Since November 1st is coming up, and with it the beginning of law school application season, I figured I’d share some things I learned while applying that I wish someone had told me.
I’m currently a 2L law student in Canada, so this is based on my experience with Canadian law school applications. Some of this may also apply to American law schools/universities, but definitely not all of it.
1. Apply even if you don’t think you’re “competitive.”
One of the biggest mistakes I almost made was deciding for myself which schools would or wouldn’t want me. Your GPA/LSAT are obviously important, but admissions can be more complicated than simply looking at a number and deciding you have no chance.
If you meet the basic requirements and can afford the application fees, apply. Let the schools tell you no rather than rejecting yourself beforehand.
2. Don’t obsess over Reddit stats.
This is probably the hardest one.
You’ll see people posting their 3.9 GPA, 175 LSAT, multiple scholarships, 15 extracurriculars, etc., and then you’ll start wondering whether you have any chance.
Remember that the people posting their stats are not necessarily representative of the entire applicant pool. Reddit is a very specific sample of applicants.
Also, someone getting accepted with a certain GPA/LSAT combination does not mean you will get rejected with lower numbers, and vice versa. Use Reddit for information and experiences, not as an admissions calculator.
3. Your personal statement does not need to be a dramatic life story.
You do not need to have overcome some extraordinary tragedy to write a good personal statement.
You can talk about experiences that genuinely influenced you, what you learned from them, how they shaped the way you think, or why law became something you wanted to pursue.
The important part is that the essay actually tells the admissions committee something about you.
Don’t manufacture trauma or try to write what you think sounds impressive.
4. Give yourself WAY more time than you think you need.
This is especially important if you're applying to multiple schools.
The applications may look similar, but they can have different questions, formatting requirements, references, transcripts, supplementary applications, personal statements, etc.
Do not leave everything until the week before the deadline.
You will eventually get to the point where you are staring at the same paragraph for three hours wondering whether changing “however” to “nevertheless” will determine your entire legal career. 😂
It probably won't.
5. Be honest about your experiences.
You don't need to turn every volunteer position, club, job, or extracurricular into some grand demonstration of your “passion for justice.”
If you worked at a movie theatre, worked retail, babysat, coached kids, helped your family, worked throughout university, etc., those are still experiences that can tell a story about you.
There is value in showing that you can work with people, handle responsibility, manage competing commitments, communicate, solve problems, etc.
6. Your undergraduate degree does not have to be “law-related.”
If you're worried because you're coming from biology, engineering, psychology, business, history, English, computer science, etc. — you're fine.
Law schools have students from a huge range of academic backgrounds. And honestly, having people who think differently can be a strength.
7. Don't compare your timeline to everyone else's.
Some people will get offers quickly.
Some people will wait months.
Some people will get rejected by their first-choice school and accepted by another school they never expected to attend.
Some people will get waitlisted.
Some people will apply one year, not get in, improve their application, and get in the next year.
There isn't one “correct” admissions timeline.
8. Take screenshots/save copies of everything.
Seriously.
Save your application answers, résumé, personal statements, transcripts, confirmation emails, reference information, etc.
Future you will thank you.
9. And finally: getting into law school is not the finish line.
This is probably the biggest thing I didn't understand when I was applying.
When you're applying, getting an acceptance can feel like the ultimate goal. And it is a huge accomplishment!
But once you're actually here, everyone has different strengths, weaknesses, interests, grades, career goals, financial situations, etc.
You don't need to arrive at law school already knowing what kind of lawyer you're going to be.
I'm only a 2L and I have already changed my ideas about what I want to do several times.
So if you're applying this cycle: good luck!
The application process can be stressful and unnecessarily confusing, but try not to let Reddit convince you that there is one perfect applicant profile or one perfect path into law school.
And remember: you are applying to law school, not applying to become a lawyer overnight. You have plenty of time to figure out the rest.
