While it’s never too early to start considering your law school search, it can be difficult to know when or where to begin. The timeline below will help you stay on track—or even get ahead—in your search.
First and second year
- Select a major in a field that both interests you and allows you to excel academically.
- Begin to form relationships with professors so that they will know your work well enough to serve as recommenders in the future.
- Introduce yourself to your pre-law advisor, Dr. Terri Mester (Terri.Mester@case.edu) in The Career Center.
- Explore your career interests by seeking summer jobs or internships.
- Attend information sessions by The Career Center.
Third year
- Meet with your pre-law advisor to assess your academic, extracurricular, work experiences and to discuss the application process.
- Set up an account with LSAC (Law School Admissions Council)
- Begin preparing for the LSAT. If you feel ready, register for the June test.
- Secure a summer job or internship, if possible, in a law-related field or any field that requires you to cultivate leadership skills.
- Research law schools and compile a list of tentative schools.
Fourth year
- Complete all applications by November 15.
- Register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Have transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you have attended sent to the LSDAS after verifying their accuracy.
- Ask potential recommenders if they would be able to write letters on your behalf.
- Take the LSAT in September if you did not in June.
- Begin drafting and revising your personal statement.
- Meet with your pre-law advisor to assess the strength of your application to the schools you are considering. Request a critique of your personal statement draft.
- Take the LSAT in December if you did not take it previously or are retaking the test.
- Complete the FAFSA and any institutional financial aid applications as soon after January 1 as possible.
- Meet with your pre-law advisor in the spring to review options as schools respond to you.
- Take appropriate action on acceptances, wait-list statuses and financial aid packages.