Freshman and Sophomore students who have already begun to focus upon law school as an educational goal following completion of their baccalaureate degree should make every effort to contact the prelaw Advisor, Mr. Jonathan Smith. His office is 303 Harrignton-Peachtree, Telephone 833-5177. Even though you have an academic advisor in your respective department, the prelaw Advisor will assist you in selecting possible elective courses which can enrich your curriculum, and he will answer any specific questions which you might have related to your chosen post-graduate academic goals. Students who are in the process of making plans for possible post-baccalaureate academic work and are thinking of law should also make every effort to contact the prelaw Advisor.
With graduation only one year away, the Junior-level student faces some critical choices, the most prominent of which is when to take the LSAT. For the student facing this choice, the earliest optimal date would be June between the Junior and Senior year (specific date for each year's test is located in the current LSAT Bulletin, available in the Political Science Department). October and December are the next possible test date options, but under few, if any, circumstances should the student delay taking the LSAT until February. Factors, which the student is encouraged to consider when making this choice, are (a) which date will allow me optimal time to prepare? (b) On which test dates will the test be given near the campus? (c) even though I plan to only take the LSAT once, will the date selected give me an opportunity to retake it if it is necessary?
If the LSAT was not taken in June prior to the beginning of the Fall Semester, you have two options left -- October and December. Seniors should immediately select one of these dates, prep are for the LSAT AND TAKE THE TEST. You should also register for the LSDAS, if you did not do this earlier (this applies to June test-takers especially). For information purposes, the LSDAS stands for "Law School Data Assembly Service" and refers to the division of the LSAS (Law School Admissions Services) which receives, analyzes and forwards individual transcripts to the schools selected by the applicant. Be certain that you also complete a transcript request form (found in the LSAT Bulletin), take it to the Registrar's office and request that your current transcript be forwarded to LSDAS. You will have to do this two more times -- at the end of the Fall Semester of the Senior Year and again following your graduation. Without the latter, the Law School will cancel your admission.
The Fall Semester will also be spent selecting the law schools to which you wish to apply, requesting the admissions information/catalogs, completing the application forms and mailing them (REMEMBER, NO LATER THAN JANUARY 2ND, and making contact with individuals whom you wish to have write letters of recommendation. You should emphasize to your references the importance of the January 2nd deadline. Also, IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO FURNISH THE REFERENCES WITH A PRE-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE WITH POSTAGE AFFIXED at the time you ask them to write. Also, do not forget to give them the sign-off form when these are required by the law school as a part of the letter of recommendation and DO NOT FORGET TO SIGN AND DATE THE FORM.
1. Complete another transcript request form, take it to the Registrar's Office, and request an updated transcript including grades from Fall Semester be sent to LSDAS.
2. Begin your Spring Semester Classes and wait to hear from the law schools. This normally does not happen until around the end of March and can take until mid-to-late April.
3. If you have choices, make your decision, forward your seat deposit to the school of your choice, and DO NOT FORGET TO THANK THE OTHER SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE ACCEPTED YOU AND TELL THEM OF YOUR DECISION TO ACCEPT ADMISSION AT THE OTHER SCHOOL. This is only fair to both the school and to other candidates who are also anxious to gain admission.
4. After graduation, complete your last transcript request form, take it to the Registrar's Office, and request an updated transcript including grades from the Spring Semester, plus indication that the degree was conferred. |
