where are you now? and what should you be doing?
Whether you're a high school student, college student, or postgraduate, there are specific actions you can take to pave the way for your journey to law school.
We all encounter different stages when we decide to embark on our journey toward law school. Some individuals may know this path in high school, while others discover it during college. There are also those who find themselves in the workforce for a while before pursuing a law degree. Regardless of the stage you are in, there are specific steps you should take, from strengthening your grades and participating in extracurriculars to applying to pre-law programs. Today, I will highlight what you should be doing at various stages:
High School Students: If you are currently in high school and aspire to attend law school, consider the following action steps:
Focus on succeeding in high school, meaning maintaining excellent grades and a high GPA, engaging in extracurricular activities, taking AP classes, and participating in community service. In the U.S., a college degree is required for law school admission, so strive for success in high school to attend the best college with minimal financial burden.
Learn about different types of law through research. Websites such as LSAC Fields of Law, can provide valuable information.
Attend free pre-law programs and events catering to high school students, such as the Online High School Summer Legal Academy and Next Generation Líderes program
Explore and find legal internships through programs like the New York Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and Ladders for Leaders.
Consider paid Pre-law programs that you can choose to explore such as the ACLU National Advocacy Institute, NYU Pre-law Bootcamp
Lastly, you still have a lot of time before applying to law school, make the best of the time you have and target colleges that have extensive resources supporting pre-law students.
College Students: Most of the advice mentioned for high school students also applies to college students, with a few additional considerations:
Find if your school has a pre-law office that supports students interested in attending law school. Utilize resources like pre-law advisors for guidance.
Become an active student and maintain a good connection with your professors. Why? It’s a good thing to do, it allows you to get to see your professors as humans and most importantly, you will have people to rely upon when you begin seeking letter of recommendations. And being an active student will give your professors something to write about in the recommendation letters.
Engage in extracurricular activities on and off-campus to demonstrate a well-rounded college experience. This includes joining clubs, running for executive positions, volunteering, or creating your own clubs.
Join pre-law or legal related clubs such as the Mock Trial and others. At John Jay College, they were clubs such as The Law Society, Legally Conscious and other law related programs. I participated in these clubs, it was helpful to be other pre-law students and I learned more about the legal field.
For students with jobs, this is your superpower. Use that and do not discredit your experiences. Law school love students who were not just academically focused rather took advantage of the freedom and flexibility that comes with being a college student.
Seek internships (preferably legal) and other opportunities to enhance your resume. Use resources such as career advising center, pre-law center and school counseling at your college to seek out these opportunities. SYEP and Ladders for Leaders is also useful in this regard.
Learn about the legal field through research, your professors with a legal background and take legal classes offered by your school.
Lastly, apply for pre law programs! They are many pre law programs out there, that will support your law school journey and beyond. I will soon be publishing an article on pre-law programs and my experiences with the programs I applied and was accepted.
Post College Applicants: Although I am someone who is a post college graduate applicant, I do not have much to say on this part considering that I time off to study for LSAT and apply to law schools. However, I will tell you that law schools love applicants with meaningful experiences.
Things you should focus on:
Reach out to your college to explore resources available for alumni applying to law and graduate schools.
Contact former professors to request letters of recommendation. If you're planning to take a year or more off before applying, inform professors of your law school plans in advance.
Develop a personalized and comprehensive study plan for standardized tests like the LSAT considering your work schedule or whatever else you have going on.
I hope you find these tips helpful. Remember, regardless of your current stage, taking proactive steps and seeking out opportunities will contribute to a successful path to law school.
Feel free to share any comments or additional tips in the comment section. I plan to maintain consistency with this blog and will soon be adding an audio feature after recovering from my sickness. Excited for what's to come!
For today’s inspirational message,
