Archived Questions

October 29, 2008

Q: Does the Admissions committee prefer letters of recommendation to be sent directly to law schools or to LSDAS?

At most law schools, your letters can be sent in whichever way is most convenient to you and the people writing the letters. Usually the easiest is the LSDAS because everything is sent to one central location and letters can then be directed to schools from there. Also, LSDAS will keep letters on file for 5 years so they’ll be there in the future in case you end up reapplying or applying later than you anticipated. While it is okay for your recommenders to send their letters directly to Lewis & Clark Law School, some other schools may require that they be sent through LSDAS.

October 22, 2008

Q: Does L&C consider the highest LSAT or the average when an applicant has more than one LSAT score to report?

A: Yes, Lewis & Clark will give the most consideration to the higher LSAT score when reviewing applications. That said, the admissions committee will still see the other exam scores and may consider those as additional information to a much smaller extent should they choose. If an applicant has a significant difference in LSAT scores, or has more than 3 scores on record, I recommend that they submit an addendum with their application to explain the difference in scores or the reasons for taking it multiple times.

October 15, 2008

Q: Who should I get my letters of recommendation from?

A: The best letters of recommendation come from people who know you best and are in a position to evaluate your skills and abilities which will be put to use in law school. These skills include writing, critical thinking, analytical skills, problem solving, the ability to conduct thorough research, etc.

Admissions committees, often made up of professors, are admitting students and thus, letters from other professors attesting to what a great student you are will be the ideal people to write your recommendations. This is especially true if you are currently a student or a recent graduate. You should also consider how strong of a letter someone would write for you. If you received a low grade in a class, or clashed with the professor, that person may not be the best one to write a letter on your behalf. Other academic sources that are acceptable can come from graduate teaching assistants, academic advisors, and student activity advisors with whom you have developed a good relationship and who can speak of your strengths.

If you have been out of school for a while and have a job that has been challenging and afforded you a good level of responsibility, then employers are also a good source for a letter. Again, you will want to make sure that they will write a positive, if not glowing, letter about you. Additional options for sources include internship supervisors and volunteer coordinators – again with the caveat that they know you well and can evaluate your abilities that would be applicable to law school.

Letters from politicians, well-known people in the community, lawyers, or law school alumni are not the best sources if you are asking them to write the letter just because you believe their title or connection to the law school will be impressive. If these people have taught you or supervised you, know you well, and have been in a position to evaluate your skills & abilities, then they can be good people to ask. Otherwise, please do not submit these letters with your application.

When asking someone to write a letter on your behalf, make sure to approach them by asking if they can write a great letter about you. Allow them to say no if they do not feel they are the best source for you, or if they don’t have the time to write the letter. You do not want to pressure them if they really aren’t going to be able to be an excellent advocate for you.

October 8, 2008

Q: When should I take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)?

A: Since we are getting so many questions about the LSAT, this is a great time to address this question. If you have done some research into applying to law school, you know by now that the LSAT is a required part of the application. The LSAT is offered four times a year (typically in February, June, October and December). Ideally, you will take the LSAT BY December in the year before you plan to attend law school. Because most law schools review files in the winter and early spring, you will want to make sure your application is complete sometime in the fall or early-winter, and thus, December is the latest that is recommended.

A few law schools have application deadlines in January or have early action/decision programs (this means that if you apply to that school in the fall, you’ll have a decision earlier than most people, but sometimes must commit to attending the school if admitted). In these cases, you’ll want to take the LSAT no later than the October test - almost a year before you would start law school.

It can be a good idea to take the LSAT even earlier, such as in June or October, so that if something happens around the time you’re planning to take the LSAT (e.g. you get ill or have a family emergency), you can cancel your reservation for the test and take it later. Or, if you don’t feel that the score you received is up to your potential, you can take the test again later and still have time to get your applications complete in a timely manner.

In some years, taking the LSAT in February of the year you plan to attend law school can also be an option. The risk with a February score is that your application will be complete later in the process and your file will be reviewed when less space is available in the entering class. (Note: schools will not review your files until all required items have been received, including the LSAT score.) Another disadvantage is that most schools will have already awarded their scholarships by the time they get to reading files with February LSAT scores. In really competitive years when applications are up, a February LSAT is really too late. In years where applications are going down nationally (like this year), a February score may be more acceptable, but you will still be later in the process than is preferred and may have less options than had you completed your application earlier.

For test dates, registration sites and deadlines, LSAT costs and more, please go to the Law School Admissions Council’s website.

October 1, 2008

Q: How does the Admission Committee view a canceled LSAT score? Must the score be explained?

A: One canceled score will not need to be explained and will not affect a decision on your file. The Admissions Committee understands that a person could have a really bad day and know that the score is not going to be a good one. In that case, it would be better to cancel the score and retake the exam when you feel better about doing so.

That said, it would not hurt to explain multiple canceled scores. If one takes the LSAT and cancels more than a couple of times, it could be interpreted in several ways - mostly negative. In that case, letting the Committee know what happened would be in your best interest.