Law School, Hunger Strikes, and Transparency

The blogging world has been abuzz over the "Unemployed JD" scandal that broke out this week. In case you missed it, a blogger named Ethan Haines who runs a blog dedicated to crusading for better transparency on the part of law school when it comes to employment data, actually turned out to be Denver-based Zenovia Evans, an employed 28-year-old graduate of Cooley Law School in Michigan.

While everyone is more hung up on on the fact that Evans tried to rally people around a cause in a disingenuous way, we think that the assumptions behind her demands are somewhat misguided. When Evans (posing as Ethan Haines, an unemployed JD) contacted 10 law schools and told them about "his" crusade, he asked them to commit to new standards of transparency on their job placement statistics and to agree to letting Haines audit their career counseling programs.

Those standards came from another group, calling itself Law School Transparency, which maintains that by misrepresenting or under-reporting their job placement stats, law school essentially dupe students into enrolling under the false impression they will inevitably land lucrative jobs.

Even if Haines/Evans/whatever-we're-calling-her-now got her way, we're not sure that it would make much of a difference. We don't want to give it all away yet, but in a recent survey of law school applicants that Veritas Prep conducted in partnership with Law School Podcaster and PreLaw Magazine, an overwhelming percentage (81%) of respondents said that they would still apply to law school now even if a significant number of law school graduates were unable to find jobs in their desired fields! Further, only 4% said they would not apply to law school at all if they knew job prospects that bad. (We will share the full results of the survey shortly!)

While we certainly will join the crusade against any school that deliberately misleads people and tricks them into applying (*cough*... for-profit online schools, we're looking your way...), even if schools replaced their glossy web sites with black & white photos of somber, jobless grads, we actually think that many would-be applicants would still apply to law school.

Why? We answer that question with another one: Why not? The reality is that, for many young people, law school (and business school, to some extent) has become an inevitable weight station on the road to real life. Is the economy in shambles? Great! Even more reason to hide out in grad school for two or three years. While the obvious downside is that many of those students will graduate with a nearly insurmountable amount of debt, most of them don't see it that way. Either Mom and Dad will pick up the tab, or the applicant assumes that the economy will inevitably be better in a couple of years, or they would just not rather think about it today. (Or, even better, maybe Uncle Sam will bail us all out one day! That would be a hoot.)

Don't get us wrong... Transparency is always a good thing. We're glad that publications such as U.S. News have recently taken a stand against law schools gaming the rankings by deliberately withholding their employment data. But, for better or worse, we predict young people will keep applying to law school in droves.

For more information on law school admissions, visit our law school admissions site or call us at (800) 925-7737 to speak with an admissions expert. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Photo courtesy of LollyKnit, under a Creative Commons license. And no, that's not a picture of Zenovia Evans.

Read More >>

Kagan to the Court: Examining the Downside

If you are an individual who remains connected to the news cycle (in whatever form that is now consumed), you know by now that Elena Kagan has been nominated for the open seat (formerly held by Justice Stevens) on the Supreme Court by President Obama and that her confirmation hearings before the Senate are set to begin on June 28. The process of putting a judge on the greatest bench in all the land is arduous and draining (check out Season One of The West Wing for a terrific inside look into the vetting process and tireless work required by White House senior staffers) and prone to surprises, but most believe that Kagan will ultimately be confirmed and take her place on the Court (described in terrific detail in this New York Magazine article). And as someone who has followed her career fairly closely, I believe she will make a great Supreme Court Justice and serve our country well in deciding the laws of the land.

That said, I can't help but dwell on one nagging detail: what if Kagan's value as a Justice is less than her value as an academic administrator?

Before moving forward, let me just state for the record that Elena Kagan should be able to pursue whatever career path she wishes and that no one can blame her for accepting what is arguably the most prestigious appointed position in the world (certainly in the judiciary). However, as someone who works with graduate school applicants for a living - and sees the exponential value of one great faculty member or one great administrator - I am troubled by the loss of one of the finest academic deans of my lifetime.

Understand also that this entire line of thought was relevant back in January of last year, when President Obama appointed Kagan to the position of Solicitor General - this was Kagan's first foray back into government (between stints as a law school professor at the University of Chicago Law School and Harvard Law School, she served as Associate White House Counsel and policy adviser under President Clinton). Technically, the "we've lost Kagan from the academic ranks" hand-wringing could have been conducted back then. However, there's a big difference between an administrative appointment and a Supreme Court appointment and those with even a passing knowledge of the Court know what that is: the latter is a lifetime appointment. Let's be honest here, if/when Kagan flies through the confirmation process, this absolutely will be the last job she ever accepts.

For the lifelong member of the judiciary, this makes sense. We are elevating a skilled judge to the highest position in the land, which both serves as a culmination of that person's career, but also undoubtedly the best social use of that individual's abilities (we'll save the whole "the most valuable judicial work is done in the lower courts" argument for another time and place). But someone like Kagan presents a different riddle. She is likely to be a terrific judge (again, my opinion, but obviously one shared by President Obama). But we already know that she's a fantastic dean. We joined the party in heaping praise on her work at Harvard Law back in October of 2008, but it bears repeating that she seemingly single-handedly transformed Harvard from a grim, sterile "lawyer mill" into one of the most student-friendly, progressive, and vibrant law schools in the country. When I applied to law schools in 2002, I never even considered going to Harvard - it was viewed by many top applicants of the time as a great brand, but an awful experience. When I graduated from Chicago five years later (and four years after Kagan was named dean of the law school), HLS was already back on top, with a bullet.

Harvard Law didn't reinvent itself overnight, but Kagan's aggressive, insightful leadership made it seem that way. She pushed for new facilities, focused on improving the student experience, and created consensus among a famous and massive faculty that was previously known more for individual scholarship than cohesive teaching. And lest we think Kagan's administrative skills were limited to day-to-day operations, she also exceeded expectations on the fundraising front - a "Setting the Standard" campaign (which she inherited) aimed for $400 million and finished in 2008 at $476 million. She also added powerhouse names to the faculty by going out and luring profs from Chicago and Stanford (folks like Cass Sunstein and Lawrence Lessig, who were thought to be untouchable) and even nabbing conservative powerhouses like Jack Goldsmith (Bush administration) to provide more balance. On top of all that, she showed a willingness to take important stances on social issues, famously restricting military recruiters from coming to campus due to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy (perceived as being discriminatory against gays and lesbians).

In summary, we are looking at an individual who stepped into arguably the highest profile dean position in academia and crushed the assignment. She raised money, she improved the quality of the faculty on every front, radically transformed the student experience, and even stood tall on policy issues. To say that accomplishing all that requires unique skill and a deft touch is a massive understatement. You could do so far as to say that no other dean could have done it.

If that last statement is true - or even partially true - we have to assess the loss to the academic community that Kagan's Supreme Court nom represents. To me, it seems like a big one. She would have had her pick of academic jobs, where she could have made a massive difference in the lives of thousands - even hundreds of thousands - of students. And that, to me, is the downside to Elena Kagan heading off to the Supreme Court.


For more information on law school admissions or for help incorporating career goals into the application, visit our law school admissions site or call our offices at 1.800.925.7737!

Read More >>

Three Hints for Maximizing Campus Visits

Last week, we talked about using the month of May to jump start your fall applications to MBA programs, and one of the best ways to do that is to take advantage of the opportunity to visit campuses while school is still in session. Waiting to tour a business school (or any grad school) during the summer months is almost a complete waste of time, because there are no classes in session and all you are seeing is a bunch of empty buildings.

That leaves either the end of the school year (now), or the fall. And the problem with waiting until the fall is that you run the risk of missing out altogether, as many schools have round one deadlines that occur before campus visitations fully open back up (for example, Stanford GSB's round one deadline last year was October 7, while most opportunities to engage with students and faculty kicked off in mid-October), or your are simply too busy cranking on your applications to find the time.

All of which makes May a critical month for visiting campus. With that in mind, here are three suggestions for maximizing your campus visit:

1. Be the buyer, not the seller.
Too many people think of a campus visit as a chance to show off and impress the school. This is a poor use of your energy, for a couple of reasons. First, a campus visit is all about acquiring information - info that will help you choose your list of schools, info that will help you ultimately pick which school you will attend, and info that will help you gain admission in the first place. You are on an investigative mission, not an audition. Second, MBA programs simply will not know whether you were amazing or an abomination. Not to diminish the people who work in admissions (hey, I was one of them), but there is no way that a business school has the resources to closely monitor and record the actions of a random visitor who comes to campus four months before the next application deadline.

Right now, admissions officers are finalizing enrollment for the incoming class of 2010, they are planning upcoming recruiting trips, and taking vacations to recover from another busy year. To think they are filing away notes about you is crazy. Knowing this, free yourself from the burdens and pressures of "performing." Don't do something stupid that gets you kicked off campus or turns you into a cautionary tale, but at the same time, don't worry about winning over the student or professor standing in front of you. Ask them real questions. Get some dirt. Engage in the world around you.

A big advantage to visiting campus in late spring is that everyone lets their hair down. So let yours down as well and really come away from the trip with an understanding of that program's DNA. If you visit a campus in May and come away feeling like it was an artificial experience, it either means that your approach was wrong or the school is as fake as a million-dollar bill.

2. Work on your sales pitch.
In last week's blog, we talked about honing your sales pitch and there is no better place to trot it out than at an actual business school. If your reasons for pursuing an MBA seem odd, if your timing is all wrong, if your career goals are overly ambitious, there is no better way to find that out than by talking to a current MBA student who is dealing with a live marketplace.

You want to come out of a campus visit feeling like your personal pitch - your reasons for applying, your goals, your passions - has either been validated or improved. If you find yourself confused after visiting campus, it might be time to seek consultation with an expert.

3. Start composing your application.
We don't mean literally, of course, but you should absolutely check out last year's essay questions and do some thinking about what the MBA program in question really cares about. Knowing that Wharton has an ongoing focus on student community and globalism helps you when you go to the Penn campus. Now you can ask questions, visit classes, take tours, and explore programs with those key themes in mind. You will leave your visit with a better idea of how you fit with that school and also with some specific conversations and interests that you will want to mention in your essays.

Context is everything when applying to grad school, and being able to place yourself and your life/career arc into the context of what makes a school tick is critical in writing impactful essays and properly expressing program fit. Your very best chance to marry "you" the candidate with the MBA program in question is when you are physically there. So while you are researching as a consumer, don't forget that you are also an applicant who has to connect all the dots. Give yourself the opportunity to collect data, make connections, and lock in a fit with the place while you are there visiting.

These are three simple suggestions, but they will make a big difference on your campus visit. If you stay relaxed about your own need to "perform," it will allow you to stress test your goals and start building a powerful application story, even as you are checking things off your own wish list.

To start planning your own business school candidacy, give us a call at (800) 925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today. And, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

Read More >>

How Much Does the Prestige of Your Grad School Matter?

We make a living helping applicants get into the world's most competitive business schools, law schools, and medical schools. So, it's fair to say that applicants' desire to get into the world's top graduate schools is what puts food on our plates at night. (And those plates carry all sorts of food; the Veritas Prep team includes devout vegans, die-hard carnivores, and everyone in between.) But today we're going to offer what may seem like a slightly contrary stance, one that some applicants need to hear this week after getting getting rejected or waitlisted by a top grad school: Your whole career and life are NOT determined by what grad school you attend!

Whoa, did I just write that? I can see the traffic to veritasprep.com dropping as I finish this very sentence. Fans are deserting our Facebook page by the dozen. Our Twitter feed has become a veritable social media ghost town. I think I just saw an ASCII-rendered tumbleweed roll by. But it needs to be said: A top-tier MBA, JD, or MD can significantly improve your career prospects, but how successful you will be in life still depends on YOU, more than anything.

Where's all this coming from? It was prompted by a question from a very thoughtful applicant. he has a very specific, realistic goal for what he wants to do after business school, and he's currently making plans to help achieve that goal (including applying to business school this coming year). He wants to go into investment banking, and is carefully considering what schools will give him a realistic shot at landing at a blue-chip firm such as Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley. He basically had two questions: "How hard will it be to get a blue-chip banking job at a 'top-twenty-ish' MBA program, and will a not-so-prestigious MBA hurt me my career prospects after my first post-MBA job?"

The first question is actually one that some applicants don't ask enough. Sadly, every year some students enter business school or law school assuming that there will be plenty of job opportunities with a certain firm or within a specific industry, only to find out that recruiters from that company/industry don't recruit much from their school. So, it's good that he asked. In his case, he's considering a very good lower-ranked school that actually does send some grads to Wall Street every year.

The difference between that school and a top-ten school is usually more in the number of jobs that those firms hand out on campus. For instance, Goldman Sachs may make dozens of offers at HBS, but more like half a dozen at this particular school (which happens to be a much smaller program, too). So, he may have to hustle to get one of those jobs, but he seems so strong that we bet he will be able to, if he goes there.

Now, for the second part of his question: Assuming you go to a less prestigious school and get your foot in the door at a high-caliber firm, then the rest is really up to you. That's what many grad school applicants miss: How you'll do in your career over the long-term depends far more on how you perform and who you make connections with, rather than on what school name is on your resume. Of course, a "better" school gives you access to a "better" alumni network, which may always help, but even that matters less than what experiences you gain and what accomplishments you can start to rack up in the first several years out of business school.

In this way, the working world and the admissions world are not radically different: What undergrad school you went to and what company you work for now certainly matter, but what's even more important is what impact you've had on the company and the community around you. That's a far better predictor of success in your career... and in life, for that matter!

For more MBA admissions tips and resources, give us a call at (800) 925-7737 and speak with one of our admissions experts today. And, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

Read More >>

A Bold Law School Recruiting Proposal

For the last year and a half, there has been a steady stream of articles, blog posts, and opinion pieces about the law school recruiting process. Some have explored new apprenticeship models employed by law firms, others have focused on what law schools are doing to protect students, still others have put a renewed focus on public interest fellowships and job opportunities. Most, however, have merely predicted more doom and gloom. It's perfectly fine to report what is going on out there, but how many more profile articles and pithy blog posts do we need about stranded 3Ls with no prospects?

That's why it comes as such a relief to come across an opinion piece about the legal recruiting pipeline that actually suggests bold and decisive action. Not only that, but the author of the article, Aric Press, actually goes so far as to call law firms out and challenge them to push the envelope. Thank you, Aric Press!

In the piece, Press lays out the situation clearly. The old way of recruiting - where NALP puts rules in place that allow firms to go do the meat market on campus interviewing circuit, follow it up with four months of "call backs," and then submit offers - isn't working and neither NALP or the individual law firms are doing anything to react to new realities. This part of the article is all well and good, but nothing we don't already know. What was so interesting to me is where Press took it from there, as he laid out a plan for firms to go outside the NALP system in their recruiting efforts. This plan includes a call for transparency, honest interviewing approaches, and probing to see if the applicant has practical skills that will match the firm's needs. Press even calls for a two-step interview process with the second session serving as a mock client interaction, to truly test out whether the firm and the law student are a good match for each other.

Having worked in a law firm where everything is hidden behind the magic curtain until it's "too late," I am all for increased transparency and more rigorous interviewing processes that truly flesh out proper fits. Press has put forward a fairly bold initiative that would vastly improve the quality of law firm hires and give law students a much better view into life at individual firms. And all at a time when the recruiting process badly needs a facelift. Sounds like a win all the way around.

Now we wait to see if anyone paid attention.

For more information on law school admissions or for help incorporating career goals into the application, visit our law school admissions site or call our offices at 1.800.925.7737!

Read More >>

Northwestern Law is Ranked #1, but Does it Matter?

By at least one measure, Northwestern University's School of Law is the best law school in America. But what is that measure? And what does it mean? Should would-be Harvard, Columbia, and Chicago students suddenly reverse course?

You may have already heard the "Northwestern ranked as best law school" sound bite in the last week and scratched your head. "Really?" Well, yes and no. Yes, in the sense that the National Law Journal is a highly respected publication that put out a legitimate ranking that had Northwestern had the top of the heap. No, in the sense that this ranking measures one thing -- and one thing only -- and has nothing to do with academic excellence, peer reputation, class profile, or any other metric that we're used to analyzing. And no in the sense that the one thing it does measure might be a pretty misleading statistic.

The NLJ survey focuses purely on the number of graduates from each school that land jobs at "NLJ top 250" law firms. That's it. The school with the highest percentage wins and for Northwestern, that percentage (55.9%) is enough to edge out the likes of Columbia (54.4%), Stanford (54.1%), and Chicago (53.1%). Since the NLJ is very good at determining what the top firms are, this is surely a pretty credible finding, right?

Again, yes and no.

Northwestern has rightly taken advantage of this ranking and used the news as a way to advertise the practical, hands-on training provided by their law school model. I've visited Northwestern Law, studied there, interacted with students there, worked at a large firm with graduates from the program and I can say that this is absolutely true. Northwestern does indeed do a great job of turning the esoteric study of law into something more practical. It's a progressive, innovative, interesting law school and all the things they say in their own student newspaper are completely true.

So what's the problem? The problem is that the data is skewed by certain realities. Such as: if every graduate from U. of Chicago chose to work at a top law firm rather than a prestigious clerkship, then that school would probably beat Northwestern like a drum in this kind of ranking. Such as: If Berkeley students stopped caring about public interest and went "all in" on top 250 firms, they would soar right past Northwestern. If Yale students no longer pursued academia first and foremost, not only would the legal heavyweight get back into the top 10 of this list, it would probably go right to the top. If Harvard Law went back to being the "law firm mill" it was before Elena Kagan became the dean and it students stopped pursuing all of the above (clerkships, public interest, and academia), surely Northwestern would have to take a back seat.

In other words, Northwestern may be placing such a robust percentage of students into top 250 firms in large part because its graduates don't have the same alternative elite options as some of its more prestigious brethren. If you revised this survey to include graduates who go into: "NLJ top 250 firms, federal clerkships, and academic fellowship programs" (i.e., the three most prestigious paths, probably in reverse order), I promise you the list would look much different.

This isn't to knock Northwestern. Again, they are doing a fine job of training good lawyers and firms recognize that fact. But this ranking is just as much about the jobs that Northwestern students aren't getting as the ones they are. And, more importantly for potential law school students, it's one more reminder that rankings -- particularly those that measure just one thing -- are never the be-all, end-all scorecard for the quality of a school.

(And yes, I went to U of C, so feel free to start lobbing tomatoes at me in the comments section!)

If you need help with your law school applications, give us a call at (800) 925-7737 and speak with an admissions expert today.

Read More >>

What is an LLM Degree?

One common question we get from law school applicants is "What is an LLM degree?" Most top law schools offer programs in this area, many international students enroll each year seeking this degree, and it is a commonly heard but rarely understood component of a law school curriculum. Therefore, as both a way to educate any loyal readers of this blog and also to have as a handy FAQ response (self-serving blog posts are the best kind), we decided to outline exactly what an LLM is and how it works.

The easiest way to break it down is to go through a series of commonly asked questions:

What is an LLM? The LLM stands for the Master of Laws and it is basically a masters degree geared toward subject matter expertise, not unlike an MBA or a masters in public policy. It does not carry with it the training necessary to qualify someone for the practice of law, as future lawyers must almost always have a JD in the U.S. or an equivalent degree (an LLB in the UK, for instance) and then pass the bar or equivalent exam in order to practice. Rather, it is an added piece that might make an individual more qualified to practice a certain type of law (one of the most common subjects is tax).

How long is the program? An LLM is almost always a one-year program.

What is the coursework like? The LLM can vary greatly depending on the school. Some programs heavily integrate LLM students into the general curriculum while others focus more on a specific track, which is often followed by a thesis requirement.

Is it just for international students? One of the most common misconceptions that people make about the LLM is that it is a degree specifically for international students. This is not true, as any student who seeks additional specialization in an area of the law can pursue an LLM (again, tax is the most common area where a U.S. student might spend the extra year). That said, the use of the degree in the U.S. is most commonly associated with training international students on some of the key elements of American law - coursework that helps those students go back to their home countries and former firms with an advanced understanding of U.S. legal frameworks.

Can an LLM qualify an international student to take the bar exam in the U.S.? This one actually requires some research, as some states allow international students to sit for the bar examination with an LLM (in conjunction with a JD equivalent from another country), while other states require a JD. International students should always double and triple-check the state bar requirements before pursuing an LLM with the hopes of transitioning into an American legal practice.

Who should get an LLM? Again, the degree is often a great fit for international students seeking an understanding of U.S. law to compliment their existing training, and - as detailed above - can often provide a springboard for practicing law in certain U.S. states. It is also an interesting option for American law students who seek either advanced exposure to individual subjects (especially at law schools that gear the LLM around a thesis) on the road to academia or for students who wish to practice a multinational brand of law.

For more questions about LLM degrees or anything pertaining to law school admissions, give us a call at (800) 925-7737 and get a free consultation with a Veritas Prep admissions expert!

Read More >>

Veritas Prep on Law School Podcaster

If you are interested in applying to law school and are not already listening to the Law School Podcaster, we definitely recommend that you subscribe and tune in. Law School Podcaster has done a great job of assembling top admissions experts to weigh in on all of the key aspects of the admissions process and the JD experience as a whole. For someone considering law school or in the midst of the application process, it can be an invaluable resource.

Furthermore, we are excited to be a regular contributor to Law School Podcaster! Our Director of Admissions Consulting, Adam Hoff, was recently featured as an expert guest for the second time, weighing in on Personal Statements and Letters of Recommendation.

Give it a listen before tackling your own personal statements. If you would like to speak to Adam or one of our other law school admissions experts about your personal statements and letters of recommendation, give us a call at (800) 925-7737 to set up a free consultation.

Read More >>

Is Grad School the Last Resort for Generation Y?

In an article on Forbes.com yesterday, Deb Weinstein reports that jobless grads are increasingly turning to grad school as a backup option in the face of dismal job prospects, even though some of their possible post-school job prospects are also disappearing.

As we've reported here before, both of the GRE and the GMAT have seen growth in the number of tests taken in the U.S. over the past year -- 13% and 4.9%, respectively. (Some of that GRE growth may have come from more business schools increasingly accepting the GRE.) Even more impressively, the LSAT saw a 20% jump in the number of tests taken in 2009 vs. 2008. This comes while some big law firms are actually paying their new hires to take a year off.

But the growth doesn't stop there. Even journalism schools have seen record numbers of applications this past year, even as the publishing industry has shed 90,000 jobs and more than 100 newspapers have shut down. Why would these people all rush back to school now?

The obvious answer is that, although their job prospects may not be especially bright when they graduate, these young grads would rather take their chances in the job market in two or three years, rather than now. Even if the job market isn't significantly better in 2012, then at least these folks will come out of school armed with additional skills, certifications, and contacts, making their reentry into the job market a little easier (at least in theory).

Also, human nature steers us toward a "I'll worry about it later" mentality -- even if they don't end up being any better off in a couple of years, at least getting into grad school will give these young people the luxury of being able to hide out on campus and not quite yet have to face the real world. Sometimes, especially when the economy is rough, this can be grad school's biggest appeal (especially when Mom and Dad pay for it!).

If you're thinking about graduate school and want more help in getting into business school, law school, or medical school, call us at (800) 925-7737 and speak with a Veritas Prep admissions expert today!

Read More >>

Surveying the Law School Landscape

If you are a law school applicant, chances are you already heard about the recent LexisNexis survey that presented some pretty brutal sentiments among current law students. That said, it is still worth reviewing the survey summary and accompanying law-related blog posts to take in the carnage. Basically, when it comes to law school and the legal industry, nobody is happy.

The headline numbers from the survey are as follows:

• 21% of law students "regret attending law school."


• 35% do not "feel adequately prepared to succeed in the new marketplace."


• 65% feel that "law schools don't teach the practical skills needed in today's economy."

Yikes. That's a lot of disappointment. And on top of that, as businessinsider.com points out, the people hiring law students aren't happy either, as 71% of clients feel that firms aren't doing enough to cut costs and 77% of firm lawyers think their clients are being cheap and sacrificing quality.

It all boils down to frustration across the board with the process. What is interesting and ironic about this mess is that law school is arguably the easiest graduate program to adapt to new trends and econimic climates. It is a professional degree program that often occupies a more academic and esoteric space, rather than concentrating on vocation. So at a very basic philosophical level, law school has always had room to move toward being more practical. Beyond that, there is literally an entire academic year with which to work. Talk to any law student and ask them about their 3L year. In almost every instance, you will hear that students coasted, relaxed, got bored, explored hobbies, and basically just counted down the days until they graduated and had to take the bar. Virtually everyone knows that the third year of law school is a borderline waste of time. Given that there's an entire year to play with and the desire from every interested party for more hands-on learning, it seems crazy that the discussion even persists.

It will be interesting to see if we have finally reached an apex in this ongoing debate about how law schools teach students and if changes are in the offing ... or if this is just the latest flurry of commentary that dies out and leaves us with more of the same. It feels "big," but so have other surveys and op-ed pieces and controversies. All we can do is wait and see how it shakes out.

But the bottom line is that today's law school applicant needs to be aware of what is happening within law schools and out in the legal community. Surveys like this can help inform choices and create opportunities to express proper motivation (in the face of negative trends) -- both of which are extremely important components of a law school application. If you need help deciding whether law school is right for you or if you need help with your law school applications, give us a call at (800) 925-7737.

Read More >>

Law School Grads in the Year 2012

People are buzzing about 2012 these days, given the Mayan prediction that the world would end at that time. There's no doubt that "world ending" qualifies as something to keep an eye on, but one has to doubt the accuracy of Mayan predictions, given how things went with the conquistadors.

Either way, of greater concern here at Veritas Prep is what is going to happen to law school graduates in 2012. Last year's clients (as well as thousands of other students) are in their first terms right now, soaking up Civil Procedure and walking across the hot coals that are the Socratic Method. They are also watching in terror as their 3L and 2L colleagues struggle to find jobs.

We all know that the job market is bleak for recent grads and students about to graduate ... but what about the students just starting out? Will things rebound by 2012? What is the landscape going to look like?

For the most part, people seem to be fairly optimistic about job prospects further down the road. The general belief that the economy will recover has a positive impact on the legal industry, as the services that bolster financial instruments stand to benefit as those markets bounce back. Furthermore, there have been new areas of the law to emerge (such as energy and financial regulation) that will give rise to more available career paths.

Additionally, job prospects in "alternative" areas, such as public interest, government, and academia, seem to be holding pretty steady. For students who plan accordingly and take advantage of loan forgiveness programs, a career in public interest is a way to take advantage of a law degree without running into the risks of a down financial market.

That said, beyond the projections of offers and available positions, one also has to wonder about the culture of the future legal environment. We've previously opined on this blog that law firms would take full advantage of the downturn to stamp out a lot of the niceties that had emerged in the last decade via retention efforts. Some are more optimistic, but the frozen salaries, vanishing bonuses, and minimal mentorship programs might be here to stay. The balance of power has shifted from recent graduates back to firms and their partners, as even elite grads are just hoping to land a job. Three years ago, cream-of-the-crop prospects were able to shop around and put pressure on firms to create a more welcoming, forward-thinking environment.

2012 may well signal the end of the current panic-stricken job climate, but it will also likely give rise to a whole new reality. Even as firms build back out hiring and recruiting efforts, we may not see the same with programs aimed at retention. This is likely to mean even tougher conditions in an industry already known for long hours, high stress, and lack of work-life balance.

Read More >>

Focusing on Law School Job Prospects

Over the past nine months, there have been numerous indications that a job crisis was looming for law students. Firms were deferring start dates for new associates, cutting summer programs, and even introducing new apprenticeship models of initial employment. Veritas Prep has been actively following each development to the hiring landscape and has covered a variety of angles in great detail. For more information, please visit past entries regarding:

• Salary Freezes - the first indication that change was on the way


• Law School in a Recession - considerations for deciding whether to attend law school in a downturn


• Firm Job Deferrals - bad news for recent grads and an even worse sign for the direction of the job market


• Apprenticeship Programs - emergence of a new model created out of market turmoil


• Hiring Landscape - early returns on law school job prospects

However, until the fall hiring season actually rolled around, there was no way to know for sure how all of these developments would impact current law students.

Well, now the fall season is here and, according to Bloomberg.com, it's not looking good.

According to the Bloomberg article, the sting is being felt across the board, including at Harvard, which carries unique signifigance. HLS can be thought of as the castle on the hill when it comes to law school career prospects, so when the wolf is at the door of Harvard, you know the rest of the country has been overrun. According to Mark Weber, Harvard's assistant dean for career services, second and third year students have experienced a decrease of up to 20% for initial interviews, and there seems to be a legitimate fear that "callbacks" are going to be even worse. That certainly seems to be the case at another elite program (especially with regard to career placement), as NYU is already calling the reduction of callbacks "significant."

Again, if the truly elite programs are starting to panic, it does not bode well for every other law school beneath them in the pecking order. You can expect career service offices and students alike to start getting creative about the job search and you can absolutely expect admissions offices to start to think more about career prospects and plans than they ever have before. In fact, one of the things that has always made applying to law school so different from applying to business school is that JD programs have long been relatively unconcerned with career plans or prospects. However, it seems likely that we are entering a bold new world with regard to law schools admissions; one where career goals are of paramount importance. Plan accordingly.

For more information on law school admissions or for help incorporating career goals into the application, visit our website or call our offices at 1.800.925.7737. If you are interested in receiving an in-person consultation, contact us at law at veritasprep.com to find out more about these seasonal events in your area.

Read More >>

Veritas Prep's Own Adam Hoff Interviewed by Law School Podcaster

Prospective law students will be pleased to learn that a new resource has become available that will help them navigate the difficult path to a legal education. The folks at the highly successful MBA Podcaster have expanded into the law school world with the appropriately named Law School Podcaster.

Three episodes are already available for download and feature topics such as planning for the admissions process, piecing together a great application, and choosing the right schools. Veritas Prep is pleased to have been a guest on the premiere episode, as Adam Hoff, Director of Admissions Consulting and Research, was featured on the initial panel of experts.

Students can access the podcasts through either the Law School Podcaster website or by subscribing through iTunes.

To learn more about what we do, take a look at Veritas Prep's law school admissions consulting offerings, including our very popular JD/MBA admissions consulting practice.

Read More >>

How Does Chicago Law School Do It?

An ongoing trend in the law school world over the past few years is that the University of Chicago Law School has been losing top professors to rival schools at an alarming rate. And not just any old professors either - the attrition has included some of the most brilliant and famous legal minds in the country, as well as several other prominent subject matter experts and prolifically cited researchers.

Yet for all that, Chicago still ranks second in the country - behind only Yale - in terms of educational quality, according to the foremost authority on such things, Brian Leiter's EQR (Educational Quality Ranking).

Which begs the question: how do they do it?

To start with, Chicago has made a decision (and stuck by it) to put the quality of the teaching at the law school on the top priority rung, even to the detriment of other aspects of the school. As other elite law schools made the cirriculum more flexible and created more "crossover" opportunities with other programs, Chicago cinched its belt and required even more classes be taken within the law school. When Internet access flooded classrooms and threatened the intense dialogue between professor and student, U of C yanked out Ethernet and wireless in every room. Students didn't like it. Prospective students want flexible classes and wireless access, but frankly, Chicago doesn't care. At least, they don't care enough to risk diluting the quality of instruction that goes on within the law school.

Of course, making it all about priorities is a bit of a negative way to look at things. The other reason that Chicago's educational quality stays elite in light of the mass exodus is that they keep finding and nurturing amazing new professors. This is done through careful planning, the work of a highly-engaged hiring committee (populated with elite professors in their own right), and also by giving young academics a chance to come and shine in a "think tank" atmosphere. Very few schools allow as many workshops, seminars, and other non-traditional courses - all taught by some of the brightest young professors. Furthermore, Chicago was one of the first law schools to implement a mandatory legal writing class - called the Bigelow Program - and they staff the teaching positions with aspiring academics who show great potential. One of Chicago's best new professors - Adam Cox - came from the ranks of the Bigelow Program.

It's certainly not easy to add professors of high quality at the same rate that other school's are poaching them, but a quick glance at the highest profile names - both new and old - shows that the school is managing to keep pace. Gone are such luminaries as world-renowned legal scholars Richard Epstein (to NYU) and Cass Sunstein (to Harvard, and then to the Obama Administration), criminal law expert Tracy Meares (to Yale), beloved constitutional and legislative scholar Adrian Vermeule (Harvard), and law and econ guru Alan Sykes (Stanford). And I suppose you could add a former constitutional law lecturer by the name of Barack Obama to that list.

But just as the school features an unfortunate list of departed stars, Chicago is also compiling a roster of emerging legal minds that should keep them at the top of the academic heap for many years to come. In addition to the aforementioned Adam Cox, Chicago can also boast of young "rock star" professors like Kirkland Ellis appellate lawyer-turned McKinnsey consultant-turned corporate law guru Todd Henderson, property law scholar Lior Strahilevitz, crim law expert Bernard Harcourt, and student favorite Adam Samaha.

And of course, the school still boasts some of the stars of yesteryear, including the wildly popular contract expert Douglas Baird, constitutional law scholars such as Geoffrey Stone and David Strauss, policy and family law expert Emily Buss, and current dean Saul Levmore.

All told, the school looks to maintain its lofty perch at the top run of law schools when it comes to educational quality. The challenge for Chicago will be to keep up with the times and the changes in legal education while doing so.

For more information on the University of Chicago Law School, or any other top law schools, please feel free to visit our law school admissions consulting website or contact us at law@veritasprep.com or 1.800.925.7737.

Read More >>

Law School Admissions - News You Can Use

We're trying a new format today, which is to include a series of noteworthy links from the world of law school admissions and the legal market. There have been a lot of interesting takes on two topics in particular: deferred law firm jobs and the new U.S. News & World Report rankings. We'll offer up a few links in those areas, as well as a couple of this blog's favorite law school topics, including faculty hiring.

Here are some of the hot topics in the law school community:

• In the wake of the new law school rankings, U.S. News & World comes right out and addresses concerns and feedback, via Bob Morse' "Morse Code" blog. The publication's recent movement toward transparency and dialogue about the all-important rankings has given the list even more credibility.
  
  
• Perhaps not surprisingly, one of the more extensive responses to the rankings came from The GW Hatchet, where the George Washington student paper tries to work through law school's drop from 20 to 28 in the latest rankings. In particular, the article focuses on the disagreement between the school and the aforementioned Morse - the former claiming that the addition of part-time programs in the rankings is what dropped GW down the list, while the latter insists that "weak placement" data is responsible. Worth a read, if only to understand how seriously everyone takes this ranking business.
  
  
• Third-tier program New York Law School rates well behind fellow Manhattan schools such as NYU, Columbia, and Fordham, but its new building appears to be second to none. (Note also the swanky location. You could do worse.)
  
  
• The Wall Street Journal is the latest entity to run a story on the increase in job deferments for new law firm associates. You can follow our analysis of this trend here and here.
  
  
• The Kansas City Star also focused on the difficult legal job market, and extended the analysis to include a reduction in federal clerkship positions.
  
  
• The Chicago Tribune ran a story speculating that President Obama's pick to replace Justice Souter on the Supreme Court is likely to have significant ties to the University of Chicago Law School.
  
  
• Legal writer and attorney Ursula Furi-Perry has published Law School Revealed and this article provides a solid checklist for analyzing which schools might be a good fit.
  
  
• Stanford shook off a discouraging drop to #3 in the rankings and the loss of constitutional law scholar Lawrence Lessig to Harvard by hiring 10th Circuit Judge Michael McConnell to direct the Stanford Constitutional Law Center.
  
  
• Stanford can also take solace in the fact that its Law School is at the top of the heap in the TaxProf Blog's ranking of employment success. The ABA's blog reports that Stanford rates first (followed by Duke, NYC, UCLA, and Penn) in a study based on U.S. News & World employment statistics and conducted by respected law professor Paul Caron, of the University of Cincinnati.
  

For more on the law school admissions process, be sure to follow us on Twitter.

Read More >>

The WSJ on Law School and the Recession -- A Deeper Look

Last week, Nathan Koppel of the Wall Street Journal wrote a thoughtful piece about young professionals retreating to law school as a form of safe harbor in the current economic climate. The column explored both sides of the issue, offering both reasons for and against going back to law school. While I agreed with much of it, I also felt that a great deal of analysis –- and more importantly, critical advice -– was missing from the article.

Again, I want to stress that Koppel's take on this issue was fundamentally solid and that he presented the issue without much by way of an obvious agenda. That said, the first aspect of the column with which I take issue was his use of statistics. To put it bluntly, I believe he cherry-picked his "application increase" stats around which to build the story, citing Washington and Lee (29% increase), Yale (8%) and Texas (8%) as proof of a massive migration. However, as we wrote a while back, the ABA reported only a 1% increase in applications across the board this year. So again, I don't think there has been quite the "retreat!" mentality that Koppel makes it out to be. Of course, that may just make the underlying question -- Is heading to law school right now a good move? -- all the more relevant because that small increase for this year is a harbinger of a huge increase next year. (See that same blog article for an analysis of the 2001 recession that saw a very small spike that year followed by 17% increase in 2002 applications.)

As to whether or not going to law school at this time is a good idea, I am more on the "yes" side of the fence than I am down the middle. With that in mind, here are key considerations that were either missing from the column or were not explored in great enough depth:

Safe Harbor. For starters, law school lasts three years, so the "hide out" argument could be bolstered by the fact that it gives students longer to ride out the recession. I think Koppel missed an easy chance to compare MBA students (who only get two years) and to introduce the notion of a JD/MBA degree, which provides even more of a diversified skill set and, depending on the school, can allow a student to ride out a down economy for four years. Even the most skeptical among us likely believe that things will be better four years from now -- especially in the legal markets, where transactional attorneys will be in great demand once lending starts up again. In fact, when that day comes, there simply won't be nearly enough junior and mid-level attorneys to draft all the documents that will be needed to support those deals. I could see a major corporate associate hiring boom in the next two-to-four years when lending kicks back in throughout the financial markets (commercial real estate, not so much, but that is beside the point).

New Jobs. I also think Koppel missed an "emerging industries" angle with regard to financial regulation (which would have been a perfect transition from talking about JD/MBA degrees and their value) and corporate governance. Given the clear cause of the economic crisis and the reform being called for by the Obama administration, I believe there are going to be a plethora of new legal jobs in the regulatory sector -- both within governmental agencies (existing bodies like the SEC and possibly those that have yet to be formed) and within companies and law firms as well.

Alternative Career Path. One additional angle that Koppel went for in the column was some advice on how a graduating law student can prop himself up in a down job market. Not to beat a dead horse, but he missed a few things here as well. Koppel got the "elite school" thing right when he discussed the impact that graduating from a top 14 law school has on one's prospects with BigLaw, but when he wrote about pursuing a non-legal job, he made it sound way too easy.

In fact, this part of Koppel's article would have been the ideal place to drop in some of the soundest advice a prospective law student could ever receive: start your alternative career path while in law school. Too many law students make the mistake of assuming they can just waltz out of an elite law school with a JD and get whatever job they want, in whatever industry they want. And while a JD does signal certain things (critical thinking, strong writing skills, work ethic, problem solving) that can make a law school grad immediately attractive in particular industries such as management consulting, it doesn't help much at all in the wide majority of industries who naively see law school as "lawyer training." Never mind that this isn't really true; that's the perception.

So a law student who wants to work for an NBA team, or in business development for Warner Brothers, or for a hedge fund (or name your industry/company) can't simply go take summer jobs at big law firms, graduate, and then send out their resumes. Yes, those summer associate gigs pay a mint, but they put law students on a straight-line path with 20-foot walls towards working at a big law firm. If a law student really wants to work for Warner Brothers, that person has to spend her summers working there for free or for cheap, so that the big guns at Warner Brothers get to know her and value her and desperately want her to work there. Then, when she graduates with her prestigious law degree, they have to pay her and position her accordingly. That is how it works for "alternative" career paths.

And I just desperately wish people would tell prospective students this reality. Maybe the Wall Street Journal wasn't interested in that type of social good or perhaps Koppel didn't even think of this or know about this reality, but this article would have presented a perfect opportunity to broadcast an important message.

The Money Game. The only other thing I would have put in this article is that students should be more cognizant of the financial aspects of their law school choices. With an uncertain job market at the other end of the pipeline, it is no longer a cavalier thing to take out $150,000 in debt to obtain an elite law degree. In 2004, I would have been crazy to go to Duke for $70,000 rather than Chicago for $150,000. Now, in 2008? I'd probably be crazy to do the opposite. Schools are leveraging each other right now too, so it is a good time to pay attention to trends (this year Michigan appears to be the big spender) and also to barter with the schools.

All of this signifies a sea change in the selection/enrollment process. Until now, I would have told a student to pick among the top 14 law schools in this order:

1) fit
2) rank/prestige
3) cost.

Now, under these market conditions, I would change the order to:

1) cost
2) fit
3) rank/prestige.

In my humble opinion, it is far better to go to Cornell and have $50,000 in debt than go to NYU and carry $120,000 in student loans, when it might not matter much with regard to job prospects. Either the deals are going to start happening by the time you graduate (in which case you can get a great job from either school), or they're not (in which case you might be trouble coming from either school). This is now a major consideration. Put another way: students have to consider law school a little more like undergrad with regard to their cost versus return on investment (ROI) analysis.

All in all, Koppel's article got some key issues out on the table and will get people talking. That's the most important thing. I simply wish the analysis had gone deeper and that some key and useful messages would have been delivered to the confused law students and prospective law students who need that information so badly.

To get more law school admissions news and analysis from Veritas Prep, be sure to follow us on Twitter.

Read More >>

Five Tips for Applying to Law School... Next Year

February is a fascinating month to work with law school admissions consulting clients, because half are scrambling to find their way off the waitlist and decide which program to attend, while the other half are already planning for next year. It is a great reminder that, for some people, the idea of law school isn't a major practical decision staring them in the face, but rather an esoteric concept that seems an eternity away. It also a reminder that many of our clients still control most of the factors that will ultimately impact their law school opportunities.

Therefore, we are focusing on are the five things that people should be doing if they plan to apply to law school next year:

1. Plan around the LSAT. More than any other standardized test, the LSAT is a major influence on your admissions prospects. Part of the reason for this is that the LSAT actually does test a lot of the key critical thinking, reading, and reasoning skills that will have a huge impact on your level of success in the classroom, so law schools put a great deal of emphasis on the resulting test scores. Therefore, ensure that you make the proper investment in your preparation. You may or may not decide to pay for a course (or even just for help with logic games), but you should plan on doing as many practice tests as possible and spending the time necessary to become completely comfortable with the exam. This sounds obvious, but you would be surprised how often people procrastinate in their LSAT preparation ... especially when there is "an entire year" to get it done.

2. Mitigate a weakness. The name of the admissions game is to try to read your own profile (GPA, LSAT, resume, etc.) the way an admissions officer would and then use your personal statement to answer their big questions. In short, you have to write away your weaknesses. In a perfect world, there aren't weaknesses to write away, so you can focus simply on drafting an amazing personal statement. Therefore, one thing you should absolutely do in the next year is identify your biggest weaknesses (this is where consulting or some other form of advising is extremely helpful) and then go out and conquer them. If you have some issues with focus and discipline due to a spotty GPA, take a job that requires great maturity. Even better, take some challenges courses and knock them out of the park. If your motivation as a law school applicant seems questionable, seek out an internship somewhere within the legal space. Rather than merely chasing the "best" job or the most "unique" experience, see if there is something more valuable you can do with your time that will round you out as an applicant.

3. Secure your letters of recommendation. It seems like it would be easy to zip over to the office of your favorite college professors and ask them for a quick turnaround on a great letter of recommendation. It's not. Instead of letting time lapse, go to them now and start the recommendation process. Ask them for their advice on whether you should apply to law school and perhaps which schools. Start outlining a timeline for the process, whereby you will supply them with updates, bullet points about your future application story, and other items that will help them write a great letter.

4. Read. Many people will tell you to avoid studying or anything resembling law school life, since you will be doing so much of it once you get to school. Nonsense! You don't have to read books about Civil Procedure or Tort restatements, but you should always be reading. It will help you with the LSAT and it will certainly help you hit the ground running once you arrive on campus. Don't let your mental muscles atrophy.

5. Visit Campus. A common misconception in the law school universe is that rankings are everything and there is no need to worry about "feel" at the various programs. This is false. That said, it can be difficult to tell schools apart based on their online descriptions. The classes, the clinics, the on campus recruitment, the journals ... it definitely bleeds together. And few programs have a flagship designation like "Law and Econ" (University of Chicago). Therefore, the best way to tease out which schools are the best fit is to go visit them. You will get an idea for where they are located, how people interact, and even the "types" of students that attend. Not only that, but you may have the good fortune of meeting with admissions reps or professors on your visits and making a lasting impression.

In short, make use of the next year in ways that will aid both your candidacy and your level of preparation so that you can make the experience as meaningful as possible. If you are willing to spend countless hours applying, three years and six figures attending, and then a career practicing law, you should be willing to spend the next year preparing for those things.

If not ... well, that's another post entirely!

Read More >>

Admissions Waitlist Strategies

Yesterday we described the waitlist and how it works. Today, we're focusing on specific waitlist strategies.

Being placed on the waitlist of a top graduate program is a frustrating experience. It feels anticlimactic after such a long process and it can also lead to a period of ambiguity as you wait to see where you will ultimately enroll in the fall. The key to surviving a waitlist process is to create and follow a plan of action, just as you would for your initial application. Putting together a checklist can help you gain valuable insight and perspective into your situation and will allow you to maximize your chances of gaining admission off of the waitlist.

Here is our recommended course of action:

1. Understand the waitlist. For information on understanding how the waitlist works, click here. Being able to determine which schools will use the waitlist heavily allows you to prioritize your approach and lock in on a true top choice.

2. Follow instructions. Often, in their anxiety-fueled attempt to act quickly, waitlisted candidates will rush to respond to a waitlist letter without actually following the school's instructions. Typically, the admissions office will ask for a response showing continued interest and will provide several optional ways to submit materials. However, you should never simply assume that each school's process is exactly the same. Take a deep breath, re-read the letter, go to the website to see what you can find out about the waitlist, and then set everything aside for 24 hours. You will be able to return to the task at hand with some clarity and ensure that you follow all instructions.

3. Reach out. So long as you are following the admission office's instructions, you are always better off being more proactive in this situation. Don't simply check a box and send it in -- get in front of people. Be top of mind. As we explained yesterday, this is the stage where programs want to know your level of interest, first and foremost. So aggressively tell them. You have little to lose at this point, as your waitlist status suggests that you are a qualified candidate still in the running for an unknown number of spots. If you have a contact in the admissions office, email that person right away to let them know you have responded formally and that you will be sending in additional materials. Ask if you can check back in for a status report. You can even be so bold as to ask whether that person thinks the school will be aggressive with the waitlist or not.

4. Review. Once you have followed instructions and put yourself on the school's radar, the next step is to retreat back into your own application. You are going to want to take advantage of optional submission opportunities to both express your interest and also bolster your candidacy. In order to make effective use of this opportunity and keep it from being an "information dump," you should review your application carefully to see what needs to be augmented. This is where a company like Veritas Prep or a trusted advisor can really help -- understanding what you might have left out or what the committee's key question was is an important step in a waitlist game plan. There are two important things to look for when reviewing your application materials:

- That you have achieved balance as a candidate and addressed each of the critical application themes.

- That you have expressed the proper level of fit with the program in question.

5. Augment. Once you have taken inventory of your application and any weaknesses that remain, the next step is to augment that information through any available submission options. The most common is a waitlist response letter or an update letter, which allows you to express your interest and fit, as well as provide any updates that help address weaknesses. You want to avoid simply restating your application materials or delving back into your personal statement. This will be a strong temptation, but must be avoided, simply because you need to be as efficient as possible in a limited amount of space. A good way to ensure that you are using available options effectively is to follow the following "messaging hierarchy":

- Showcase your desire to attend their law school
- Express fit with their law school
- Mitigate the weaknesses that may have kept you from being admitted and that were not properly balanced in your initial application
- Provide updates (especially if they help to mitigate a weakness or offer balance)
- Address general law school-related themes

You will note that tackling law school themes -- normally the first priority in an application -- is the least of your worries when drafting a waitlist letter. You simply don't have space to present a full (and new) picture of your entire candidacy, nor is the school looking for that. They want to know if you will enroll and why. If you can get out in front of your biggest weakness and provide some updates in the process, then that is ideal. Just don't lose sight of the highest-priority messages.

Finally, keep in mind that law schools use a waitlist for a reason: they might need to bring qualified students off of that list and add them to the incoming class. Taking advantage of any opportunity to solidify your story and advertise your qualifications is a way to turn waitlist limbo into a great opportunity. It simply requires stamina to finish the race and total attention to detail.

Read More >>

Law School Admissions: Tackling the Personal Statement (Part II)

Last week we initiated a two-part series on the law school personal statement. Part I focused on the art of positioning and answering the reader's biggest question, Part II will describe the five law school themes as well as some thoughts on creating entertainment value in the personal statement.

The Law School Themes. In addition to your primary positioning, you also want to try to round out the key law school themes. They are:

1. Intellect (both intellectual curiosity and intellectual horsepower).
2. Motivation.
3. Discipline.
4. Collegiality.
5. Leadership.

For most applicants, two or three of these themes are readily apparent from the academic profile and resume. Most commonly, things like leadership, collegiality, and discipline jump off the page – evidenced by a long history of getting involved, being part of groups and organizations, and staying committed to tasks.

(Quick note on leadership: this aspect is not as important in the law school process as it would be on, say, the MBA side. Seeking applicants with strong leadership skills is mainly a self-serving proposition as law schools simply want to ensure that they have enough “leaders of men” to run their student programs. Okay, that sounds cynical, but producing leaders and putting them in the work force is just not a major priority.)

For many clients, the big themes that remain at issue are motivation and intellect. Let me discuss them each in turn.

Motivation – This has become an important issue this year as applications are up and MBA types have turned their attention to law school. A JD from a top program offers a bit more job security and, frankly, the program lasts longer, making it easier to ensure riding out a recession. So not only are you competing with more applicants this year, you are also competing against a “type” that is more common now than in previous admissions seasons. The best course of action is to “backdate” your interest in law school and then really spell out your motives for attending law school in the personal statement. It can be secondary to explaining your abilities, but it needs to be there. Another way to look at the issue of motivation is to consider the big three unasked questions on every law school application: 1) Why law school? 2) Why this law school in particular? and 3) why now?

Intellect – This breaks down into both intellectual curiosity and horsepower. Many applicants are fine on the former, but weak on the latter due to a low LSAT score (“low” being a relative term based on the 25th-to-75th percentile ranges at their schools of interest). Even if the GPA and LSAT components are fairly strong, they are often not indicative of a candidate’s true potential.

Entertainment Value. Considering the entertainment value of the personal statement does more than just provide relief for the weary application reader – it also aids in the framing of your writing sample, especially if there is a risk of the personal statement reading like a laundry list or a glorified resume. Listing everything out in that way is obviously to be avoided, but sometimes candidates must drive home accomplishments or events in a way that starts to resemble a list. A great way to do it is to embed a hook and frame the personal statement in that way. One solution is to build the narrative around “challenges” or “accomplishments” or any other device that gives it a thrust and a thread. Then you can create a setup in the intro, 3-4 exemplary paragraphs, and a conclusion that brings it home. Be sure to get right to the point, stating the big takeaway point in the very first line – then work from there.

Overall, the personal statement is not the place to cover everything. You simply want to triage what is most important and then build a compelling and detailed narrative to support that position. Confront your issues head on and tell the reader what he is dying to know and you will be leaps and bounds ahead of your competition.

For more on how to draft fantastic personal statements, take a look at our law school admissions consulting services, including our personal statement assistance service.

Read More >>

Law School Admissions: Tackling the Personal Statement (Part I)

For law school applicants, this time of year tends to be all about personal statements. It is often the last remaining piece holding up submission of an application. Candidates struggle with the blank canvas nature of the assignment as they try to figure out what to write about and how to fit it all into two pages.

Many of our clients seem to be making one of two common mistakes: 1) trying to cram everything into the personal statement, to the point it sounds like an annotated resume, or 2) writing at great length about their strengths. It is tempting to throw it all at the wall and see what sticks, or to lean on what you know works. Neither of these methods will get the job done.

Below are some suggestions for your personal statement that will help candidates avoid these problems and craft a meaningful, persuasive writing sample. The Veritas Prep approach to creating a great personal statement always centers on three elements: 1) positioning, 2) the law school themes, and 3) entertainment value.

Positioning. Positioning focuses on the major thrust of the personal statement. What is the strength you most want to advertise? The weakness you most need to mitigate? Is there a unique factor you can showcase? What is the one hole in your application that the admissions committee is dying for you to resolve in this space? This can be different for each applicant, but the one thing I know for sure is that the personal statement exists for you to tell the reader what he needs to know. Forget what you think you should write about or what makes for the best traditional essay – it all depends on a hierarchy of needs. If someone is a 4.0/180 from a great school, with a great resume, then the only concern is how entertaining the writing needs to be. For someone with amazing grades and LSAT scores, but zero real life experience, they had better be sure to talk about how they can lead and relate to people. And so on. During my time in admissions, I was always amazed by the fact that applicants avoided the "big issues" in their profile and wrote about something trite or off topic. Who cares if an applicant did relief work when my big question is whether or not they are smart enough to handle the work? I hope that does not sound harsh, but that is how it works.

Therefore, your biggest challenge as an applicant is to figure out how to frame your personal statement and what the scope should be, based on the preliminary facts that are in your favor, and those that are not. One of the most common application positions tends to be "my GPA and LSAT do not fully indicate my abilities." This isn’t going to feel amazingly original, but for a candidate with substandard scores, this will be the main question in the mind of the reader after glancing at a "one sheet" (the internal document that has your basic stats and information) and the resume. When you write your personal statement and review it, ask yourself: "Am I convincing the reader that I have the raw intellect to kill it in the classroom?" You want to be able to say yes to that.

Come back next Wednesday for Part II, focusing on the five law school themes as well as advice on bringing it all together in an entertaining fashion.

For more on how to draft fantastic personal statements, take a look at our law school admissions consulting services. We also offer specialized personal statement assistance services.

Read More >>