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Intellectual Preparation for Law School (research and reflection)

Campus Events and Workshops

See the GPS-Law events calendar, or sign up for the prelaw email list host

Eleven Sources of Qualitative Data

  1. ABA-approved law school web sites
  2. Law School view books & catalogs (order by May or get them at a recruitment forum)
  3. ABA/LSAC Guide to Law Schools
  4. Current law students (ask the admissions office for names of U of C alumni)
  5. Local law schools, and schools to which you are certain to apply. Attend classes, tours, and open houses, and ask questions
  6. On campus prelaw events
  7. Taking the Next Step
  8. The prelaw email list host
  9. Findlaw.com
  10. American Bar Association
  11. Read the Prelaw Insider

Four Sources of Quantitative Data

  1. NALP
  2. ABA/LSAC Guide to Law Schools
  3. Boston College Law School Locator
  4. University of Chicago applicant data (available in print form by appointment only)

Visiting Law Schools

The benefits of visiting a law school cannot be overstated, because being on campus makes such a strong impression. Campus visits are a time to inspect facilities, sit in on classes, and most importantly, to speak to current students about their level of contentment, job placement prospects, etc. It is best to visit law schools before one applies rather than after (although this is not always possible), and to visit a variety of schools. Students at the University of Chicago are fortunate to have six law schools located within 30 minutes of the campus. You are encouraged to visit each one because with more visits it becomes easier to determine which qualities are sought (see the Five Steps handout) in a law school. Here are some suggestions of questions to ask.

Financial Considerations

Applicants to law school should prepare to incur significant debt over the course of three years of study. Because federal and state grants are limited, the majority of law students must borrow to finance their studies. A ballpark average is $60,000 to $100,000 over three years of study. For this reason it is important to have a good financial credit record before commencing the application process.

Law schools also offer scholarships to the most desirable candidates; such scholarships may be awarded solely on merit or on financial need, or awarded on a combination of merit and need. This information is available on every school’s web page, plus you can direct questions about finances to current students and recruiters.

At least one prelaw program on financing law school is held annually.

Relevant Finance-Related Web Sites

Financing Your Legal Education

Funding Sources

Three Law Schools On Money

Credit Bureaus and Consumer Rights