Despite all the jokes to the contrary, being a lawyer still carries a great deal of prestige in this country. Not only can you do rewarding work by helping people defend their rights within the justice system, but you can also earn a terrific salary and ensure a comfortable lifestyle for yourself and your family. These are the types of payoffs that make all those extra years of schooling worthwhile. But before you enjoy all that success, you have to overcome the first major obstacle: getting into law school.
I'm surprised by the number of folks who think that getting into law school is simply a matter of doing well on the LSAT. Yes, that's a very important part of the equation, but it's still just a part. There are a lot of other things you need to do well in order to set yourself apart from the tens of thousands of other students across the country who apply for limited seats at the best schools. Let's take a look at some of the other components of putting together a good application package.
First, you should have a very good college grade point average. Let's face it: getting into law school is mostly a numbers game, and grades count for a lot. You might have been able to talk your way out of a couple of bad high school grades when facing down the admissions officer at your undergraduate institution, but that's not going to be the case when it comes to getting into law school. You'll be going up against the best and brightest even if you don't apply to the Ivy League. That's not to say you absolutely need a 4.0 to be considered. But you should definitely be well over 3.0 to make a strong case for yourself.
Second, it helps to possess an undergraduate degree from a college or university with a good reputation for quality academics. All other things being equal, if an admissions board is considering applications from a candidate who completed his Bachelor's degree at Georgetown University and someone who went to a place called St. Thomas College, the Georgetown alum will likely get the nod. Again, this is not a hard and fast rule for getting into law school, but it is most certainly a factor.
Third, make sure you follow all application instructions perfectly. There's no excuse for failing to send in required documents or for submitting anything late. Doing either of those things will make a bad impression, which is a mistake some candidates can never recover from.
And finally, do well on the LSAT. Pay extra money for the prep courses, take as many practice exams as possible, and make sure you're rested and ready when it's time to take the test. You won't be getting into law school if you do poorly on the LSAT, so give it the effort and attention it deserves.
Some people even go so far as to hire personal consultants to help them through the application process. If you have the financial means to do this and if getting into law school is that important to you, you might want to consider doing the same.
There's no question that getting into law school -- especially a good one -- can set you up for a highly successful and rewarding career. But it takes a lot of work to get admitted, and even more work and determination to finish. Follow these steps to improve your chances of admission!