Applying to law school is not only expensive, but it is also time consuming. Therefore, it is imperative that you are applying to law schools that are worth the time and money. Making a law school list is something we mentioned in our Law School Application Checklist post (read here if you haven’t already). However, in this post we will walk you through the process of making the most helpful list - tailored to you.

STEP ONE

Write down all the law schools you are considering.

STEP TWO

Using the CAS Law School Guide, input your LSAT and GPA to categorize the programs you listed earlier into reach, match, and safety. We suggest using a different color to highlight each category. We also have a helpful list of resources that can help you categorize schools according to your stats here!

STEP THREE

Revise. Rethink the schools you are listing, and eliminate ones that you could not envision yourself attending – prestige/rankings are not everything!

STEP FOUR

Add these columns to your Excel/Google Sheet:

• Additional Essay
• Interview
• Due Date
• Completed?

These four factors are important to keep in mind throughout the application process.

STEP FIVE

Add columns that are the biggest deciding factors for you. Listed below are some examples:

• Location
• Cost
• Class Size
• Bar Passage Rate
• Employment Rate at Graduation
• Ranking

You can find all this information online, or check out this helpful resource that is a comprehensive database of law schools (click on any header to sort the schools by that column).

STEP SIX

Give the list one last revision. Make sure you have a few options per each category. We suggest taking this list to your pre-law advisor and chatting with them about the programs you are interested in. They may be able to provide you with some valuable insight about particular programs.

Good luck!

Posted: 9-18-2018