You may have heard of this thing called conditional scholarships.

That's when a law school offers you money — sometimes lots of money — with strings attached.

For example:

You have to be in the top X% of your class at the end of 1L or you lose the scholarship.

Or:

You are offered two tiers of scholarships. Either you accept the conditions and get more money, or you take less money without conditions.

As one pre-law advisor put it to me, "It's like a casino, honest to god."

Yes, law schools that offer conditional scholarships are expecting you to gamble.

I know it's tempting, but don't take that money.

In fact, maybe look elsewhere altogether.

Those aren't institutions I can admire. Because admissions practices say a lot about a school.

And do read the fine print on any scholarship offers you have. Those details are important.