Law

Law School

About Law School

Strategies to Succeed in Law School

Whether you want to be a corporate lawyer or a public defender, you are much more likely to achieve your goals if you do well in law school.

Law school classes have titles such as Contracts, Torts and Property. You'll read hundreds of cases that inspire and examine every rule (and every exception to that rule) that has developed over the past 400 years.

Transferring Law Schools

If you are not accepted to your first choice law school, you have two options: apply again next year or attend another institution with the intention of transferring. If you decide to go the latter route, here are certain factors you should consider.

The Case Method

In the majority of your law school courses, and probably in all of your first-year classes, your only texts will be casebooks--collections of written judicial decisions in actual court cases. The case method eschews explanation and encourages exploration.

The First-Year Curriculum

The first-year curriculum is the brick and mortar of your law school education. No matter what school you attend, here are the courses you're likely to take.

The Socratic Method

As unfamiliar as the "The Case Method" will be to most 1Ls, the real source of anxiety is the way the professor presents it. Simply put, Socratic instruction entails directed questioning and limited lecturing.

The Summer After Your First Year

There are a lot of ways to spend the summer after your first year that will be intellectually stimulating, good for your resume and perhaps (dare we say it?) fun.

Moot Court

Moot court is an extracurricular activity designed to simulate courtroom practice. Think of it as the legal drama club.

Law Review

Working on law review is a lot like eating vegetables. You may not enjoy it, but it's good for you.

Legal Clinics: Turning Theory Into Practice

Tired of case books and lecture halls? Legal clinics give you the opportunity to finally get your hands dirty.

Law Specializations

As a law student, you can take electives that will prepare you to practice in any number of legal fields.  Though your career goals and interests will ultimately guide your decision, we've provided a quick rundown of some of the most popular specializations to let you know what's available.

Applying to Law School

Academic Recommendations

While grades and LSAT scores are the chief criteria for admission to law school, a strong recommendation won’t be ignored.

Application Strategy: Timing and Numbers

Here are some tips to help you decide when to apply to law school, as well as how many to apply to.

Beyond LSAT Scores and Grades

It may well be true that the law-school admissions process relies too heavily on such impersonal criteria as the LSAT, but thoughtful consideration is given by admissions committees to what sort of human beings they admit.

Topics to Avoid on Your Personal Statement

We all know the maxim “some things are better left unsaid.”  Well, this rings doubly true for your personal statement.  Not every approach you can take is a winner.  Some are outright losers and you should avoid them!

Tips for Your Personal Statement

Your grades and LSAT score are the most important part of your application to law school. But you shouldn't neglect the personal statement—it's a valuable opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants, especially those with similar scores.

LSAT Overview

An overview of the Law School Admission Test.

Law School Admissions Index

Most law schools begin evaluating your application by determining your 'index'. This number (which varies from school to school) is made up of your undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and LSAT score, with the latter almost always given more weight.

Law School Application Overview

Getting into law school is no easy task and getting into a top law school is an even tougher one.  It's important that you develop a strategic approach and attack the application process full-force.

Law School Data Assembly Service

If you're applying to an ABA-approved law school—or one of several non-ABA-approved law schools—you'll be required to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).

Miscellaneous

Life as a Lawyer

The field of law has numerous subdivisions and you can take your JD down a variety of avenues.   Here are descriptions of four common types of practice: bankruptcy lawyer, corporate lawyer, public defender and plaintiffs' counsel.

Positioning Yourself for Admission to Law School

4 Myths About the LSAT

The legal system deals with facts, so it may surprise you how many myths and half-truths surround the LSAT.  Don't be taken in.

Work Experience

Most law school applications will ask you to list any part-time jobs you held while you were an undergrad and how many hours per week you worked. Work experience can help boost your candidacy.

Better Extracurriculars

To get into a good law school, you'll need to differentiate yourself from the thousands of other applicants. Top grades and an excellent LSAT score are two things that will do this. Your extracurricular commitments are another.

LSAT Writing Sample

You most likely know that the LSAT has a thirty-five-minute essay section. What you might not know is that the essay section has absolutely no effect on your overall score. Actually, there's a chance it won't even be read.

Research and Decide

Choosing a Law School

It seems that the only easy aspect of becoming a lawyer is choosing the law school that is best for you. Compared with all the rest, this part's a regular walk in the park. Here are some tips to keep it that way.

Understanding Law School Accreditation

Law school applicants are very familiar with the phrase 'ABA-APRROVED'. In most states, a law school graduate cannot take the bar exam without having attended a school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).