A good place to start researching law schools is the online LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools, where you will find valuable information on each school’s programs, as well as statistics on grade-point averages (GPA) and Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores for its last entering class. Each school also provides a section on its financial aid resources, employment opportunities, and bar-passage rates, as well as a breakdown of its enrollment by ethnicity. This information is available at LSAC.org.

Law schools consider a variety of factors when evaluating applicants. LSAT scores, your undergraduate cumulative GPA, letters of recommendation, a résumé detailing work history and extracurricular activities, graduate studies, and a personal statement can all be considered during the application review process.

It is advisable to take the LSAT only when you are fully prepared. You can purchase previously disclosed tests and other test preparation materials from LSAC. In addition, LSAC has a collaboration with Khan Academy to provide the first official online test preparation program — 100% free. You can get a diagnostic assessment and a personalized practice
plan. Go to khanacademy.org/lsat.

Yes, LSAC sends all your scores to law schools, along with an average. When schools evaluate your application, some will use the average, and some will consider the highest score.

CAS provides law schools with an analysis of your academic work and a record of your LSAT scores. As an applicant, you are required to register for CAS and have your colleges send a transcript directly to the service. A copy of the transcript, along with the analysis and LSAT scores summary, will then be sent to each law school to which you apply.

You should be ready to apply by mid-fall, a year before you plan on entering law school. Here are some tips: In August, a year before you plan to attend, you should browse websites for information on particular law schools and sign up for CAS, which includes access to electronic applications. If you did not take the LSAT, sign up for an LSAT administration. You should also start preparing your résumé and personal statement.

Though some law schools do not require letters of recommendation, most do require some letters. Recommendations can come from faculty members if you are still in school or recently graduated, or from employers if you have been out of school for a while. Applicants are advised to submit letters of recommendation through CAS.

Tip: When asking for letters of recommendation, ask the recommender if he or she will be able to provide you with a favorable letter. Also, be sure to allow the recommender plenty of time to write your letter.

With a few exceptions, in general, law schools do not grant interviews. While they do encourage visits, these may or may not have an impact on admission. It is best to check a particular school’s website to learn about its procedures. 

Tip: Visiting a law school is a great way to meet current law students and to get a general idea of the environment at the school. Most schools offer tours and/or informational sessions.

In short, no. You should seek a broad range of skills and knowledge. Take undergraduate courses that will help you develop your research and writing skills and your ability to think critically. Among the courses that some students have found helpful in the past (but in no way should be construed as required for law school) are philosophy, economics, English, history, political science, public policy, and sociology.

In general, law schools are interested in the overall qualifications of their applicants, including work experience. You should provide a thorough picture of your work experience in your résumé.