The relative scarcity of minority legal professionals is still a concern despite the accelerating changes over the decade. According to the 2021 NALP report on diversity, 10.75% of firm partners were lawyers of color, with 46% being Asian Americans, 31% Hispanic, and 24% Black. This disparity stems from the application process, with factors like lack of guidance throughout their application process, inability to afford test prep courses, and high cost of applying to schools playing a significant role.
Other factors also come into play, like the disadvantage of applying to law school late in the application process and the lack of people to guide them through the process. So, as a way to remedy this level of disparity, minority students must start early on their law school application. This comes with loads of advantages, as we will discuss in this post. Read on to learn more.
Applying Early Helps You Avoid Last Minute Application Errors
As an aspiring lawyer, you naturally possess the ability to thrive under pressure. However, it would still leave room for error if you apply late. Remember, the law school application process presents a competitive landscape that only rewards those who take a thorough approach. Therefore, choosing to apply late could result in application errors and cause you to miss your application.
Late applications can prompt poor attention to detail or not following directions. After all, every law school has a different set of requirements in the application process, which you may need to adhere to. This varies from the number of maximum words or page count, file formats, and writing prompts.
You may also omit crucial information on your application. As a minority student, mentioning your race may increase your chances of acceptance, despite the recent Supreme Court decision that makes it unnecessary to indicate your racial background during your law school application. However, including subtle information in your personal statement, especially when required to determine your reason for pursuing law, can evoke recruiters into considering your application.
Bottom Line: Starting your application as early as possible gives you enough time to focus on crucial aspects that would maximize your admission chances. This detailed application timeline should help you plan your application process and maximize your chances of joining your dream law school.
You’ll Get an Early Admission Decision
Most law schools use what is referred to as “rolling admission.” In this process, the application cycle opens in early fall, probably September 1, and remains open until March or April. Schools also accept or deny decisions on a “rolling basis,” meaning that you probably get your application decision in six to eight weeks or sooner.
Considering that you can apply to as many as 15 law schools, starting your application as early as possible maximizes your chances of an early admission from your preferred school.
However, it’s best to keep your application to at least five schools to avoid getting several acceptances simultaneously and potentially leaving you stranded while deciding on the best option. It also gives you enough time to meet all their requirements and avoid making your application feel rushed. Otherwise, you will be writing follow-up emails expressing apologies for submitting the wrong personal statement and asking them to consider your newly attached copies!
You get the Chance to Prepare and Retake Your LSAT
The LSAT scores for 2022 were at 159, with top programs requiring scores in the range of 170-175. This is way below the average LSAT scores of Black and Latino test takers, standing at 142 and 146, respectively, according to an AccessLex report. Much of this results from the lack of mentorship throughout the LSAT preparation and funds to pay for the tests. However, with ample time, you can take your LSAT test and possibly retake it to the recommended five times if you fail on your previous attempts. Besides, it allows you to seek enough LSAT pre-course funds that may go north of $1,800 and the cost of applying for the test. It also gives you enough time to pursue LSAT waivers from your reach schools.
There are several LSAT preparation resources available. Some of the options you can pursue include the Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep, 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests, The Official LSAT SuperPrep, Kaplan’s LSAT Prep Plus 2022, and The Princeton Review’s LSAT Premium LSAT Premium Prep, 28th Edition.
Please note that your timeline for retaking your LSAT matters. For instance, if you take your first test in June, your best time for a retake would be August or October. If you did your first test later, let’s say in October, the best time to schedule a retake is November. However, the best idea is to take your first test as early as possible to allow enough time to evaluate and work on aspects that probably contributed to your failing.
It Maximizes Your Chances of Getting to Your Target School as A Splitter Student
Splitter is a term that refers to law school applicants with a wide gap between their undergraduate GPA results and their LSAT scores. Typically, a splitter achieves a given law school’s 75th percentile but has a GPA below the school’s bottom 25th percentile. However, this varies from one law school to another, so it’s best to check whether your target schools are splitter-friendly.
Applying early may increase your chances of getting to your target school, although top schools like Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley are not splitter-friendly. However, you still have an opportunity to explain how your grades don’t reflect your law school potential. This should not be considered in your personal statement but in an addendum. Ensure the explanation covers two crucial points: Explain why you got the low grades and why the issue is no longer a concern.
It Maximizes Your Chances of Acquiring Scholarship
One common misconception among law school applicants is that early decision eliminates chances of receiving scholarships. Well, this is not the case since some law schools like Berkeley and Northwestern offer automatic scholarships for early decisions. Scholarship decisions are only designed to secure your commitment to a particular school regardless of the timeline.
It’s crucial to note that scholarships can either be merit-based or need-based. For merit-based scholarships, you need higher LSAT scores. Therefore, it’s vital to look into historical and comparative amounts awarded data to determine how much you’ll receive as financial aid. For need-based scholarships, you may need to present convincing essays, seek letters of recommendation, or prove your community experience. This seems an easy task, but it’s recommended to seek help to get the best out of your presentations.
Another advantage that comes with early application is having to deal with less competition with minority applicants and those with similar professional profiles. It also benefits you more if the scholarship giver offers financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis.
Besides that, with enough time, you’ll have time to assess different scholarship opportunities, determine your eligibility, research past scholarship winners, make time for your essay, and ensure that you meet their deadlines.
Get the Help You Need with Your Application with S. Montgomery Admission Consulting
As a minority student, most aspects of your law school application don’t fall in your favor. However, you can still maximize your chances of getting to your dream school by considering an early application. You’ll have enough time to prepare for the LSAT, possibly have a retake, apply for scholarships on time, and avoid potential errors in the application process. However, with the proper guidance, you can still decide on an early application and maximize your chances of acceptance.
This article first appeared on https://barrier-breakers.org/. Read the original here
