Are you applying to law school this cycle but are just now getting the ball rolling?
Better late than never!
I've noticed two really big developments this year among prospective applicants, to the point where it's almost binary:
Anna Ivey gives you ruthlessly practical admissions advice
The recommendations part of CAS is, in my experience, the logistical part of the whole application process that trips up the most people, so I’ll focus on the process of submitting recommendations in this post. The logistical stuff is really boring and a bit tedious by definition, but it’s very important, because if you don’t follow the logistical instructions precisely, your applications will get held up.
The holidays can be a mixed bag for law school applicants. Those who already have acceptances in their pockets are able to kick back and enjoy the seasonal respite. But if you are still waiting to hear back, you are probably sitting around dinner tables fending off questions from everyone and their brother about your law school results.
Typos. In very important missives. That you've already sent to very important people. 😱😱😱Everyone has been there at one time or another, including lawyers (which can be especially embarrassing).
If you've already submitted your applications, you're probably checking their status at your various schools. Perhaps a bit compulsively? That's OK, as long as you're checking your status online and not bugging a real person on the other end every six minutes. This time of year, the most important status update for you to confirm is that your application has been marked complete.
Assume that schools prefer academic recommendations unless they specifically request a professional one. An academic recommender is someone who has taught you in a college classroom environment, graded your papers, led your discussion sections, etc.
Law school recommendations are not meant to be character references; they should focus on you as a student.
For some prospective law school students, the most stressful part of the application process isn't the Personal Statement or the LSAT. It's answering a question like this: Are you currently under indictment, or have you ever been convicted, placed on probation, or given a deferred adjudication or diversion program for a criminal offense?