The law school application process ideally begins during your junior year or in the year prior to your anticipated attendance at law school. We recommend the following checklist of procedures.

Law School � Sample Timeline

The UCLA Career Center is providing you a sample timeline for Law School.� We strongly suggest you use this only as a template and make any and all additional changes that are unique to your situation.�

Apply Early: It is always a good idea to complete your applications long before schools' deadlines. It allows you time to address any problems that may arise during the submission of your materials. Applying early will also put you at an advantage if the schools you are applying to use "rolling admissions," i.e., they review applications as they arrive. When rolling admissions are used, law school seats may be filled throughout the admissions season. So, if you wait until the school's stated deadline, you may have less of a chance of gaining admission

Junior Year

� Continue exploring the legal field

� Consider looking into Pre-Law student organizations, if not already done.

� Attend Law School Workshops on applying, writing the statement, obtaining letters, etc.

� Obtain the LSAT & LSDAS Registration & Information Book from the Career Center or the LSAC

� Register for the June LSAT

� Register with the LSDAS

� Allow a minimum of 4-6 weeks to prepare for the LSAT

� Order unofficial transcripts and review for any discrepancies

� Consider opening an account with the UCLA Career Center Letter Service

� Start requesting letters of recommendation

� Start investigating law schools

Summer after Junior Year

� Take the June LSAT

� Receive LSAT score (3-4 weeks after test)

� Review law school choices in light of LSAT scores

� Request law school admissions materials

� Register for October LSAT if necessary

� Continue requesting letters of recommendation and checking on their status

� Begin writing the personal statement

Fall of Senior Year

� Finalize letters of recommendation

� Order official transcripts

� Finalize personal statement; utilize the Career Center for assistance

� Take October LSAT if necessary

� Request financial aid information from law schools

� Request Dean�s Certification, if necessary

� Complete and send admissions applications before Thanksgiving

Spring of Senior Year

� Contact law schools to see if applications are complete

� Complete and submit financial aid materials

� Evaluate admissions offers

� Thank letter writers and inform them of your plans