The Girl's Guide to Law School®
Get In, Get Through, Stay You
Guest writer Zoila Sanchez is back to talk about deciding between a full-time or part-time law school program.
One of the most exciting aspects of applying to law school is getting down to the specifics such as the kind of program—part-time or full-time studies. There are important things to consider when selecting the right option for you.
Questions to ask yourself may include:
This week we welcome back guest writer Zoila Sanchez to talk about how different people can have an easier or more difficult time getting in to law school and how to handle that.
If you are a prospective law student and in the process of applying to law school — then you know that the path to get into law school is a major commitment and requires several, difficult steps! As a prospective student, you have likely discovered by now that the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) was only the beginning, and that law school can be competitive and takes a lot of hard work to excel.
This week we welcome back Julia Gourary to discuss the best advice she’s been given before starting law school.
For incoming 1L students, or “0Ls”, the summer before school starts can be full of nervous excitement and anticipation. As a 0L, I’ve been making an effort to talk to current and recent law students for advice on everything from preparation to academics to social life. If you know anyone in law school, especially the law school you’re planning on attending, it’s definitely worth reaching out before you start. Everyone I’ve talked to has a unique perspective, emphasizing different things, including aspects of law school life I had not previously considered. In this post, I’m passing on some of the best pieces of advice I’ve received. [Read more…]
This week we welcome 1L Justine Huang to talk about the process of writing her personal statement.
If you are applying to law school for the next cycle, chances are you’re working through or putting the finishing touches on your personal statement. For me, the personal statement was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but I can now appreciate the process as a continuous lifelong journey of growth and self-reflection. Here are three things I learned from the writing process.
This week we welcome back guest writer Tiffany Lo to talk about how to go about preparing the best transfer application you can.
Are you a 1L thinking about transferring law schools? If so, this post is for you! As a transfer student myself, I remember putting together my application as a worldwide pandemic raged on and interpersonal relations were developed and maintained through a computer screen.
Current 1Ls are in a similar predicament – many of them have not been able to go on campus or form close relationships with their professors and classmates. Under these constraints, campus culture has become difficult to discern. With travel restrictions, they cannot go visit other schools or sit in on classes. All of this has compounded the stress of the transfer application process.
I recently spoke to a 1L who is considering transferring. His questions spoke to the challenges with the process itself and concerns about being a transfer student, especially given the state of the world. Here are my tips for preparing a strong transfer application: [Read more…]
This week we hear from guest writer Mihal Ansik to discuss how to handle a gap year in the midst of COVID-19.
In a pre-COVID-19 world, the short answer about whether to take at least a year before law school would have been “Probably.” There are so many benefits to working before going to law school, which we’ve discussed before, including positioning yourself to be a more holistic candidate, building a resumé that tells a story, developing perspective around grades and law school success, creating lasting connections, and contextualizing the law. [Read more…]
This week we welcome back guest writer Briana Borgolini to talk about how to position yourself in your law school applications when you are not a “traditional” candidate.
Applying to law school can be intimidating for anyone, let alone someone who may have been out of a school setting for a few years, or more. Those who studied something seemingly unrelated to law, or spent a significant period of time working between undergrad and law school may be considered “non-traditional” compared to their counterparts applying directly from undergrad with more traditional pre-law majors. While non-traditional applicants may have to do some extra explaining to convince an admissions committee that they will be a successful law student, there are a number of things that can be done to make the application process a bit easier. [Read more…]
Today we welcome Christen Morgan, guest writer and foreclosure attorney, to discuss taking a year off before starting law school.
Should You Take a Gap Year Before Law School?
Well, it depends. Taking a gap year before beginning your law school career can certainly be a beneficial alternative as opposed to jumping right in after four years of college. Although I highly recommend this alternative venture, taking a gap year will only be worthwhile based on your current situation. If you’re a non-traditional college student, who perhaps started college later in life after already receiving some work experience, or a student who worked full time during college and completed their bachelor’s degree on a part-time basis, then taking a gap year before law school may not be in your best interests. A gap year is a perfect opportunity to gain full-time work experience, to travel or to complete a fellowship. These are all experiences that should be completed with the intent of enhancing your resume for post-graduate legal employment. If you’re a non-traditional student, chances are you may have already amassed a wealth of the above experiences to enhance your resume. Therefore, jumping right into law school after college without taking a gap year should not hurt your chances in the legal job hunt.
Today we welcome Jaclyn Wishnia, rising 2L at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and aspiring entertainment law attorney. Jaclyn tackles the question of how to choose the right law school to attend and personalization in the admissions process.
Choosing the right law school to attend can sometimes seem overwhelming. Often, decisions are based on future factors you may not even realize until your 3L year, such as the type of law you want to specialize in or where you intend to practice law. Alternatively, other issues may arise that are out of your control. For instance, maybe you were rejected from your top choice, or perhaps, you were accepted to two vastly different law schools that you favored equally. Although many decisions can be resolved by focusing on fundamental criteria like, which school is offering a better scholarship, there is one minor item you should consider when evaluating your choices: Personalization. [Read more…]
We’re excited to initiate a series of interviews with various LSAT prep companies, exploring their approach and getting some tips for success. (If you’d like to be featured, let me know.)
Today, we’re talking with Magoosh, a self-study option that prides themselves on being affordable and tailored to the individual students needs. Welcome! [Read more…]
