me this email today:

More info was announced today regarding the College Cost Reduction & Access Act. The U.S. Department of Treasury confirmed that loan forgiveness for public service under CCRAA is not taxable. Great news for lawyers planning on entering public service after law school! Visit the Equal Justice Works Blog for more info.

Support Law Students Working in the Public Interest

2008-09-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

Please support the University of Miami School of Law's HOPE program - in its 10th year "Making a Difference Through Legal Advocacy and Service" - by bidding or donating.

Countdown to the October LSAT

2008-09-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

Ok. I know you October LSAT takers out there are getting nervous with only a week to go. I'm not an LSAT tutor, but I know that the biggest thing that can hurt your LSAT score between now and next Saturday is your NERVES.

To that end, this will seem like elementary and rather obvious advice, but if you are feeling the jitters, or psyched out, or getting paranoid, or exhausted, or any combination of the above, here are my suggestions:

1. STOP READING DISCUSSION FORUMS. Seriously. They will only make you crazy. And it's very addictive to read about everyone's 175 diagnostic scores and feel really bad about yourself. (See, K.H., it's not just you ; )

2. STOP LISTENING TO ADVICE ABOUT THE TEST. If you don't know the tricks now, you're not going to know them a week from now. Keep practicing, do what you know how to do, and don't try to learn anything new that might confuse you this late in the game.

3. CONSIDER YOUR READINESS. Pre-test nerves are normal and expected. The key is whether you can get your head around it and get excited for the challenge. Do you feel ready to show what you can do? If not, then consider why - and whether those factors are things that will change with a day's perspective or whether they can only be fixed through additional study.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Over 30 and Applying to Law School?

2008-09-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite clients to work with are those who are applying to law school in their 30s, 40s, and - yes, even 50s. The reasons I enjoy working with these individuals are the same reasons why law schools like to have these individuals:

1. They are pretty darn aware of what they are doing. To give up a career, a family routine, a significant income, time away from the important people in their lives in order to go to law school is a huge sacrifice. Anyone willing to do this is dedicated to the idea of obtaining a legal education; this is not something being undertaken on a whim.

2. Non-traditional law school applicants understand the financial commitment of a legal education. They make wise choices about where to attend and where to apply because they have - through experience in the working world - gained an appreciation for financial realities. They care less about rankings and more about cost, less about prestige and more about scholarships, less about big firm jobs and more about working their way in to a career from the ground up. This requires humility and practicality, and having your priorities straight.

Whether you've been in real estate or teaching or medicine or private industry, the move to attend law school is almost always a well-considered decision and not a way to duck out of the work force during bad economic times. So, what do you need to be aware of as you apply to law schools?

1. Transcripts - don't go to the same lengths to explain a bad semester as a recent graduate would. No one will expect that grades more than 10 years old are much of an indication of your academic abilities anymore. If you have more recent coursework to show for yourself, and you excelled, that can be helpful but is certainly not something you should go out and get just for this purpose unless your grades were really awful. If so, a few extension courses in sophisticated topics might not be the end of the world. (But perhaps not paralegal certificate programs just for the hell of it, ugh..It's pretty transparent unless you are actually working as a paralegal.)

2. Letters of Rec - this is where most non-traditional law school applicants get frustrated and paranoid. They may look up professors they had 20 years ago (please don't!) or ask their best friends - all lawyers - to write them letters of rec, or their pastors to write character references. Schools understand you may not want your current employer aware of your plans to attend law school, so think outside of the box. Volunteer work? Do you sit on the board of an organization or business? A former employer/supervisor? A professor from one of the aforementioned extension courses? Here are more tips about LORs for non traditional applicants.

I know most non-traditional applicants are really wondering not about these things, but about the following - "How will a law school see me as an applicant?" and "How will a law school treat me as a non-traditional student?" Look, there's no way around the fact that you're going to find yourself feeling a little bit alone in the classroom. However, I remember my law school section's favorite (and nicest) member was Jim, a retired military guy in his 50s or 60s who drove 75 miles each way just to attend law school. And another of the cool people I remember was a mom in her 50s who ended up being on Moot Court Board and the Honor Council. Law schools know you have contributions to make to the classroom environment and to the school in general.

How will you be treated? Go visit the school and see. Sit in on a class. Talk to the older students that you see. Is there a part time option? You may be more likely to find other non traditional law students there. Ask the admission office to introduce you to something they think you would be able to relate to.

One of the qualities I enjoy in my "older" clients is that they are not ashamed to take initiative, they know how to advocate for themselves appropriately, and they understand they are consumers faced with options and choices. Use this to your advantage and ask questions like a consumer should.

For more resources, see:
http://www.nontradlaw.net/
http://webster.utahbar.org/barjournal/2007/09/later_in_life_lawyers_tips_for.html

LawSchoolExpert is now on Twitter....

2008-09-17T07:37:00.001-07:00

You can now follow me everywhere, getting little snippets of the advice I give my clients regarding their law school applications, on twitter at http://twitter.com/lawschoolexpert

Looking forward to seeing you there!

What to Ask at an LSAC Law School Forum

2008-09-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

I received a great comment on a previous post about LSAC Law School Forums that led me to provide some information about questions you should consider asking law school representatives at forums.

Here's a link about financial aid related questions to ask.

And here's a great list put together by the University of Nevada, Reno Career Services Department. The questions are fantastic. The key is NOT to ask each law school all of these questions. The key is to pick a few that are most important to you and ask them to several law schools so you get some basis for comparison.

Here are 3 tips for law school forums:

1. Please remember not to take up too much of any one person's time.

2. If you do have a meaningful conversation with a law school's representative, get that person's business card and send a thank you e-mail or note.

3. Remember it's in the best interests of the school to encourage you to apply, so don't take anything they say too seriously or as being extremely encouraging of your application - no false hope just because someone hands you a fee waiver for the application.

Happy Hunting!

Not hitting your Goal LSAT Score?

2008-09-11T08:14:00.001-07:00

I'm fielding a lot of calls and emails right now from people scheduled to take the LSAT in October who are not seeing the kind of progress with their LSAT practice scores that they would like to be seeing. Here are three thoughts geared toward those individuals:

1. If you set a "goal" score, and you're stressing over not hitting that score, then that's not a reason to stress. See this post I wrote last year about why a "goal score" doesn't work on the LSAT - this is an aptitude test and not a rote memorization test, so working longer or harder doesn't necessarily translate into a higher LSAT score result.

2. A lot of you take a series of practice tests, only to panic when you get a lower score on one than you did on the previous one. No one sees a perfect upward trend on practice tests - relax! This is part of practicing. Don't let this get you down.

3. If your month of September has been crazier than you anticipated (you're back at school, starting a new job, helping with sorority rush, etc.) then consider waiting for the December LSAT. Yes, it means a disadvantage in terms of rolling admissions, but it's always better to apply with a higher LSAT score than a lower one (unless we're just talking a 1 or 2 point increase). So if you feel that waiting could raise your score significantly, then it's a no-brainer.

Applying to Law School Early Decision/Early Notification

2008-09-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

I published this about a year ago, and it's suddenly time to talk Early Decision/Early Notification again.

Please keep in mind that I'm not sure Early Decision/Early Notification is worth getting very excited about. The decision you receive may just be "we've decided to defer your application to the regular admission cycle" or a waitlist decision. I like something I see Duke doing for "preferred" applicants and promising a response within 10 days of application completion, but even so - we'll see what those decisions end up being.

Medical School Advice that Applies to Law Applicants

2008-09-08T17:24:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to a cute little video by someone giving the Top 10 tips for medical students applying for residencies. Only listen to Tips 10-4 - they absolutely apply to law school applications. (Tips 1, 2 and 3 sound Greek to me : )

Deciding Whether to Take the October LSAT

2008-09-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

I'm getting a lot of calls from people signed up for the October LSAT who are wondering whether they are really ready to take the test. The number one thing law school applicants in this quandry want to know is whether it's better to apply early with a lower score, or later (with a December LSAT score) that's a few points higher. I always tell my clients it's better to have 5 points on the LSAT and apply at the end of December than to have the lower score and apply in November.

Here's a post I wrote last year that may help you to decide whether to go ahead and take the LSAT in October, or wait for December. It's called "Are you Ready for the LSAT?"

Someone has been Stealing My Work

2008-09-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

I want to thank one of my clients for notifying me that an anonymous blogger was stealing my work by publishing my articles without citing me as the author or linking back to my blog.

They took this post about Law School Personal Statement tips word for word and published it at http://www.thefreeday.cn/article/hairdressing/2008-09-05/3760.html.
They did the same with my popular guest post by Marni Lennon about public interest law
and published it as their own work at http://www.thefreeday.cn/article/hairdressing/2008-09-05/3761.html

I'm asking all of my loyal readers to leave comments on this article pointing back to my blog so that people who find these articles in google news's a.m. push are directed to the source and these plagiarists are not allowed to get away with stealing content.

Law School Expert News

2008-09-04T08:05:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to give you three updates regarding my law school admission counseling services:

1. Yes, I still have room for Fall 2009 applicants. I limit the number of clients I work with at any given point, but am currently accepting clients. (I've gotten a few emails inquiring about this, so I wanted to let everyone know).

2.My rates will be going up on September 15th. If you sign up before then, you will save more than $350 on my Option A "The Works" law school consulting package.

3. I have put together two "Power Papers" - "Six Secrets to a Successful Personal Statement" and "Tips and Tricks for Law School Admission: A timeline of hints for law school applications". Both of these papers will be included in the Option A package effective immediately.

I do offer a free initial consultation for anyone interested in having their own personal law school admission coach. Please see my website for more details.

A Little Law School Humor....

2008-09-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

I want to thank one of my former clients, now a 1L at a top law school, who has been sending me pithy little stories about her first few weeks of law school. I thought my readers would get a kick out of the e-mail she sent me today (S- thanks for letting me share it! I think it shows that the Socratic Method isn't quite as scary as law school applicants believe....)

Things my Contracts professor actually said in class last week:

"If you say President Bush is competent, you are wrong. If you say President Bush will do something right, and clearly he doesn't (because he can't), did you break a promise?"

"Raise your hand if you think what the defendant did was wrong. Ahhh, all the social workers."

"Katie, Mary...these are all lovely names. I thought people in your generation all had atrocious names like Tiffany."

"Drinking champagne at dinner is nice, but making your own Jager Bomb at home is just sad."

Law School Applications are Now Available

2008-09-01T15:12:00.001-07:00

That's right - it's officially time to start applying for Fall 2009 law school admission. Many schools have already released applications on LSDAS.org, and others will be doing so in the next few days and weeks. But don't rush - take your time filling them out. There's no good reason to submit applications on September 1st - better to do your applications smartly and perfectly than to simply be first.

I hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day Weekend.

Law School Expert Hits Post #200!!!!

2008-08-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

This marks my 200th blog post on LawSchoolExpert! (That deserves an exclamation point, right?) It's been an amazing year and I want to thank all of my readers. Your comments and e-mails motivate me to keep writing, even when I'm knee-deep in law school personal statements.

In celebration of this occasion (and the holiday weekend which begins in a few hours) I'd like to point out my 5 very favorite Law School Expert topics:

1. Any and all posts written by my former law school admission consulting clients, including this one about "T-14 Not Necessary for BigLaw"

2. I want to help law applicants keep things in perspective during this stressful process, and this is one post I like to re-read when things seem unruly.

3. I get the most encouraging e-mails from readers when I post tangible tips for success in law school applications. You guys seem to love when I tell you what mistakes to look for before submitting your law school applications and common mistakes made on law school applications.

4. Taking the LSAT and Re-taking the LSAT - these issues are HUGE for my readers. In fact I have posted 22 times on various LSAT issues.

5. The only subject more popular than the LSAT is law school rankings with 23 posts. I do enjoy helping people keep things in perspective on this issue. Rankings have a purpose, but unless you know there are limits to the rankings then the importance of a school's ranking can be vastly over-emphasized.

Thank you for joining me for the last 200 posts, and please let me know what I can do in the future to keep your interest!
Have a wonderful labor day, even though this means it's officially fall and time to start applying for law school for Fall 2009 admission.

The Relationship between U.S. News Rankings and Part Time Law School

2008-08-26T13:38:00.001-07:00

The availability of spots in part time programs may be severely limited in the future, and applying to part time programs may no longer be the "back door" into a better law school. See this WSJ article.

Is Law School Expert Your Favorite Blog?

2008-08-25T18:06:00.001-07:00

I'd really appreciate it if you'd go to technorati and list LawSchoolExpert as one of your favorite blogs. You can simply click on the "Make LawSchoolExpert A Favorite Blog" box on the right hand side of my blog (scroll down just a bit if you don't see it immediately).

Thanks so much!

More on Loan Repayment and Forgiveness

2008-08-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Equal Justice Works on launching their blog this week. It already offers great resources for law school applicants and those considering a career in public interest law. Here's the post about new legislation offering opportunities for law school loan repayment and forgiveness.

Tips for Law School Applicants Interested in Public Interest Law

2008-08-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

My good friend and the person who served as my mentor when I was in law school (more than ten years ago!), Marni Lennon, is the Assistant Dean for Public Interest and Pro Bono at the University of Miami School of Law. Because so many law school applicants express a desire to use their legal education in the public interest, I asked her to provide some insight about comparing opportunities available at different law schools. There are also some great tips here for prospective law students who do not plan on working in the public interest, but hope to incorporate pro bono efforts into their law school experience and law practice upon graduation.

Are you looking to find a way to give back through your legal career? Good news! The opportunities for service learning, civic engagement and hands-on training are growing at law schools. Finally, the world of legal education is embracing the notion that hands-on training opportunities in the public sector are good for everyone. Legal education is a privilege -- with that privilege comes a responsibility to give back. Not only do students gain the chance to develop critical lawyering and advocacy skills through pro bono work, but law schools get to celebrate the efforts of their students. WIN - WIN!

One of the challenges you face is figuring out what the campus culture and programs are like on each of the campuses you are considering. So, how can you learn about pro bono efforts at the law schools you are researching? Do your homework!

1) Look on the law school's website. Compare the schools. Make lists of the programs you are interested in and which schools have them. (From Ann: Also great to mention these programs in your personal statement!!!!)

2) Speak to the folks in the recruiting/admissions office. Ask them what they perceive as the strengths of the school. Do they mention public interest? If not, it doesn't necessarily mean that there aren't wonderful opportunities, but it might not have permeated the campus culture yet. Keep digging and ask them to refer you to faculty/administrators in clinics or public interest programs. (From Ann: a great question to ask at LSAC Forum events too.)

3) Get in touch with student leaders who are involved with public interest/pro bono. They are on the ground floor. Keep in mind that students choose many paths - some will get involved in clinical programs, some will be involved in externships and others will be very active on campus and with community outreach efforts. Ask for a few names and get a feel for the school.

So, you are going to be a law student and you want to gain some experience? Great idea! There are many ways to get involved on a volunteer basis. Contact local legal services/legal aid agencies and see if they are open to having you volunteer. Sometimes, just by giving a day a week, you can find yourself working alongside an attorney who is thrilled to have an extra set of hands and you can gain experience at the same time. Great ways to get involved are to volunteer for clinic intakes, know your rights presentations, community talks and research projects.

Any community involvement which helps you to get to know the face of an issue is a good step. Check with your local volunteer organizations for opportunities to work with varying populations. Large cities like Miami, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York and others have volunteer organizations where you can take part in several different projects. Google your way to your local community opportunities for volunteering.

Are there attorneys in your community who have been recognized for their pro bono work? Contact them and see if you can shadow them to court, meet them for coffee and gain a glimpse into the world of practice. Their guidance could be invaluable.

Once you are at law school, take the following steps to ensure that pro bono advocacy can be a part of your path:

1) Make a beeline for the student groups with advocacy and outreach projects. They might be the public interest law group, the criminal law society, the society for human rights or others, but be sure to find your way and ask folks what they do through their groups.

2) Meet with the clinical faculty and regular faculty with practice experience in the areas in which you are interested. Don't wait; they are real people - human, interesting, dedicated and usually receptive to the eager students who want to make a difference through law. If they aren't, don't be discouraged - there are many more around the corner. Keep going!

3) Get advice about the courses which will put you in a position to gain experience. Ask about courses with field components, opportunities for externships, certified legal internship status (which allows you to speak in court!) and skills training courses such as litigation skills, mediation, mediation-advocacy and more.

4) Don't wait for opportunities to come to you - seek them out! Speak to your career planning folks, current students, faculty and attorneys about the best ways to get involved. Make the leap! It will be rewarding, fulfilling AND practical as you develop your lawyering skills.

Thank you so much to Dean Lennon for taking the time to share her passion and information with readers of LawSchoolExpert. Here is more about the incredible opportunities available through the University of Miami School of Law's HOPE Program.

Top 5 Mistakes Made When Re-Applying to Law School

2008-08-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

Each year, I work with people who were either unsuccessful in their attempts to apply to law school previously or were unhappy with their options at the end of the admission cycle. There are absolutely things you can to to bolster your applications, but here are some common mistakes people make when reapplying to law school:

1. Sending the same personal statement and letters of rec to the same law school that rejected you last year.

2. Thinking that simply getting an internship/paralegal position in a law firm will make all the difference in the world, even when you have a letter of rec from an attorney.

3. Attempting to "go back to undergrad" to improve your UGPA. It doesn't work. And getting a paralegal certification isn't going to impress anyone. But do take care to update your transcripts (see this post about reapplying to law school).

4. Not Retaking the LSAT when you didn't prepare adequately the first time. (See this previous post for more about how the LSAT factors in when you are reapplying to law school)

5. Failing to evaluate your schools list with a candid view of your credentials.

Re-applicants get into law school all the time, but the trick is overcoming any weaknesses you may have (inadvertently) shown the school in the previous admission cycle. Here's more about reapplying to law school.

When is a Low LSAT Score Too Low?

2008-08-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

My most-read blog topics are those dealing with very low LSAT scores; there are a lot of you out there. So, what constitutes a "low" LSAT score? This is not a discussion for those of you who find yourselves disappointed with your 158s. Let's aim this conversation at those of you below a 147 LSAT.
I get a lot of calls from people in this category. There are certain people whose chances will not be helped even with advice from a law school admission consultant. We are not, after all, miracle workers. If your LSAT score is in the 130s or low 140s, it's very hard to find an ABA law school anywhere in the US that will offer you unrestricted acceptance (especially in the increasingly competitive environment of our c. It may be possible to gain acceptance to a conditional program at an ABA law school (especially with scores in the low to mid 140s) but even that has its problems. You may get yourself to Appalachia or somewhere to try the conditional course, and then they may only offer acceptance to 2 of the 100 participants. The problem is that once you are unsuccessful in gaining acceptance through a conditional admission program, other law schools will be hard pressed to find a reason to give you a chance at their own school, even with a slightly improved LSAT score.
If you haven't exhausted your opportunities to take the LSAT, then take it again. However, you must prepare differently than you did before. And don't rush the process; it's too late for October. Wait until December. Make improving your score your focus; without it, the world's best personal statement, most impressive resume, and illuminating letters of recommendation won't make a bit of difference.
Those of you who know me know that I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I will always give my honest opinion.....

Resources for Advice about Getting into Law School

2008-08-17T21:51:00.001-07:00

Here's an article by a CUNY John Jay Criminal Justice professor with some worthwhile information about how law schools view undergraduate GPAs from various schools and between various majors. It's called "Advice for Getting into Law School."

My alma mater, the University of Miami School of Law, has a great document called "Law School:29 Critical Questions to Ask Today." It's definitely a recruiting piece for UM law, but a good place to start thinking about what you should be asking as you begin the daunting process of applying to law school.

Lastly, because it's late and I've been up watching the Olympics, here's a link to a bunch of articles offering advice to the Fall 2009 Entering Law School Class (written in 2006, but still....).

Advice Upon Starting Law School

2008-08-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

I happened across this today, and although it was written in 2002 (when many entering 1Ls were still in high school!), it rings true today. The only part I really disagree with is about not looking at your grades because they don't matter, but on the whole the other points will help you put the coming semester (and 1L year) in perspective and I hope my clients and readers who are starting the adventure of law school enjoy this. It's called Letter to Young Lawyer.

Law School Personal Statement Tips

2008-08-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

One of my law school admission consulting clients sent me an email this morning with 6 key questions about law school personal statements. The questions were so good (and so common) that I wanted to share my responses with all of my pre-law readers.

1. What does a personal statement do/ what does it add to the application/ what is its function?

If someone with your numbers has a possibility of being admitted to a particular school, but not everyone with your numbers is admitted to that school, then the major deciding factor is the personal statement. It's your chance to become more than a list of your accomplishments, more than your transcripts, more than your LSAT score. This is your chance to be personable, likable, impressive (without being arrogant) and to generally give the impression that you'd be a great asset to their school and alumni base.

2. What to you makes a statement stand out? What are the components of a great personal statement?

There are certain things a law school wants to be assured of - maturity despite youth, commitment to the study of law despite lacking a specific career aspiration, ability to succeed in a rigorous environment, independent thinking skills, feeling a duty greater than simple self-interest. A good personal statement uses none of these phrases, but tells a story that convinces the reader to come to the conclusion(s) on his/her own.

A good personal statement is interesting to read, without needing to rely on shock value. It has a conversational rather than academic tone. It's not there to show how many big words you know. Lawyers need to write like real people - clear sentences. Start now.

4. What made you groan when working in admissions? What were common mistakes people made?

I would groan, roll my eyes, and write sarcastic comments on personal statements hinting of the following:

Arrogance/Elitism. A purported drive to serve others and to heal the world and be a public interest lawyer when there's little community service in the person's background to back it up. Repeating a resume. Listing every internship and position ever held. Providing lots of conclusions with few facts to back them up. (For example, "My strong work ethic......" and then not really showing anything remarkable about your work ethic). Not being specific enough - talking around issues ("I had a rough time but overcame obstacles" without giving details about the obstacles so that the reader can evaluate for him/herself whether the feat was impressive).

For common mistakes made by law school applicants in their personal statements, see this post I wrote about 6 Mistakes People Make in Law School Personal Statements.

5. What, if any, subjects or themes should be avoided, either because they are cliche/common/inappropriate?

Some topics that have become trite and overused include the injured athlete story, the study abroad story, and a personal statement based on a current historical event. See this post about Current Events as Law School Personal Statement Topic.

I think there is a misconception that personal statements must be about overcoming paralysis or poverty. You don't have to apologize for having a privileged life - just show what does make you remarkable. I also think a lot of people remember their clever undergraduate essay about contemplating the lumps of peanut butter as they spread across the bread and think they should repeat that (please don't - remember, we're going for maturity here).

Generally, I urge people to stay away from high school unless there's a really good reason to talk about it. (Again, maturity). I also urge people to stay away from anything that will make them appear to be high maintenance or complainers in general. Law school faculty and staff won't want to touch you with a ten foot pole.

6. Is it better to think of the personal statement as telling a short story that has broader implications/ says things about me as a person, or should I think of it as a theme through which I can incorporate many components/stories etc.

Tell the right story for you and the theme will be apparent. You're marketing yourself, not a theme.

For another great resource about law school personal statement tips, see Law School Personal Statement Tips.

[By the way, I'd like to note that the client who sent me this e-mail does not have to worry about any of these common mistakes and is not in danger of annoying any law school admission committee member. It just goes to show that the wrong people are always asking these questions, and the people who should be worried about making these grave errors usually fail to recognize these traits in themselves.]

The Value of Internships in Applying to Law School

2008-08-12T08:14:00.001-07:00

During my first phone consultation with prospective law school admission consulting clients, often a parent or applicant will tell me they've had "great internships." These invariably include things like UC-DC programs, interning with a Member of Congress (which really just means answering calls and giving tours of the Capitol building, right?), or perhaps something in the business world like being a marketing and promotions intern for a sports company (which is really just throwing t-shirts into a crowd).

So, where do internships come into play when building the strengths of a law school application?

1. Internships are better than working at the GAP. Unless, of course, you had to work at the GAP to pay your rent and tuition. Then, working at the GAP - if explained the right way in your application - shows a lot more about you than an internship would.

2. On the other hand, an internship in a law-related field shows you are not just applying to law school to avoid looking for a job.

3. It's even better, however, to have had 2 or 3 internships in quasi-related fields. If you've had 2-3 internships in totally (seemingly) unrelated fields (public relations and finance, for example) then it can look like you lack direction and haven't found your stride yet.

The same goes for job history - if you've been out of college for 2-3 years and have held 2-3 jobs that weren't promotions within the same company or industry, then applying to law school can appear insincere - it can look like you're floundering.

How do you counteract some of these assumptions?

First, don't assume your experiences are more amazing than anyone else's. Choose to emphasize your internship in a personal statement only if you learned something specific in a unique situation or were able to contribute meaningfully, or - in the alternative - if you learned something significant from having a negative experience at an internship. Think about what makes the experience interesting because simply having the internship on your resume probably isn't impressive enough to a law school admission officer or law faculty member.

Second, stay away from LORs based on internships unless you did take the lead on a project or acted in some way above and beyond the standard intern. The letter should be written by the person who most closely supervised your work and can add the most substantive detail to the letter, and not necessarily the most famous person in the office.

Best Majors for Law School Applicants

2008-08-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

How do law school admission committees evaluate people with different undergraduate majors? Are there good majors and bad majors for law school applications? I wouldn't quite say there are bad majors - I think there are good things about most areas of study, and if you have good grades then you're absolutely set.

Law schools do not want to fill their classes with political science majors. Where is the diversity in that? Law schools want people from different backgrounds, and from different schools for that matter. Here is a rundown of the major groupings and how law schools are apt to evaluate you based on your undergraduate major area of study:

1. Majors with scientific fields: You often risk having a lower GPA, but it can be excused because of the difficult curriculum and lab hours. Of course, it also helps to make the case that you want to be a patent/IP lawyer if your have a science/math background. However, it can also risk looking like you really would have preferred to go to med school but you just didn't have the GPA. If you did well in a science major, you will find that law schools like that and it will help you in the admissions process generally.

2. Pre-Law Majors: Law and Society, Pre-Law, Political Science, and Criminal Justice studies show you have a sincere interest in the subject matter. It's especially helpful if you do a thesis and/or significant academic or internship work to supplement the curriculum. However, lackluster grades in these subjects will not impress an admission office. A 3.3 GPA in poli sci is not the same as a 3.3 in biomedical engineering or physics.

3. Art/Music Majors: A BFA makes things tricky, but if you do well academically and do a thesis or have something to show for yourself other than being an unemployed actor, then this absolutely works. Actually, I think Art History is one of the best majors for preparing you for law school because it teaches you to look at something you've never seen before and apply the facts you've learned to determine what you're looking at. That's pretty much a law school exam in a nutshell. Anything that shows you've done some serious writing will help. Music composition shows you're a thinking person.

4. Business Majors: Marketing, not so impressive but if you have strong grades and showed a sincere interest in serious things then it's fine. Economics is better - shows more analysis and academic inclination.

5. Philosophy: Again, writing and analysis. Great stuff.

The question is this - knowing how law schools view your major, what can you do to make up for that weakness? If you haven't had much writing in your curriculum, how about writing for your school paper or trying to get research published? This is just one example of a way you can use your weaknesses to build your law school applications.

Recap:
1. Pick a major that sincerely interests you.
2. Get the best possible grades in that major.

Law schools want to see people who are serious about their goals, but not singularly minded. Have a hobby too, and if that hobby demonstrates your thinking skills, cultural interests, passions - all the better. Do well at the things you do.

(For those of you worried that your physics degree will be competing against people who studied history, I would say that if your grades are solid and you have strong academic letters and perhaps someone who can attest to your writing ability, then you'll be absolutely fine.)

Fall 2009? Law School Admission 101

2008-07-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's practically August. Many of you are just getting underway preparing for the October 2008 LSAT. Some of you will start prep courses this week.

What else should you be thinking about right now?

1. Getting LORs (Letters of Rec) underway. Who will write them? What should they emphasize about you? Ask these people and give them deadlines 4-6 weeks out. Make sure to see lsdas.org for the cover form and be sure to sign the waiver. Here's more about law school letters of recommendation.

2. Your resume. What can you do to round out your experiences? Lacking work experience? Community Service? Time to get on it. Never do anything as resume filler, but if you have time to dedicate to something you've always wanted to explore, there's no time like the present. However, being a file clerk or runner at a law firm isn't the way to go... what a boring way to spend your summer, and what would this LOR say about you? "He was always on time and wore a tie." Not worth it. Better to do something that shows your true interests and passions. Here are more law school resume tips.

3. Really prepare for the LSAT. Please. Retaking in December should be a last resort; give it 100% this time around. Here's more about LSAT prep options. Here are more reasons not to "just wing it" on the October LSAT.

That's all for this Friday night. I'm happy to entertain suggestions for blog topics - so leave comments. Have a great weekend.

Additional Insights About Law School Rankings

2008-07-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

The U.S. News Law School Rankings are Over-Emphasized

I love the idea of the U.S. News law school Rankings going to a "Top 10", 1st Tier, 2nd Tier, Regional Schools listing (as suggested by articles and comments here) because I hate to see law school applicants choose #21 over #24 simply because that's how the schools are ranked in a particular year. What this really shows is that law schools are really offering essentially the same education within a certain ranking range and that prospective law students are not necessarily looking at factors like location, who hires recent grads, where they hope to practice, etc...

"So Ann, tell us how you Really Feel about the Rankings..."

This is getting a little bit off the subject of rankings, but it does tie in with the over-reliance on law school rankings. You'd be surprised how many people decide where to attend law school without actually visiting the campuses they are considering - as though meeting people who run the school and attend the school (and seeing the facilities where they'll be spending 60 hours a week) were completely unrelated to performance in law school and networking in the job market....

For more about my observations relating to the usefulness (or lack of usefulness) of the U.S. News Rankings, see my previous post, "What do the Law School Rankings Really Mean?"

Law School Expert Wants Your Ideas for Future Topics

I am happily accepting suggestions for future blog topics. So feel free to use the comments section to provide ideas.

Please keep in mind that the blog format does not lend itself well to giving individualized advice (for example, your chances at a particular law school given your LSAT/GPA, etc.) For advice related to your specific situation, please consider contacting me through my law school admission consulting website, LawSchoolExpert

Choosing an LSAT Prep Course

2008-07-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

There are basically 3 options for LSAT preparation:
1. Self-study;
2. A formal in-class prep course; and
3. Private tutoring.

(Please take note: failing to prepare and taking the LSAT cold are NOT options. See my guest blog post on this topic at integrated learning).

#1 - Self Study
Independent study for the LSAT works best for people who generally perform well on standardized tests - those near-perfect SAT scores tend to predict near-perfect LSAT scores. The best materials are using actual LSAT tests, and although I'm not an LSAT tutor I always recommend reviewing the answers to the questions you get right in addition to those you got wrong. (Often right answers as accidental....)

Also, preparing for the LSAT requires 2-3 months of consistent study. When you're consistently hitting within a range of 5-7 points on timed practice exams, then you're probably ready to take the exam and hit the score that is the correct measure of your aptitude. Remember - setting a goal score NEVER works; it only sets you up for disappointment.

#2 - Formal Prep Course
A formal in-class prep-course offers materials and benefit of discipline - someone gives you a study guide and a calendar and takes you through things step by step. Mostly, this makes you sit in a chair and think about the LSAT over a good 8-10 week period. You know all the big-gun companies: Testmasters, BluePrint, Powerscore, Kaplan, Princeton Review, yadda yadda yadda. I haven't participated in any of these, but the concept is the same. Pick one with a schedule that works for you, where the people seem customer service oriented, and go for it.

#3 - Private Tutoring
If your schedule prohibits the prep course, and/or you know you learn best with individualized tutoring and attention, then all the big companies offer this option, of course. There are a few other options also - Integrated Learning, and Test Prep NY are two that I'm familiar with.

Remember, if something smells fishy about an LSAT prep company, it probably is. See this post about Questionable LSAT Vendors.

I hope this helps!

Law School Letters of Recommendation

2008-07-18T08:09:00.001-07:00

I tell my clients that the first thing they should be thinking about right now is letters of recommendation. It takes time to consider the right person, ask them, supply them with the appropriate information and materials, and then you have to wait until that (very busy) person gets around to writing your law school LOR, and then you have to wait even longer for LSDAS to process it.

So, in the spirit of helping with this process, here are 3 of my previous posts that will help you through choosing someone to write your letter of recommendation:
1. A common problem for non-traditional law school applicants is finding the right person to write a letter of rec when you've been out of school for more than a few years and you also don't want your current boss to know you're thinking about leaving for law school. Here's a post with LOR tips for non-traditional law school applicants.
2. A lot of undergrads (especially those at large public universities) really don't have close relationships with their professors. Here's some advice about what to do when you get a lukewarm reception from a professor whom you've asked to write you an LOR.
3. This week alone I've had 3 clients tell me they were considering asking family friends to write LORs. I don't care if the person is your dad's best friend and the mayor, or if the person was a dean at a nearby college, the answer remains the same. It's just not what law schools are looking for in evaluating your potential as a law student and a lawyer. Here is a post about the Family Friend Letter of Rec.

I hope this is helpful. Have a fantastic weekend!

Law Schools with January Start Dates

2008-07-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

Some of my clients have been asking me about their options if they want to start law school in January 2009 instead of Fall 2009. I found this list on the internet and while I can't guarantee its accuracy, it provides a good starting point for research.

UC Irvine Law Announces Founding Faculty

2008-07-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

For my So-Cal applicants, here is exciting news about the promising start for UC Irvine's law school. They will be accepting applications this fall.

I Have an LSAT Score; Now What?

2008-07-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a post from last year about what to do once getting your June LSAT score. And here is a previous post that may help you decide whether to retake the LSAT or just go ahead and apply early in the rolling admissions process with your current score.

If you're keeping your score, then it's time to talk about selecting schools. Here are some posts that may be useful to you in starting this process:

1. How much of a role should a law school's ranking play in your decision to apply there? See this post about the emphasis on rankings.

2. How many law schools to apply to? See this post for a good rule of thumb on selecting schools.

The adventure begins!

A 2-year JD at a Top Law School

2008-07-02T07:43:00.001-07:00

One of my readers asked me about my assessment of Northwestern's new 2-year JD program. Here is a great article about it by Brian Leiter.

Most Popular PreLaw Questions

2008-06-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Maui and wanted to share with you the most common questions and issues I'm hearing this week from law school applicants. Hopefully this will make you feel better. (It isn't just you, really!).

1. Should I cancel my LSAT score?
I've blogged quite a bit about this. (See Thinking About Cancelling Your LSAT Score)Here is the link to a post I previously published about whether to cancel your LSAT score.
For details about how to cancel your LSAT score see LSAC.org.
Here are the basics from their web site:

2. How do I know whether I would benefit from working with an admissions consultant?
I was recently quoted in an opinion piece by Dennis Beaver, Esq. entitled "You and the Law: the Business of Getting You Into Law School."
The following is taken directly from that article:

Do you need a consultant?

"A good consultant gives you an added layer of guidance and confidence. However, if you are only applying to one or two schools, and your LSAT and undergraduate GPA is in line with what they are looking for, and there are no problem areas in you application, you probably do not need a consultant," [Ann Levine] was quick to point out. I respect that kind of honesty.

"Law School applicants who benefit the most have a weakness in their application, such as a low grade point average, poor LSAT score, an arrest, or have been out of school for a great deal of time. In today's reality of getting into school, they truly need the help of a good consultant," she [Ann Levine]adds.

In addition to the above, you may benefit from working with a law school admission consultant if:
(a) You are out of college and/or do not have access to a helpful and knowledgeable prelaw adviser.
(b) You feel overwhelmed by the process of applying to law school.
(c) You work better when you are held accountable to someone.
(d) You would like to get your parents/spouse/significant other out of the process and have access to an objective and knowledgeable third party to answer your questions and make sure you're making the right decisions for yourself.
(e) You don't know where to start and feel like you're spinning your wheels.
(f) You have a tendency to procrastinate.
(g) You are re-applying to law school.
(h) You simply want the best of everything and to arm yourself with every possible advantage in this competitive process.

3. Should I retake the LSAT in October?
This is a very hard question to answer on a personal basis in the blog format because it depends on so many factors. But if you took June and have decided not to cancel the score, then let's wait and see what the score is before you make this decision.

4. When is the earliest I can start submitting applications?
Most schools begin accepting applications September 1, but many do not begin reviewing them until November. What matters is when your application is "complete" - when all materials to be considered by the law school are received by the individual law school. The most common aggravating factor is waiting for a letter of recommendation - try to avoid this by asking for LORs early and making sure the people you ask are reliable and accountable.

5. Is it better to have a June LSAT score that doesn't reflect my potential and apply early, or to wait until October and have a better LSAT score?
WAIT! Please!
It is ABSOLUTELY much better to have a higher LSAT and have your application be complete in November than to have a lower LSAT and be the first application to be submitted. (Depending on the score differential, the same rule may or may not be true with the December LSAT but we won't worry about that quite yet since it's still June).
Here is a link to a guest blog post I answered on Integrated Learning about the importance of preparing for the LSAT the right way and taking it once (as opposed to taking it cold).

I hope this helps - and for everyone who has been asking whether you might have your LSAT scores before July 7th, I don't have solid insider info on that. But my guess is that you will have scores e-mailed out July 3rd. However, this is only a guess and it's not based on anything other than a hunch. Good luck to everyone. I'll be in the office Monday-Wednesday (June 23-25) this week, but won't be able to answer blog questions Thursday through Sunday. I will get back to everyone on the 30th. Thanks for reading, and I apologize for any sloppy formatting today -I'm still jet lagged.

Thinking about cancelling today's LSAT score?

2008-06-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

I'm on vacation in Maui, but thinking about all of you June LSAT takers today. (Really! The proof is that I'm blogging from Hawaii).

First, enjoy yourself tonight. Relax, blow off steam, watch a guilty-pleasure movie on cable.

For those of you who are already thinking about cancelling today's LSAT score, here's an article I posted last September that gives you things to consider in making this decision. Please let me know if you have any questions, or if I can help in any way.

New Law Schools to Consider

2008-06-11T16:50:00.000-07:00

Brian Leiter pointed out this article on LawJobs about TEN possible new law schools coming up....
The discussion about the demand for these schools (and their graduates) is worth reading.

What a Law School Admission Consultant Can Do

2008-06-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

I hate to hear stories about law school applicants who feel misled by law school admission consultants about their chances for law school admission. If you are going to invest in expert advice, it's important to work with someone who is candid with you from the very beginning. I thank Dennis Beaver, Esq. for asking me to respond to an article he wrote on how a law school admission counselor can (and cannot) help law school applicants navigate the admission process.

For more information about the ethical standards a graduate admission consultant should adhere to, learn more about AIGAC. Always check to see whether the person or company you're considering hiring is a member of this organization.

For my previous posts about considerations in hiring a law school admission consultant (which June LSAT takers usually do in June, July and August, and which October LSAT takers usually do in August, September, and October) see:

More information about the services I provide as a law school admission counselor is available at LawSchoolExpert.

June LSAT Tips

2008-06-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

A week from Monday, many of you will be sitting for the June LSAT. Whether this will be your first time taking the LSAT or you're someone who tried applying to law school in the past and/or is trying to increase your score, these tips apply toyou.

1. If you just picked up your first LSAT prep book this past weekend and think that a last minute 2-day crash prep course will be all you need to do, save yourself a lot of aggravation and wait until October 4th to take the LSAT.

2. The test is in the afternoon, so have a really good and healthy breakfast, get some exercise, and do whatever helps you relax. Stop answering calls, emails, and facebook messages of well-wishers and paranoid fellow LSAT takers. Turn off the iphone. Disconnect yourself from the world. No distractions.

3. If you know there is one particular thing that trips you up on this test (and for most people it's logic games), then consider hiring a private tutor for a few hours to go over the mistakes you're making. Just make sure it's someone who you already know is a good teacher because the last thing you need is to be further confused right before the exam.

4. On test day, don't talk to anyone. Don't join the throngs of nervous people, don't listen to the cocky jerk who says he already got a 175 but really wants a perfect 180. And - especially important - don't talk to anyone after the test about the test. This includes discussion boards.

5. Be aware of the deadline for canceling a score. I'll post more about whether to cancel, but here are can see my previous posts about when to cancel an LSAT score.

How important is ABA accreditation?

2008-06-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

I often get e-mails and blog comments asking me about issues relating to non-ABA accredited law schools. I don't consider myself an expert on unaccredited schools (and as a law school admission consultant, I only assist with applications to ABA law schools) but here is a link to the ABA's response to the question of the value of accreditation.

P.S. The same article confirms my prior posts (on lawschoolexpert and on IntegratedLearning) on the importance of taking the LSAT only once and only when you are fully prepared.

Are you ready for the June LSAT?

2008-05-31T08:45:00.000-07:00

We're 2 weeks away from the June LSAT and many fall 2009 law school applicants are wondering whether to go ahead and take it or to wait for the October 2009 LSAT administration. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether you are ready to take the June LSAT.

Take II: Reapplying to Law School

2008-05-14T20:13:00.001-07:00

If things didn't go your way for Fall 2008 admission and you are retaking the LSAT to apply for Fall 2009 admission (or Winter 2009 admission), here is a post of things to consider as you approach the June 2008 or October 2008 LSAT. (Please forgive the plug at the end - this was one of the first lawschoolexpert blog entries).

And here is a link to a previous post for general LSAT advice. The blogs that linked to this post last July still have worthy advice on the topic.

Taking the LSAT Cold? Bad Idea.

2008-05-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

My friends at Integrated Learning posted an article I wrote about why it's so important to prepare adequately for the LSAT the first time you take it, rather than winging it to see how you do knowing you can always retake it.

LSAC Law School Forum Dates

2008-05-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

LSAC has announced the dates and locations of its 2008 Law School Forums.

Here is a previous posting about the value of attending LSAC's law school forums.

American's 10-mile Long Waitlist

2008-04-18T16:25:00.001-07:00

Is opening up. One of my clients just was asked via email to re-confirm his interest and within 5-minutes he had an acceptance letter (and 24 hours to submit a deposit).

Things to Consider When Accepting a Law School Scholarshi

2008-04-17T16:49:00.000-07:00

For those of you considering law school scholarship offers right now, please consider (1) whether the scholarship is renewable and (2) what is required of you to renew it. A 3.25 doesn't sound so hard to attain coming out of undergrad; but at some law schools that may be a GPA reached only by the top 20% of the class. If you're choosing a school primarily because of the scholarship then think about how you would feel without that scholarship 2nd and 3rd years. This is especially true if you would try to transfer because if you haven't hit the GPA requirement for your scholarship then you may not be the world's most competitive transfer applicant.

Getting Ready for the Fall 2009 Admission Cycle

2008-04-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

The Integrated Learning Blog posted an article I wrote for them about things you can do now to prepare for the Fall 2009 Law School Admission Cycle.

Best Law Schools for BigLaw

2008-04-14T08:12:00.001-07:00

I have a handful of clients contemplating Columbia, Harvard, NYU, Boalt and Northwestern and here's a timely post by WSJ Law Blog of interest if you're hoping for a BigLaw job after graduation.

Rankings Lead to Increased Transfer Admits

2008-04-08T07:49:00.000-07:00

The Faculty Lounge has a great article today about law schools downsizing to jump in the rankings, and compensating by taking more transfer applicants. This is a well-known practice, and applicants are just now starting to get wind of it.