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Getting rejected from law school is not ideal for any applicant.
Rejection does, however, happen. What applicants need to keep in mind is what they plan to do if they didn’t get into law school.
Christine Carr, a consultant at Accepted and former associate director of admissions at Boston University School of Law, recently offered a few tips for rejection strategy.
LOOK FOR WEAK POINTS
It’s important, Carr says, to evaluate your application—from your LSAT score to list of schools—and see which areas need improvement or adjustment.
“Think about yourself as an applicant and what you should focus on and improve during the upcoming months,” Carr writes. “Think about your list of schools and whether you may need help making appropriate school choice decisions.”
The good thing is, when it comes to improving your application, you won’t have to recreate it from scratch. One area that experts recommend redoing is your personal statement, if need be.
“There is also no formal requirement to submit new essays as part of your application – but it is advisable to do so,” Daniel Waldman, a contributor at US News, writes. “Reusing the older material could reek of laziness, and could cost you. Instead, redraft the personal statement, perhaps even using it to address the reasons you are reapplying.”
GET WORK EXPERIENCE
Another area that could benefit you when it comes time to reapplying is gaining legal work experience. Bolstering your resume with work experience not only helps your chances for acceptance the second time around, but can also offer insight into your career goals.
“I recommend that you work for a law firm in an area of law that interests you so that you can get an idea of how the law works and determine if a legal career is for you,” Carr writes. “If that isn’t an option, consider another business-related job or intern at a district attorney’s office or judge’s chambers. The goal: get relevant legal experience. It will demonstrate your interest both to law schools and potentially to future employers.”
BUILD YOUR NETWORK
Carr recommends that applicants to make themselves known by networking with current students at law schools that you’re interested in attending.
“Ask current students questions about their experience,” Carr writes. “It can be valuable to have an idea of the student profile for your target law schools and make a personal connection in an, at times, impersonal process.”
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