Applying to Law School is Much Easier Than Attending Law School

Let's be realistic here: applying to law school is not going to be one of the most pleasurable things you have ever done.  To the contrary, it is one of the most difficult processes you will have to go through, and that is just the beginning.  Once you get into law school you will probably think the same as many other law students out there; applying to and getting into law school was the easiest part of going.

What does it take to get into law school?  Really, it depends on the law school you want to attend. Many of the schools that have more rigorous admissions requirements care about statistics. They are more concerned with GPA, LSAT scores, and credit hours than anything.  Other schools with less rigorous admissions have room to care more about the human in every applicant. They evaluate such things as work experience or internships related to law, community service hours, and school activities.  Of course, these things must be taken into consideration along with standard numerical data, like test scores and GPA.

For those applicants who have a little lower test scores or GPA than they wish they had, letters of recommendation are truly a thing of beauty when it comes to applying for law school. If you have ever had an internship at a law firm, or if you established a good relationship with a law professor at school, see if they can provide you with letters of recommendation to include with your application and personal statement. These things can really help explain why an applicant should still be considered, from a professional point of view, although the numbers may not be quite up to par in the eyes of the student or the educational institution. Letters of recommendation can come from anyone, but they are most effective when they come from business professionals or people who know about and relate to the law profession.  For some students, this task is obviously easier to accomplish than it is for others.

Keep in mind when working on your list of schools to apply to that very few if any schools allow you to waive their application fees. Law school application fees can be anywhere between $25 and $100, with most falling in the $50 range-still a small investment. This is one of those times in which it is necessary to be realistic with yourself and your possibilities--while the temptation can be a bit much, stray away from applying to schools that you know probably won't accept you. Don't waste your time and the time of admissions advisors, let alone the precious dollars that will be much harder to come by once you begin your law school endeavors.

So is applying to law school a really hard process? Not really. It is however, a lengthy process that involves a lot of pieces of information and a lot of things to gather. Don't let it discourage you, though, it's one of the easiest things you will go through for the next few years of life.