How to Think About Law School

Michael R. Dillon, PhD, JD, is Chair and Professor of Political Science as well as Coordinator of the Pre-Law Program at La Salle University in Philadelphia. He previously practiced law for twenty-two years in the Litigation Section of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, one of the largest law firms in the United States.

Preface---About this Handbook

1. Pre-Law Undergraduates - Majors, Majors Everywhere
1.1. Follow Your Passion I
1.2. No One Right or Wrong Choice of Majors
1.3. Dual Majors Are Not Necessarily Better
1.4. Follow Your Passion II
1.5. Save Your Successes
1.6. It’s OK to Decide “No”

2. Your Mission Freshman and Sophomore Years
2.1. GPA Foundations
2.2. A Myriad of Options
2.3. It’s Not on TV
2.4. Ask, Interview, Shadow and Visit
2.5. Pre-Law Programs and Advisors
2.6. Disciplinary Disclosures
2.7. Question 1 – How much will it cost and how do I pay for it?
2.8. Question 2 – Why such high levels of lawyer dissatisfaction?

3. The Time Table Junior Year
3.1. Counting Backward
3.2. The Friday Before Thanksgiving
3.3. Test Prep, Test Prep and More Test Prep
3.4. Timing of the LSAT
3.5. LSAC Accounts
3.6. Letters of Recommendation
3.7. Resumes
3.8. Personal Statements
3.0. Waiting for a Year or Two

4. The LSAT Examination
4.1. Prep Courses – Do I Need One
4.2. Test Day – It’s Not as Short as You Think
4.3. The Nature of the Questions
4.4. How Much Preparation is Enough?
4.5. But, Can’t I Take it Again?
4.6. What to Know About The Scores
4.7. The Night After the Test

5. Choosing a Law School – “Know Thyself
5.1. What Not To Do
5.2. Areas of Emphasis
5.3. Law School Rankings
5.4. Web-sites to Know
5.5. All the Same But Different
5.6. Careers Can Change

6. How Do I Pay for It?
6.1. Don’t Count on Scholarships
6.2. Tuition, Books, Living Expenses Equal?
6.3. Like Buying Your First House
6.4. Interest Rates on Loans
6.5. Your Debt Limits How and Where You Can Practice

7. Application Process
7.1. LSAC Account
7.2. LSAT Score
7.3. Undergraduate Transcript(s)
7.4. Personal Statement
7.5. Letters of Recommendation
7.6. Resumes
7.7. Early Decision
7.8. Addendum Do’s and Don’ts
7.9. Disclosures Advertent and Inadvertent
7.10.How Many Applications?
7.11.First, Second, Third Tiers
7.12.Forget Rankings Most of the Time
7.13.The “Wait” List

8. Acceptance – The Holy Grail
8.1. I Can Breathe Now
8.2. Visiting Schools - Stay the Day
8.3. What Is My Long Term Goal?
8.4. Where Can I Flourish?
8.5. The Summer Before Law School
8.6. Proposal for a Legal Reading Plan
8.7. Proposal for a Non-Legal Reading Plan

9. The First Year – There Are No Second Chances
9.1. Transition and Success – Starting Fast
9.2. Curriculum and Briefing
9.3. The Reading Load
9.4. Socratic Method
9.5. Study Groups or Not
9.6. “Thinking Like a Lawyer”
9.7. Outlines – Do Your Own
9.8. Examinations
9.9. Law Review
9.10.Second Year Interviews
9.11.Clerkships
9.12.Summer After First Year

10. The Second Year
10.1. The Curriculum
10.2. Law Review
10.3. Interviewing for Summer Associates
10.4. Clinical Programs
10.5. Moot Court and Mock Trial
10.6. Elective Courses - Winnowing Down Your Options
10.7. Competitive, Confident and Cordial
10.8. Summer After Second Year - Summer Partners

11. The Third Year
11.1. Waste of Time? The Unnecessary Year?
11.2. Electives - Has Your Passion Changed?
11.3. Still Building Resumes
11.4. Networking and Faculty Support
11.5. Employment within 150 Mile Radius
11.6. Remember: Your Debt May Limit Your Job Prospects
11.7. Summer After Third Year - You Are Not Bar Exam Ready
11.8. Your Are Also Not Practice Ready

12. Lessons To Carry With You
12.1. Learning Every Day
12.2. Continue to Pursue Your Passion
12.3. Thinking Problems Through and Tracking the Details
12.4. Respect, Civility and People
12.5. A Profession, Not Merely a Job
12.6. Doing “Good” while Doing Well
12.7. Stress, Success, Failure and Family

Appendices
A. A Four Year Undergraduate Check List
B. Letter of Recommendation Form for Faculty
C. A Successful Law School Application Strategy
D. Additional Readings and Resources

Afterword