Every cycle, law school applicants attempt to gauge their chances of acceptance at various institutions nationwide. While law school admissions are not an exact science, applicants can increase their competitiveness by presenting a cohesive and timely application highlighting the skills and attributes necessary to thrive in a law school setting.
LSAT and GPA Are Important, but Not Everything
Standardized test scores and undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) comprise one piece of the evaluation process. The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) assesses critical reasoning, reading comprehension, and persuasive writing — skills law school requires and regularly tests.
According to the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), over time, “[s]tudies have consistently shown the LSAT to be the single best predictor of first-year law school performance, even better than undergraduate grade-point average.” Admissions Committees often use standardized test scores, such as the LSAT, to assess an applicant’s readiness for the demands of law school, particularly the demands students encounter during their first year.
In conjunction with standardized test scores, an applicant’s GPA provides insight into their academic performance over a multiple-year period and whether an applicant possesses the academic stamina and discipline to succeed in a rigorous three-year program.
While LSAT and UGPA serve as important tools for evaluating applicants, they are never the sole determinant of an admissions decision. Instead, an applicant’s academic credentials comprise one component of a holistic review of each application.
Understanding What Your Numbers Mean
Medians serve as a helpful guide in determining where academic credentials fall in relation to that law school’s applicant pool. According to CueMath, “[m]edian represents the middle value for any group. It is the point at which half the data is more, and half the data is less.”
Looking at numbers in a vacuum, applicants who are at or above the median in both LSAT and UGPA place themselves in the strongest position for admission. However, law school admissions do not operate in a vacuum. There are a host of considerations discussed below that impact whether an applicant, regardless of their academic credentials, is admitted.
At Miami Law, for the entering JD Class of 2024, the median LSAT score was 163, and the median UGPA was 3.76. This means half of the entering class scored above 163, and the other half of the incoming class scored below 163. The same holds true for UGPA.
Key Components of an Application Beyond LSAT and UGPA
Admissions Committees almost always consider an applicant’s professional background, public service engagement, leadership skills, strength of character, and extracurricular activities.
For example, at Miami Law, we seek applicants with a broad range of experiences and perspectives. As an institution, we are committed to providing an inclusive and enriching academic environment that reflects the diversity of our community.
Timing for Law Admissions
Timing is one of the most critical factors in the success of any application, and the point in the cycle at which an applicant submits their application is of paramount importance. In general, as the cycle progresses, there are fewer seats in the class and less scholarship funding available.
If applying early during the current cycle is not feasible, consider strengthening an application and applying early the following cycle. Taking one or multiple years between the completion of undergraduate studies and law school does not reflect negatively on law school applications.
At Miami Law, we strongly recommend applying early, before the priority deadline, particularly for applicants with an LSAT and/or UGPA below our median and those interested in scholarship. In terms of timing, 49% of first-year students at Miami Law took a year or more between completing their undergraduate degree and matriculating to law school.
Components of a Strong Law School Personal Statement
The law school personal statement occupies a central role in the review process. The writing should be engaging and reflect the maturity and judgment necessary to succeed in law school. The personal statement is an applicant’s opportunity to showcase their writing skills and attention to detail by submitting a well-edited, error-free document.
Writing in law school is intensive, so applicants must demonstrate they are prepared for the challenges that will arise in their first-year legal writing class by showcasing strong writing ability.
At Miami Law, we are looking for clear, concise writing that effectively conveys an applicant’s motivation for attending law school and earning a law degree.
What Constitutes a Solid Resume
As with all written components of the application, an applicant’s resume should be free of errors, logically organized, and well-formatted. However, a resume should not list or detail experiences from high school.
For those who are current undergraduate students or recent graduates, resumes should be one page in length. For individuals who have been working professionals for several years, resumes should occupy no more than two pages.
Applicants who feel their resume is less robust may want to consider gaining at least a year of work experience before applying to law school.
Letters of Recommendation for Law School
Applicants should be strategic in selecting recommenders. The recommender must know an applicant well enough to speak positively and substantively about their qualifications.
For current undergraduate students, two of those recommendation letters should come from professors who can speak to academic records. For those more removed from their undergraduate studies, recommendation letters should come from a supervisor who can speak to professional accomplishments.
Applicants should avoid personal letters of recommendation (those from family, friends, and individuals who have not directly evaluated their work) as they carry far less weight than academic and professional letters. At Miami Law, we accept between two and four letters of recommendation.
Supplemental Questions
Supplemental questions are a great way to further demonstrate interest in a law school. At Miami Law, we have four supplemental essay questions covering the following topics: Advocacy and Public Service, Significant Writing, Overcoming Obstacles, and Miami Law Interest.
Answering one or all these questions is an excellent opportunity to highlight personal aspects or experiences that may not be reflected elsewhere in the application. As with the personal statement, showcasing strong writing skills is imperative.
Learn More and Apply
If you are interested in learning more about Miami Law, you can visit our website. Our Fast Facts gives you an overview of the entering JD Class of 2024, and the 18 areas of study page provides insight into the breadth of the curriculum.
Learn how the Office of Career and Professional Development and 23,000+ alumni network supports you during law school and beyond. We also encourage you to view the prospective student webinar library, which provides videos on topics such as personal statements, law student life, financial aid, and much more. When you are ready to apply, review the application overview and first-year JD application instructions.
Sources
https://www.cuemath.com/data/median/
