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(This article is an adaptation of my
guest post on StudentAdvisor.com, and is further
elaborated upon in Barrister on a Budget: Investing in Law School…without Breaking the Bank.)
For most undergrad students money is
already stretched pretty thin. How are
you supposed to come up with the funds for all of these law school
applications? It’s important to avoid
borrowing more student loans if you can.
What if you don’t get accepted to law school or decide later that you
don’t want to go? You could be paying
off that extra debt (plus interest) for a few years without anything to show
for it. A little bit of planning,
squirreling away income, and following the next few tips will allow you to
apply to law school financially stress-free and maybe even debt-free.
1. Create a
timetable. Be aware of your Law School Admission Test
(LSAT) deadlines, application deadlines, recommendation letters, waiver
deadlines, and forms and other materials you have to put together for your
application. With these dates, also jot
down the costs to cover each one and tally it up. Start saving and scrimping so that you can
cover these costs – basically, budget.
2. Search for
waivers. Many law schools waive the application fee if
you apply electronically or early. However, don’t apply to the school solely
for the waiver. Do your research; narrow
your list of schools; and then if they offer a waiver, make sure that you apply
by the deadline to receive it. Also, the
Law School Admission Council (LSAC) has a waiver for those with “absolute
inability to pay for the LSAT and other essential application services.” If you believe you qualify, the waivers cover
nearly all the costs for the application process (some schools will also waive
application fees if LSAC granted your waiver).
3. Freebies. The costs of LSAT prep courses and personal
statement assistance can add up. If you
are a very good self-studier, you can find many free practice LSAT exams on the
LSAC website, on helpful blogs such as LSAT Blog, in your school
library or political science/pre-law departments, and some prep courses offer
free trials of their services. When it
comes to assistance with your personal statement, trusted mentors who know what
law schools are looking for and personal statement workshops offered by the
career office or on-campus programs can be the most helpful resources and are a
nominal price or free.
4. Shop around. Maybe your personal study habits aren’t great
and you would prefer to use an LSAT prep course. There are many reputable courses to choose
from. Compare prices and use the free
trials to find the best, most cost-efficient program for you.
5. Use your time
wisely. You will need to build up your résumé for
your application and for your references to review, not to mention to help you
stand out among the other applicants. Participation in debate clubs and
undergraduate mock trials will be significant uses of your time. Look into activities such as pre-law societies
and clubs that support areas of law in which you are interested in for
establishing your career. Pay attention
to membership fees and reason the price with quality. If you can find a worthwhile internship that
also pays, go for it! It’s the perfect
trifecta – résumé booster, actual experience, and an income!
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