Mass Black Judge

Law school requires a great commitment, with its intensive coursework requiring much greater dedication than undergrad studies. Furthermore, exams in law school often employ an extremely steep grading curve which necessitates excellent academic ability in order to succeed academically.

Plan ahead in order to avoid sending last minute panicked emails to recommenders and scrambling around in a panic trying to rewrite your personal statement on deadline.

Early Decision

Early application deadlines at law schools usually mean earlier decision notifications from admissions officers compared to regular applications, making an ED application even more advantageous for students confident about their academic and extracurricular background who wish to attend one particular institution. Applying early also shows your dedication towards attending that specific institution and may increase the odds of acceptance.

On the downside, ED applications are binding; once accepted into an ED program, once accepted you commit to attend without making alternative decisions or using financial aid offers from other schools to negotiate higher scholarship amounts at your top-choice school. We advise against enrolling in such programs unless you know for certain that one particular school will be the perfect match for you.

Regular Decision

Law schools vary considerably in their admissions policies, but in general most will consider applications submitted by March’s end. To be competitive when applying under regular decision, it is essential that work on your application starts well ahead of this deadline.

Preferably, applying as early as possible is recommended as late submission can make it more challenging for Admissions Committee to make an informed decision – plus you could miss out on scholarships by waiting!

General, the Admissions Committee considers more than just test scores and undergraduate GPAs when reviewing applications. If there are special circumstances that you would like taken into account during review of your application, be sure to detail them clearly in your personal statement and ask for letters of recommendation from individuals that can offer insight into your personality, motivation and aptitude for law school.

Rolling Admissions

Some law schools use rolling admissions, which means applications are evaluated and accepted continuously until all spots in an incoming class have been filled. If you are considering applying to schools with rolling admissions, keep in mind that late submission can drastically lower your odds of acceptance.

Note that law schools with rolling admissions tend to require more stringent applications than those with strict deadlines, especially those which demand extensive personal statements, strong letters of recommendation or high LSAT scores.

If you apply to a school with rolling admissions and are admitted, typically the non-refundable deposit should be submitted between April and May. It’s recommended to send a letter expressing continued interest prior to making this commitment; this practice is common at schools that utilize rolling admissions and may help negotiate your scholarship offer more easily.

Due Dates

Many law schools require additional requirements of applicants in addition to LSAT scores, personal statements and resumes for admission consideration, including writing essays, submitting letters of recommendation, attending law school interviews and taking background courses. You should ensure you take enough time to meet these unique demands from each institution before their due dates arrive.

Many schools provide applicants with a “priority deadline,” guaranteeing admission decisions by a specific date if their applications arrive before this hard deadline. However, schools do review applications submitted after stated deadlines as well.

Planning ahead can help prevent you from sending panicked emails to recommenders or scrambling to rewrite your personal statement at midnight. By adhering to an ideal law school application schedule, you can submit high-quality materials that increase your odds of admission – and reapplying next year may offer another chance to improve it!