What are the things you will have to complete to apply for a law school?

Answer 1

Applicants accepted: 12.2%

Number of 2006 applicants: 6,810

Number of 2006 matriculants: 558

LSAT range (25 to 75 percentile): 169 to 175

GPA range (25 to 75 percentile): 3.95 to 3.72

Good grades and a high score on the LSAT. Even if you do poorly in school and on the LSAT, it shouldn't be a problem if you have rich parents.

Harvard Law SchoolYou should look at www.law.harvard.edu for exact stats, but I think its around 169- 175 LSAT, 3.75-4.0 GPA. These are just the median (25% to 75% range) but it should give you an idea of where you stand.

Theres also a really good guide on how to get into the law school. Check out the guide in the related links at the bottom of this page titled "How to get into Harvard Law School"

According to harvard.edu: "The applicant must have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university by August of the year for which they are applying. Said applicant must also have taken and passed the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Applicants generally rank in top 10% of their college's graduating class in the top 5% of the LSAT. Percentile requirements are sometimes waived as candidates are judged on their overall educational ability/achievements and societal attributes. Approximately 7,000 students apply each year for 550 law school openings."

The most important aspect is to have great grades in school. Harvard wants you to do well in accelerated classes rather than to exceed in regular classes. Consider taking honors or AP classes. If you have anything less than a high "B" average then you have very little chance of getting in.

You also need to do very well on standerdized tests. Make upwards of 1300 on SAT1 or from 30 to 36 on the ACT. Consider taking test prep.

In terms of extracurricular activities quality is better than quantity.

Answer 2

Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is an important determining factor for getting into law school Take your initial LSAT in your junior year to make sure that you have time if you need to retake the test. Take as many practice tests as possible. All law schools approved by the American Bar Association require applicants to take the LSAT. As of 2006, there were 195 ABA-accredited law schools; others were approved by State authorities only. Nearly all law schools require applicants to have certified transcripts sent to the Law School Data Assembly Service, which then submits the applicants' LSAT scores and their standardized records of college grades to the law schools of their choice. The Law School Admission Council administers both this service and the LSAT. Competition for admission to many law schools-especially the most prestigious ones-is usually intense, with the number of applicants greatly exceeding the number that can be admitted.

Undergraduate Courses Law schools look for specific courses on your transcript (political science, philosophy, sociology, and history). Applicants need to have courses such as economics, business, math, and finance.

GPA - a commendable GPA and course load are important. Admissions board look favorably on an applicant that has double majored in Biology and philosophy with a GPA of 3.25 as opposed to someone who majored in political science with the same GPA.

A Personal Statement is to let the admissions committee know who you are. List significant life accomplishments and what makes you different from the other applicants.

The first true impression of you will be to the admissions committee. Write your statement, let several people review it. Choose a reviewer who will truly critique your essay.

Formal requirements to become a lawyer usually include a 4-year college degree, 3 years of law school, and passing a written bar examination; however, some requirements may vary by State. Competition for admission to most law schools is intense. Federal courts and agencies set their own qualifications for those practicing before or in them.

Although there is no recommended "prelaw" undergraduate major, prospective lawyers should develop proficiency in writing and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking logically-skills needed to succeed both in law school and in the law. Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. Courses in English, foreign languages, public speaking, government, philosophy, history, economics, mathematics, and computer science, among others, are useful. Students interested in a particular aspect of law may find related courses helpful. For example, prospective patent lawyers need a strong background in engineering or science, and future tax lawyers must have extensive knowledge of accounting.

Acceptance by most law schools depends on the applicant's ability to demonstrate an aptitude for the study of law, usually through undergraduate grades, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the quality of the applicant's undergraduate school, any prior work experience, and sometimes, a personal interview. However, law schools vary in the weight they place on each of these and other factors.

Answer 3

Standford is on of the top law schools in the nation. If you're in college right now, you'd better hope that your grades are in the 3.7 or above range. All ABA accredited law schools require you to take the LSAT. Obviously, some law schools require higher scores than others. The lowest possible score on the LSAT is 120. The highest possible score is 180. For Standford, you should be shooting for a score above 170, putting your percentile in the high-90s. Extra-curricular activities are also important - an internship at a law office would be very helpful.

Alternatively, if you don't do well enough to get into Stanford, but get into another very good law school, you can apply to transfer to Stanford after your first year, if you do extremely well (finishing your first year in the top 2-3% of your class)

Answer 4

These will vary from school to school. Generally they will look at your undergrad GPA, your LSAT scores, and other fuzzies like extracurricular activities or if you would contribute to the diversity of the class in some way. The more exclusive schools want LSAT scores over 165, but again this is not the only factor.

Answer 5

You need a bachelors degree in any subject matter, and you need to take the LSAT. Typically, a score over 150 is needed to get into law school, and a score above 160 will make you competitive for those well thought of schools preferred by legal employers.

Generally speaking, you also need a clean criminal record to be admitted to state bars. Those convicted of recent crimes of moral turpitude (embezzlement, fraud, etc) may be able to obtain a spot in a law school only to find out they are not qualified to be a lawyer upon graduation. Minor crimes, such as drug use, are often not a barrier to bar admission if there is evidence that you are no longer an habitual drug user. Crimes related to civil disobedience and protesting are also overlooked by bar committees.

Keep in mind that it does not matter what your undergraduate major is unless you wish to be admitted to the patent bar after law school. The patent bar requires a hard science degree or extensive coursework in that subject. Some computer majors are also qualified; check with the patent bar to see which ones.

Pre-law programs usually do not assist your admission chances, nor does political science. Indeed, such programs could actually hurt your application at competitive schools, since you will not stand out from other applicants. When I was attending Harvard Law, I did not know any classmates who had studied pre-law.

Answer 6

This varies greatly by law school, but generally there is a specific number of credit hours required and a minimum GPA requirement (usually 2.5).

Many schools also have other requirements (certain courses, writing projects, etc.), so your best bet is to consult the schools to which you're considering applying, or if you're already a student, check with the registrar.

Answer 7

depending on you LAST score as low as a 2.0

Answer 8

It depends on the specific school. In general, the LSAT, the school's application and a copy of your undergraduate transcript will be required.