Question of the Week - May

May 28, 2008

Q: I struggled for the first few years of part-time college that I enrolled in. Since then I have re-dedicated myself to my education. Would an excellent upper division GPA help my chances for acceptance, when coupled with a good LSAT score?

A: Yes. Academic performance and potential are very important considerations when making admissions decisions. Along with your overall grade point average, the admissions committee will consider the rigor of your courses, the school(s) you attended, when you attended college, and your grade trend. An upward grade trend can help make up for a poor performance earlier in college. A strong LSAT will also help. If you your grades improve significantly and you show additional aptitude for law school through a good LSAT score, then you can make a strong case for your academic abilities despite having struggled earlier on. Your overall GPA will not go away, but a great finish to your college education and a high LSAT score will do the most to offset your earlier grades. Presenting as strong an application as possible in all other aspects (personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume) will also make a difference.

May 21, 2008

Q: Outside of a strong GPA and LSAT score, what does Lewis & Clark look for in its applicants?

A: While an ideal applicant will have a strong GPA and LSAT score, you are right in understanding that there are many other things that we look for in our applicants. We are trying to bring in an intelligent, interesting, and diverse class overall. Thus, we are not going to want all of our applicants to have the same experiences, backgrounds, or interests.

With that caveat, the most competitive applicant will also have strong writing, reasoning and analytical skills, be actively involved in organizations or pursuits that show a strong interest in learning and/or service, demonstrate a mature and ethical character, and have a well thought-out reason for going to law school. Some applicants will also bring a diverse perspective because of their socio-economic, cultural, ethnic or educational backgrounds, or because of their unique life experiences. Others will have exceptional work experience.

An applicant should make sure to demonstrate these things through the personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation, and supplemental statements (when applicable). It is important to note that these factors in and of themselves will not get someone into law school, but it is the combination of them that make one most competitive.

May 14, 2008

Q: I know that in order to practice law I will have to take the bar exam. What happens if I go to school in Oregon, but want to practice in another state?

A: You can go to school anywhere in the U.S. and still be eligible to take any state’s bar exam as long as you have attended an ABA-accredited law school. There are at least a couple of states where you can still take the bar exam even if you didn’t attend an ABA-accredited law school, but the vast majority of states have this as a requirement (including Oregon).

This means that you have the liberty to attend law school in a state other than the one in which you would like to practice. At Lewis & Clark Law School, a lot of students choose to take the bar exam in other states. Even some bar exam prep companies hold their classes for the Oregon, California, and Washington state exams at Lewis & Clark to make it more convenient for graduating students.

If you know you want to practice in another state, we recommend that you speak with the Registrar’s Office at your law school. Most will have a list of common subjects covered on each state’s bar. This way, you’ll know what courses you might want to take while in law school which could help you on the exam. Because bar exams cover common, substantive areas of the law, every law school should be offering courses that would be on any state bar exam. For example, almost all first year classes (Contracts, Civil Procedure, Torts, etc.) are areas that will possibly be tested on the bar exam. Not all courses you take in law school will be subjects tested on the bar exam though, and most students study for the bar by also signing up for bar prep courses. These are offered a few weeks before the bar exam itself. You may also want to check the website of the state bar association where you plan to practice to see if they have any additional information about their particular exam.

May 7, 2008

Q: Do you have a support program for students who struggle academically?

Yes. The Academic Enhancement Program (AEP) has essentially two main purposes. One is to enhance and support diversity; the other is to assist students who need additional academic support in law school. Admitted students who feel they might need extra guidance during law school can apply to participate in AEP in their first year and in AEP’s Summer Institute prior to starting law school. Current students who find themselves struggling with law school material, or who are on academic probation, also can use AEP for assistance. The director of AEP, JB Kim, helps students identify their academic needs, organizes skills building workshops and tutoring sessions, works with first year TA’s, and offers individual academic counseling.

We also strongly recommend that students speak with their professors if they do not understand the course material, or even if they have a couple of questions. Professors are generally very willing to discuss coursework with their students. Doing so earlier in the semester is best, so that there is time to give you the most help possible.

If there’s something else going on in your life that is affecting your grades, but is personal in nature, it’s a good thing to discuss that either with your professors and/or with our Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Martha Spence. It may be that something other than our academic program is more appropriate for you. In general, there are people here to help you as long as we know that you need it!