Work Experience

It's generally a good idea to acquire some. Here's a blurb from the University of Chicago Law School's admissions blog:

The first question is whether work experience makes a stronger application. The short answer is yes. An application from someone employed full-time after college is often focused, insightful, and reflective in ways that a first-semester college senior sometimes is not.

Try to get some work experience.

Plagiarism and its cousins~

I want to thank 1L @ UT law for her comment about being fine even if applying late. Please read her comment to get a more full detail of what I'm talking about.

I would like to also add that applying later (late December as opposed to early October) with a stronger application (i.e. higher LSAT score, air-tight Personal Statement, etc.) can case-by-case (but in most cases) be to your advantage.
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Last night, I spoke with a student who is debating whether to take the Feb LSAT or not. The conversation went well up until he brought up the topic of plagerizing for his personal statement. This guy suggested tweaking a great personal statement that he had found online: "If I change the details, but keep the basic idea, I'll be fine!"

There was an obvious and awkward pause after he said that. A million and one thoughts ran through my mind: personal statements are suppose to be personal; what makes you think that the admissions committee isn't smart enough to notice?; if you get in through the merits of another's work, then can you live with the probing question, "Am I really good enough to be here and compete with my classmates?"

I know that getting into the best school possible is a worthy goal, but it troubles me to know that people are willing to plagiarize/cheat to get there. "The ends justify the means [for law school admissions]," argument just doesn't stand in a profession that requires you to prove yourself (your skills and yours alone) again and again, especially when taking the Bar exam (good luck cheating there!)

Some students (I kid you not) audaciously ask me to write their personal statements for them, and "tempt" me with couple hundred dollars.

As Abe Lincoln said in his notes on the practice of law: There is a vague popular belief that lawyers are necessarily dishonest. I say vague, because when we consider to what extent confidence, and honors are reposed in, and conferred upon lawyers by the people, it appears improbable that the impression of dishonesty is very distinct and vivid. Yet the impression, is common – almost universal. Let no young [person], choosing the law for a calling, for a moment yield to this popular belief. Resolve to be honest at all events; and if, in your own judgement, you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation, rather than one in the choosing of which you do, in advance, consent to be a knave.

Planning ahead~

My friend Angie is getting married this month. She and her fiance have been planning this wedding for the past 1-year! I know weddings are a big deal, but wow! One-year!?

My initial reaction is, "How can you wait an entire year? Especially having determined that "the one" is right there besides you?"

Nevertheless, I'll bet that Angie's wedding will be spectacular. The amount of time and energy she spent preparing for this wedding is absolutely prize worthy.

How does this relate to law school admissions? (Take a wild guess).

I discourage students who decide they want to attend law school on a fling. I know, I know....Elle Woods did it, then why can't I? Well, I suppose my counter-example would be: "Tom Cruise can fly in mid-air while riding a motorcycle and shooting guns, so why can't you?"

Law school is an extremely important step/decision/move. It's expensive, exhaustive and above all, nothing like the movies! So if you're serious about law school, you ought to plan ahead and prepare well in advance (it pays off!)

Here is some helpful advice to prepare in advance:

1) Take the LSAT before December! Given my advice about studying at least 3-months before test-date, this means studying over the summer!

2) Start thinking about your Personal Statement at least 3-months before due date. This gives you plenty of time to draft/re-write/draft and if all should go wrong, to start-over again.

3) Do all your research regarding schools well before you take your LSAT. Typically people want to wait until they have their LSAT scores to compile a list of schools. That's not planning ahead~ To plan ahead one ought to have a general idea of what their reach schools and saftey schools are even before the LSAT. If you had that elusive score, where would you apply? If you get a lower score, which schools would you not mind attending? Think through all the possible scenarios in advance....it'll save you more time and you'll stress less later.

4) Make requests for letters of recommendation in advance! Especially to college professors. They have a life of their own, and they can't put it on pause just because you're apply to law school. I would give them a generous 6-week window. So if you want to apply early, this means giving them a heads up during the summer. Also, keep in mind that the US postal service and LSAC can (together) take FOREVER to process the letters of recommendation, so plan accordingly!

5) Think about how you want to pay for your law school education. To some the answer is simple: ask my parents or take out loans! But if you make the effort to search, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find plenty of fellowships and scholarships out there. Also, it doesn't hurt to have a part-time/full-time job before law school (just a thought).

The early birds get the worm~

It's true! Especially in law school admissions.

My numbers (which will not be revealed for identity protection purposes) are good, however, they are definitely not auto-admit worthy at many of the top law schools. I thus applied REALLY early: between the last week of September and first week of October.

It's December and I've already been admitted to 50% of the law schools I applied to (they are all schools that I'm excited about!).

Moral of this post: APPLY EARLY!!!

For those who haven't sent in their applications yet, send them out soon!

The Pond or the Ocean~

Right now I am in Chicago. My travel mate has been complaining for the past 4 hours about the blistering cold. But honestly, compared to the cold winters in Siberia, Chicago really ain't that bad. I like the brisk wind and bundled coats.

Every person, deep inside, is adventurous. We seek the unknown and the different. Yet every person is also risk adverse. We do not want to venture too far from the familiar and the established ways (I'm speaking so vaguely on purpose). It is this tug-a-war between the yin and the yang of our hearts that drive our life choices/decisions.

I find this tug-a-war especially tense within soon-to-be law students (for example, to leave my home state or not?).

I've heard the advice that unless admitted to a first-tier law school, students shouldn't venture far from the region they want to spread their roots. I agree....sorta.

For the past two-years, while traveling throughout various parts of the world, I've learned that there are two things people (of ripe old age) wish they could have done more: 1) read more good books; 2) see new places.

While law school really isn't a place to fulfill the second of these two desires, I am a fan of venturing far from home and experiencing the new - swimming out of my pond and into the ocean.

When choosing your list of law schools, I dare you to flirt with the idea of moving out to the unknown.

Relax

For those who just took the December LSAT, go unwind and relax. You deserve it.

I understand that the pressure of trying to get all applications in before Christmas may keep some awake. But people are more productive when they are well rested.

Lastly, before you make any rash decisions to cancel your score, give it at least one more day of thought. Typically there are three types of reactions people have just as they walk out of the testing center:
1) I rocked that test! (a lil' cocky aren't we?)
2) I don't know what just happened; things just went by so fast.
3) *crying* I bombed that test! =(

A vast majority of people walk out thinking reaction #3 (I was in this category). A handful think reaction #2. A very small minority thinks reaction #1.

Oddly enough the people who thought they bombed the test tend to do very well. So keep your hopes UP!