Tag: law school

3 Tips to Help Prepare for Your Law School Interview

Preparing for a law school interview can be a daunting and overwhelming endeavor. Interviews, in general, can cause many people anxiety. When an interview can alter an individual’s career path and impact their future; however, it takes on a heightened significance.

One important aspect all candidates should understand from the outset is that the interviewing process is not cut and dry. Instead, most prospective students should expect a nuanced and detail-oriented approach geared towards getting to know each applicant better. That being said, here are some tips on how to rock a law school interview.

Find Out How the Interview Will Be Structured

Another consideration to ponder is that not all law schools conduct interviews. Of the institutions that do, the approaches may vary significantly. Some schools offer individual, one-on-one sessions while others prefer group interviews. Others may encourage in-person interviews, or they could send detailed questionnaires to gather more intel on potential candidates. Meanwhile, some institutions allow prospective students to request an interview, whereas others are strictly by invitation-only.

Many law schools are moving towards an online interview approach via Skype, Google Hangouts, WebEx, or other similar web conferencing tools. This shift has made the process much more streamlined, time-efficient, and cost-effective.

Avoid Repeating Known Information

This is one of the most common interview mistakes made by aspiring applicants. They have a tendency to repeat their resume or details already clearly outlined in their application. To avoid this misstep, prospective students should focus on mentioning any new accomplishments or information that was not included in their application packet.

Some examples worth noting might include awards, internships, research projects, published articles, leadership roles, or recent volunteer opportunities. By providing such tidbits, the admissions staff can form a more complete picture of the candidate and determine whether they will be a good fit for the school.

Be Prepared and Natural

Candidates should be prepared and do their research on any law schools they are considering. While the specifics should be reviewed before applying, it is crucial to do so if an interview is scheduled. Applicants should speak naturally, stay relaxed, and at ease. Moreover, they should feel the institution is a good match for their abilities and interests. Furthermore, they should be able to envision themselves as students there and feel it will be a positive and nurturing environment that is conducive to learning.

Also, try to connect with the interviewer. This tip will not only help a candidate’s chances of an offer, but it allows the person to view the applicant as a potential asset to the school.

By following the suggestions outlined above, a prospective student can rock a law school interview and bolster their chances of securing an offer.

3 Things to Consider Including in Your Law School Personal Statement

Among the rites of passage involved in becoming an attorney, writing a stellar law school application is often a difficult first step in what can ultimately be a rewarding career. Writing law school application materials such as personal statements can be a confusing process, so don’t give yourself a hard time if you’re not sure what to do at first. Here are just a few concepts to include in your law school personal statement, and why doing so can really make your application stand out from the crowd.

Why You Want to be a Lawyer

While most applicants to law school say that they are pursuing a career as a lawyer in order to help people,the truth is that admissions committees will have heard some variation of this line a million times before.

It’s great to want to help people, of course, but showing law schools how you’ve explored areas of the law related to helping people can make your application truly stand out. Have you volunteered with a public interest law firm? Have you worked at a soup kitchen in order to help the homeless? Explaining how you’ve developed a desire to become an attorney that helps the public can show admissions committees that you’re genuinely committed to social change.

Why You’ve Chosen to Apply to a Specific Law School

As you might imagine, people choose the law schools they apply to for a wide variety of reasons. A law school may be close to where they currently live; they may want to study with a particular faculty member; they might be interested in an area of legal practice that the school specializes in. However, many law school applicants make the mistake of sending the exact same personal statement to all of their law school picks. If your statement is excessively vague, for example, admissions committees may feel that you don’t really care about getting into their school.

Describe Your Career Goals

If you truly want to be an attorney, show admissions committees that this is a career that you’re committed to. A career as a lawyer is not easy, and many attorneys burn out after only a few years of working. Indeed, having a strong sense of purpose can often mean the difference between a dissatisfying legal career and one that brings happiness into your life. If you show admissions committees why you’re in this for the long haul, they’ll be much more likely to give you a shot!

For these reasons, showing admissions committees that you’ve made an informed and thoughtful decision to become a lawyer can really set your law school application apart from the competition. Filling out law school applications isn’t easy, but putting in the time and effort to wow schools with your effort can really pay off. And that is a great start to a legal career!