What follows is a comprehensive explanation of my application path to law school. I originally created this document as a PDF for a group of incredible mentees.

Time will be your greatest asset or your worst enemy- I began preparing two years before the 2024 application cycle.

I’ve divided ‘my story’ into nine subcategories:

1. SUCCEEDING ON YOUR LSAT
2. CREATING YOUR “CORE” DOCUMENTS
3. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
4. TRANSCRIPTS
5. VISITS & INTERVIEWS
6. CREATING A USEFUL EXCEL SPREADSHEET
7. APPLYING
8. RELAX
9. CONCLUSION

1. SUCCEEDING ON YOUR LSAT

PRACTICE

I spent a year studying for the LSAT. My first diagnostic score was a 142. After about 4 months of independent study, I was consistently in the high 150’s. Because my score range was so low, I took a prep course; I obviously wasn’t understanding fundamental concepts. I used Princeton Review -paying over $2,000 for their 165+ Program- and found it to be helpful because at that point I was totally clueless. If your scores are this low, I advise you take a comprehensive A to Z prep-course.

As I progressed to scores in the 160’s, I found 7Sage to be an incredible value for only $10 per month. JY (the narrator for 7Sage) will walk you through every single problem on any LSAT ever published. There is also fundamentals modules, although watching these isn’t as good as a prep course because you can’t ask the instructor questions. If your scores are in this range (160’s) you may still benefit from a comprehensive program, however you may be able to self-formulate one using 7Sage.

Right before testing, I found an LSAT tutor named Scott on a website called Wyzant. I would suggest only getting a personalized tutor at the end, when you are in need of fine polishing. This option is not as systematic as a formal program, and not as comprehensive as 7Sage. Tutors can also be very expensive. By the time I finished with my tutor, I was consistently in the 168-173 range, notwithstanding outliers. Tutors are an incredible value IF they are honest about your failures and you are honest about your need to work on them. Scott identified fundamental weaknesses in my approach and helped the whole thing to “click” for me- putting me in the top percentile of test takers.

There are considerable differences in difficulty in certain test strands. Tests between 40-60 are easy, 80- 90 are rough. This isn’t opinion- you can see the fluctuations in difficulty in the score and composite curve data released in the LSAC disclosures. There are Reddit threads on the subject. I selected my practice tests accordingly. I saved some very recent tests, taking them fresh in the run up to the actual test.

At one point I was taking a full diagnostic test every week for nearly twenty weeks. Some weeks I took two. By the actual test date, I had taken nearly 40 full tests and completed every single logic game ever released at least twice. I filled three Moleskine notebooks with games alone.

Note: As of this writing, logic games (analytical reasoning) is extinct. However the premise holds- repetition is king on the LSAT.

I recommend practicing on the LSAC’s LawHub portal, not some other website. You don’t want to learn in a different digital environment from where you will test. I also practiced in the same physical space where I knew I would ultimately take the test, and did so at the same time each day. Familiarity with the platform (LSAC Law Hub) and your physical testing environment will pay dividends.

TESTING

Testing is the easiest part of the whole process. I took 5 days off practice before the test, and also did some warm ups: 2 logic games I loved, 10 LR questions I already knew, and one RC section about an hour before the test. I bought score preview, and was glad I did (as a security measure for an awful score), but never ended up using it.

All in all, the LSAT preparation process took every spare moment of my life for an entire year- so the test itself was easy. Without the support of my wife, kids, family and friends- I never would have made it. I increased my score by 3 standard deviations- an extreme statistical anomaly. I don’t advocate my path to anyone, but it should tell you that anything is possible with determination.

LSAT WRITING

LSAT writing, I was told, won’t get you into Law School, it can only get you out. So do well, and don’t treat it like simply a box to check with a crayon. However, don’t stress- as long as you are systematic and concise, you will be fine.

I did several practice LSAT writings. Again- I did them in the LSAC LawHub portal for consistency of experience. This portion should be done after your LSAT whenever you have time. You have up to a year, and you want to be prepared so don’t rush it just so you can get your score back- I did mine two days before score release, and despite the scary emails from LSAC my writing sample was “approved” within hours and my score released in due course.

Definitely don’t do the LSAT writing in the run-up to your test. Focus on the test first- the writing is not nearly as important, by any metric.

I stuck to the simple pro-con/benefit-deficit structure recommended by 7 Sage. I just re-read my writing sample yesterday, and am still happy with how I performed.

1. CREATING YOUR “CORE” DOCUMENTS

The personal statement (PS), diversity statement (DS), resume (CV), and addenda.

I was given these three pieces of advice by a mentor, and they proved the most valuable I received in the process of creating core documents:

a) Don’t overlap the content in your core documents or your addenda. Let each one speak to a totally different aspect of yourself and don’t repeat yourself. Repeating makes you sound like a 1 trick pony, specializing each document adds depth to your character.

b) Don’t ever lose credibility. Once it’s lost through an outrageous story, or a chronological error on your resume’s timeline, it can never be regained.

c) Tell stories, don’t profligate. Never, EVER, use bland statements: “I am a _ person with __ qualities.” Tell this in a story.

After I got the LSAT score I needed, that’s when I began work on my 3 core documents (personal statement, diversity statement, and resume). I cannot imagine having been able to study for the LSAT effectively and work on these core docs simultaneously. When I began work on my core documents, I was about a year out from the application cycle opening.

RESUME

My resume went quickly, because I have extensive legal experience. If you don’t, consider a gap year or internships. Even with my experience, I am still working a legal internship. Your resume should be boring, but cover the monotonous details so you are free to tell stories in your personal and diversity statements.

I advise you to include the number of hours per week for each line item on your resume. Some schools don’t require this, but it is good to have- especially if you have been diligent with your time. This proves your time management skills without ever needing to say so outright.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

My personal statement took over a year to finalize. I would look it over every week or so and make revisions. I can say confidently that not a single sentence or idea from my first draft remains. Time is your friend here because this essay need to convey 1) your ability to write at a level equal to a novelist, 2) what brought you to law school and wanting to be a lawyer, and 3) how you are equipped to succeed at law school (mentally, spiritually, and financially).

You can’t just say these things outright- you have to tell stories about your life that convey them subtly and artfully. It can’t be tacky or cute. If you have never written prose or literature (I never had) don’t freak out; just keep working on it and you will be surprised by the magic that unfolds- given that you have enough time.

I used editors on Fivver and my schools writing resource center as well as the input from countless professors, mentors and advisors to hone this document. Yale has a great document with sample personal statements from 2021; you can Google it. These are excellent statements.

Your personal statement needs to be flawless because you will have more essays to write (Why X) when applications open and you can’t be fooling with your personal statement at that time because you will need to focus on these school specific documents.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Traditional diversity categories are: racial discrimination, poverty, or significant adversity due to circumstances outside your control.

Pretty much everyone has adversity of some kind. You are doing yourself a disservice if you avoid writing this statement because you believe you don’t qualify or that not submitting one somehow makes you better- like you are Iron Man, or something.

I am a white heterosexual male, and I still wrote a really good diversity statement.

I come from a poorer family. We didn’t live in public housing, but I was on a free lunch program at school and my parents nearly lost their house on several occasions. Poverty doesn’t need to be extreme to be a qualify as a diversity category. So… I told my story. I recommend you do the same.

I was also in the military, and have heard of others using this as a diversity category. A friend even used it to get into Yale. I think that this approach is ok, but you need to be cognizant that not all duty in the military is equal. I deployed to Central America for nearly seven years, but that experience really didn’t represent adversity in the traditional diversity category sense. Use your judgement and assess the character of your military deployment reasonably.

Disabilities can be used as a diversity category but be careful. I have diagnosed ADD, but opted only to mention this and not to discuss it extensively. Despite school’s non-discrimination rhetoric, you probably don’t want to advertise that you are a total mental/emotional train wreck. This may have the opposite effect you are going for.

I received advice not to make my diversity statement sad- I think this is sound. You don’t want to unload emotional baggage on the admissions officer reading your packet. The point is to show how you overcame the adversity- not how bad it was. Many schools aren’t asking for diversity statements anymore, and many more are asking for adversity statements with an emphasis on how you overcame. Many others offer this prompt as an optional essay, so producing this document is well worth your time.

FOR BOTH PERSONAL & DIVERSITY STATEMENTS

Try to tell 1-3 “stories.” It is better to tell one really well than to tell three that are disjointed or overlapping in their expression of your qualities. In the end, I told two stories in my personal statement and two in my diversity statement. I’ve seen really great statements where the authors told five or six stories and it worked well. However, most of them had a natural gift for composition, and that showed. Don’t overestimate your abilities.

These docs should be two pages. You don’t need more if you do them well. Even when schools allow four pages, that doesn’t mean you need to submit four. I’m all for using all the space available (as you will see in my supplemental essays section) however your personal story should be tightly construed. Later you will create a one page version of each of these docs because some schools require this. Trimming down should be easy, especially if you have two stories- you simply pick your best.

ADDENDA

My low GPA was my biggest single issue.

If you have a low LSAT, a low GPA, or Character and Fitness issues, draft an addendum explaining the circumstances. Don’t say they were out of your control, however indicate how they occurred. Stay factual. Character and fitness can involve either school or violations of the law (even speeding and parking tickets). Anticipate this and get these documents done early. They should be less than one page. Low GPA and LSAT are pretty straight forward, I wrote a GPA addendum citing my young age and the lackluster quality of my community college, as well as factors relating to my family and health. The C&F violations are bit more tricky.

Consider carefully your responses to character and fitness questions. If the school asks you to “disclose a violation of any law,” do so. Your law school application will be subpoenaed by the bar in any state where you try to practice, and any lack of disclosure in your law school application will be ascribed as intentional. I had to hire a company to conduct a background check for speeding tickets from nearly twenty years ago because all the dockets were erased due to so much time passing.

If you have any of these issues you will need to draft a Character and Fitness addendum; focus on the details of the case/academic violation and how it was resolved (through paying a fine, going to driver ed class, community service, improving grades, etc.). As long as it was resolved, disclosure will not hurt you at all. In fact, being thorough and systematic reveals your organizational and research skills.

1. WRITING YOUR LOR’s

During the same time I was writing my core documents, I also began to draft my letters of recommendation. Here’s a step by step on how that process unfolded. The text in this section is from an email that I wrote to younger mentee who asked for a guide:

A) Write the letters and say everything you want to say about yourself. Make them perfect and don’t be afraid to toot your own horn & reasonably over-exaggerate. Focus on academic vigor, curiosity, and natural academic prowess in your letters from professors. Letters from employers, coaches, mentors etc. are great but not as important- these will have their own individualized character.

Yes, you write all your letters before even asking the person who is going to submit it, because, let’s be honest, if you didn’t already know Professor X were going to say yes, then you wouldn’t be asking them! Also- you don’t want to make them write it because that’s more work, so you write the letter in its entirety. Focus on the concrete activities/duties/experiences you executed. Don’t make too many broad statements about your abilities; these erode credibility.

B) Send them an email and ask if they will be willing to write you a LOR- this is a formality. You already knew they would say yes. Don’t attach the letter right off the bat, this first contact is like a handshake before getting down to business.

C) When they say yes, reply back and thank them -this is your part of the handshake. In this email tell them you will send a draft letter within a few hours. Encourage them to make any changes they see fit and instruct them to return it to you. Send it to them shortly thereafter.

D) Once you have it back, edit it or pay someone else to (spelling and grammar). Don’t skip this step. Even professors make glaring grammatical errors that a good editor will catch. There is a pronounced proclivity for awkward grammatical structures in LOR’s- don’t fall prey to believing that because there are two of you in this process and one is an academician that there won’t be errors. My editor caught dozens.

E) You might send the letter back and forth several times until you get it all just right. Don’t be afraid to communicate that you need to emphasize the things law schools care about (academic prowess, leadership, curiosity, etc.). Don’t let them hijack the writing process with silly stories that aren’t value adds. If they are a good recommender, this won’t happen anyway. Most recommenders will just sign off without even reading. This can be dangerous which is why you don’t send them the upload portal at this stage. If they are ok with everything, say thank you and then get it edited before moving on.

F) Once you’re happy with the content of the letter send them “the instructions email.” In this email YOU will instruct them on the process. Don’t send links to the instructions pages. You read those and translate them into your own words. Essentially the process is: that they will receive a link from the LSAC, they will need to verify their identity, they will create a username and password, and then they will be able to upload the letter. I like to emphasize that the LSAC portal is a little clunky, but thank them again for being so helpful.

G) Log onto the LSAC portal and send them the email. Check the box that says you do not wish to review the letter. You already did this, and not checking this box conveys your trust to your recommender. Also, if you choose to review the letter again- your recommender will need to log back in after your review and “complete” the submission. It’s all really unnecessary- if you don’t trust your recommender to not upload an altered document, pick another recommender.

H) You’ll receive confirmation once it’s uploaded. Make sure you receive it! When the time comes you will be able to attach these LOR’s to each application.

Again- time is your friend. The LOR process is the part of applying to Law School that is most out of your hands. The highest functioning individual who wrote me a letter sat on my letter for weeks and required several reminder emails before uploading. He then had an issue because of waiting so long and I had to call LSAC to straighten it out. Aim to have 4 letters (the max any school allows).

By the way- the LSAC is awesome! When you call them they are very helpful and you should never hesitate to call with a concise question.

1. TRANSCRIPTS

At some point during this process order your transcripts from Parchment, Student Clearing House, etc. and select LSAC as the receiving institution. This only takes a few days to process, but if your school has ceased to exist or something strange like that- it may take longer.

Afterwards print out or save your “Academic Summary Report.” This will have your LSAC calculated Cumulative GPA which will be different than your school’s cumulative GPA. This is due to complex weighting equations accounting for diverse metrics across schools- available on LSAC website if you are interested. You need to know this number so you can effectively choose schools. More on that in section 6.

1. VISITS & INTERVIEWS

I visited several school across the country. It was a great experience, and resulted in some schools I had thought I wanted to attend being crossed off my list. If you have the means, definitely visit schools. This is especially true for schools that are very close to your home of record. If you can’t even be bothered to drive an hour to visit your local law school, and you apply there, don’t expect the admissions committee to look upon your not visiting them fairly.

Schools track who visits. So, arrive well dressed, early, and ready for an interview. That’s what is happening, whether you recognize it or not.

1. CREATING A USEFUL LAW SCHOOL SPREADSHEET via EXCEL

I got this idea from an older lawyer/mentor.

First, why even have a spreadsheet? It will allow you to select the right schools to apply to. Later it will help you decide which school to accept admission to.

SELECTION PAGE

I chose an equal ratio of safe, target, and reach schools. If you are applying to 12 schools, choose 4 of each. A safe school is one that based on your LSAT and GPA you are certain to gain admission. A target school is a maybe, and a reach school is just that- a reach for you based on your LSAT and GPA. LSAT and GPA are the only factors that matter in this regard. Don’t think your softs will overcome these factors. Be realistic, even in your reach schools. But don’t be afraid to dream big also. If you will always regret not applying to School X, and you can afford to do so, do it!

The first page I built had when the applications opened for each school I was considering, so I could strategize applications. I had column with cost, acceptance rates, median LSAT & GPA score, the number of people from LSD with similar profiles who were admitted, and major industries/firms in the state. You can add any factors of value to you.

APPLICATION PAGE

After I decided where to apply, I copied and pasted those rows and all their data into a new sheet. I then amended this spreadsheet to allow me to further understand each schools unique list of pros and cons. This spreadsheet will grow with you as you go through the process, and it allows more customizability than the LSD or LSAC school lists do. You can add columns for interview dates, letters of continued interest, links to the schools websites, links to their tracker websites, and links to the school’s IRS 509 forms (this becomes super useful later). You can also add columns for various soft factors like the cost of living, housing, and proximity to family.

ACCEPTED

All this data can then be copied an pasted into rows on a new spreadsheet when you are extended an offer of admission. You can compare the schools very effectively now because you have so much data. If you are the kind of person who can’t sit still and you need something to do at night, channel your energy into this.

1. APPLYING

Now that you have your LSAT score, your LOR’s, your transcripts, your core statements, your school list and your spreadsheets- you are ready to apply. Applications open in batches. There are two main batches- the first on September 1st, the second on September 15th. There are some exceptions with some schools opening as early as August 1st, and others not until October 1st. You will want to have these dates in mind because applying early matters significantly.

PROCESS

You will add schools to your list in the LSAC portal. You will open each application (once it is available) and attach the max number of allowed LOR’s. You will then fill in the blank on a dozen or so pages. Lastly you will add the attachments designated in the instructions.

WHY X STATEMENTS

At this point you will encounter the “Why X” or supplemental statements. Because you have already perfected your core docs you can really focus on these. “Why X” is the broad term for each Law School’s individualized essays, because the standard prompt is “Write an essay on why our school is a good fit for you.” These essays are described as optional- they are not. Take time with them, however they don’t need to be perfect. If your other core documents are written correctly, you can respond in a relaxed almost reflexive way in these essays because your other documents have already evidenced that you are Walt Whitman reincarnated. If possible, have these essays edited before submission- professionally or by a friend.

Many of these Why X/Supplemental Essays can be found on Reddit and Discord, but be careful. They change from year to year. If you have good core documents, you don’t need to sweat these as much. But if you have a school you really want to attend, it will be worth your time to write one in advance and give yourself time to perfect it.

I wrote a William & Mary “Citizen Lawyer” essay before the application opened. Then when it opened, this option had changed. I was still able to use this as a core document to draft my William & Mary statement, and the time wasn’t lost, but I needed to heavily edit it in order to make it fit the new paradigm.

APPLICATION TIMING

I applied as soon as possible- within hours of opening for some schools. There is an advantage to applying early. As the admission cycle wears on, seats decrease. But even more importantly, admissions counselors become fatigued and desensitized to personal attributes. You will get more “personal points” if you are the first application a given counselor is reading than if you are their 100th. Applying early is particularly important for your reach schools. As of this writing, I have been accepted to four schools before most candidates have even applied (it is early October).

1. RELAX

You used your time wisely and now you will get in. You may need to do some interviews, or Northwestern’s virtual interview. Don’t stress these. Interviews are like the LSAT writing- they won’t get you in. They can only get you out. As long as you are professional, candid and reserved, you will perform well.

Every cycle is different. Trust that you’ve done everything you can. Try to rest and reward yourself. There will be more work soon enough.

CONCLUSION

My condensed wisdom is this; give yourself enough time for this process and don’t delay. Quality docs won’t appear within twenty drafts- you will need more. Focus on your core docs. Make each document tell a totally different story to create depth to your character. Use stories, don’t just tell. Never lose credibility. Choose schools practically. Most of all, don’t wait. If you find there is a shortcoming in your resume, or one of your docs is very difficult to create, you will need time (maybe months) to fix it.

I hope this has helped someone. It took me quite a while to write. I didn’t take this content from a book; it is my summarized experience. Never stop believing in yourself. If you have been called to this vocation, you will make it!