Applying to Law School: Elements of the Application & Tips for a Successful Application Season

The start of the 2024-2025 law school application cycle is around the corner! This is an exciting time for applicants, but it can also feel scary and intimidating. In this first post of a series on the application cycle, we will break down the application cycle and components so you can feel confident as you prepare to apply!

Timing

Law school applications typically open on September 1 or October 1. Application deadlines vary significantly, but generally close around April of the following year. Make sure you understand the deadlines for all schools you wish to apply to, including paying special attention to any Early Decision deadlines that may apply. Stay tuned for a future blog post with tips and information for deciding whether Early Decision is right for you.

Tip! Don’t wait until the deadline to apply. Law schools use a rolling admission process which means that they will review applications when received and make decisions throughout the application cycle. If you are applying at or near the stated deadline, it may be too late. Aim to submit your applications around November or December of your application cycle.

Application Portal

Applications to law school are housed within the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) portal. CAS is a subscription-based service through LSAC, and is like CommonApp but for law schools. The CAS fee for the 2024-2025 cycle is $207 and it is valid for 5 years. It is through CAS that you will populate and attach all the required information to apply.

Tip!  Many applicants believe that submitting applications on September 1 is advantageous. It is not. Applicants need time to go through and answer the questions in each application, read the instructions and essay prompts carefully, and meticulously complete their application packages. This takes time. No two applications are exactly alike, and law schools are requesting many more essays than before. Take your time, treat each application as if it is the only one, and prepare an application you will be proud of!

Application Components

A law school application consists of several components. Consider each component as a piece of the bigger puzzle of who you are; each component should complement each other and should not be duplicative. A brief description of each component is found below in alphabetical order:

Addendums: This is an opportunity to provide additional context around something in your application. Common addendums include LSAT and/or GPA addendums and Character and Fitness addendums. Read each school’s instructions to understand what kind of addendums they will accept.

Application Forms: This is the form found in CAS. It consists of biographic and demographic information. You will need to complete a form for each school you are applying to.

Interviews: Some law schools conduct applicant interviews. As with scholarship essays, this may come earlier or later in the application process.

Letters of Recommendation: Most law schools require at least one letter of recommendation, usually from an academic source. This could include a professor, teaching assistant, or graduate assistant. Some schools prefer two academic letters of recommendation, especially for recent graduates. Consider gathering 2-4 letters of recommendation, two academic and two professional. Remember, each school has distinct requirements. Only submit the amount requested!

If you have been out of school for a few years, it may be more challenging to obtain a meaningful letter of recommendation from an academic source. Consider emailing your target law schools to see if they will accept additional professional letters of recommendation instead of an academic letter.

LSAT: The LSAT is offered approximately 9 times per year. An applicant must have a valid LSAT score on file to apply. The LSAT should not be taken “cold”; appropriate preparation is important! Understanding when you will sit for the LSAT is a critical piece of your application timeline. On average, applicants take the LSAT more than once. 

Tip! As you create your timeline, plan for two attempts. You may not need it, but if you do, you will stay on track!

Personal Statement: Usually a 2-to-3-page, double-spaced essay that shares more about who you are and why you want to go to law school. Different schools have different requirements such as font size, margin size, page count, and topic, so make sure you review the instructions carefully.

Resume: Resumes for law school can be different than for jobs. Resumes are typically one page, but you can go into a second page if it is justified. You will want to include experiences from college to the present, including student organization involvement, volunteer work, publications, research, awards, paid and/or unpaid internships, part-time and full-time employment, etc. This is an opportunity to showcase the skills that law schools are looking for, such as communication, writing, leadership, and collaboration.

Scholarship Essays: A few schools require an additional essay to be considered for scholarships. Sometimes this essay is part of the initial application packet and sometimes you will be asked to submit it after you have been admitted to the school.

Supplemental Essays: More and more law schools are allowing applicants to provide additional information through supplemental essays. Some of these are optional and some are required. As you consider which supplemental essays to submit, evaluate whether you are sharing something new with your audience. This is a great opportunity to expand on something from your personal statement or share another piece of information to continue building that puzzle of who you are.

Transcript(s): You will need to submit transcripts from every undergraduate institution you have attended. For example: you took classes at a local community college during the summer in addition to your regular coursework at your undergraduate institution. You will need to submit both transcripts to LSAC.

Practical Tips:

Organization: Organize yourself! This includes creating an application timeline, keeping track of important information such as deadlines, and making sure you save it all in one place, preferably in the cloud.

Timeline: Create an application timeline. Your timeline can always be updated, but it is great to have a general understanding of when you should be doing what to meet your goals. Here is an example of a timeline; remember, yours may look different!

            Start Law School: August 2026
            Submit Applications: Fall 2025 (November/December)
            Register for CAS: August 2025
            Take the LSAT:
                            Attempt #1: June 2025
                            Attempt #2: September 2025
            Prepare for the LSAT: January 2025 – June 2025

Connect: Figure out if your institution has a pre-law advisor or faculty member who supports pre-law students. Some institutions’ pre-law advisors also work with alumni. Check your institution’s website or look it up on the LSAC website under the Discover Law tab -> Preparing for Law School -> Find Your Pre-Law Advisor.

Be Flexible! Applying to and attending law school is a big decision and undertaking and should not be taken lightly. It is ok if your timeline changes. It is also ok if you change your mind about when (or if) to attend. There is no rush to get to law school. Your timing will be ideal, no matter when it is.

Utilize Resources! Did you know that Ms. JD offers great resources to support your prelaw journey? Check out the Pre-law Foundations Course and the Application Accelerator for more information. 

There you have it: a bird’s eye view of the law school application process and the application components. While there are many moving parts to this journey, trust that you can and will get through it. Take it one step at a time, seek counsel from reputable sources such as your pre-law advisor, LSAC, and Ms. JD, and have faith that the process will work out in the best possible way.

We are cheering you on!

Gabriela Brunner holds a JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a MS in Higher Education Leadership from Western Illinois University. Prior to becoming a prelaw advisor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gabriela practiced law for ten years in business litigation and immigration law. She has a passion for mindfulness and meditation, particularly as it applies to pre-professionals.