Most law schools employ a rolling admissions process that favors early submissions. Continue working on your application, submitting transcripts and letters of recommendation directly to CAS, and researching housing options as soon as possible.
Establish genuine relationships with professors so that they can write compelling letters of recommendation. Now is also an ideal opportunity to take or retake the LSAT exam.
Spring
Are You Applying to Law School in 2024-2025? Now Is the Time! Now is the time to complete your resume, create a more concrete law school list, and begin crafting letters of recommendation. Take time to build authentic relationships with professors who can write compelling recommendations that highlight your individual strengths and abilities as a candidate.
Your next step should be evaluating your career goals and whether law school is necessary in achieving them. If this is indeed necessary, make sure your GPA and LSAT scores are as strong as possible to increase the odds of receiving interview invitations and 1L acceptances.
Admissions is on a rolling basis, so applying early in your cycle to ensure your application will be reviewed before closing at the end of July. In addition, taking an earlier LSAT may help as seats could fill by June’s deadline.
Summer
Once again, this is an important time to complete your law school applications. Be sure to request letters of recommendation and complete any supplementary materials (transcripts, extra LSAT scores etc). Now would also be an excellent time to take advantage of taking the Feb LSAT (or earlier if possible) as this can increase your chances of admission significantly.
Remember the emphasis should always be on quality over quantity when applying for law school admissions deadlines. While early applications are always ideal, schools and admissions committees understand life can get hectic; thus they often accept applications even during winter. If you want your applications to receive maximum consideration for financial aid consideration, try applying by their priority/suggested deadlines; also this is an ideal time for scholarship negotiations with schools that you are strongly considering (they may offer you more generous offers once classes fill up!). In addition, this could also be used to investigate housing options if necessary when moving across state to attend law school – perfect timing!
Fall
If you plan on entering law school in 2025, your application cycle will likely open in autumn 2024. Over the summer you should prepare by taking either an LSAT (or GRE), taking recommendations letters from professors or supervisors and initiating personal statement writing as well as compiling an application checklist for each of your target schools.
As soon as most schools begin accepting applications through their online portals in September, you should complete and submit all of your materials as quickly as possible without compromising their quality.
One of the first tasks you will need to undertake when applying to law schools is registering with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). For a fee, this service will compile your transcripts, LSAT scores and letters of recommendation into an official report that will be distributed directly to every law school you apply to – something required by most ABA-accredited law schools.
Winter
Law schools tend to operate under rolling admissions policies; applications begin being assessed nearly one year before classes are set to start. Therefore, it is wise to apply during the cycle that corresponds with your desired matriculation year.
For example, if you plan to attend law school in 2024-2025, applications will open around September of the previous year. This may give you time to retake the LSAT, strengthen your personal statement, and secure new letters of recommendation.
Once applications begin, register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS), compile your list of target schools and draft your personal statement – giving yourself plenty of time for any required letter writers. Becoming better-prepared increases your odds of admission into top law schools – deadlines may differ, but applying by November/early December generally qualifies as being on time.
