This article is a generalized description of the path to law school, what law school entails, etc. It behooves the law profession to shroud itself in mystery, but there is nothing particularly novel about law schooling. Law school has a veil of secrecy to it, perhaps due to its historic class, race, and gender insulation, but the law school process is basically the same at most American law schools. And behind the big door marked "Law," is a professional schooling system, like any other schooling system. Nothing magical there.
Most law schools require an "undergraduate degree," which is your standard 4 year college degree, as a prerequisite for the application process. It does not seem to matter
what your undergraduate degree major is. What matters is excelling within your chosen area of study. There are private law schools and public law schools. Public law schools
often are housed on public university campuses and property, such as the University of Washington or UCLA Law Schools. Private law schools, such as Seattle University Law School
or Willamette Law School, are usually affiliated with a private university or college campus. There are American BAR Association (ABA) accredited and State BAR accredited
public and private law schools! Students can usually receive federal and state financial aid at ABA accredited public and private law schools. Students often cannot gain full
access to federal financial aid at unaccredited law schools. Some states require a law degree from an ABA accredited law school to sit for the Bar exam to get a license to
practice as an attorney. Some states such as CA, will allow you to sit for the BAR exam in CA, if you went to a law school that is CA BAR accredited, etc., but not ABA
accredited. Private law schools are more expensive than public law schools, and public laws schools are generally harder to get into than private law schools, except for Ivy
League schools. Unaccredited law schools are easier to get into than accredited law schools, obviously.
You can read the rest of this article and more articles about law school in my new book on Kindle!
How to Apply to Law School (With Tips for Low-Income Students)
Description: Often the other side of the "big door marked "Law"" intimidates students. Written by a low-income law student, this book walks future law students through the law school application process in plain English, reducing the anxiety usually inherent due to mystery. The book consists of 3 articles which describe the law school application process, materials necessary for applications, LSAT and admissions fee waivers, admissions processes and the standard first year of law study. The book is written from a personal point of view, with many true stories, and is based on the experience of applying for and attending an ABA accredited law school program in the United States.
Click on the book image to order through Amazon.com. If you do not have a Kindle, you can also download these books for other technologies such as
iPhones, iPads, Blackberries, Android phones, Macs or personal computers instead.
Kirsten Anderberg. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint/publish, please contact Kirsten at kirstena@resist.ca.
Kirsten Anderberg. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint/publish, please contact Kirsten at kirstena@resist.ca.