Law School Guide

Students interested in Law School usually study to earn a Bachelor’s degree in areas such as: American Studies, Political Science, History, Criminology and Criminal Justice, and even English in order to apply to law school.

You can then earn a Juris Doctor degree (J.D). from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Find a law school that supports your interests!

There are numerous specialties in law, find a school that will support your interests through their program and coursework.

If you are unsure of which law you want to study you should do your research, connect with EC alumni, take relevant legal/law courses, and gain experience working in a law firm, government agency, public interest organizations or in a related role. This can be an internship, part time, or volunteer work.

You will also be able to gain more experience through your program coursework in law school and usually you will be required to do a practicum or internship.

Types of law: Family, Labor, Tax, Real Estate, Immigration, Corporate, Personal Injury, Environmental, Property, Constitutional, Divorce, Entertainment, Business, Civil Rights, Patent, Aviation, Financial, Insurance and so on.

Applying to law school takes time so you will want to get started as soon as possible!

Most students begin their application process during the beginning of their Junior year to give themselves time to research, apply to multiple schools and test.

Many law schools open applications in September with early decision deadlines as early as November.

Submitting by early decision can increase your chances of your application being accepted vs. regular rolling admissions.

Application decisions are usually sent between Dec-Apr depending on when you applied.

If you have not done so already you will want to:

  • Do your research on costs of testing
  • Look at application deadlines and programs
  • Determine a start date
  • Put together a list of target schools

Most law schools will require the following:

  • Begin securing recommendation letters from advisors, professors or supervisors who will speak highly of you
    • This could take a month or several weeks so ask in advance
  • You will also want to request your transcripts and keep your GPA high
  • Meet with your Career Advisor to update your resume
  • Begin writing your personal statement and look at any prompts required (Complete by October
    • Meet with Joe Linitz, Lead Writing Specialist in ARC who is an expert in personal statement writing

It can take anywhere from six weeks to two months to hear back after you submit your applications. The more competitive the law school, the longer it will take. You should apply to a dozen schools, including those which may seem like a reach and a few “safety” schools. Don’t underestimate your worth, but don’t be left without a backup plan.

Local:

  • Boston College
  • Boston University
  • Harvard University
  • Massachusetts School of Law
  • Northeastern University
  • UMass Dartmouth
  • Western New England University
  • Vermont Law School
  • UConn
  • University of New Hampshire
  • UMass Law
  • Yale Law
  • Cornell School of Law
  • University of Southern Maine

Alumni have attended:


The LSAT is a law aptitude test that is required to gain acceptance into most law schools. To pass you need a score of at least 120.

Preparing can take months so it is usually best to begin studying in the Spring.

You may need to take the test multiple times, consider taking the test in the summer with some fall back up dates and register early to save your spot since sites fill up fast.

If you plan to go to law school upon graduation you should take the LSAT the summer of your Junior year or Fall of Senior Year.

The test is normally offered June – November. Look for a list of dates and locations online.

LSAT Study Resources

Which Law Schools Accept GRE scores?

Your Law School Application Strategy

5 Tips for LSAT Reading Comprehension

How do I prepare for the LSAT ?

The purpose of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is to assess necessary skills for success in law school such as reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and writing.

There are many ways to prepare yourself for this exam. LSAT prep books are a great place to start’ these will give insight on testing strategies, content of the exam, practice activities, and more.

There are also LSAT prep courses you can take with an instructor that will teach you all the books have to offer in a class-like environment.

There are also numerous free, online resources that will create preparatory curriculums based on your starting skill levels to guide you in your studying.

Lastly, it is recommended to take practice tests throughout your journey to track progress as testing day approaches – these can be found online through various trusted websites.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to figure out what methods work best for you to sufficiently develop the skills that the LSAT will test you on. 

What if I have a low GPA or test score?

Most law schools take a holistic approach to admissions. So, if you are worried about your test scores or GPA not being high enough, you should aim to excel in other areas such as campus involvement, work experience, writing abilities, etc. to stand out amongst other applicants.

Keep in mind, you can take the LSAT multiple times until you’re happy with your score.

What courses, area of study or extracurricular activities should I pursue to strengthen my law school application?

While law schools will accept any major, those studying Political Science, History, Philosophy, or English will learn strong foundational skills of critical thinking and writing skills.

Similarly, those majoring in Sociology, Criminology & Criminal Justice, or even Psychology will have understandings of the social aspects of public service.

Additionally, you may want to look into courses that touch on topics pertaining to the kind of law you’d like to practice or general law and court procedures.

Relevant internships and volunteer experience as well as involvement in student organizations can also enhance your law school applications. 

What is the CAS?

The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) simplifies the application process by acting as a portal to hold all application materials such as your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and any other required documents. This way, these materials only need to be submitted once to the LSAC; all schools approved by the American Bar Association are available electronically through a CAS account.

What does it cost to apply to law schools?

When considering law school there are various expenses to account for. Registration for the LSAT requires a $22 registration fee.

Once you take the exam, you will have to pay $45 per institution to send a score report to schools you are applying to.

Additionally, law school hopefuls must register with the Credential Assembly Service that has a $200 membership fee.

Individual schools may also charge their own application fee, but many offer fee waivers (so make sure to ask)!

How can I finance law school?

Tuition varies greatly among law schools and may range anywhere from around $10,000 to upwards of $70,000 per year based on location, offerings, prestige, private vs. public, etc.

Many law schools offer a variety of merit or need based financial aid to their accepted students as well as scholarships and grants.

Your Financial Counselor can help you explore finance options that work for you.

To estimate what law school might cost, you can use the Access Lex Calculator here: https://www.accesslex.org/tools-and-resources/student-loan-calculator

How do I choose the right law school?

There are many factors that go into choosing the “right” law school for you. In your research you should look at tuition and other associated costs, what kinds of law they offer, their rankings, employment outcomes after school, location, etc.

It is also important to consider the acceptance rate as well as the average GPA and LSAT scores of current students to assess the likelihood of your acceptance. Overall, the right for a law school is one that aligns with your career goals, preferences, and circumstances.

You may also consider registering for the Candidate Referral Service (CRS) that will allow law schools that you may not have considered to discover your profile. 

How long is law school?

A full-time JD program typically spans 3 academic years. Some institutions may offer accelerated year-round programs to be completed 2 years, or some part-time programs that take place over the course of 4 years. 

What is the difference between a JD and an LLM?

JD is the first professional degree required to practice law in the United States, defined as Juris Doctor. LL.M. is a Masters of Laws degree that is an advanced law certification.

JD graduates who wish to further their law expertise or international students who wish to obtain globally recognized credentials may be interested in this program. An LL.M. is not sufficient to practice law in the United States.

What is the workload like in law school?

Law school differs from undergraduate school in the sense that the workload requires much more consistent commitment.

Your workload will be heavier and first year students should expect to devote on average 30-40 hours weekly to homework and studying. Your success will be dependent on active class participation and in-depth understanding of assigned cases and readings.

You should treat law school like a full-time job, managing your time wisely and holding yourself accountable. It is a lot of work, but it is doable!

What kinds of law can I practice/study?

There are many kinds of law that you could go into, which is why law school is an option for any major.

Generally, there are about 20 different fields of law that you can practice; these include: animal law, admiralty (maritime) law, bankruptcy law, banking & finance law, civil rights law, constitutional law, corporate law, criminal law, education law, employment law, environment law, family law, health law, international law, intellectual property law, military law, personal injury law, real estate law, and tax law.

Only you can decide what type of law is best for you based on numerous personal factors such as your circumstances, interests, salary expectations, etc. 

What is the bar exam, and how do I prepare for it?

Before you can practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction, you must first pass the state’s bar exam. This test assesses a candidate’s ability to “think like a lawyer” and prove their competency to practice law in that given state.

Each jurisdiction administers their own form of the exam with varying format and content as well as their own standards for what a passing score is and whether your license is transferable state to state.

Methods for preparing for the bar are similar to LSAT preparation, while content will be much more focused on the skills you have developed in law school.

There are prep books and blogs available that will provide tips, brief content overviews, test-taking strategies, and practice materials. Furthermore, practice tests will be useful in tracking your progress.

What career opportunities are available after law school?

A J.D. degree will prepare you to work in a variety of settings for a variety of career aspirations. To work as a lawyer in the United States, you must first pass the Bar Exam to earn your license to practice.

Depending on the type of law you want to go into, there are many possibilities for career opportunities. Some kinds of law are best practiced in a private firm that bring lawyers on as associates that work their way up to partner.

For those interested in public service, you can work with the District Attorney or Attorney General’s office on a state/local level. Within the federal government there are positions available as well such as legal counsel for governmental agencies, military advocacy, etc.

Other public interest lawyers may be employed through private or non-profit agencies designed to serve specific populations of people.

For recent grads uninterested in the actual practicing of law, their degree can be utilized in the realms of academia or publishing for the purposes of research or teaching.

Some lawyers may also choose to work in the political process as representatives.

At the end of the day, you can do so much with a law degree, your post-graduate plans truly depend on what you want to do with your career.