Use Winter Break to Get a Head Start on Law School Applications

Crafting the perfect law school application takes time and patience. As many prospective applicants enter winter break, now is the perfect time to get a head start on your law school applications.

Gabriel Kuris, founder of Top Law Coach and contributor at US News, recently offered a few tips on how applicants should best spend their winter break to get a head start on perfecting their applications.

GO THROUGH YOUR CHECKLIST

There are a number of documents and materials that take time to process in law school admissions—from transcripts to letters of recommendation. Kuris recommends taking time this winter to polish off your application checklist and ensure each and every document is accounted for.

“Make sure you have requested your transcripts from every higher education institution you have attended to be submitted through the Law School Admission Council’s centralized Credential Assembly Service,” Kuris says. “They can take a few weeks to process, and it would be a shame if they delayed your application. Likewise, check in with any delinquent recommenders. Professors and even many work supervisors generally have more time and availability around the holidays.”

Experts say giving your recommenders ample time to prepare your letters is ideal.

“Remember, the easier you make this process for your recommenders, the better their letters will be,” according to Shemmassian Academic Consulting. “We encourage you to reach out at least two months in advance, providing all the information they need, and checking in at polite intervals. Ideally, at least one of your recommenders should be someone who’s offered you career advice and observed your growth.”

CONSIDER ADDING SAFETY SCHOOLS

If you’ve already submitted law school applications, experts recommend considering adding a safety school or two if you can. But it’s also important to remain patient when awaiting decisions from law schools you’ve already applied to.

“Resist the urge to check in with law schools while awaiting your decision,” Kuris says. “If your applications are marked as submitted in your CAS profile, then they will be reviewed. Be patient; it may take several months to receive all your results.”

Sources: US News, Shemmassian Academic Consulting