Pre-Law Guide - Where to Apply

The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools

The single most important source of information for a law school applicant, and certainly the one to consult first, is The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools, prepared by the Association of American Law Schools and the Law School Admission Council. The guide contains a key-facts chart about the law schools that are members of the Law School Admission Council. Each school has provided its own description to the guide. The majority of schools have submitted admissions profiles that indicate the ratio of applicants to acceptances for the most recent entering class, LSAT scores, and undergraduate GPAs. In addition, there are valuable sections giving an overview of the legal profession and preparation for law schools. A copy of the Handbook is available for reference at OCC, but you may wish to purchase a copy. In addition, you can find information about each law school on the LSAC.org website.

Although your credentials, a particular school's admissions standards, and certain geographical considerations will be the main ingredients in your selection of law schools, other factors should be considered. Keep in mind the following criteria while compiling your list of schools:

  • The type(s) of law interests you (i.e., tax, labor, international, etc.) and where the strength of the school lies. When evaluating qualities of the law schools, keep an open mind to your options. Most students do not have a specific law specialization in mind when applying to law schools. Law school programs with strengths in multiple specialties and offer diverse clinical programs may be your best option.
  • Number of students enrolled at the law school.
  • Faculty/student ratio.
  • Expenses and housing.
  • Adequacy of its law library, physical facilities, and area resources.
  • Extracurricular opportunities: student-edited journals, student associations, etc.

Your final list should comprise those schools that can provide you with the best legal education for your range of needs. Your list should include your reach, competitive and safety law schools.

Joint-Degree Programs

Some law schools offer joint-degree programs leading to a Juris Doctor degree in law and a concurrent degree in another field such as business, public policy, etc. The standard J.D. program requires three years of study; a joint-degree program will require more time. Law school catalogs provide information about such programs.

Part-Time Evening Programs

Most students enter law school as full-time students in September for the six semesters of study required for the J.D. degree; however, a number of law schools have part-time programs which offer evening classes and award the J.D. degree after a minimum of four years. These evening courses and special summer study programs can make it possible for a student to be employed while pursuing a law degree. The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools and individual catalogs identify the J.D. program options available at the various schools.

Special Entry Policies

For a variety of reasons, including financial concerns or a desire to travel or to take a break from academic life, many students prefer to wait for a year or more before entering law school. Some schools grant deferred admission, that is, they hold a place for a given student until the September after he or she would normally enter. At many law schools, applications will be accepted only during the year before intended enrollment. Since you cannot assume law schools will automatically hold a place for you, information about deferment policies should be obtained from the admission office of a given school before you apply.

Although most law schools admit students only in September, some will admit them at midyear or in the summer. Again, the key-facts chart in The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools or individual catalogs can provide you with this information.

Law School Representatives

Each fall, law schools send representatives to Williams; Law school representatives will be able to answer any questions you have about a school, its programs, and the lifestyle to be found there. Some law schools may schedule individual informational interviews.

A schedule for these visits is posted at on our Route 2 system, the OCC web calendar, and publicized in our OCC newsletter, Guidelines. Students interested in receiving e-mail messages about these upcoming events should register on the Route 2 system via the OCC website. When editing your profile on the Route 2 system, select law as one of your listserv interests.

If you are interested in speaking with the representative of a particular law school, check the schedule and sign up on the Route 2 system early. Please be considerate and commit yourself to keeping any appointments that you schedule.