Law school applications require students to submit a variety of materials, with some variation between schools. Other pages in this section give a more detailed dive into the various aspects of the application, including tips and guides for doing each well. This section is meant to overview and introduce the application as a whole in terms of both process and substance.
Parts of the Application
The main components of the application that every school will require are:
- The LSAT
- Undergraduate GPA & Transcript
- Personal Statement
- Letters of Recommendation (typically 3)
Additionally, some schools may require or allow students to submit:
- Evidence of work history and experience (such as a resume or CV)
- Diversity Statements
- Optional Essays about school selected topics (such as statements about overcoming adversity)
How to Apply
Schools typically require students to pay an application fee ranging from about $40-$100 per school applied to. Students can sometimes qualify for fee waivers which can reduce this cost.
Rather than applying to each school individually, law school applications are centralized through LSAC – the Law School Admissions Council. LSAC administers the LSAT, and collects student materials to be distributed to schools. This saves students time by allowing them to send off copies of their materials with a few clicks in one central location.
Click here for LSAC’s page on how to begin applying.
Other Costs: In addition to the application fees which go to the individual schools, you should also expect to pay fees for (1) the LSAT itself, with additional fees for any date changes and official scoring (2) LSAC to assemble your materials, and (3) your university to send copies of your official transcripts.
Click here for a breakdown of fees charged by LSAC.
In total, the cost of applying to law school can be several hundred dollars.
Because law school is a big commitment and even applying can be a big cost, before you decide to apply, make sure that you have done the work to know that (1) law school is the right choice for you, and (2) you are a competitive candidate for law school.
A good place to get started is this site’s unit “Is Law School Right For You?” which can help provide answers to that question.
What matters in your application?
Obviously students will want to be competitive in every aspect of their application, but which are the most important? In this case, there is an easy answer.
By far the most important components of your application are your LSAT score and undergraduate GPA, in that order. These two numbers alone account for 90% or more of what makes a competitive law school applicant. Everything else makes up just the last 10%.
Good letters of recommendation will not overcome poor GPAs or LSAT scores. Neither will a strong personal statement or work experience. If you want to be a competitive applicant for law school, do well in classes and do well on the LSAT.
While this can be intimidating, it also means that students who have not had access to legal experience are not at a disadvantage. It means that taking a year (or more) off will not affect your application, nor will attending undergrad part time, or many other factors that you might worry about impacting your application status. GPA and LSAT are, in some sense, a more level playing field.
What Next?
- This section of this website has pages for the major components of the application, including guides on how to write a good personal statement, where to find LSAT study resources, and how to get good letters of recommendation. Check those out for more detailed information on each component
- Browse our “Frequently Asked Questions” tab as a first step to answer more specific questions you may have about the application process. From questions such as “How should I study for the LSAT?” and “Do I need to pay for an LSAT tutor?” to”What should I major in?” or “Will my Masters GPA help me get in to law school?”
- Check out the section labeled “Is Law School Right For Me?” for a variety of recommendations to help shape your pre-law journey, from what classes to take to clubs to get involved with and activities to complete to find out what being a law student and lawyer is really like.