Prelaw Timeline
Freshman Year
Build rapport with your professors and supervisors for future recommendation letters.
Explore the legal field – conduct informational interviews, volunteer/intern in legal settings. Utilize Alumni ICAN http://alum.mit.edu/cs/ican/
Speak with your Academic Advisor about your career interests in the legal profession and other areas.
Select a major that you are interested in- there are no prelaw required courses or majors.
Sophomore Year
If you haven’t done so during freshman year, select a major that you are interested in – there are no prelaw required courses or majors.
Explore the legal field – conduct informational interviews, volunteer/intern in legal settings.
Continue to build rapport with professors and supervisors for future recommendation letters.
Meet with a Prelaw Advisor.
Junior Year
Meet with a Prelaw Advisor.
Study for the LSATs.
Learn about current legal issues.
Continue to explore the legal field through informational interviews and internships.
Attend Law School Admissions Presentations on campus.
Attend IAP Prelaw events.
Take the LSAT in June.
Research and visit law schools.
Review the Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools book.
Explore early decision options to law schools
Speak to 2-3 people about writing you a letter of recommendation for law school.
Summer before Senior Year
Obtain school applications.
Start to write your personal statement/essay
Have your essay critiqued and completed.
Research financial aid options.
Senior Year
Fall Semester
Review the Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools book.
Obtain school applications.
Register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).
Have recommendation letters sent to the LSDAS
Obtain a Dean’s Letter/Certificate from the Registrar’s Office, 5-119.
Have personal statement/essay critiqued and completed.
Take LSAT if you haven’t done so already.
Research and visit law schools, develop your application strategy.
Attend Law School Admissions Presentations on campus.
Attend the Annual Law School Forum held in November.
Send in applications mid-late fall (Most schools are on a rolling admissions process, but you should confirm deadlines with each school)
Keep abreast of current legal issues.
Research financial aid options.
Spring Semester
Continue to research financial aid options.
Make decisions regarding your acceptances and/or other plans outside of attending law school.
Update the Careers Office staff on the status of your applications.
Write thank you notes to your prelaw advisor and recommendation writers, update them on your status.
Last updated on Tuesday, March 21, 06 at 09:41:32 AM EST.
