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Prelaw Advising at the University of Chicago

Appointments

Mondays: 11 am - 1 pm
Wednesdays: 11 am - 2:00 pm
Fridays: 12 pm - 3:30 pm

Please schedule appointments by calling CAPS at 773-702-7040. 

Debbie Chizewer
Career Advising & Planning Services
Ida Noyes Hall
1212 E. 59th Street, 3rd Floor
(ph)773-702-7040
email: dmchizewer@uchicago.edu

Note: No appointment is necessary to submit dean’s forms.

The First Appointment

Prior to your first appointment, please take two steps:

  1. Review the contents of this prelaw web site.
  2. Prepare an up-to-date resume.  Click for resume samples.

In addition, please consider the questions below before the first meeting. Questions 1 and 2 relate to motivation, while questions 3-5 relate to preparation.

  1. What factors have led you to consider law school?
  2. How do you envision using a law degree?
  3. Do you know any lawyers, and have you spoken with them about career opportunities?
  4. Do you have work, volunteer, or personal experience with lawyers or the law?
  5. Have you read books or news articles about the law, lawyers or law school?

Dean’s Certification Forms

Current Undergraduate Students and Alumni of the College

I batch process dean’s forms once or twice weekly. Since the information used to complete the form is drawn only from the undergraduate transcript, there is no need for an appointment, or to supply a resume or other supporting documentation. I do, however, appreciate a telephone number where I can contact you in case questions arise.

In most cases I am not personally familiar with the applicant and therefore select “not applicable” on the evaluative portions of the form. This does not place you at a disadvantage, since the purpose of this form is to confirm information already supplied (by you) regarding enrollment, academic probation or suspension. Where necessary the College policy that triggered the event is explained, but it is up to the applicant to accurately present the details. Applicants are advised to waive their right to see the completed dean's form.

Mail or hand-deliver dean’s forms to me, at the address below. This is a service provided by the College, therefore stamps and envelopes are not required.

Debbie Chizewer
Career Advising & Planning Services
Ida Noyes Hall
1212 E. 59th Street, 3rd Floor
(ph)773-702-7040
email: dmchizewer@uchicago.edu

Graduate/Professional School Students/Alumni

Graduate students and alumni should send a copy of the form to the Dean of Students of their division or school in, addition to the one sent to their undergraduate institution.

Note: This office does not record the arrival/departure of dean's forms. If you would like to know if we received your forms, either send them by a service that requires a signature or enclose a self-addressed stamped post-card, which we will return it to you. Once a dean's form leaves this office (within a week of its arrival), expect that it may take the law school two to four weeks to record its receipt. For this reason, it is best to submit dean's forms six weeks before you apply. If you are concerned about the status of your dean's form, check with the law school. If the form is lost, please re-submit it to this office with a brief note stating when the original was sent and that it has been lost. We will forward that note along with your form to the law school.

Email List Hosts

Sign up for the moderated prelaw email list host for breaking news, advice, and reminders about upcoming prelaw events. Current students from all class years and alumni are urged to join the list. New subscribers should scan the archives by subject to see what they have missed. Please note that this list host is open only to University of Chicago students and alumni. Prelawlist is a shared resource with the Habeus Corpus Society.

The Mock Trial team also manages an email list host.

Events and Workshops

 

Essays and Personal Statements

I enjoy working with law school applicants to write compelling personal statements that will help admission committees learn more about the applicant’s identity, passions and interests. Advice is perhaps best received in the early stages of the writing process. Because I receive so many essays (especially in the autumn), I ask that the following information be included with each submission.

The first two items help me to keep track of the many pieces of paper that accumulate when multiple persons email me their essays. Items three and four allow me to view an essay from the viewpoint of a hypothetical committee member at a single institution. It is also good form to begin the writing process with a single question. Email essays to me at: dmchizewer@uchicago.edu. Note that turn-around time varies from 5-10 days, depending on the time of year.