Timeline
Mount Mary University's challenging curriculum, focus on social justice and network with law professionals can create a strong foundation to help you apply for law school and begin a law career. During each year at Mount Mary, you can take steps towards achieving your law career dreams.
Freshman Year
- Focus on getting good grades and developing good study habits—GPA matters! Poor academic performance during freshman year will come back to "haunt" you later.
- Become familiar with the university and all the resources available to you.
- Consider what subjects you're interested in and choose a major. Meeting with a career counselor may be helpful.
- Meet with a pre-law adviser at least once per semester.
- Consider volunteer opportunities in legal settings.
- Attend events where you can meet law professionals.
Sophomore Year
- Keep focusing on getting good grades.
- Meet with a pre-law adviser at least once per semester.
- Seek a legal mentor and network with professionals whenever you can.
- Continue involvement in community service or other student organizations, such as student government.
- Take time to develop relationships with faculty members. You will need letters of recommendations for law school!
- Consider purchasing one of the commercial Law School Admission Test (LSAT) review books or ask about scholarships for online preparation courses.
Junior Year
- Start seriously investigating law schools in the fall semester. You'll spend three intense years at law school. You may want to consider location, size, diversity, cost, special programs, student body and likelihood of admission. If possible, visit schools. Take advantage of on-campus visits to meet with law school admissions representatives that come to Mount Mary's campus.
- Consider attending an annual Law School Forum sponsored by the Law School Admission Council.
- Register with the Law School Admission Council. Plan to take the June LSAT. Taking the LSAT in June lets you know your score before August so you can select an appropriate range of law schools. In addition, if your June LSAT score is below your expectations, you will have time to re-test in October.
- Keep focusing on getting good grades. Academic performance during junior year is important. If you plan to attend law school immediately upon graduation, the grades you earn during junior year are the last grades considered with your application.
- Meet with a pre-law adviser at least once per semester.
- Think about whom you will ask for letters of recommendation. Most schools request two faculty letters of recommendation.
- Start preparing for the LSAT. You can study on your own or consider enrolling in a commercial preparation course. Contact your pre-law adviser for information on these courses.
Senior Year
- In September, request applications from law schools using the LSAC website, and apply through the website. It coordinates all of your application materials.
- Begin drafting your personal statement. See our tips for writing a good personal statement.
- Ask faculty to write your letters of recommendation.
- Contact the law school financial aid office, to learn about financial aid options if you intend to apply for financial aid or scholarships.
- Submit your law school application before Thanksgiving, if possible. Law schools typically admit students on a rolling basis, but if you wait until the official application deadlines, you may miss your best opportunities.
- Please inform the pre-law adviser of your results and decision, after you have heard from the law schools.
- Finish your undergraduate studies and graduate!
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