Before You Apply to Law School

In recent years, the Dartmouth applicant pool has contained more recent graduates than graduating seniors. There is no disadvantage to applying later. Roughly 80% of undergraduate students take one year off before applying to law school and 65% take two or more years.

Many seniors consider the option of working a year or two before applying to law schools. They aim for employment that will enhance their chances of admission. Law school admissions officers encourage work experience. The goals of more-experienced applicants are generally more focused, and they are therefore better prepared applicants. Dartmouth graduates have worked in any number of fields before applying, ranging from business and education, to the media and social services. 

If you apply as a senior and are not accepted, you can always reapply. Consider taking at least two years to gain experience and knowledge in a job you enjoy. Develop some skills that will make your next application significantly different from your earlier ones. A challenging job can be a good foundation for your postgraduate education. Feel free to discuss your questions or concerns with a Career & Life Design Coach!

Begin your law school preparations as early as possible during your undergraduate career. The American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar provides a statement on Pre-Law Preparation – read this, and other resources, to explore both the profession and the law school experience. Carefully examine your interests, abilities, and goals. Question your preconception about “the law,” and weigh your goals, current job market, and the state of law school admissions. If after this reflection you aren’t sure whether you want to pursue a legal career, work a year or two before applying to law schools. Here are additional resources to help you in the exploration phase:

If you decide to apply to law school, you should begin the application process at least 18-24 months before you plan to matriculate.  A Career & Life Design Coach can help you identify schools based upon your interests, credentials, and more. Take the following factors into consideration:

Undergraduate GPA and your score on the LSAT or GRE are two important factors in the admissions process. Each of these numbers should be compared to the median at individual schools and to the grids in The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools. Additionally, the Center for Career Design has admissions statistics for Dartmouth alumni. Schedule an appointment with a Career & Life Design Coach to request these statistics. Contact the law schools themselves if their websites don’t indicate whether, or how, they weight different factors (e.g., LSAT given more weight than GRE).

Many schools offer a wide variety of options for specialization and dual degree programs. Popular options include JD/MBA and JD/MA in areas such as history, international relations, economics, and government. Exact offerings vary by school. During your school search, also note clinical programs, law journals, and study abroad options.

To learn more about a specific law school’s environment, meet with their representatives. Typically, admissions representatives visit Dartmouth (in person or virtually) each fall to discuss their programs. Schools will host info sessions, join panels, and participate in multi-school events. These events are typically advertised on Handshake. If you’re interested in a specific school, check their website from time to time for information on events.

Discussions with law students and professors can also help you assess schools. If you’re planning an academic career or a judicial clerkship, it is important to select schools which most commonly graduate students who become professors and judicial clerks. For applicants with specific professional objectives, looking at the schools’ elective courses, clinical programs, and law journals can be useful. Most schools’ websites and catalogs contain profiles detailing percentages of graduates entering major law firms, corporations, law-related positions, the judiciary, federal and state government, and private practice. When you speak with current law students, ask about placement opportunities, including summer jobs available to first-year students.

Consider the following criteria as you make your application decisions:

  • Likelihood of admission
  • Quality and accessibility of faculty
  • Reputation (not rankings; these can be misleading)
  • Method of instruction
  • Enrollment, class size, and diversity of the student body
  • Overall cost and the availability of financial aid
  • Practical programs and clinical opportunities (these are critical because law school curriculum does not train students to practice law)
  • Location, housing, and kinds of recreation available
  • Environment and culture of the law school
  • Extracurricular programs
  • Career placement in your field of interest
  • Bar passage rate (percentage of graduates who pass the bar)

The competitiveness of the admissions process varies, so plan to apply to a range of schools. There is no “best” number of applications.