Entering Law School: What You Need to Know

Every good Boy Scout knows to be prepared, and so should every aspiring law school candidate. You should start preparing for the LSAT in your last year of college, or soon after you graduate. Look into the deadlines for law school applications, and know that the sooner you apply the better. Applications roll into law school admissions offices in waves, the last and biggest of which crests around the deadline date. The sooner you can get your application in front of an admissions officer, the better your chances of getting in. Register with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) and for the LSAT online or by mail. Be prepared to demonstrate your aptitude, both on the standardized tests and your application, and also by way of a personal interview, which is sometimes required by a law school.

In the end, the process is similar to what you did to get into college. Although, the competition is generally more intense at this level, and fewer applicants make the cut.

Let's take a closer look at some specifics.

LSAT
The LSAT is a comprehensive exam not unlike the SAT or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), but unique in that it is designed specifically to assess your readiness for the rigors of law school. There are five 35-minute sections to the test, four of which count toward your final score: reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and two logical reasoning sections. To pass, you must demonstrate proficiency in each category. There is also a writing sample that isn’t factored into your score but is sent to each of the schools you apply to. The test is scored on a scale of 120-180.

The LSAT is administered by the Law School Admissions Counicl (LSAC). It is offered four times a year in every state, usually at major universities. You apply to take the test through the LSAC, and the LSAC submits your scores to the law schools you apply to.

LSAC
In a way, the Law School Admissions Council is the great and powerful Oz of the world of law school. It acts as a clearinghouse for the entire application process and its central nature helps ensure a standardized, fair and streamlined set of procedures:

• You first send your official transcripts and letters of recommendation to the LSAC, which forwards them along to the schools you’re applying to.
• The LSAC determines where the LSAT will be held in your state.
• Your LSAT scores are sent to the LSAC first and then to you.

ABA Accreditation
Where you go to law school is determined in part by your performance on the LSAT and by the quality of your undergraduate work (your GPA). When making the selection, you should look for American Bar Association (ABA) accredited schools. Only a student who attends and passes an ABA accredited school is permitted to sit for the Bar Exam in his or her respective jurisdiction. This function of the ABA, like the LSAC, allows for a unified national body of lawyers, with level standards and without the fragmentation that might occur if no governing body existed.

There are a lot of different factors to consider when applying to law school, so try to be as organized as possible.

You made it through the acronyms. You feel prepared for the process of getting into law school. Now, how will you pay for it all?

How to Find Funding
The first year of law school is exceedingly demanding. Just ask any first year law student. Because that first year is so academically rigorous, most ABA schools prohibit students from working more than an average of 20 hours per week -- and often working at all is frowned upon. But if financial obligations demand that you do work, there are some schools that are more accomodating. Some offer part-time/evening programs that are tailored to the student with a career. You should note, though, that this usually takes a year longer than the typical three-year program, so you're looking at a four year committment instead.

Tuition can range from $5,000 a year to more than $35,000. The actual cost of attendance is much higher, after factoring in books (hundreds a semester), lodging, food, transportation and living expenses. So, without a job or the time to get one, how can you afford this?

Grants
Grants are money the Federal or State government gives you that you do not have to pay back. These usually entail a long application process and are the most rare. Grants are usually given based on need.

Scholarships
Granted by the institution you are attending, the state or funded by private organizations. They usually are awarded for academic excellence.

Work Study
Provides funding in exchange for part-time work at the university, and is typically offered only to second and third year law students.

Fellowships
Similar to grants, except that they are awarded for a particular academic path. For instance, a fellowship may be awarded by a governmental department that would fund chosen applicants to participate in a set curriculum, which would be chosen by the fellowship committee.

Loans
Based on the school’s estimate of your financial need and the overall cost of attendance, there are two types of loans. Federal loans, which are more need-based, are harder to procure and have better interest rates. Private loans require good credit on the part of the student and have higher interest rates (though still lower than the loan you might take out to, say, buy a car or house). Federal loans are further broken down into two categories: subsidized and non-subsidized. Non-Subsidized loans behave much the same way private loans do, whereas the interest on the principal of subsidized loans is suspended while you are in school. Once you graduate or withdraw, however, you must begin paying the interest six months thereafter.

It's a good idea to seek out experts and solicit their opinions. Talk to a counselor at your undergraduate college. Most universities have financial aid departments. There, you can ask for materials and advice. You could also speak to your financial planner or banker. Carrying a great amount of debt is a serious matter, even if it’s an investment in your future, so proceed carefully.

Well, now you’ve figured out how to pay for law school. You’ve taken your boards and done your research on how to apply. But which school is right for you?