UPDATED: DECEMBER 11, 2006Okay, let's face it. Applying to law school is a pain in the ass because there are a million and one different forms needed.
I thought it would be a good idea to brainstorm and come up with a checklist of every and any form that may be required by law schools for a file to go complete.
I will list a few that I can think of off the top of my head, wait for more suggestions, and add them as they come. If anyone knows of
specifics -- that is, School X requires Y form that no other school does -- list it anyway and I'll add it with a note beside it to demarcate the school.
Let's hop to it!
So far, we've got:
Register for LSDAS Okay, the rest of this makes no sense without registration. The earlier you register, the better. Go to the LSAC website for more information.
Academic Transcript To procure, according to rtqw, "once you're signed up to LSDAS you can print out a form with your name and other information. You sign that form and then ask your school's registar's office to send a copy of your transcript along with that signed form to LSAC for processing."
And, according to ....., "sending actual transcripts would be silly. LSAC sends copies with your summary report--schools will know what classes you took."
Personal StatementNOTE: For Yale, the 250 is the required personal statement.
HERE is a great thread providing links on the personal statement. I checked them out -- they are good! PLEASE read over these if you haven't started your PS yet.
Diversity Statement So far, we have:
- Columbia
- Duke
- Georgetown
- Penn
- Wake Forest
- Tulane
- Northwestern
- NYU - "brief statement to discuss your ethnic/racial/cultural identity. Also invite you to submit any relevant additional info."
- Cornell - Here's their prompt:
"In making admissions decisions, we give consideration, among other things, to diversity factors (including but not limited to racial or ethnic group identification, cultural, linguistic or economic group; sexual orientation; or other factors), obstacles that applicants have overcome, and/or discrimination that you have experienced. If you choose, please submit a separate statement (in addition to the required personal statement) discussing any or all of these issues to the extent they apply to you."
This is about as good an explanation as you're ever going to see:
To those who have questions about diversity statements, this is a good prompt (one of U Mich's optional essays) that I posted on the other board:
How might your background and experience enhance the diversity of our student body or of the legal profession? You might discuss perspectives or experiences relating to socioeconomic disadvantage, disability, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, or religious affiliation. You might also discuss atypical career goals, employment history, educational background or special talents or skills.
The diversity statement speaks to what makes you different from the rest of the applying class. It doesn't have to be about a specific experience or obstacles that you've overcome.
IF YOU KNOW OF SCHOOLS THAT ASK FOR A DIVERSITY STATEMENT OR ALLOW ONE, PLEASE POST AND LET US KNOW!
Letters of Recommendation (2 required most likely, but 3-4 is good to have)
Some schools ask for separate recommender forms. Stanford is one such school. Columbia also has a school recommended form. IF YOU KNOW OF OTHERS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
Resume This is useful for most applications, but some schools are very specific. Thanks to MoniLi for the following list:
- Columbia: Recommended
- Duke: Required
- GWU: Optional
- Georgetown: Required
- NYU: Optional
- Northwestern: Required
- University of Chicago: Required
- University of Florida: Required
- UVA: Optional
- Vanderbilt: Optional
- Harvard: Required (as of 2006/2007)
- University of Texas: Required
For more information on resumes, or to join the debate on what they should contain, head to
THIS THREAD.
Dean's Certification For more information and a list of schools that require Dean's Certification, go
HERE.
(That thread makes me miss some old posters, especially Jason240, who always wore his heart on his sleeve. Paranoid as he was. Also, it's very detailed. Thanks rtqw for the link, even though I'm too stupid to notice it stickied right onto the forum
.)
UPDATE: As of 2006/2007, applicants to Harvard will no longer need to provide certification for their file to be considered complete. For more information, read
Toby's blog posting.
Here's a good question from asdfgh:
What is a certification letter?
On the wisconsin-madison app it has this included at the end:
note: If you are applying electronically via LSAC, print out and sign your certification letter instead of signing this application.
Where is it? And do what with it then? I feel like this is probably a really stupid question, but...I'm asking anyways.
Bass's reply is helpful:
You will not find it on the application. You will find it only once you've submitted. Then you'll have access to it. It's a form you'll print out and mail.
I was pretty confused by this sort of thing last year.
Addendum This could be to explain:
- Low GPA (overall, or for a particular period).
- Low LSAT.
- Minor criminal record.
U Penn actually prompts for a GPA/LSAT related addendum.
(THERE'S MORE -- CONTINUED ON NEXT POST...)
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