Law School Application Guide

Application Checklist

ANYTIME

Make an appointment with a Dartmouth Center for Career Design (DCCD) Career Coach and/or pre-law advisor and talk to people who have attended law school to learn what it is really like and consider your reason for seeking a law degree.

SPRING (in the year you are applying)

  • Open a free online account with the Law School Admission Council.  
  • Consider taking a free LSAT prep course (there are many and some student organizations provide this support).
  • Prepare and register for an LSAT administration that best fits your schedule (e.g., junior summer).
  • Inform yourself on what law school is really like/for (e.g., it’s more about developing skills than expertise and law students do not “major in” an subarea of law study)
  • Conduct research on law schools (prioritize your wants and identify admissions requirements)

SUMMER 

  • Take the LSAT or prepare for later LSAT dates as needed
  • Subscribe to LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
  • Have official transcripts sent to the Credential Assembly Service 
  • Research, visit, and select law schools
  • Prepare personal statement
  • Talk with possible Letter of Recommendation writers
  • Request a Dean’s Certification for schools that require it

FALL 

  • Take any of the Fall LSAT offerings, if necessary 
  • Request a Dean’s Certification for schools that require it (if not yet requested)
  • Attend DCCD Law School Information Sessions with admission officers from various law schools
  • Attend the LSAC Law School Forum—participate in workshops and meet law school representatives
  • Apply to an appropriate range of law schools 
  • Request letters of recommendation to be mailed to LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) 
  • Complete and submit your application materials as soon as possible. We recommend applying by December.

WINTER 

  • Complete and file your financial aid applications
  • Send an updated transcript with Fall term grades to LSAC 

SPRING 

  • Pay your seat deposit by law school deadline

Pre-Law Advising at the DCCD

All Career Coaches at the DCCD provide law school application support. Coaches can assist students with exploration, identifying where to apply, personal statements, and other aspects of the admission process. Book an appointment through Handshake. 

Law School: Now or Later?

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 Coach at the DCCD.

Preparing for Law School

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 on their website. 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 are not 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:

Applying to Law School as a Current Undergraduate

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 DCCD Career Coach can help you identify schools based upon your interests, credentials, and more. Take the following factors into consideration:

Numerical Indicators

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 DCCD has admissions statistics for Dartmouth alumni. Schedule an appointment with a Career Coach on Handshake to request these statistics. Contact the law schools themselves if their websites do not indicate whether, or how, they weight different factors (e.g., LSAT given more weight than GRE).

The Academic Program

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.

The Law School Environment

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 are 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 are 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. 

Application Procedures

Application Components

  • Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or GRE
  • LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)/Law School Report
  • Official Transcript(s)
  • Applications for individual schools (free electronic individual school applications are available from LSAC) 
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Resume (can be up to two pages)
  • Diversity Statements (optional)
  • Addendums (if needed)
  • Other Materials: Citations; Dean’s Certification (required by some schools), Additional Essays

Application Fees and Fee Waivers

The LSAC website includes information about LSAT and Credential Assembly Service fees. Information about fee waivers for the LSAT and CAS is also available online. You must apply for a waiver through the LSAC website, and LSAC recommends that you submit your fee waiver application at least six weeks prior to the regular registration deadline for a particular LSAT. If you also require a fee waiver for an application fee, contact the school’s admissions office to determine if they participate in the fee waiver program, and how they want you to submit your application. Get an early start during spring or summer, well before you plan to apply.  Procedures for requesting application fee waivers are described in the individual law school catalogs.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

The test is offered nine times in any testing year. The current plan is to administer it virtually until June 2022. Only the June, September, and November tests are “Disclosed Tests” for which test takers receive a breakdown of their scores. All other tests offered are “Undisclosed Tests,” and test takers only receive their raw scores. Our office advises that you take a “Disclosed Test” for your first time. Visit the LSAC website for a list of current Dates and Deadlines. Most schools accept scores from tests taken within the past five years, although some law schools may require more recent test scores. We advise that you take the test no later than October in the year in which you are applying. Taking the test in June gives you the added advantage of knowing your score before the application process begins. It also leaves you time to repeat the test in the Fall if you are unhappy with your score. All scores are reported to law schools, and while most schools tend to look at the highest score, some schools review all scores. We highly recommend you do not take the test if you are not adequately prepared. The range of possible scores on the LSAT is 120-180.  We recommend using the official LSAC materials to prepare for the LSAT.  Test-taking strategies and a sample LSAT are in the LSAT and LSDAS Information Book.  Additional preparation materials may be ordered online from the Law School Admission Council. Commercial test preparation courses are available. Keep in mind these courses have a fee, so take a sample test before you consider enrolling.


LSAT Information:

  • The LSAT is completely digital: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/taking-lsat/about-digital-lsat
  • The Writing Section of the LSAT is not offered at the time of the test. Applicants must complete the writing section on their own time within 1 year of the testing date. Applicants will need to download software on their computer and must have a camera and microphone equipped to showcase their surroundings. LSAT tests are not complete until the Writing section has been submitted to LSAC. For more information about the Writing Section, visit: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/taking-lsat/about-lsat-writing 

If you are pursuing graduate school, but are not committed to law school, taking the GRE could be a more flexible option. Some law schools accept both the LSAT and the GRE. This is the most up to date list of schools that accept the GRE. Schools that accept both view them as equally challenging. Neither test is more prestigious than the other. If you are certain that the only graduate program you are applying to is law school, it is recommended to take the LSAT. Pick one test or the other, do not take both. 

Application Forms and Catalogs

LSAC provides free electronic applications to all applicants after they register for the LSAC CAS.  Applicants can complete applications online for all of the ABA-accredited schools using their LSAC account. Applications are usually available from law schools near the end of summer. If you want to begin your applications before fall term, consult the school catalogs and sample applications from the previous year. Get a head start on the essay or personal statement section.  Note the application and financial aid deadlines so that you can organize your timeline. Law schools utilize a rolling admission method. Aim to have your applications submitted in December, well ahead of the stated deadlines.

LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

Law schools require applicants to subscribe to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The CAS prepares and provides a report for each law school to which you apply. The report contains an undergraduate academic summary, including copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and law school/professional school transcript(s); LSAT score(s); your writing sample copy; and copies of letters of recommendation. This information, along with your application and personal statement is used to make a decision. Register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) online at www.lsac.org. Right now, each time you submit a CAS, there is a $45 fee.  CAS subscriptions are valid for five years.  If you took the GRE, these scores are not administered by LSAC. Please send your scores directly to each law school. 

Transcripts

Complete the Transcript Request Form available online through your LSAC account. Also complete the Dartmouth College Registrar Transcript Request Form. Submit both forms to the Registrar. Questions about Dartmouth transcripts should be directed to the Registrar’s Office (registrar@dartmouth.edu).  Transcripts must be ordered at least one week in advance of the required mailing date. You must order transcripts from every academic institution that you have attended. Although credit for coursework completed elsewhere is recorded on your Dartmouth transcript, grades are not. This means transcripts from all institutions you attended must be sent to LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service. It takes LSAC approximately two weeks to process a transcript from the time it is received.  

Citations

LSAC forwards citations to law schools along with your Dartmouth transcript.  You do not need to send your citations to the law schools separately. Please contact the Registrar’s Office with any questions about citations.

Letters of Recommendation

Before requesting letters of recommendation, consult the law school applications for specific instructions. Most schools require at least two academic recommendations and typically accept no more than four.  Applicants usually request letters from professors with whom they have a strong relationship. In addition, letters from previous work supervisors are often helpful, because they provide a different perspective on an applicant. Letters of recommendations are a major factor in the admissions decision. Make sure you choose people who have had an opportunity to observe your academic strengths and your personal qualities. 

Contact your professors early.  Make an appointment with each of your recommenders to discuss your course work, interests, as well as your plans for law school. Ideally, provide your recommenders  with the following: resume, transcript, personal statement draft (if written), a statement on why you are choosing to go to law school, a summary of what you learned from your experience with the writer, and a copy of a paper you wrote for their class.  

Discuss a reasonable deadline for the recommender to finish your letter. Professors can be busy and sometimes take leave. You may need to remind the writer. Make your request at least one month before you need the letter.  Aim to have your file complete by November 1.

All letters of recommendation must be sent to LSAC, unless a law school to which you are applying states otherwise.  

Review the DCCD guide on How to Ask for a Reference/Letter of Recommendation.

LSAC’s Letter of Recommendation Services

LSAC’s Letter of Recommendation (LOR) service is offered as a convenience to Credential Assembly Service registrants, recommendation writers, and law schools. 

Use of LSAC’s LOR service is optional unless a law school states that it is required. This service allows you to have your LORs sent to law schools based on each school’s requirements.

Any letter sent to LSAC without an LSAC Letter of Recommendation Form, or with an incomplete form, will be returned to the recommender.  LSAC does not accept letters sent by the candidate.

LSAC must receive your letters at least two weeks prior to a school’s application deadline. Be sure to inform your recommenders of the importance of sending their letters promptly.  You are encouraged to have your letters sent to LSAC as soon as possible after you have registered for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). You can have letters sent to LSAC before you decide on the law schools to which you apply.

Personal Statements

Most applications include an open-ended question about your accomplishments and career goals.  Even if it is not required, it is wise to provide one. The essay is your opportunity to present your personal attributes, accomplishments, passions, and interests to the admissions committee, since interviews are not part of the process.  A good essay might be the deciding factor in an admissions decision; an unconvincing or unremarkable essay can adversely affect your chances.  

The most effective essays are well organized, clear, concise, and directly respond to the prompt. Your essay will demonstrate your writing abilities in a way the previews how you will perform in law school where writing is one of the most critical skills.

The most effective essays convey a personal dimension. They describe an individual distinguished by intellectual motivation and accomplishment, social concerns and contributions, and personal values. You may want to develop the essay around an experience, an accomplishment, or an interest. It may help to imagine yourself in an interview situation with the admissions officer.  What do you want the admissions officers to know about you? Since the essay is evidence of your writing ability, be careful about grammar and spelling. Limit yourself to two to three typed pages, double-spaced. Review the Personal Statement handout in the Appendix of this Guide for Additional Information.

Deadlines

Submit your applications in December or earlier, well ahead of the deadlines. Some admissions officers begin to read applications in December and schools with rolling admissions begin to announce their decisions in January or February.  When fall term grades have been released, send an updated transcript to LSAC. This information will be incorporated into your file and updated transcript reports will be sent to the law schools.

Dean’s Certifications 

The Dean’s Certification includes your dates of attendance at Dartmouth, major, minor, graduation date, SAT score, and current or final GPA. The primary purpose of a Dean’s Certification is to obtain information about academic and disciplinary misconduct (or lack thereof). The Dean’s Certification will include any major disciplinary sanctions ( Conduct: Suspension or Separation; Academic: Probation, Suspension, or Separation). It is not College policy to report the specifics of the proceedings.  

The DCCD cannot speak for each law school, however if you have experienced a major disciplinary sanction, please make an appointment with a Career Coach to discuss its impact. Check each individual Law School for their Dean Certification requirements.  

At Dartmouth, one of the deans in the Undergraduate Deans Office attests to the applicant’s academic and personal record as part of the Dean’s Certification. To obtain a Dean’s Certification, you must print and complete the Dean’s Certification request form from the law school website and submit the form to the Undergraduate Deans Office in person (125 Carson in Baker Berry Library) or mail (6064 Carson Hall Level 1 Suite 125, Hanover, NH 03755). The Dean’s Office will send your Dean’s Certification to the law school. LSAC does not process dean’s certifications. If you have any questions on this topic, please contact the Dean’s office. Expect 2-3 weeks for your Dean’s Certification to be processed.

Admissions Decisions

Most law schools begin to announce decisions in January and February. By the beginning of April, you should know your status at most schools. If you find yourself on hold or on a waitlist at a school, discuss your options with a DCCD Career Coach.

  • “Hold” status implies that your application has been reviewed, and that the school has not made a decision. This may be because a school wants to see a larger percentage of the applicant pool before making a decision.  
  • “Wait list” status implies that the law school believes that you are qualified to be a member of the entering class, but that there were many other candidates who were even more qualified. Often, students are admitted off the list in late Spring and Summer.  


If you are notified that your decision will be placed on hold, or that you will be placed on a wait list, acknowledge the notification. Send any relevant new information, including: an updated transcript, a brief account of your current academic work (especially if you are writing a thesis), any new honors/awards, and any new responsibilities at your job if you are working.  

Financial Aid

Most financial aid is administered through individual law schools, and most awards are based on financial need.  Although most financial aid packets have a large loan component, some merit scholarships are offered.  

Read individual law school websites for financial aid policies, instructions, and scholarship options.  Contact the financial aid office at the law school if you need further information.  Many schools have loan repayment assistance programs (LRAP) for graduates who choose to enter low paying or public-interest law firms.

If you wish to be considered for federal aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, available from the law school’s financial aid office and online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. The new form is usually available in January and should be completed as soon as possible. Individual institutions will require additional financial aid forms to be completed.  

Pre-Law Resources

LSAC Resources 

LSAT Prep LawHub: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/prep

Fee Waivers for the LSAT & Credential Assembly Service (CAS): https://www.lsac.org/lsat/lsat-dates-deadlines-score-release-dates/lsat-cas-fees/fee-waivers-lsat-credential-assembly

LSAT-Flex and Accommodations https://www.lsac.org/lsat/frequently-asked-questions-about-lsat

Resources Recommended by Harvard Law School

Navigating Law School Admissions Podcast: https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/jdadmissions/navigating-law-school-admissions/ 

Inside the Black Box Series: https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/jdadmissions/admission-hls/inside-the-black-box/

Application Insights Video Series: https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/jdadmissions/application-insights/

Application Components and Samples: https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/jdadmissions/apply-to-harvard-law-school/the-application-process/application-components/

Selecting Law Schools

LSAC’s Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools: http://officialguide.lsac.org/release/OfficialGuide_Default.aspx 

ABA-Approved Law Schools: www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/aba_approved_law_schools.html 

NALP, prelaw portal: www.nalp.org/prelaw_portal 

U.S. News Law School Rankings: www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/law/lawindex_brief.php 

Law School Admission Council: www.lsac.org 

LSAT Information 

(The DCCD does not endorse or recommend any particular test-prep program.)

Law School Admission Council: https://www.lsac.org/ 

Blueprint LSAT Preparation: http://blueprintlsat.com/

Kaplan: www.kaptest.com 

The Princeton Review: www.princetonreview.com 

PowerScore: www.powerscore.com 

TestMasters: www.testmasters.net 

Applicant Resources (including diversity initiatives)

American Bar Association – Preparing for Law School: www.abanet.org/legaled/prelaw/prep.html 

LSAC’s Discover Law: Initiative to encourage racially and ethnically diverse students to discover career opportunities in law and choose a path in undergraduate school to help them succeed. (http://discoverlaw.org)

LSAC’s Information for Racial/Ethnic Minority Applicants: www.lsac.org/jd/diversity-in-law-school/racial-ethnic-minority-applicants  

Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO): www.cleoscholars.com 

100 Law School Interview Questions and Answers
www.bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/law-school-interview-questions

Financial Aid and Scholarship Sources

Dartmouth Scholarship Advising Office: www.dartmouth.edu/~scholarship 

LSAC: Financial Aid for Law School: www.lsac.org/jd/financing-law-school/financial-aid-overview 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid: www.fafsa.ed.gov 

U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov 

FinAid: Sponsored by the National Association of Student Financial Administrators (www.finaid.org)

FastWeb: Resource for local, national and college-specific scholarships (www.fastweb.com)

The Access Group: A non-profit group that provides education financing to eligible students (www.accessgroup.org)

Yale Law School Outside Scholarships: (https://law.yale.edu/admissions/cost-financial-aid/financial-aid-forms-resources/outside-scholarships)  

Legal Career Information

American Bar Association: www.americanbar.org/aba.html 

The Association for Legal Career Professionals (NALP): Legal career planning and recruitment information (www.nalp.org)

Equal Justice Works: Information on law careers in public service (www.equaljusticeworks.org)

FindLaw: Comprehensive set of legal resources including section for students (www.findlaw.com)

Hieros Gamos: A comprehensive law and government portal (www.hg.org)

Internet Legal Research Group: Information concerning law and the legal profession (www.ilrg.com)

Law.com: News, legal information and e-law services (www.law.com)

Dartmouth Lawyers Association: www.dla.org 

DCCD Resources 

Admissions Statistics: Profiles of national and Dartmouth applicants’ outcomes at each school

Dartmouth Career Network: Networking database, searchable by graduate school and degree (http://alumni.dartmouth.edu/alumnicareers) 

*The NAPLA/SAPLA Book of Law School Lists: Contains information on academic programs, clinical programs, admission policies, student organizations, scholarships, and more.

Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools: American Bar Association and Law School Admission CouncilOther resources available: LSAT study guides, legal career information, guides to law school admissions, and personal statement writing tips.