B-I-N-G-O '25–'26 app cycle

Welcome to BINGO’s comprehensive and far too detailed guide to the law school application cycle.

1.) Get off of reddit. Its full of overly competitive people. It brings out the absolute worst in people. The best advice I have receieved has been from people on LSD.law and current law students.

2.) Start studying for the LSAT early. If you’ve been out of school a few years, you might need months or even a YEAR to get back into the swing of studying every day and taking exams.

3.) Apply broadly, but figure out WHERE you would SERIOUSLY go. Don’t just blanket the T-14, or ignore schools for being “too low.” Actually look at academic programs, bar passage, professional outcomes, the city, the school culture, etc. Follow the 1/3rd rule (1/3rd Reaches, 1/3rd Targets, 1/3rd Safeties).

4.) Wherever you go to law school, that’s probably where you’ll end up staying for several years. Even at T25s or T14s, your best opportunities are gonna be in the city where you go to school. Your professors, advisors, and career counselors will be able to find you regional jobs much more EASILY than if you want to transfer markets.

5.) Talk to your partner and family about law school. Explain to them how stressful the application cycle is. Explain to them how busy you’ll be during law school. Explain how hard the recruiting process can be. Explain how expensive law school is and then follow that up with how much attorneys make. I’ve seen too many relationships get strained by this process. They won’t understand unless you take the time to explain these things to them.

6.) Personally, I am an advocate for summer prep programs. I’m in one right now and absolutely love it. Its taught me so much and has made me feel very prepared for law school. It also has decent recruiting into respectable schools. However, I would say that you don’t NEED to go to a prep program. Especially if its a lot of money. I would suggest looking for affordable / free programs. They exist, your school probably has one.

7.) Maintain your mental health. This process is hard. Law school is hard. Your mental health is key to succeeding. Do self-care, get a therapist, spend time with family, go to church, meditate, etc. Whatever you do, make time for it. If your mental health is currently bad, start working on that asap. You’ll want to set it straight before you get into law school, where one break down on exam day could mean failing a test you spent 6 months and $60,000 on. Yes, law school will challenge your mental health, but it doesn’t mean you have to be stressed and depressed all the time.

8.) Everyone has imposter syndrome.