Question of the Week - April

April 30, 2008

I have recently decided definitively to attend law school, and would like to do so as soon as possible! I researched the next available date to take the LSAT as being June 16th, 2008. If I take the June LSAT, can I still apply to attend for Fall 2008?

While there have been circumstances where we are able to offer admission for the coming fall for someone applying after the June LSAT for that year, it is very rare that our class has not yet been filled that late in the summer. We generally encourage folks to consider the June and October LSATs when applying for the following fall (2009 in this instance) to put oneself in the most competitive position for admission and more importantly, possible scholarship awards! If folks apply as late as June for this fall, it is very unlikely there would be any scholarship money available to offer, even in the few instances there is availability in the class.

April 24, 2008

Q: Do you recommend taking time off from undergraduate school before going to law school?

A: If you’re a “traditional” undergraduate student who went to college straight from high school, then taking a break may be something you want to consider. If you are feeling burned out from studying, if you have grand thoughts of traveling or volunteer service, or if you’re not really sure what career you want, then taking time off is a good idea.

Something else to keep in mind is that while it is fairly easy to take a break after undergraduate school, it is not as easy to do so after law school. Most law students pursue a job right out of law school, so you will have to explain to some employers why you weren’t working using your law degree for a year or two out of school. The legal field can be competitive and the best time to get a legal job is soon after you graduate and take the bar exam. Thus, it will be much harder for you to “take time off” after law school.

Also, taking time off may give you time to mature and to make sure that law school is something you really want to pursue. Law school is very challenging and can be expensive. It is not an endeavor to take on if you are feeling ambivalent about it.

However, if you are really excited about law school, can’t wait to get started, and are confident that law school is something you want to do, then starting right out of college may indeed be the right thing for you.

April 16, 2008

Q: I am a sophomore in college. What should I major in if I want to go to law school?

A: There is no academic curriculum that is required in order to apply for or attend law school, other than completing the bachelor’s degree. While the most popular majors of law school applicants tends to be in political science, history, philosophy, psychology, and English, our students have majored in everything you can think of including math, music, geology, computer science, art and foreign languages.

The best advice we can give is to major in whatever most interests you, because if you’re interested in the subject matter, it is more likely that you will do well in school. That said, the rigor of your program is going to be a factor in the consideration of your application and how well you might do at the law school where you apply. For example, if you are majoring in engineering or a hard science, we realize those areas can be quite difficult and the admissions committee will take that into account. Regardless of what you choose to major in, we suggest that you take some classes that are academically challenging as law school will present many such courses. You should also take some classes that develop skills in writing, reading, critical thinking, and research. Examples of such classes can be found in the areas of philosophy, history, political science, classics, and some of the sciences and liberal arts.

April 9, 2008

Q: When is the deadline to apply if I want to transfer to Lewis & Clark Law School?

A: The deadline for transfer and visiting students is July 15th. That said, we recommend that you do not wait until the deadline if at all possible. You will also need to you’re your transcripts from your law school and undergraduate school where you received your bachelor’s degree. This can take some time. The earlier you submit all required materials, the sooner we can get a decision to you and the more time you’ll have to move to Portland (if necessary) and get adjusted. Transfer & visiting application requirements and info can be found here: http://www.lclark. edu/dept/lawadmss/ transfer_visit.html.

April 2, 2008

Q: I am an admitted student and do want to request a deferral to next year. What is the process for requesting one?

A: Requests for deferral must be submitted in writing (email or letter) to the Admissions Office with a full explanation as to the reasons for wanting to defer. Deferrals are not granted automatically, but are considered on a case-by-case basis at the time of the request. If approved, deferrals are granted for one year (potentially two if going into the Peace Corps). We recommend that you do not submit your request until you know for sure that you would like to defer, because if approved, you will immediately be removed from the current entering class and placed in the next year’s entering class. In order to save your place in the class for the next year, you will still need to submit a full deposit of $600, but not until September 15th.