Preparing for the 2017 USC Law Fair

The 2017 USC Law Fair is taking place next Monday, November 6, 2017 from 11:00am-2:30 pm on Trousdale Parkway!  The Law Fair is a great opportunity to speak to representatives from over 80 ABA-approved law schools, gather more information about law schools and test prep companies, find out about pre-law opportunities and internships, and win test prep scholarships and prizes. We encourage all pre-law students to attend, whether you are currently applying to law school or whether you are just beginning to explore the possibility of pursuing a career in law.

If you are planning to attend the Fair, consider the following items during your preparation:

• Do your research. Familiarize yourself with the law schools, which will be attending the Fair.  The list of participating schools can be found here: https://dornsife.usc.edu/list-of-law-schools-attending/.   Create a list of schools you want to speak with at the Fair and conduct basic research on the schools, including admission criteria, location, size, and any specific programs that interest you.
• Ask questions. The Law Fair provides you with a great opportunity to speak with representatives from the law schools, so this is a perfect time to ask any questions you might have about that particular school.  Asking questions shows that you are genuinely interested in the school by engaging the representative in lively discussion.  Don’t forget to ask if the school provides application fee waivers!
• Timing.  If you plan to speak to many law schools and other organizations at the Fair, allow yourself enough time to visit each table and ask questions.  You want to give yourself enough time before class or after class to visit each of your targeted schools.
• Dress for success. Come to the Fair dressed appropriately so the law schools and other participating organizations are not distracted by your clothing.  Students may dress in business casual since you will be speaking will law school representatives, but we encourage all students to attend the Fair if they are on campus!

Visit our website for more information regarding the Law Fair: https://dornsife.usc.edu/usc-students2017/.  We look forward to seeing you all at the Law Fair! If you have any specific questions that can’t be answered by reading through our website, email us at prelaw@usc.edu.

What to Do While Waiting for Your LSAT Score

Congratulations on getting that pesky LSAT out of the way!  You are that much closer to completing your law school application.  In the meantime, here are a few things you can do while you wait for your LSAT score:

1. Write your personal statement.  You finally have enough time to sit down and write your personal statement.  You may think this will be a breeze after the hours and hours your have invested into studying for the LSAT.  Don’t wait last minute to get your personal statement done.  You will want as many people as possible to read it!  Don’t forget to use the Pre-Law Advisement Office document review service.  Due to high demand, the review takes 72 hours from the time you receive a confirmation email to get a full review.
2. Ask for your letters of recommendation.  For students trying to go straight through from undergrad to law school, as well as those taking only a one year gap year, we recommend only getting academic recommendations. For those taking a longer time off, a professional recommendation in combination with an academic recommendation is acceptable. It is common courtesy to give your recommender at least one month to complete your recommendation.  It may even take your professor/employer longer.  Give your recommender ample time to write the best letter of recommendation possible.  Don’t forget to give them the documents prepared by the Pre-Law Advisement Office to aid them with a law school specific letter: (a) Letter for recommenders; (b) Guidelines for law school recommendations.
3. RELAX.  The most stressful part of preparing your application is behind you.  You have 3 weeks of ignorant bliss.  Don’t worry about your score.   Hang out with the friends and family you have been neglecting the past few months.  Focus on keeping your GPA at its highest and on the relief of no longer having the LSAT looming over you!

Hope this helps you on your journey to law school!  If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us at prelaw@usc.edu.  We are here for you every step of the way, and want you to succeed!

Fight On!

Pre-Law Advisement Team

What to Expect When Expecting Law School Decisions

By: Leizl Hinajon, 3L USC Gould School of Law 

The February 1st deadline for most law schools has passed and schools are well into the application review process. Though you can still send in applications with rolling admissions, you should be playing the waiting game now.

This time can be more stressful than writing the application because you have put your faith in the trusty hands of the Admissions Office.  You may be thinking: How long does it take to read my application?  How do I compare to other applicants? WHEN AM I GOING TO GET MY DECISION?!

These are common questions that may race across your mind with a few weeks (or months for you early birds) of radio silence.  Here are some things you can do while you wait:

1. STOP CHECKING LAW SCHOOL FORUMS. You should know by now that there are a lot of trolls online, so constantly checking for new admittees will do nothing but make you worry. You will get your decision in due time, but you can control how much you stress over it.
2. Write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). Whether or not you have been waitlisted, it is always good to see an applicant express further interest in said law school.  The letter should not be general, but be specifically-tailored to the law school and give something extra that was not already stated in your application.  Basically, the law school prints out your completed application once it is received and creates a file. ANY extra emails/documents you send via the Admissions Email will be printed out and stuck in your file for the next cycle of review.  If you don’t have anything new to add, DO NOT waste the Admissions Office’s time by reiterating what is already in your application.  Timing is everything, so make sure you are not pre-maturely sending this letter.
3. Send an updated resume or transcript. Similar to reasons for sending in an LOCI, you can send an updated resume for any significant changes in your employment that gives the Admissions Office additional information that will enhance your candidacy. Same applies to your transcript, if you received new or updated grades that boost your GPA.
4. Request a Letter of Support.  Since applying, you have probably done a lot of research on the law schools you’ve applied to and met some people that went to the law school.  If there was an alumni you met or you have a new supervisor at work that loves your work, you can request that this person send in a letter of support directly to the Admissions Office.  This can help boost your application from the maybe pile to the yes pile. Remember, a general letter wont do much, but a letter from an alumni saying you would be a good fit at the law school or a supervisor that can attest to a new development (think promotion) would help show you are continuing to build up your law school candidacy, even though your application is already in.
5. Come to the Pre-Law Wednesday Walk-Ins.  If you have any questions about your application cycle or these supplemental documents, you can come to Wednesday Walk-Ins.  They are usually from 9:30AM -1:00PM unless there is an event.

Soon enough, you will be getting admissions decisions and you will need to weigh your options.  Stay tuned for our next blogpost: You’ve Gotten In, Now Which Law School is Right for You?