Our Webinar With Hope College's Pre Law Society - Everything You Need to Know Before Applying to Law School

10/21/2024

Meet the Panelists

Tamar Alexanian
University of Michigan Law School

Tamar spent a year in Taiwan as a Fulbright teacher before graduating from the University of Michigan Law School. At Michigan, she served as a student attorney for both the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic and the Child Advocacy Law Clinic. Her commitment to social justice earned her the prestigious Skadden Fellowship, through which she led a two-year project dedicated to enforcing the rights of LGBTQ+ foster youth.

Passionate about coaching, Tamar derives immense satisfaction from guiding students through the law school application process. She uses her experience as a graduate student instructor at the University of Michigan to help applicants prepare for the rigors of law school. She is also known for her ability to keep applicants organized and calm while also providing enthusiastic support and encouragement. She is very detail-oriented and is adept at helping candidates refine their application drafts to ensure they present their best selves. Tamar eagerly looks forward to assisting Juris students in achieving their law school aspirations. 

Transcript

Introduction and Housekeeping

Perfect, so I think we'll give everyone a minute to get settled before we really get going on tonight's webinar. I know we have a really exciting webinar coming up.

Awesome, just a couple more seconds. I think I have everything ready on my end. Awesome, so I think I'm going to get going. I want to be mindful of the time.

So, first and foremost, welcome! I hope everyone's having a wonderful evening. My name is Andrea. I'll be your host tonight. I'm with Juris Education.

I do have just a couple of housekeeping rules, so to speak. Number one question before we get going on tonight's webinar is always, “Hey, is this recorded?” Yes, it is recorded. So you can pop out and come back in or review at a later time. We will make sure that you receive this recording in your inbox within a day or two.

The other question is, “How long is this webinar?” Also, a very great question. We're looking at running this webinar between 45 minutes and an hour. The majority of our webinar will be just a discussion, talking about everything you need to know before applying to law school.

Let me just quickly move over to our sort of agenda—high-level agenda of what we'll be speaking about today. So, we'll be speaking about the best time to start your JD application, creating a stellar application, the importance of LSAT scores, choosing the right law schools, maximizing your chances of acceptance, navigating the entire admissions process, and then, towards the end, we'd love to leave some time for a Q&A.

We encourage you to get your questions in the chat. There will be about two periods within this webinar where we'll take a short break in the middle. You’ll get a chance to have your questions answered there and towards the end as well, so you are in good hands.

Before we get going, I'd love to just take a moment to share with you who we are and what makes us the experts in this field, what makes us credible, and why we're positioned to speak to you about this.

Like I said earlier, we're Juris Education. We're actually a globally recognized law school admissions consulting firm offering comprehensive support from test prep to law school admissions and even bar exam tutoring. We have a 94% acceptance rate, where our students gain entry into the top law schools in the United States. Last cycle alone, our T14 acceptance rate was 34%, which is almost six times higher than the national average of 5.7%, something we're very proud of.

We believe in starting the law school application process as early as possible. For college sophomores, we offer pre-law advising and profile development. This focuses on building each student’s professional cover letter and resume to highlight their most meaningful experiences and elevate their profile to help candidates stand out. We assist in enhancing transcripts and GPAs, identifying organizations and internships, creating a timeline for LSAT and application prep, and pinpointing specific areas of interest.

Our goal is to help students gain a strong foundation and understand what schools are looking for while building a portfolio that sets them apart from other applicants. While our counselors support students in building their profiles, we have LSAT coaches who work closely with them to provide personalized one-on-one tutoring. Students take an official LSAT diagnostic test so tutors can assess their strengths and weaknesses. This helps create a custom study plan structured for the days, weeks, and months ahead. We tailor our approach to each student’s unique needs and schedule, providing the right assessments and lessons as they become familiar with the test content, strategies, and format. Interim tests monitor and track progress, allowing us to modify study plans and build an upward trend leading to the official test date. On average, we see a 12-point increase with 45-plus hours of tutoring, and we do offer a 165-plus LSAT score guarantee with our 60-hour program.

Once we help shape an outstanding candidate, we support them in creating the perfect application. Law schools review applications holistically, and we assist with every step of the process. Our support starts with a detailed profile analysis, diving deep into the student’s stats and experiences. This guides the creation of a well-balanced list of target, safety, and reach schools. We also help build resumes and obtain letters of recommendation from the right recommenders, which is extremely important. Our services continue through the interview process and include waitlist strategy support, scholarship assistance, and continue until students receive their acceptances.

Our admissions counselors, who are also essay writing experts, will brainstorm, outline, and edit your supplemental essays and personal statements until they are perfect. These essays showcase the best aspects of the student, connecting their life journeys with the theme of each school they apply to. Whether it's the main application or scholarship essays, we offer unlimited edits. Overall, our goal is to build the perfect candidate and application. We use every tool in our skill set to ensure the products we create with our students stand out from the rest.

We’re excited to be here today, we’re excited to get going, and we look forward to seeing you at consultations.

Introduction of Panelist

Now, I'd love to pass it over to our wonderful panelist tonight to introduce herself and get going with the discussion.

Thanks so much! I'm Tamar Alexanian, I am an admissions counselor with Juris Education. I am originally from the Chicagoland area and went to Vanderbilt as an undergraduate. I took a couple of years off before law school. I was a Fulbright scholar in Taiwan and then taught in the Chicago public school system for a year before I went to the University of Michigan. There, I spent a lot of time focusing on clinic work as a law student and always had a public interest focus. After graduating, I was a Skadden Fellow and completed a two-year fellowship in the Los Angeles foster care system representing foster care youth. Since then, I’ve had a couple of different jobs, but now I am a law school professor at American University in their Civil Advocacy Clinic.

I live in DC, I’m barred in California, I’m from Chicago, I did law school in Michigan, so I’ve been kind of all over the place. It’s so good to be here tonight, and you all should feel free to ask lots of questions in the chat. I would love to answer whatever would be most useful to you all.

When to Start Your Law School Application

When to start your law school application? The answer is, and this is kind of a typical lawyer answer, it depends. I have a few friends who have known forever that they wanted to be a lawyer and started studying for the LSAT during college, maybe freshman or sophomore year. They studied during winter breaks and summer breaks and kept practicing until they got the score they wanted. They had been prepping their JD application for multiple years.

That was not me. I didn’t think I was going to be a lawyer, and I wasn’t ever really thinking about law school until about six to eight months before I decided to apply. Generally, if you can give yourself more lead time, that can be helpful because you need enough time to prep for the LSAT, take the LSAT, possibly take it more than once, and ensure you have strong letters of recommendation. You need to ask recommenders, they need to say yes, and sometimes they’ll ask you to review or write your own letter of recommendation for them to approve.

Then, of course, there’s the personal statement, diversity statement, and other essays. It can be a lot, especially if you’re working or a student. The earlier you decide you want to pursue this path, the more you can space things out and avoid rushing through your application. You want to curate a strong application and narrative for yourself.

To that end, it’s generally helpful to create an application timeline. You can make a timeline for however long you’re giving yourself. It could be six months, a year, or two years. Juris Education recommends at least six to twelve months, ensuring that timeline allows for LSAT study, multiple test attempts if needed, and edits to your essays. The first draft of a personal statement or diversity statement won’t be the final draft, so getting feedback and making sure those essays are polished takes time.

Make sure you’re giving your recommenders enough time to write and submit their letters. Today, I just received an email from someone who said their recommender couldn’t figure out how to upload the recommendation letter. Building in time for those kinds of potential hiccups is important.

Many students like to map out their timeline using Google Calendar, a physical calendar, or Google Sheets. Organizing all the moving pieces of your application is key, so nothing gets lost.

Crafting a Stellar Application

Next, you want to craft a stellar application. One of the big components is your personal statement. Every school gets your personal statement, and most schools have similar requirements: two pages, double-spaced, 11 or 12-point font. Every word and sentence counts, and you have limited space to convey your story to admissions officers. You want it to be compelling.

I generally tell students to come up with a theme or a sentence that summarizes what the admissions officer should take away from reading your personal statement. You want to focus on showing qualities instead of telling them. Rather than saying, "I’m a humble person" or "I’m really smart," which anyone can write, show these qualities through a story. Think of a story you’re proud of, a time you changed your mind, overcame a challenge, excelled, or made the decision to go to law school. Those stories make impactful and powerful personal statements.

When writing your first draft, don’t worry about the length—just write. It’s easier to cut down later. Worry about word count in the third or fourth draft, not the first.

You also want to secure strong letters of recommendation. This is something not to overlook. I recommend getting three to four letters from people you’ve built strong relationships with, like professors, internship supervisors, or mentors. You can’t build these relationships five months before you apply, so hopefully, you’ve been working on them during undergrad or work experience.

Stay in touch with your recommenders, even if it’s just sending an email once a year. Keep those relationships alive so when you ask for a letter, your recommender knows who you are and can speak to your strengths. If you recently graduated, at least two of your letters should come from professors who can speak to your academic abilities, even if it's a TA. Choose recommenders who know your work ethic, diligence, communication skills, and analytical thinking. Law schools care about what kind of student you’ll be, so these letters are important.

Additionally, you’ll want letters from people who can speak to your work outside the classroom—supervisors, volunteer coordinators, or internship directors. These letters show what kind of professional you’ll be, which is just as important as your academic capabilities in law school. Law schools are professional schools, and they want to see both aspects.

Navigating the LSAC Application Platform

Next, navigating the LSAC application platform. It can be a little tricky at first, with a lot of tabs and sections, so I recommend making an account early and familiarizing yourself with it. LSAC centralizes all your law school application materials, similar to the Common App for undergrad. You apply to all schools through LSAC, and it tracks deadlines, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and more.

Make sure you submit all materials in a timely manner. Transcripts can take time to send from your school to LSAC, and LSAC needs to process them into a CAS report, which calculates an LSAC GPA. This process can take weeks, so do it early to avoid any delays. It’s also good to ensure there are no issues uploading your personal statement, resume, and other documents through LSAC. Remember, your recommenders will need to use LSAC too, so keep them on track with submitting their letters.

Importance of LSAT Scores

The importance of LSAT scores is significant, even though we are more than just a number. Law schools place a considerable amount of weight on LSAT scores because they are seen as a predictor of academic success in law school. While that’s not always true, it remains an important part of the admissions process.

A higher LSAT score can open doors to more competitive programs and increase your chances of receiving scholarships. If financial aid is a concern, raising your LSAT score can significantly increase the amount of scholarship money you’re offered.

It doesn’t have to be a sprint. You can study over an extended period, consistently working towards improving your score. Juris Education offers LSAT tutoring programs, and you can also use previously released LSAT tests to practice. Retaking the LSAT is common and often leads to score improvements.

Improving Your LSAT Score and Effective Study Strategies

Effective study strategies are crucial for improving your LSAT score. Not everyone learns the same way, so find the study methods that work best for you. Some students study for eight hours a day in the library, while others may benefit from one-on-one tutoring or group learning sessions. Gradual, consistent progress over time is key.

When planning to retake the LSAT, be strategic about the timing. Don’t schedule the test the day after a big event like finals or a graduation party. Set yourself up for success by picking a test date where you can focus entirely on the exam.

Choosing the Right Law School

Choosing the right law school is very important. While the school technically chooses you, you also need to choose the school that fits you best. You’ll spend at least three years there, and law school is expensive, so it’s essential to be in a place where you’re happy and can thrive.

To find the right fit, research the programs offered. Some schools are known for specific areas of law, like international law, public interest law, or transactional law. If you know what type of law you want to practice, this can help narrow your choices.

Location is also a compelling reason to choose a school. Law school degrees are often regional, so if you attend a school in a particular area, you may find more support for staying and practicing law in that region. It’s not impossible to move your degree to another state, but it can be harder compared to other degrees.

Consider factors like faculty, scholarship opportunities, and alumni networks. Strong alumni networks and positive feedback from graduates are good indicators of a school's fit.

Researching Law Schools for Fit

Researching law schools is essential. Look up bar passage rates, employment outcomes, and school culture. Cold outreach to alumni can provide valuable insights into their law school experience. You can also attend virtual or in-person law school events, which are now more accessible with the rise of online platforms.

Schools are known for specific attributes, such as Northwestern’s focus on students with professional experience. Understanding these characteristics can help you decide if a school is a good fit.

Maximizing Your Chances for Acceptance

To maximize your chances of acceptance, tailor each application to the school you’re applying to. Highlight the qualities each school values, and customize your personal statements and supplemental essays accordingly. If you’re applying to a school that values professional experience, emphasize that more in your application.

Unique experiences are also important to highlight. Your resume, personal statement, and supplemental essays should reflect leadership, resilience, volunteer work, or other qualities that make you stand out.

Applying early can also increase your chances of acceptance. If you have a clear top choice, consider applying Early Decision. However, Early Decision can limit your ability to negotiate financial aid, so keep that in mind.

For regular decision applicants, applying early in the admissions cycle is advantageous since law school admissions are rolling. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of securing a spot.

Application Review Process

After you apply, admissions committees review applications holistically. They’ll look at your LSAT score, GPA, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and other materials. Your application is not considered complete until everything is submitted, including letters of recommendation.

Admissions decisions can come in the form of acceptance, rejection, or waitlist. You may also have the option to defer admission for a year if you need more time before starting law school. It’s important to have a backup plan if you aren’t admitted to your top choices.

Interviews and Waitlist Strategies

Some law schools require interviews as part of the admissions process. These interviews can be with alumni, admissions officers, or even in group settings. Some schools also request video interviews, where applicants record themselves answering questions.

If you’re placed on a waitlist, use that opportunity to show continued interest in the school. Writing letters of continued interest can update the admissions committee on any new developments and reaffirm your desire to attend. Waitlists can remain open until the first day of classes, so you’ll need to decide how long you’re willing to wait.

Common Application Mistakes

Top three mistakes to avoid:

  1. Missing deadlines. Lawyers don’t look kindly on missed deadlines.
  2. Submitting generic or incorrect materials. Double-check that you’ve tailored your application to the right school.
  3. Weak letters of recommendation. Make sure your recommenders know you well and can write personalized, meaningful letters.

Final Steps Before Submitting

Before submitting, review your application for accuracy and completeness. Double-check and triple-check for typos and errors. Get a second set of eyes to review everything to ensure it’s perfect.

Stay organized with checklists or tracking documents to keep track of deadlines and requirements for each school.

Lastly, be authentic. Law schools aren’t looking for one type of student, and your application will be much stronger if it reflects who you truly are. Law schools want to know your authentic story and why you want to go to law school.

Conclusion and Q&A

While you wait for decisions, stay engaged with schools. Keep researching, attending events, and demonstrating your interest.

Thank you all for joining us tonight. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. We’re here for you throughout the entire process. Have a wonderful evening!

What We'll Cover: