When to Submit Optional Application Materials

By Morgan Smith, 2L USC Gould School of Law

Law school applications have many optional components: addenda, second essays, diversity statements, and, for some schools, even résumés. Hillary Mantis, Esq. offers some advice in the Fall issue of preLaw magazine (Vol. 15, No.2).

Résumés
Most schools typically require a résumé, but if they do not, it is a good idea to submit one anyway. Your résumé will give you much more space than the tiny boxes on the application to describe your activities and jobs. It also gives you a chance to explain honors and activities outside of your personal statement. Your résumé should be different from the one you would submit for a job– an admissions officer does not need to know that you can type sixty words per minute. They do want to know about all of your academic achievements and leadership positions you have held on campus and in the community. You do not need to include your LSAT score, and if you include your GPA, make sure it matches your transcript. Also, include any legal experience , paid or not. Use a nice size font and make it readable. Remember, admissions officers are reading tons of applications!