Preparing For The Application Process
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably decided that you want to apply to law school — hurray! Now you’re probably wondering, where do I start? From writing the LSAT, working towards a competitive GPA, and gathering reference letters, the law school application process can seem daunting. The truth is that applying to law school can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. They say that knowledge is power, and when it comes to applying to law schools, this is no exception. In this blog post, I will share how I stayed organized throughout the application process and give you a few tips to guide you in your preparation.
Identify Application Requirements For Your Prospective Schools
There are 8 law schools in Ontario. Every school requires that you submit your GPA, LSAT, and Personal statement. However, each school has its own distinct application requirements and factors that they consider when reviewing applications.
This information can typically be found on the law school’s website. My advice to you would be to keep some of these questions in mind as you browse through each school’s admission requirements: Does the school focus on an applicant’s cumulative GPA (cGPA) or their last two years? Do they have specific prompts that the personal statement must address? What is the last LSAT score date that they accept in that application cycle?
When I was applying last year, I created a chart of all the schools I was applying to and noted the application requirements. You’ll notice that typically your GPA and your LSAT are the most critical components of your entire application. Depending on which Ontario law school you are applying to, they may consider your cGPA or look at your last two years. This gave me a sense of which schools I would be a competitive applicant for and helped me stay organized when drafting my personal statements.
While your GPA and your LSAT are the most critical factors, your personal statement and extracurricular activities will play a significant role in your application. Some schools like the University of Windsor and Ryerson University’s Faculty of Law are more holistic in their admissions process, and this is where your personal statement can really shine. Determining each school’s requirements early on can help you be better prepared at the start of the application process and guide you in setting goals for yourself to be a competitive candidate.
Connect With Current Law Students
Reaching out to people who have gone through the same process you are about to go through can be very comforting. After I made a list of the potential law schools that I was interested in, I found it incredibly helpful to reach out to current students at each school to get their insights. Students currently in the program are an excellent resource to give you the ins and outs of a particular school and help you with tips and tricks for writing your personal statement.
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When I reached out to current students, I typically asked them what their experience has been like so far at that particular school, what extracurricular opportunities are available to law students, what the school culture is like, etc. If you’re unsure about applying to a particular school, talking to someone from that program can help you identify the unique aspects of that particular program and guide you when making your decision.
Currently, I am a Law Student Mentor for a mentorship academy called Legally Bright. As part of their mentorship program, Legally Bright supports undergraduate students interested in applying to law school by pairing them up with a current law student at a school they are hoping to apply to. As a mentor, I help my mentees navigate the law school application process by providing them with various resources that can help them with studying for the LSAT and drafting their personal statement and addressing any questions about the Dual JD program at the University of Windsor.
I would definitely recommend signing up to be paired with a mentor at Legally Bright to help you with the application process if you don’t know any current law school students that you can reach out to
Create A Timeline
Submitting all the components in your application requires a lot of time, planning, and attention to detail; this is why it is crucial to create a plan at the start with the important dates you have to keep in mind. Typically, the deadline for law school applications on the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) is on November 1st. You will be required to submit your law school application by this deadline, including your personal statements, transcripts, reference letters, and LSAT scores (if you have already taken the test). Creating a detailed timeline allows you to have each component of your application completed in advance so that you have a chance to review and ensure that it is seamless.
While you can take the LSAT after this deadline, it is essential to note that there are limitations as to how many times you can take the LSAT within a given application cycle and that schools will not consider test scores past a specific date. Ensure that you give yourself enough time to prepare for and write the LSAT so that your file is complete and ready to be reviewed by the admissions committee promptly.
Don’t leave your personal statement for the last minute, as it is a significant component of your application. When it came down to drafting my personal statements, I went through multiple drafts. I set an internal deadline for myself to have them completed 1–2 months before the deadline at the latest so that I had sufficient time to ask friends and family to review it. I then re-drafted my personal statements until I was satisfied with the result.
References
References are also another component of your law school application that you don’t want to leave until the last minute. Typically most schools require at least one academic reference, but they all have different requirements, as I alluded to in the first part of this blog. My advice to you would be to notify your references in advance that you plan to apply to law school and ask them if they can kindly provide you with a reference for your application.
I scheduled a meeting with one of my professors several months before the deadline and provided them with all the information necessary to submit their reference. It’s imperative to let your references know about the application deadline so that they have sufficient time to prepare your reference in advance and ensure that it is submitted on time.
The law school application process is a marathon, not a sprint. By doing your research, starting in advance, and being organized when managing your deadlines, you can guarantee that you submit an exceptional application to the admission committee. Good luck!
