Applying to Law School: Can Spring Applications Be Successful?

Welcome to the next installment of the “Applying to Law School” series. In this post, we will discuss strategies and considerations for spring applications to law school. Keep in mind that each applicant’s timeline and journey will be unique. Use this resource to start thinking, planning, and strategizing for your best spring applications. The post is divided into two sections: 1) strategies for those who have not yet applied, and 2) tips and suggestions for those who have. 

A Reminder About Timing

Law school applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. This means that law schools review applications and make decisions as they come in; they do not wait until the application deadline to decide. Timing is important in this process.

As you evaluate your spring application strategy, take the time to understand each law school’s deadlines. You can list all the schools you want to apply to and their overall application deadlines. Sort the list from the earliest to the latest deadline. Note if any schools indicate which LSAT testing month is the last one they will accept—more on the LSAT below.

Next, evaluate your list based on deadlines and consider where your application will fall in that school’s overall application cycle. For example, if the general deadline is February 15, applying in February puts you at the very end of that school’s cycle. In contrast, if the general deadline is in April or later, applying in February puts your application more toward the middle of the cycle. Timing could make a difference in your application. Making a list and checking it twice will provide you with important information needed to inform your spring application strategy.

Strategies for those who have not yet applied

Ask yourself, what do I need to do to have a complete application? Do I have time to complete them, and complete them well,  based on the stated deadlines?

Below are some things to consider based on your answers to the prompt. We’ll begin with the most time-consuming component, the LSAT.

Application Component | The LSAT

The LSAT (or other applicable standardized test, such as the GRE) is a mandatory component of your application. Without a test score, your application will not be considered complete. If the application is not complete, it cannot be reviewed. If you have yet to take a required entrance exam, now is the time to evaluate whether it is still possible to do so based on the remaining available test dates and your preferred law school application deadlines. At this point, unless you are already registered for the February LSAT examination, you will only be able to take the LSAT in April or June. Before you register for either examination, triple-check that your preferred law school will accept a score from those testing dates.  

If you are considering the GRE, please check 1) whether your preferred schools accept it; 2) what the remaining testing dates are; and 3) whether your preferred school will accept a score from those testing dates.

There are several factors unique to you to consider at this point in the process,  and preparing for and taking a standardized test is one of them. I invite you to consider the tips shared in Applying to Law School: Application Check-In to further evaluate this component of the application process.

If you decide that you would be rushed or unable to prepare effectively, consider applying in a future cycle. You can capitalize on the preparation you have already done and move forward with a plan to apply in the fall of 2025. I invite you to connect with your pre-law advisor or organizations like Ms. JD to explore this option.

Application Components | CAS, Transcripts, LoRs, and More

If you already have your test score(s) but have not yet submitted your applications, here are some tips on what to do. Remember, pay attention to school-specific deadlines! Timing can matter in this process.

• Essays and Addendums: Read (and re-read!) each essay prompt and work on crafting your essays and addendums. Reuse content mindfully and as appropriate. Give yourself the opportunity to submit an optional or supplemental essay that will provide additional information about you to the law school. Take the time to edit and proofread; details matter! 

• CAS: Make sure you sign up for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) as soon as possible to begin uploading and submitting all application materials. For more information on CAS, click here.

• LoRs: If you are still waiting on letters of recommendation, make an effort to reach out to your recommender(s) and agree on a completion date (by the end of January if possible) so you can execute your application submission timeline without delay.

• Transcripts: Make sure you have submitted your transcript to LSAC from all institutions where you have earned college credit. To learn more about the transcript summarization process, click here.

• FAFSA: Complete your FAFSA if you haven’t already. This is how financial aid for federal loans for summer/fall will be determined.

Tips and suggestions for those who have applied

The time after submitting your applications can feel like a rollercoaster ride. You may be waiting for a decision, getting an admission letter one day and a denial another. While you wait for more information to help you take the next step, here are some things you can do:

• Monitor your inboxes for updates and communications each day. Respond promptly to any requests you may receive from law schools such as requests for interviews or scholarship essays. And check your SPAM folder!

• Keep researching schools and mark important upcoming dates, events, and programs on your calendar.

• Create a spring application budget – consider travel expenses for admitted student events. Research seat deposit amounts and deadlines so you can plan for these expenses. Seat deposits are non-negotiable and can be several hundred dollars.

• Consider if you would want to submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). Timing is important. Be mindful of how long it has been since you applied before submitting a LOCI. Make sure you know your preferred schools' guidelines on when or even if LOCIs will be reviewed and considered. 

• Complete your FAFSA if you haven’t already. This is how financial aid for federal loans for summer/fall will be determined.

Conclusion

Can spring applications be successful? Yes, but they require some additional considerations. I hope you will keep in mind that law school will always be an option for you. If you start to feel rushed or like you don’t have enough time to put forward your best application possible, I invite you to pause and consider if applying in a different cycle could be more beneficial. Applying to law school is a highly competitive process, and giving yourself the best opportunity to succeed through good strategies can make a difference.

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.