Pre-Law Timetable
for Juniors and Seniors

Make this your best year academically and correct any remaining weakness(es) is your academic skills. Your acceptance to law school will depend to a great extent on your academic record. If you hope to go on immediately to law school after graduation, your junior year grades will be the most recently completed and thus reported.
Make a plan for LSAT preparation and taking the test. It is not necessary to take the LSAT until the June following junior year, but consider the amount of time you need to be fully prepared for the test and plan/budget accordingly.
Continue to explore and learn about the legal profession.
Start investigating law schools. Think about where you want to spend three years of intensive study. There are a number of variables to consider: location, size, prestige, cost, special programs, student body, chances of admission, etc. Again, reading and talking with others can help. Take advantage of the Pre-Law programs and the Houston Law Forum, which bring law school representatives on campus. Visit prospective law schools during your travels.
Give thought to recommendations. Most law schools request two faculty letters. The most persuasive letters are often written by faculty who know you well and for whom you have done your best work. Consider taking another course from such professors.
Familiarize yourself with the LSAC web site. Create your LSAC account and be mindful of when you need to register for the LSAT.

If registered for the June test date, continue to prepare for and take the LSAT.
Otherwise, register and prepare for the October LSAT test date.
Begin to develop a list of 10-15 law schools that, given your GPA and LSAT scores, offer a reasonable chance of your gaining admission. A few should be “reach” schools, but most should be in the "more likely" range. It is also advisable to have one or two "safe" schools. Most applicants send applications to 8-12 schools.
Formulate ideas for your personal statement and begin drafting it.
Develop a system for keeping track of all the registration and application details.

September - October

Meet with a pre-law advisor in the Office of Academic Advising to discuss your candidacy and the list of schools you are considering.
Attend law school recruiter visits on campus and the Houston Law School Recruitment Forum.
Continue to refine your personal statement. Visit the Center for Academic and Professional Communication (CAPC) for assistance and have another professional read your drafts.
Sign up and pay for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) through LSAC four to six weeks prior to your first application deadline.
Request letters of recommendation from faculty at least one month prior to your first application deadline.
Request an official transcript from the Registrar to be sent to LSAC. Transcript request forms are available through your LSAC account.
If registered for the October test date, continue to prepare for and take the LSAT.
Begin filling out applications.

October - November

Consult with an advisor after receiving October LSAT score for any suggestions.
Complete applications. The window between Halloween and Thanksgiving is our suggested time frame for submitting your applications.

December - January

Complete any necessary financial aid applications, whether institutional or the FAFSA.
Monitor your applications and make sure that they are all complete. Follow-up with appropriate people or offices if any item is missing from your file.

February - March

Wait.
When you have been accepted to a school that you wish to attend, notify other schools in writing that have accepted you that you will not be attending.
If there are problems or questions, or if you are waitlisted at your first choice school, consider seeing a pre-law advisor in the OAA.

April

Pay the enrollment deposit at the school you will be attending, or if you are on the waitlist at your first choice school, make sure you have placed a deposit to hold your seat at your alternate choice school.
Inform the Pre-Law advisor and your recommenders of your application results.

May