The LSAT is less than 10 days away, and you need to seriously evaluate your preparedness! Lots of us get nervous as the big day draws near, and a little apprehension and irritability is understandable. But, you should not be taking the LSAT if you are under-prepared or consistently scoring badly on practice tests. Rate your readiness with this short guide and then make the right choice for you. The LSAT is not an "If you fail - try, try, again" event!







Use the remaining days to focus on these four areas:

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Test Anxiety:
Any large standardized test is challenging, but being prepared is the best defense. In addition to studying and practicing the LSAT questions, learn how to manage your test stress.

Test Stress manifests cognitively (negative and demeaning thoughts), physiologically (sleeplessness, racing heart rate, and dry mouth), and behaviorally (procrastination, under/over eating, outbursts). It is important for you to maintain a consistently positive routine prior to the test.



In the D.C. area, Griffon Prep has a trusted reputation when working with under-represented students. Their website is a treasure chest of LSAT Prep information including:



The Questions and the Test:
Manage your next 10 days to optimize your strengths. Don't try to tackle studying all the questions at once.



Materials for the Test Day:
Build your Test Day Packet now!



Take Care of Yourself:
The LSAT is not a test you cram for, and staying up late Friday night re-hashing questions will only exhaust you. The LSAT requires you to arrive no later than 8:30 a.m., so balance your sleep and eating over the next ten days.



Being successful on the LSAT is like being successful in all things.

1. Research the test
   
2. Learn and practice the methods
   
3. Execute your plan to the best of your ability

And, don't forget to breathe...

It's time to get off the couch and find that internship to cap off the last year and kick off the year to come!

Summer Internships and jobs pay the bills, or they teach practical skills you need to be successful in college and law school, but with good planning on your part they can do both! It is time to talk about internships that build experience and why a summer job at the pool is not cool for Pre law students.

Your college courses prepare you for success in the law school classroom. CLEO prepares you for success in the admissions process. A good internship/job prepares you to practice your skills in the "real world" and gives scope to the lessons you learn in class.

As an undergraduate or post-grad applying to law school you don't need to argue before the Supreme Court. You don't need to rub elbows with the politically powerful. You need to know what skills law students use in clinics and in practicum. Prove you can flex the following leadership muscles!


Instead of choosing an internship based on what you already know, choose one based on what you need to learn - see sample legal resumes. You'll be stepping out of your comfort zone; and as a law school applicant now is the time to learn new skills. You can be given responsibility if you ask for it and demonstrate that you are reliable, willing, and able.

You can find the "core skills" that you will need to learn in: law offices, the Public Defender's Office, Legal Aid offices, and in specialty venues. In the first three examples you will most likely be working on the periphery of legal cases. In the specialty venue you will be working on a specific issue: the environment, children's issues, civil rights, business concerns. You will see, hear, and feel the atmosphere of a professional office.

Your "tasks" will be:


Let's talk about who's hiring. You can find summer positions using local resources like your College Career Center or by researching online. According to Prelaw organizations like PLANC, corporations are moving legal services to smaller less expensive firms. Non-profit agencies are looking for more volunteer and unpaid internship support. Start your search where you find agencies in need!

Here are a few good online resources to review:


Law School Admission Deans are searching for the "complete student". A strong academic transcript proves that you will be successful in class. A diverse and practical resume demonstrates that you will succeed in Law Clinics and that you will bring "real life" into the classroom. Are you the student they are searching for?

Special Note: Now is the time to learn from other's experiences. Watch these Top Tips for Your Interview.

To my surprise my work as a CLEO Ambassador has benefitted me nearly as much, if not more than, the undergraduates who I have reached out to. Working as an ambassador has given me the opportunity to answer peers' questions on the law school process; but better yet, it has pushed me to find answers to the questions which have me drawing a blank.



The gains drawn from an ambassadorship go beyond a short blog so I encourage you to ask any questions or voice any concerns by commenting below. May the answers provided allow you to be more certain of what the job requires and the positive change it can produce in you.

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I'd hate to think about where I would be in terms of Pre-Law preparation if it wasn't for CLEO. My university does not offer a Pre-Law major and before I got involved in CLEO's programs, I didn't know very much about law school. I had heard of the LSAT but I didn't quite understand the heavy impact the score has on admissions. I knew the application process was rigorous but I didn't know exactly what went in to it. But most importantly, I didn't really know what it meant to study the law. I had no idea what a law experience entailed.



CLEO's mission is to help those with disadvantages enter the legal profession. However in my eyes, for any 20 year old undergraduate, we're all in need of help and guidance and I'm glad that I can impart what CLEO has given me to others beyond the program.

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As a CLEO Ambassador, my role enables me to network effectively on and off campus building alliances with several student movements and organizations. And, I have had two significant moments!



As a CLEO Ambassador, reading and presenting materials on the various CLEO programs has made me an educated law school applicant; one who has become well-acquainted with not only the application process and requirements, but also with other crucial aspects of the application such as finances and the various branches of interest in the legal profession.

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Aside from improving my speaking skills the greatest skill being an ambassador fosters is TIME MANAGEMENT!



This is by far the most common advice I have heard from law students through CLEO Programs: PLAN YOUR LIFE! I swear to you by what we have learned through CLEO: a check-list, or a to-do list, or a plain old schedule (that you actually follow!) will make your life easier.

If you are serious about law school, then you are in one of two positions right now. Either you have been comfortably studying for the Monday, June 7th test date or you are frantically planning to practice day and night for the four grueling hours of the LSAT.



April and May will be your last chance weeks to prepare for the LSAT. Start by learning what the LSAT measures and how to approach each question type. Simply practicing the same questions over and over will only help you improve the questions you already understand. Review LSAT sample questions/guides to learn how to solve each question so that when the particulars change your strategy does not.

Stress, college deadlines, friends and family can all distract law school applicants during these last weeks. The best way to be successful is to create a schedule and Stick to a Clear Plan.

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Plan to study as much as you practice. A schedule that has 1.5 hours of study time and 1 hour of practice time repeated 3 times a week is a good start. You will need to increase the frequency of your practice as the test date draws nearer.

Week One: Study one section of the LSAT and complete one timed 35 minute practice section.
Total test time 35 minutes.

Week Two: Study a new section of the LSAT, review the previous section. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Two section and the Week One section.
Total test time 70 minutes.



Week Three: Study a new section of the LSAT and review the previous two sections. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Three section and the weeks One and Two sections.
Total test time 105 minutes.



Week Four: Study the section of the LSAT in which you have received the lowest practice score, and complete a sample Writing Section. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Four section, the Writing Sample, and the weeks One, Two, and Three sections.
Total test time 175 minutes.



One last word on study and practice: Evaluate! If you only take a practice LSAT once, you will not have a clear history of success. The LSAT can be affected by your stress and anxiety, restfulness, or concentration and distraction. Build a track record of success by taking the practice test multiple times (at least 3 times). Evaluate your speed in each section, the types of questions you consistently answer correctly and incorrectly, and how often you guess versus knowing the answer.

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Finally, seek experts to teach you. You do not need to do this alone. CLEO Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT, Prelaw Advisors, your classmates, and Test Prep organizations can be excellent person-to-person resources.

Choose the Test Preparation program that is right for you. In the D.C. area, Griffon Prep has a trusted reputation when working with under-represented students. Their website is a treasure chest of LSAT Prep information including:



The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) has a thorough resource website. You can download or purchase practice exams and guides from LSAC, and seek advice from CLEO. You can also watch this LSAT Video for more guidance on how to study.

Being successful on the LSAT is like being successful in all things. Research the measures, prepare and practice the methods, and execute your plan to the best of your ability! And, don't forget to breathe...

G.P.A. and LSAT... that's all law schools care about! No, that is not true. Your entire education is a work in progress and in stages. When an admission panel reviews your transcript it wants to see that you have mastered the prerequisites of graduate education. Did you learn how to learn? Did you follow a clear path that is recognizable to an admissions officer? Do you know what to do next?

CLEO wants you to learn the structure of academic success so that you can be competitive in the admissions process. Academic success brings Letters of Recommendations, provides the facts of a Personal Statement, and opens doors for internships, volunteer projects, and networking. You need to start with the A-B-C's before you get to the L-S-A-T!

Freshman Year: The goal of the first year student is to establish a strong Grade Point Average (GPA), to learn to succeed in multiple learning styles, and to set a clear study routine. Your college career will include lecture, group work, written and verbal projects, and informational and explanatory examinations. In what type of learning environment do you succeed?

Sophomore Year: The goal of a second year student is to demonstrate academic success and progress by choosing challenging classes that follow a clear academic path. In the second year many students get distracted by clubs, internships, and significant others. Don't lose sight of the simple truth: you are a student and we measure success by grades!

Junior Year: The goal of a third year student is to put-it-all-together. Your major, your professors, your clubs and internships combine into a complex equation for success. Choose the education you need and the activities that will support your interests and academic progress. Study Abroad, for example, is only a line on your resume if you can't explain how it enhanced your education!

Senior Year and Post Graduates: The goal of the fourth year and Post-Graduate study is to finish strong and look to the future. Graduation is not the end of your education - it is a time of transition. How will you apply what you've learned and experienced? How will a law school benefit from your education? How will you reflect on the previous three years and learn from your mistakes and successes?

Follow these four steps to academic success and you will be a scholar and not just a student:

1. A Strong GPA (3.5 and higher) is crucial to standout from the thousands of students applying to law school and to demonstrate that you are a competitive candidate. Law school, along with colleges, rate and rank student success on a finite scale of 0-4. The truth is that GPA below 3.0 significantly diminishes your options. Your volunteer work, personal history, and extracurricular accomplishments - a key part of your education and application - will always be secondary to the academic measuring stick of GPA. Establish a strong GPA by: attending every class session, taking and reviewing clear and concise lecture notes, and practicing "how to" take exams before every major test. Repeat this phrase again and again: "B or Better".

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2. Learning Styles affect student success more than natural intellectual gifts. If you know how to gather the information your professor presents, how to process the information into actionable study tasks and how to present that information on an exam you can learn almost anything. Students who rely on natural "smarts" tend to be good in only one or two subjects. As a law student you need to be excellent regardless of the facts, subjects, evironment, or people. Create a structure for learning now so that when the teaching styles change from class to class your learning style can stay constant.

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3. Clear academic progress tells an admission panel that you can set and accomplish goals along a structured educational plan. Law school is three years of progressively more difficult and specialized classes. You need to demonstrate that as an undergraduate you know what classes are prerequisite to others and how your 120 credit hours (approximately 40 classes over 4 years) culminates in a body of knowledge and skills called a major.
   
   Choose a major that fits your academic goals and utilizes your academic strengths and interests. Ask your prelaw advisor to help you map the classes you need semester-by-semester. Then check them off one-by-one. Understanding the increasing complexity and interdependence of courses as an undergraduate will make the structure of 1L, 2L, and 3L easier to navigate!

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4. Evaluation and Reflection on your classroom participation is the mark of a scholar and not just a student. When your classmates toss away their completed tests - you need to take yours to your professor's office hours. When you engage your professor outside of class you will not only get better Letters of Recommendation, but can deepen your experience beyond the simple three credits other students experience.
   
   Ask your professor to review your notes with you. What did you miss that was important in the lecture? What did you write down that was unimportant? What concepts were incomplete in your notes? Know what format your professor will choose for the test (informational: True/False, Multiple Choice, Short Answer or Explanatory: Essay, presentation, portfolio) and prepare appropriately. Then, after each test; ask your professor how you can better prepare for the next test based on the errors you made on the previous test.

This is a time to follow a structured and unflinching commitment to learning above all else. Your goal is to prepare to be a competitive admissions candidate and a "first year" law student. Remember that law school admission staff and faculty measure success not based on who you know or what's in your wallet, but instead by what you know and what's in your transcript!

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The Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) supports academic progress with a series of events. Visit these CLEO sites for more information.

Spring semester is well underway! It's the time to consider what you've accomplished as a prelaw student and what goals to set for summer and fall. The law school application process is too complex with classes, majors, GPA's, personal statements, LSAT scores, applications, and letters of recommendation to "play it by ear". And, just when you think you have a grip on all the documents you get bombarded with advice from prelaw advisors, law school admissions counselors, faculty, friends, and family.

What you really need is a good "game plan" (clear and concise) that you can follow step-by-step from today until you are sitting securely in your first 1-L class. CLEO has clearly marked the journey - NOW you have a map!

First-Things-First: Don't procrastinate in the process if you want to be successful! Applying to law school begins in your freshman year. Here is a good "rule of thumb": The sooner you start participating in prelaw programs the more resources you will find. Here are some of the resources you can tap into.



Second: Don't get intimidated by the process! You can survive and thrive throughout the process if you break it up into clear steps. The good news is that the CLEO Edge magazine, available in print and online, includes a concise timeline and articles describing the milestones for each of the four undergraduate years. Check your progress and make a plan for the last two months of this semester and the summer that keeps you on track.

Freshmen: Your goal this year is to understand the prelaw landscape and then make fundamental investments that will make you a competitive law school candidate! You should:



Sophomores: Your goal is to engage in the academic and prelaw community! In this year you will "earn your stripes" academically and develop the experiences that law schools will seek in a competitive applicant. You should:



Juniors: Your goal is to succeed in the system! All law school applicants will take the LSAT, request Letters of Recommendation, and research the more than 200 law schools. You need to complete these tasks in a clear and concerted effort. You should:



Seniors: Your goal is to put it all together! As a senior you need to proactively compile and submit all of your law school documents in a TIMELY fashion. NOW - is always the answer to the question, "when is the deadline?" You should:



Finally, there are key steps that need to occur in every year of your road to law school. For instance, you need to begin managing your finances in your freshmen year and continue receiving scholarships and aid as long as you are an undergraduate. You should develop a strong relationship with the professionals and professors that will help you prepare for law school. And, you should engage in the community and cultural activities that introduce you to diverse student leaders. But in the end, you need to commit to the process and reaffirm your commitment each semester.

Your goal is to keep your dream front and center; and to chase it with your heart and your intellect!

Foreclosures, unemployment, and soaring tuition costs affect everything - especially financial aid. If you missed the financial melt-down, then you must have been living under a rock or locked in the library. In the final installment, Dean Reyes Aguilar (SJ Quinney College of Law) shares recommendations on today's economic situation for Pre-law students and paying for law school?

There are two primary challenges I see students confronted with in paying for law school as a result of the current economy.



In regard to students' credit histories, people are behind on loan payments or are defaulting on debt, due to job losses or reductions in salaries, thereby making them ineligible for some educational loans.



The Stafford and Perkins loan programs are affected only if a borrower is in default on a federally guaranteed student loan. But Stafford and Perkins loan programs limit how much a student can borrow annually.



So it is very frustrating, understandably so, for students who are qualifying for some aid, but not enough to get them through the school year. My first recommendations in this situation are:



For new lawyers who find themselves underemployed or having difficulty finding a job, their challenges will be making student loan payments. If their debt is from the federally guaranteed loan programs, they can take advantage of the income-sensitive repayment option. (I discussed this payment plan option in Financial Aid: What's in Your Wallet Part 2.)

The Income-sensitive option adjusts a borrower's monthly loan payments to be sensitive to his/her income. This repayment option can be a very helpful safety-net for high debt /lower income borrowers. New attorneys can stay up-to-date with news from the ABA Journal online.

In this four part Financial Aid series, you should learn that financial planning is as important in preparing for law school admissions as your personal statement or your LSAT score. Acceptance to a law school you can't afford can be more disheartening than a mailbox full of rejection letters. Take the following steps now so that you can be more successful in law school tomorrow.

You worked hard to get to law school - Don't fail out because you lost control of your finances! Law students stray from financial security, but Dean Aguilar is going to share how to keep your "money on your mind ..."

"I think the way students most commonly stray from the path of financial security during law school is by not considering or acknowledging the full financial implications of committing to law school until very late in the admissions process." - Dean Reyes Aguilar.


Now having said this, there are a few specific things Dean Aguilar has seen law students commonly do in regard to their finances that should be addressed.


Finally, students can't keep track of how much they are borrowing and from what programs unless they keep records.


Special Note: Don't be caught unaware of the financial commitment you are making. A legal education is an all encompassing endeavor. You will be challenged intellectually, emotionally, and financially. Do your research now and you will trim your stress as a 1-L!

Financial resources are available for law school. These resources include: scholarships, work-study, VA Benefits, wages, employment benefits, and loans. There are virtues and drawbacks to all the resources I listed. I will address the most common type of financial aid for law students: the loan programs. -- Dean Aguilar.

There are private educational loan programs and loan programs guaranteed by the federal government. The virtue of these loan programs is that they make funding available to assist students in paying for their educations. The drawback is this borrowed money must be repaid with interest.



What distinguishes these programs are the details of interest rates, what happens to accruing interest while the students are enrolled, what are the repayment options, and if loan cancellation or forgiveness apply to the individual programs.

Private education loans, also known as alternative education loans are offered by private lenders-most often banks.



A virtue - due to the low primary credit rate set by the Federal Reserve Board, the private student loan programs have relatively low interests rates. However, if we enter an inflationary period the current interest rate will climb.

A drawback - borrowers are unable to take advantage of income based repayment options, loan forgiveness opportunities, and loan cancellation due to death or disability offered through the federally guaranteed loan programs. Also, borrower may defer payment on the loans while enrolled, but interest does accrue during that time period meaning they owe a larger amount on the loan than what was originally borrowed.


Federal student loans are essentially made under three programs: the Federal Family Education Loan Program or FFEL Program; the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program; and the Perkins Loan Program. The loans under these programs are Stafford, Graduate PLUS, and Perkins Loans. All of these loans have fixed interest rates which will not change.



A virtue - A portion of the Stafford Loans (up to $8,500 annually) and all of Perkins Loans are subsidized.

A drawback - The Graduate PLUS and the remainder of what a student borrows from the Stafford Loan program is unsubsidized. However, a student borrower can make quarterly payments on that interest significantly reducing the cost of the loan over a ten year repayment period. Of course, these payments should not be made with loan money.

A virtue - The Stafford and Perkins Loans are very easy to qualify for. A student borrower simply cannot be in default on another federally guaranteed student loan. Other than that, students' credit will not affect their eligibility for the Stafford or Perkins Loans.

A drawback (potentially) - The Graduate PLUS Loan program is a credit-based loan. The credit check is not as strict as the private loan programs and if a person has a negative credit record it is easier to rehabilitate in order to qualify for the Graduate PLUS loan program as compared to the private loan programs.

Finally, virtues of the federally guaranteed loan programs include the repayment options and loan cancellation or forgiveness that are available to borrowers.



Stafford and Graduate PLUS Loans have multiple repayment options. The standard ten year repayment option means you will have the same monthly payment for the ten years it will take to pay-off your debt.



Next week Dean Aguilar discusses: How law students get in financial trouble and how to avoid it!


Edited: 01/20/2010 at 04:04 PM by matthewniziol

You can dream about law school all day, but writing that first tuition check can be a nightmare. CLEO asked Dean Reyes Aguilar University of Utah, SJ Quinney College of Law to "Talk Numbers" and help you face the facts about financing law school.

This is a four part series in which Dean Aguilar explores What You Need To Know about paying for law school. Let's start with the basics:

Question: What steps can an undergraduate student take to prepare for financing law school?
Answer: Dean Aguilar advises ...

The first thing I want to address is stating the obvious, but warrants mention. From the perspective of financing law school, one of the best things one can do is perform well in courses and develop strong academic skills.



The second action students can take is to address debt. Be wary of debt. While it may be necessary to take on some debt to support an undergraduate education, acquire that debt in a prudent manner and at a reasonable level.



The third action is to know and understand the types of loans to which you are obligating yourself. Know if you are taking out private or federally guaranteed loans.



Also, know if your loans are accruing interest while you are in school. Educational loans that are accruing interest while you are a student are called "unsubsidized" loans.


As undergraduate students approach graduation and prepare to apply to law school they should begin setting a sound knowledge base for financing their legal education. Have a budget and plan to address the application process.

Law student debt is wide ranging and varies from school to school. This also holds true for salaries of recent law school graduates. Salaries, in addition to being wide ranging, can vary dramatically from geographic region to geographic region and practice sector to practice sector.

In short, as it relates to financing your legal education, do the cost/benefit analysis. Know what you are getting into financially before committing to attend law school.


Edited: 01/12/2010 at 02:52 PM by matthewniziol

Winter Break for college students is finally here! Old textbooks are being sold, final grades are being posted, and you are getting ready to cut loose until the new semester begins. But semester break is not always a quiet time and it is not always restful.

The life of a law student and an attorney is one of sixty-second "siestas" in a seventy hour work week. This winter break learn how to re-create not hibernate! Let's start at the top...or actually the bottom... to build a restful and productive winter break.

Abraham Maslow "studied the healthiest one percent of the college student population" along with others in society and discovered what you probably already know: you've got to take care of yourself (body, mind, spirit) before you can be an advocate in the lives of others. A college or university's winter break is typically 3 weeks long. That is just enough time to (1) rest your body, (2) reconnect with family and friends, and (3) re-focus your mind.

Over the winter break Re-Create your health by balancing your healthy sleep and eating. Crashing into your pillow for a few hours of sleep when cramming will get you through finals, but you'll be a zombie in January if you keep it up through the holidays. It is time to take care of yourself.



You know that our success is usually built on the support of our friends and families. Friends and family answer our stressed-out calls in the middle of the night or bring us food to get us through tough tests. As a pre law student you can also find wisdom in experiences of your friends. We all know that a network of friends and mentors can make us more competitive law school candidates. But, not everyone knows why.



During your break connect with students from your school and schools like yours. Also, look for students from schools that are dramatically different than yours. Ask:



Make plans to attend national Prelaw Programs together and to collaborate on community events, political campaigns, and internship searches. You can find prelaw students willing to share while Volunteering during winter break or online at:



As you finish taking care of your basic needs (re-energizing your body and spirit, connecting with friends) it's time to re-focus your mind. Prelaw students are constantly on the lookout for insightful movies, books, and websites that illuminate the law school experience.
CLEO has a comprehensive catalog for you in the CLEO EDGE Magazine WINTER/SPRING 2010 edition. You can also find the 25 Greatest Legal Movies according to the ABA Journal online. Read articles in Newsweek, Time, and preLaw Magazine.

Your ultimate goal in this time of reflection is to enhance your confidence, reignite your creativity, and rejuvenate your faith in your potential. Our Holiday wish for you is that you take time to relax, enjoy the company of good friends, and reconnect with your dreams for law school!

Seeing the future through the experiences of others is a skill that all law students need to learn!
An attorney knows that you create the future with your choices, but also that many of the choices you will face have been made by students before you. CLEO has asked three (3) current law students to use what they've learned to describe your future. What are you going to learn from this glimpse into your unfolding world? And, what choices will you make?



CLEO offers a wide spectrum of prelaw events for undergraduates, graduates and post graduates. CLEO Scholar Spotlight is one student's experience with CLEO's progamming.



CLEO alumni have found success in every aspect of the legal profession. The Winter/Spring edition of the CLEO Edge explores A Moment in the Life of a Lawyer. The lawyers outlined in this series include an associate with a law firm, a general counsel for a national legal association, a military officer, a program director of a charitable foundation, a law school dean and a legal recruiter for a public interest organization.



Choosing your undergraduate degree is an essential step in your prelaw experience. Identify the major that: builds your coginitive skills, engages your intellect, and introduces you to resources beyond the classroom.
Each student will choose the major that is best for herself/himself. Be sure to make an informed choice.

A Final Note: Your law school experience will be special to you because you will make unique choices! The law school path, nonetheless, has been well marked by the countless students that have gone before you. Listen to their wisdom. Learn from their experiences. Make the best choices. And, mark the path for the students that will follow you.

Law school Deans of Admissions make the "American Idol" judges look like members of your personal fan club. Getting to the final cut, means putting together your best admissions application. If you will commit to working hard and dreaming big CLEO is ready to help you choreograph your audition with the Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) program. Start by asking yourself how well you fit into the culture of the law schools you are choosing.

Academic Goals: Always remember that law school are at their heart a school.



Personal Style: Law School is tough enough without battling a mismatch in your personal style and the style (personality) of the school?


Social & Spiritual Community: Community may keep you sane at Law School.



Next focus on The Big Picture of your undergraduate experience. The application process began the day you chose to be a prelaw student and culminates when you accept a seat as a 1L (first year law student). Evaluate the classes and resources that are preparing you for law school.




The culmination of these choices will lead you to a computer where you will begin researching your best fit law schools.

The key players in the law school application process include CLEO, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), the Office of Admissions at each law school, and your peers. CLEO's ASAP Program will help you understand each aspect and organize your efforts. You can read the experiences of students that have participated in the 2009 ASAP program on this blog site.

Keep reading and you will find the wisdom of CLEO's Legal Dream Team - three law school Dean's of Admissions - guiding you through this complex process.

The process of completing your law school admission is exciting. Law school admissions staffs are looking for students that will enhance the classroom experience and who will contribute to the legal community. They are looking for you. Your job then is to present a clear and coherent narrative of your personal history and your promise for the future.



Organizing the process will save you time and anxiety. As a law student you will be exercising these skills every day. You will be expected to follow the directions on each application without exception or embellishment.



The personal statement is a perennial stress inducer for law school applicants. Although some law schools will give you a topic, most law schools will expect you to present an original personal statement. Personal statements are not a time for you to explain discrepancies in your grade point average, or academic and personal transgressions. If necessary you can give necessary details on these topics in an addendum. Your personal statement should be an opportunity for you to converse with the reader and illuminate your application in a way not achieved by your resume and transcript using anecdotes, examples, and from time to time even whimsy.



Letters of Recommendation are a second component of the application package over which you have varying control. Remember that law schools are in fact schools. Therefore, your best recommendation writers are professors that can write clearly about your academic success. A professor that can write systematically about your academic progress, involvement in class, improvement after each grade, and your commitment to education is best. The farther your writers are from that classroom experience the less effective they become. Keep in mind; this is not a name-dropping contest.

As you develop your search, you will need to identify what it is you want from your legal education. Then you can compare your needs to the schools' profile, culture, and curriculum. As you visit Law School Forums and fairs you can ask the admissions personnel: "What aspect of your Law School (programs, personnel, students, faculty, facilities, diversity, location, etc...) do you value most?"



As you more clearly define your needs from a law school you will be able to better evaluate the offers that each school makes. Follow a clear process for pursuing and dismissing potential law schools.



The last piece of advice on selecting a law school is keeping an open mind. You will be choosing a school, community, and colleagues with which to share the next three years. Do not let yourself be rushed into this decision.



P.S. Being unique is a positive, but if you think you can embellish your application with videos and photos reminiscent of the movie "Legally Blonde", then you need to know this.

Each and every part of the Law School Admission application has a specific function and form. It is your responsibility to put them together into a clear picture of your readiness for law school.

Your Letters of Recommendation (LOR) describe your progress in an academic world by people whose opinions are respected. Admissions Committees will evaluate you and your judgment based on the people you choose to represent you. What are your Letters of Recommendation saying about you?

A strong LOR evaluates your academic successes and development over a period of time by professionals who understand "learning" in college and post-graduate schools. If you always remember that law school is a school first and foremost, then you can appreciate the value of professors' LOR.

LET'S START WITH THE BASICS:



Your LSAT score, college transcript, and undergraduate major demonstrate your preparedness for law school. Your LORs need to show that you can be successful in law school by accepting, managing, and adapting to new knowledge and ways to thinking in a classroom setting. Who knows that better than your professors and supervisors?

CURRENT STUDENTS:

Faculty and Teaching Assistants should be your primary source for LORs. Seek out a professor who can explain how you have been successful in difficult classes in comparison to other students. Highlight the strengths you can offer a law school: Academic and co-curricular success



POST GRADUATE STUDENT & WORKING PROFESSIONALS:

Professional supervisors can be good sources for LORs when you connect your work experience to your academic or professional goals. A professional LOR needs to match the successful law school skills with the language and duties of your position. You may need to help supervisors translate work experience into skills for legal study. Highlight the strengths you can offer a law school: Post-collegiate "real-world" experiences, maturity, and professional skills.



Keep in mind that your choice of LOR writers should emphasize your entire experience (Academic, Co-Curricular leadership, and professional/community service experiences). Choose the people who will "stand-up" and can proudly recommend you to study law.

Recap: Give your LOR writer all the documents they need up front. Give them a copy of your personal statement, resume, a letter addressed to the Credential Assembly Service, and your signed LOR Form. Make the process as simple and efficient for them as possible. Then follow up...

The LSAT is less than 10 days away, and you need to seriously evaluate your preparedness! Lots of us get nervous as the big day draws near, and a little apprehension is understandable. But, you should not be taking the LSAT if you are under-prepared or consistently scoring badly on practice tests. Rate your readiness with this short guide and then make the right choice for you. The LSAT is not an "If you fail - try, try, again" event!







If you are feeling unprepared, click on this link to find a guide to managing the December or February LSAT tests. Don't run from a challenge, but if you do decide that the September 26th LSAT is not for you, then visit the LSAC Test Date Center website and research your options. If you know that you are ready to take the LSAT on September 26th, then let's make the most of the time you have left. Use the remaining days to focus on these three areas:







Being successful on the LSAT is like being successful in all things.

1. Research the test
   
2. Learn and practice the methods
   
3. Execute your plan to the best of your ability

And, don't forget to breathe...

Each year (from freshmen to senior) you have a series of tasks to complete if you want to be competitive for law school admission. Last year hundreds of students used CLEO's Scholar program: Sophomore Summer Institute, CLEO Connection, and ASAP to moved ahead. Did you? It's not too late.

Let's get started! Law school and the legal profession survive on organization and planning. As a prelaw student you should be able to prioritize, organize, and evaluate your educational and law school admissions tasks. Start by reviewing CLEO's Prelaw Timeline for students and determining where you need to begin.

Next, choose the CLEO program that is right for your experience and register immediately. You will find information for students on the CLEO website.

Finally, seek advice from professionals. Prelaw advisors are available on most of your campuses. You can expect these professional advisors or faculty to guide you through each semester's course selections, choosing a major, getting involved in student clubs and networking. But remember that "Your Education is Your Responsibility - Own it!"



Follow the advice given by CLEO's experts for each undergraduate year. Together with CLEO, you can develop the classroom, community, and professional skills that will make you a competitive candidate in the admissions process and more importantly a successful student once you enter the law school of your choice.

Freshmen Year:
Attend CLEO's- The Road To Law School



Sophomore Year:
Attend CLEO's - The Sophomore Super Saturday Seminar and Sophomore Summer Institute



Junior Year:
Attend CLEO's - Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT and ASAP



Senior Year:
Attend CLEO's - Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT and ASAP



One last note: Your fellow students are talking to each other. Are you in the conversation? Go to CLEO on Facebook at Facebook.com/Cleo.Scholars.

We'll see you there!

Summer Internships and jobs sometimes pay the bills, or give you important skills to be successful in college and law school, but with good planning on your part they can do both! It is time to talk about internships that build experience and why only a summer job at the pool is not cool for Pre law student.

Your undergraduate classes prepare you for success in the law school classroom. CLEO prepares you for success in the admissions process. A good internship/job prepares you to apply your experience in the "real world" and gives scope to the lessons you learn in class.



Many people choose a summer job or internship based on what they already know, and where they are already comfortable. As a Pre law student, you need to choose internships based on what you need to learn. You might be stepping out of your comfort zone - and as a law school applicant now is the time to learn new skills.


You can find summer positions using your local resources like your College Career Center or by researching online. Here are a few good online resources to review:



A strong academic transcript proves that you will be successful in class. A diverse and practical resume demonstrates that you will succeed in Law Clinics and that you will bring "real life" into the classroom.

Edited: 06/04/2009 at 08:54 AM by matthewniziol

If you are serious about law school, then you are in one of two positions right now. Either you have been comfortably studying for the June 8th test date or you are frantically planning to practice day and night for the four grueling hours of the LSAT.



The month of May will be your last four weeks to prepare for the LSAT. Start by learning what the LSAT measures and how to approach each question type. Simply practicing the same questions over and over will only help you improve the questions you already understand. Review LSAT sample questions/guides to learn how to solve each question so that when the particulars change your strategy does not.

Stress, college deadlines, friends and family can all distract law school applicants during these last weeks. The best way to be successful is to create a schedule and Stick to a Clear Plan.

---

Plan to study as much as you practice. A schedule that has 1.5 hours of study time and 1 hour of practice time repeated 3 times a week is a good start. You will need to increase the frequency of your practice as the test date draws nearer.

Week One: Study one section of the LSAT and complete one timed 35 minute practice section.
Total test time 35 minutes.



Week Two: Study a new section of the LSAT, review the previous section. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Two section and the Week One section.
Total test time 70 minutes.



Week Three: Study a new section of the LSAT and review the previous two sections. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Three section and the weeks One and Two sections.
Total test time 105 minutes.



Week Four: Study the section of the LSAT in which you have received the lowest practice score, and complete a sample Writing Section. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Four section, the Writing Sample, and the weeks One, Two, and Three sections.
Total test time 175 minutes.



One last word on study and practice: Evaluate! If you only take a practice LSAT once, you will not have a clear history of success. The LSAT can be affected by your stress and anxiety, restfulness, or concentration and distraction. Build a track record of success by taking the practice test multiple times (at least 3 times). Evaluate your speed in each section, the types of questions you consistently answer correctly and incorrectly, and how often you guess versus knowing the answer.

The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) has a thorough resource website. You can download or purchase practice exams and guides from LSAC, and seek advice from CLEO. You can also watch this LSAT Video for more guidance on how to study.

Also, seek out experts to teach you. You do not need to do this alone. CLEO , Prelaw Advisors, Test Prep organizations, and your classmates can be excellent person-to-person resources.

Being successful on the LSAT is like being successful in all things. Research the measures, prepare and practice the methods, and execute your plan to the best of your ability! And, don't forget to breathe...

As you write your history into your personal statement and imagine your impact on the legal world, take time to look over the horizon at the future of the legal landscape.

Prelaw students are making an investment in the future and they need to know: What will the profession look like when I graduate? What skills learned during law school will I need the most? Will I be the kind of lawyer I am dreaming of today?

Online resources like the ABA JOURNAL and news reports on television will keep you current, but CLEO, can take you to the next level. CLEO Alumni, Associates, and Fellows, who attend the CLEO Scholars Programs across the United States, can be one of your best resources and a critical component of your prelaw preparation. Distinguished CLEO Alumni have become deans and professors, federal and state judges and legislators, and practitioners in all areas of the legal profession.

Asking attorneys about the future of the practice, their day-to-day business, and how well law school prepared them for the real world is invigorating. They are able to share personal and professional stories of challenge and triumph. A good role model or mentor can give you just the touch of inspiration needed to push through the long days of law school.

CLEO wants to help you get started by asking a panel of diverse attorneys about their experiences practicing law and the toughest question of all ...What happens after law school?

Let's start with:









A tip for the student in the Admissions Process: When you research a law school don't stop at the admissions page - check the career services page too. Each law school's career services website will show the types of law and professional sectors in which its students practice. Most law schools will report (by percentage) which sectors its graduates enter. If you want to practice in the business sector and 80% of a school's graduates go into government service, then you might consider a different school.

And, be careful about taking the salary ranges for graduates at face value. Remember that these ranges are approximations and are based on alumni self-reporting. With that cautionary hint, you can find information on the legal profession after law school and the Bar Associations at the LSAC website. Bar Associations can open new sources for personal and professional networking.

Final Note: Many students will enter law school committed to practicing a specific type of law. Later, after studying and participating in legal clinics, they find their true passion and position in the profession. As you look toward the horizon, be sure to keep your options open as you seek your place in the practice.


Edited: 04/07/2009 at 12:07 PM by matthewniziol

The law school application process is very complex with many interlocking components: classes, majors, GPA's, personal statements, LSAT scores, applications, and letters of recommendation. Just when you think you have a grip on all the documents you get bombarded with advice from prelaw advisors, law school admissions counselors, faculty, friends, and family.

What you really need is a good "game plan" (clear and concise) that you can follow step-by-step from day one until you are securely in your first 1-L class. CLEO has clearly marked the journey - NOW you have the map!

First-Things-First: Don't procrastinate in the process if you want to be successful! Applying to law school begins in your freshman year. Here is a good "rule of thumb": The sooner you start participating in prelaw programs the more resources you will find. Here are some of the resources you can tap.



You can survive and thrive throughout the process if you break it up into clear steps. The good news is that the CLEO Edge magazine, available in print and online, includes a concise timeline and articles describing the milestones for each of the four undergraduate years. Take some time to check your progress and to make a plan for the last two months of this academic year that keeps you on track.

Freshmen: Your goal this year is to understand the prelaw landscape and then make fundamental investments that will make you a competitive law school candidate! You should:



Sophomores: Your goal is to engage in the academic and prelaw community! In this year you will "earn your stripes" and develop the experiences that law schools will seek in a competitive applicant. You should:



Juniors: Your goal is to succeed in the system! All law school applicants will take the LSAT, request Letters of Recommendation, and research the more than 200 law schools. You need to complete these tasks in a clear and concerted effort. You should:



Seniors: Your goal is to put it all together! As a senior you need to proactively compile and submit all of your law school documents in a TIMELY fashion. NOW - is always the answer to the question, "when is the deadline?" You should:



In addition, there are key steps that need to occur on your road to law school. For instance, you need to begin managing your finances in your freshmen year and continue receiving scholarships and aid as long as you are an undergraduate. You should develop a strong relationship with the professionals and professors that will help you prepare for law school. And, you should engage in the community and cultural activities that introduce you to diverse student leaders. But in the end, you need to commit to the process and reaffirm your commitment each semester.

Your goal is to keep your dream front and center; and to chase it with your heart and your intellect!

Edited: 03/27/2009 at 11:10 AM by matthewniziol