Application Forum

[CottonHarvest]

What do law school applications look like? Are they all different or generally the same? It's not like you fill out one on LSAC like the common app is it? How long does it take to fill out the application?

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

You can go on LSAC and just look at applications. You dont to pay for them if you dont submit them.

[WamBamThankYouMaam]

They're all very similar, but LSAC makes if very easy to just fly through them. Once you input info in a category for one school, it'll automatically show up in each school's application you just have to confirm it.

[CottonHarvest]

Do they have like short answer questions? How are they different from school to school?

[34iplaw]

Do they have like short answer questions? How are they different from school to school?

Applications differ in relatively short and minor ways for the most part. Schools will often have optional supplemental essays regarding your interest in law or what you can contribute to their student body.

The one thing that I, personally, found annoying were minor variations in the structure of C&F issues. Some would ask for one upload, others would ask for a divide along criminal vs. academic, others would ask for a further addition along past and pending, etc. I only had minor issues, but I found it a little frustrating to organize my C&F attachments slightly different.

[etramak]

So does this mean we have to alter the personal statement for each application in order to tailor it to the school?

[Rigo]

So does this mean we have to alter the personal statement for each application in order to tailor it to the school?

No.

[mrtux45]

So does this mean we have to alter the personal statement for each application in order to tailor it to the school?

No.

I slightly disagree here only to let OP know that they MUST read the personal statement prompt before submitting. Some schools ask for a general personal statement, while others ask for a more "why law" centered statement. Few (Iowa comes to mind), ask specifically why you'd want to move to the state/region of the law school.

You can use the same personal statement for all of them, just make sure you do minor adjustments, if necessary, to fit the prompt.

[etramak]

So does this mean we have to alter the personal statement for each application in order to tailor it to the school?

No.

I slightly disagree here only to let OP know that they MUST read the personal statement prompt before submitting. Some schools ask for a general personal statement, while others ask for a more "why law" centered statement. Few (Iowa comes to mind), ask specifically why you'd want to move to the state/region of the law school.

You can use the same personal statement for all of them, just make sure you do minor adjustments, if necessary, to fit the prompt.

Thanks! I was really asking if the personal statement should have a paragraph reserved for "Why I'm a good candidate for X Law School" but I guess that's not the case.

Not to derail the thread, but since you say some schools ask for a "why law" personal statement, is it frowned upon if your default PS answers a "why law" question? And do some schools want a PS and a separate "why law" essay (which I would assume means you'd have to alter your "why law" PS)?

[Rigo]

Thanks! I was really asking if the personal statement should have a paragraph reserved for "Why I'm a good candidate for X Law School" but I guess that's not the case.
Not to derail the thread, but since you say some schools ask for a "why law" personal statement, is it frowned upon if your default PS answers a "why law" question? And do some schools want a PS and a separate "why law" essay (which I would assume means you'd have to alter your "why law" PS)?

Most PS's are Why Law. It's not a bad thing.