Four-Year Timeline

The timeline below is based on a traditional four-year college degree plan followed immediately by law school.  Many students will not take a traditional route, whether graduating in less than four years or taking time off between college and law school.  Be sure to talk with a Pre-Law Advisor to build a timeline that fits for you.  Throughout your college career ask yourself, what should you be doing; acdemically? professionally? logistically?

First Year Student

The primary goal in your first year should be to focus on your academics and the transition to college - a strong start to your college career is important.  Additional steps to take this year:

• Explore majors of interest
• Design a degree plan that will challenge you academically (click here for information on academic pathways to law).
• Identify your academic strengths and areas you want to improve.
• Introduce yourself to your professors and get to know them so they get to know you.
• Get into the habit of making well-informed decisions and meeting deadlines.
• Ask your academic advisor to add "LAW-PRO" as an Academic Plan so you can be added to the Pre-Law email listserv.
• Introduce yourself to the pre-law advisor in your college (click here for the list of pre-law advisors).
• Read about the practice of law - the real practice of law, not what you see on tv or in movies.

Second Year Student

In your second year you should focus on settling in to your major.  Start to think specifically, not abstractly, about the practice of law and whether law school is right for you.  It's a significant investment of time, energy, and (eventually) money - be sure it's what you want to do!  Addtional steps to take this year:

• Continue your academic progress.
• Continue getting to know your professors - later on you might ask one of them for a letter of recommendation.
• Observe, engage, and otherwise explore the legal profession (click here for a partial list of ideas).
• Attend the Ohio State Law Fair in October.
• Meet with your pre-law advisor to discuss the idea of law school and how best to prepare yourself to be a competitive applicant.
• Get involved at Ohio State and/or in your community - take on roles that will provide you with leadership responsibilities.

Third Year Student

By now you've established yourself academically; continue pushing yourself by taking challenging courses.  If your degree plan allows it, take courses that will hone the skills necessary to do well on the LSAT.  This is also the year when you will begin to undertake the official steps required to be a law school candidate.  Tasks you should complete this year:

Autumn Semester

• Take a practice LSAT to familiarize yourself with the test and the different types of questions (click here for additional information on the LSAT).
• Attend the Ohio State Law Fair in October.
• Meet with your pre-law advisor to discuss the law school application process.

Spring Semester

• Create your Law School Admission Council (LSAC) account.
• Register for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) if you plan to take it in June or July (click here for additional information on the LSAT).
• Contact professors to ask for letters of recommendation.
• Build a preliminary list of schools you might apply to.
• Meet with your pre-law advisor to discuss the law school application process and your list.

Additional steps to take in your third year:

• Familiarize yourself with the LSAC.org website.
• Prepare for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) - how and how much will depend on your personal study habits and when you plan to take the test.
• Continue getting to know your professors.
• Determine what criteria you will use to decide where to apply and research schools based on your criteria.
• Attend prospective student days at law schools or arrange an individual visit.

Summer between Third and Fourth Years

• Register for the LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
• Register for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) if you plan to take it in September or November (click here for additional information on the LSAT).
• Order all college transcript(s)* to be sent directly to LSAC from each institution you have attended (if you are taking summer courses at Ohio State or elsewhere, wait to submit that institution's transcript until all grades have posted).
• Request letters of recommendation.
• Update your resume and upload it to CAS.

*If you took courses at any other college or university at any time for any reason, those transcripts must be ordered and sent directly to LSAC - any transfer credit awarded by Ohio State will not be sufficient for purposes of applying to law school.  THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL.

Additional steps to take in the summer:

• Start working on your personal statement.
• Attend prospective student days at law schools or arrange an individual visit.
• Confirm you are on track to graduate.

Fourth Year Student

Do no get senioritis!  In addition to completing your law school application and related tasks, you should continue to push yourself to excel in your final year of college.  Law Schools require a final transcript to prove you have graduated from college and they will not be impressed if your grades suddenly decline sharply.  Tasks you should complete in your final year of college:

Autumn Semester

• Complete any tasks you did not finish over the summer.
• Write and upload your personal statement.
• Register for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) if you plan to take it in January or March (click here for additional information on the LSAT).
• Finalize the list of law schools you will apply to.
• Meet with your pre-law advisor to discuss your law school list.
• Double-check that your CAS file is complete and submit your applications to law schools.