Pre-Law Timeline

Planning your law school journey is a highly individualized process. There is no cookie-cutter approach that will fit everyone’s needs. Some of you will choose to apply to law school during your senior year at Tufts, for example, while others will choose to wait and focus on meeting other goals first, such as obtaining work experience, traveling, starting a family, etc. No matter where you are in your journey, we are here to help.

To help you plan ahead, we developed a pre-law timeline with a step-by-step guide. Please note that it is a general guide and should be used in consultation with Dovie King, Tufts Pre-Law Advisor.

First Year in College

  • Build rapport with your professors and supervisors for recommendation letters needed for law school.
  • Since there is no pre-law major, explore courses and majors that genuinely interest you. Students with degrees in the sciences, engineering, art and theater are just as qualified to go to law school as those with history, philosophy and political science degrees.
  • Take advantage of what Tufts has to offer. Go to lectures and events that broaden your perspective, and practice networking. Join a student organization, such as the Pre-Law Society, and make connections.
  • Think deeply about why you want to become a lawyer. Lawyers can work long hours in high-stress situations. Few of them make a lot of money and most graduate from law school with significant debt. Explore other options that may bring you closer to your career goals, including graduate programs in public policy, business, social work, education and diplomacy.
  • Make an appointment with Dovie King, Tufts Pre-Law Advisor, in your second semester. Discuss your career goals.
  • Look into summer internships. Try to gain work/legal experience or engage in community service. Update your resume accordingly.

Sophomore Year

  • Continue to build rapport with your professors and supervisors for future recommendation letters.
  • If you haven’t done so in your first year in college, select a major that interests you. Take courses outside of your discipline that will help you build a strong foundation in logic, reading, research, writing, analytical skills and critical thinking. These will prepare you to be successful on the LSAT and in law school.
  • Continue to go to lectures, events and practice networking. Continue to participate in student organizations and work on building your leadership skills.
  • Explore careers in the legal field and make connections with lawyers by networking events. Visit the Tufts Lawyers Association website for a list of alumni and then set up informational interviews.
  • Make an appointment with Dovie King, Tufts Pre-Law Advisor, to check-in and discuss next steps.
  • Look into summer internships. Try to gain work/legal experience or engage in community service. Update your resume accordingly.

Junior Year

  • Register for the LSAT.
  •  Study for the LSAT. The test requires months of study and practice, so avoid cramming. To do your personal best, you need to take 12 to 15 practice tests. Untimed practice questions do not improve performance. Keep in mind that you can only take the LSAT three times over two years, and some schools average your score although most take your highest score.
  • Continue to explore the legal field through informational interviews and internships.
  • Research ABA-Approved Law Schools and visit the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website for valuable information about JD degree programs. If possible, visit law schools.
  • Take the LSAT in June. Review the law school range locator after you receive your score.
  • Speak to two or three professors about writing a letter of recommendation for you. You should plan on giving each recommender two months to prepare, write and send their letters to the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service. Choose people who can speak to your strengths and really know you. Law schools are less impressed with big names that write generic recommendations than detailed, positive recommendations by people who know you well.
  • Make an appointment with Dovie King, Tufts Pre-Law Advisor, to discuss next steps.

Summer Before Senior Year

  • Obtain school applications online or contact the admissions office for a paper application.
  • Begin writing your personal statement. Consider writing a diversity statement and any other supplemental essays, such as a statement explaining irregularities in your transcript. Plan to have documents these reviewed by people that you trust.
  • Complete your statements by the end of the summer.
  • Request your transcript.
  • Visit law schools, if possible, and gather information.

Senior Year

  • Take the LSAT, if you have not done so already. The December administration of the test is often that last one accepted by law schools for that admission year.
  • If you have not already done so, obtain school applications online or contact the admissions office for a paper application.
  • Register with the Credential Assembly Service. This is required for most ABA-accredited law schools as a way for you to upload letters of recommendations, transcript, personal statements, etc.
  • Make sure you know the application deadline for each law school you are applying to. Most schools review applications on a rolling basis and often, applicants have better luck if they submit their materials early in the admissions process. Generally, this is mid to late fall.
  • Make an appointment with Dovie King, Tufts Pre-Law Advisor, to discuss next steps.

For more information or questions about the timeline, we encourage you to meet with Dovie King, Tufts Pre-Law Advisor. To schedule an appointment, log into Handshake.

 

 

By Dovie King
Dovie King Pre-Law Advisor