Law and Justice

Posts Tagged ‘Personal’

Marketing your law practice is one of the most frustrating aspects of running a small law firm. No one ever taught you how to market in law school and the typical lawyer marketing article in your state bar journal tells you all the things you can’t do.

Here are eleven major mistakes that personal injury lawyers make with their advertising.

1. Failing to make a decision as to what the perfect business and perfect customer look like. You can’t develop a marketing plan (or purchase advertising media such as Yellow Page ads, TV commercials or websites) without understanding where you are going. What does your perfect client look like? What do you want your law practice to look like? The correct answer to the question “why do you want to spend any money on marketing?” should not necessarily be, “more cases.” Not drawing at least a mental picture of what it is you are after with your practice is like getting on an airplane and saying “take me anywhere.”

2. Failing to accept that marketing and practice building is the most important thing you can do in your law firm – look around. Is it only the best lawyers, real estate agents, doctors in your town who get the best business? Just being a good trial lawyer, (even the best) doesn’t cut it anymore. Isn’t it frustrating to see a lawyer whose has never tried a case get better clients than you do and then brag about it later? By understanding how to market effectively you put yourself into a position to see more cases from which you can choose the ones that match your “perfect customer” profile.

3. Thinking That Copying What Other Lawyers Are Doing With Their Marketing Will Get You A Better Result. Earl Nightingale, one of the world’s foremost experts on what makes people successful, had some good advice for lawyers and other business owners who want to market their practices. He said, (and yes, I am paraphrasing) that if you wanted to learn a new skill in business, and you had no mentor or guide you could trust, that the best thing you could do was figure out what everyone else was doing and then do the opposite. What the majority does is, at best, average. So it is with marketing.

4. Ignoring the Gold In Your Files Right Now. It costs at least ten times a much to obtain new customers as to keep in contact with old clients and indeed, everyone who contacts you. Your files are filled with names of folks who know you. Those folks generally have at least 50 other friends in their “circle of influence.” (Read How to Close Every Sale, by Joe Girard.) Personal injury lawyers are happy to spend thousands on Yellow Page and TV marketing while ignoring completely those who they already have some relationship with.

5. Failing to capture the name of every new person who indicates that he/she is interested in what you have to say. Lawyers spend thousands on generating new leads (potential client inquiries) yet never market back to the cases they don’t accept. In most offices that’s MOST of the new inquiries. Yet this is a goldmine of people that you can directly market to in the future. You can’t rely on the fact that if they or someone they know needs your services or products that they will remember you tomorrow because they called you once in the past.

6. Failing to get ahead of the marketing curve. How many lawyers spend any time trying to start a relationship with a potential client BEFORE that person has a problem? Most personal injury lawyers view marketing as reactionary. That is, the relationship starts once a person is injured and they start trying to find a lawyer. How about if you offered a good reason for people to call you BEFORE they get hurt (good quality information on how to buy car insurance comes to immediate mind), BEFORE they need you. Once they tell you who they are they are inviting a conversation and giving you their permission to market to them directly and as frequently as you can afford to. If you can develop a “herd” of people that listen to you before they have need you, they won’t be looking in the Yellow Pages after they have an accident or need your product.

7. Being an advertising “victim”-most business owners think about their advertising and marketing plan the 30 minutes or so before the Yellow Page rep comes walking through the door. They don’t do any independent research or study. They follow the crowd because “it must be working or else everyone else wouldn’t be doing it.” If it doesn’t work they then take the Yellow Page rep’s advice to “buy more, and use color.” A real sign that you are an “advertising victim” is that you allow the Yellow Page rep to design your ad. This is usually a huge mistake. Think about it–the goal of the Yellow Page rep is not to make your ad beat all the other ads in the book.

8. Failure to accurately measure resultsdo this test. Ask anyone who spends a lot money on advertising exactly how much revenue is returned (ROI-return on investment) they get from a particular TV spot. Better yet, ask the folks running double truck (huge, 2 page) ads inside the Yellow Pages how much revenue those pages generate vs. the outside back cover they are also buying. They won’t be able to answer that question. Would you buy mutual fund without demanding a specific accounting of actual results? 9. Failure to develop a terrific referral system–we all know that the best clients with the best cases come from referrals and are pre-sold on you. Strange as it may seem, clients don’t always know how to refer. The lawyers who really understand marketing have figured out ways to have current friends and customers refer new consumers to them BEFORE they need an attorney. Developing good consumer information products and backing it up with an interesting firm newsletter that it consistently mailed is a terrific way to greatly expand your referral base without using high priced TV marketing.

10. Failure to Diversify Your Marketing-”one” is a very dangerous number. Don’t forget to see what other industries are doing. There are lots of media out there, for example, media not traditionally used by lawyers. While most lawyers think in terms of Yellow Pages, TV and websites, sophisticated lawyer marketers understand and also use low cost coupon media, postcards and free standing inserts. The key is to choose media that is relatively easy to test and then to measure results.

11. Trying to Win the Advertising Game by “Shouting Louder”Most injury lawyers try to differentiate themselves in print and TV media by simply spending more money to “shout louder.” This is accomplished by buying more color, more space, or more TV as spots. The two fold problem of this approach is that (1) it’s an expensive way to run a business and (2) there will always be someone who can spend more than you can.

Personal injury lawyers need to learn to “make a different kind of noise” with their marketing.

After you’ve conscientiously compiled and submitted all the requirements to the law schools you want to apply to, there comes the big wait for the phone call or letter that can decide the way your life would run for the next four years or so.  However, the stomach-wringing doesn’t stop when you get call for an interview.  In fact, it should also be a cause for more jitters since you’ll be face-to-face with people who will openly judge you based not only on your intellect, but also your appearance.  So what do you do to calm down and sail through the interview?  Here are just a few of the things that might help.

Do your research

Browse the Internet for information about the program and the school you are applying to.  Search for notable alumni such as politicians, activists, and even celebrities if possible.  Find out if there are famous or notorious faculty members as well. When you get the call or letter for interview from the law school, you can ask who will be the ones to do the interview so you can do some research about them.  Researching about the panel members can help you get to know a few facts about them so you won’t be making any comments or statements that may be taken as an offense.  Showing that you know a thing or two about the school and are willing to learn more can make the interview and the succeeding conversations flow more smoothly and more freely.

Read your law school personal statement again

Inevitably, your law school personal statement will also be the one of the topics that will be discussed during the interview.  Brush up on the essay or personal statement that you passed for this particular law school so that it won’t take too long for you think of the answers when the panel members ask you questions about it.

Practice

Just like in a competition, it also pays to practice before the day of the interview starts.  You can face a mirror and pretend that you are speaking to the panel members.  Think of possible directions for the conversation or questions that may be asked to you so you can answer appropriately.  Be sure to choose the appropriate and comfortable clothes for the event as well.  If you’re not used to wearing business attire, you can get the feel of it if you wear these even on your practice sessions.  Your clothes have to ne cleaned and pressed on the day of the interview itself to make a good impression on the interviewers.

Do a preview of the place

Going to the school a few days before the scheduled interview can help you get acquainted with the campus, the routes, and the streets that lead to it, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area.  Knowing where the interview will be conducted can help you save time.  Look for the nearest parking space and designated exits so you won’t have any trouble on the day of your interview.

Before you’re invited to an interview, the selection panel would skim through hundred of personal statements.  To make sure that your essay will stand out, check out a sample law school personal statement.  Take note of what’s done right and wrong on each sample law school personal statement.  Only through this can you get fully prepared on writing your own.

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Going to law school requires time, money, and commitment.  A half-hearted effort just wouldn’t cut it in law school, which is why passion for the field is an important aspect of a law school personal statement.  This is one of the three most important items in your application to law school, along with your LSAT score and GPA.  Your personal statement, or the admission essay, can spell out the difference between getting into the “rejected” pile and the “accepted”—or at least “waitlisted”—list.  

Why is a personal statement a big deal?

Writing your admission essay is the one thing that you have total control over in the application process.  Even if you have outstanding scholastic records and excellent recommendations from your mentors, there are considerable factors that the Admission Board will not be able to evaluate through them.  Passion and dedication are immeasurable, so there is one thing that the Admission Board would consider a deal-breaker: your purpose.  The first thing you should do is to check your motives.  The clearer your motivations for pursuing law school are to you, the easier it will be to write your personal statement.

What are the characteristics of an effective personal statement?

A good personal statement should clearly explain why you want to take up law.  This is why outstanding admission essays often focus on the applicant’s motivation in its discussion.  Be a storyteller and walk the reader through your personal experiences which prompted you to want to become a lawyer.  Make sure that you cite specific examples of activities that you participated in which are relevant to your goals.  Although one of your objectives for writing your personal statement is to stand out from thousands of other applicants, keep in mind that you are applying for law school and not a creative writing course.  Be concise and keep the flow logical and well-organized.  

How do you go about writing a law school personal statement?

Before getting down to writing, learn more about the law school that you would like to study at.  Take note of the principles and achievements that it considers very important.  This is a crucial step, because you need to explain to the Admission Board why you are suited for the law school’s culture and environment.  Highlight personal qualities that match the values which the law school upholds, such as leadership and service.  Go beyond motherhood statements and mention concrete examples.  For instance, you may discuss how you organized an outreach program and what you accomplished during your term as president of the student council.   

Your personal statement should allow the Admission Board to know you as a person, so they can determine how much pressure you can take.  Use sample law school personal statements only as a guide to help you get a better idea of what to include in your own essay.  It would be a big mistake to substitute the contents of the sample essays with your own information.  That would be plagiarism, and it might jeopardize your chance of getting accepted.  Also, avoid padding your essay with achievements that you do not really have.  As long as you know your reasons for pursuing a degree in law quite well, writing them down would not be too difficult a task.

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Law students would tell you that law school is a “jealous mistress,” which the faint of heart should best live without.  It is for this same reason that the selection process is more rigorous and the application to law school more competitive, especially if you are aiming for the top law schools in the country.  If law is your passion, then there is one more thing that you need to work hard on aside from having an outstanding GPA and getting an excellent LSAT score: turning in a top-notch personal statement.  

A personal statement is also known as an admission or application essay.  Typically, it is a two-page essay which sums up the reasons why you want to go to law school.  Some law schools, however, may set a minimum or maximum word and page count.  The rules of writing a personal statement typically vary from one university to another, so it is best to stick to the format required by the law school of your choice.  A law school may also assign a specific theme or question that you should work on, while others usually allow applicants freedom to choose what topic to discuss.  Whatever is required by the Admission Board of the law school that you are eyeing, your main objective should be to make your personal statement stand out from thousands of essays.

How to write a top-notch personal statement   

Even if you have superb writing skills, it would be a good idea to check out sample personal statements for law students.  Try to search for sample personal statements of those who have made it to the law school of your choice, so you will have a better grasp of the essay structure and organization that the Admission Board prefers.  The more samples you read, the better it is for you.  Try to determine what elements they all have in common.  Effective personal statements often explain the applicant’s personal goals clearly and show consistency of purpose by stating his or her motivation for pursuing law school, which is then supported by activities that match these reasons.  

Do your research on the background of the law school.  Find out which values and principles they consider most important, and make sure that you present yourself as a good match to these.  

What to avoid

Although you should make it a point to tell the Admission Board why you are a suitable student, never lie in your application.  Although an interview may not be part of the selection process of some law schools, most universities do conduct interviews.  If you have padded or lied in your essay, the interviewer is bound to find out, and this will just jeopardize your chance of getting into law school.  

Similarly, keep yourself from copying sample personal statements and substituting the items with your own information.  It is dishonest and will make you less confident during the interview.  In addition, your essay will lose its personal touch and uniqueness, which are important factors when catching and holding the reader’s attention.  Do not go overboard with the creativity.  Keep in mind that it is law school you are applying to, where conciseness and sensibility are highly valued.

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Law school admissions are all about LSAT and GPA scores as well as how many A’s a student got in the undergraduate years. However, law school admissions also look for potential students who excel not only in the academics, but also in other areas. Though this may sound like applying to college all over again, extracurricular activities and your other pursuits not related to school or work can be the aces up your sleeves.  In the same manner that you discuss how being the captain of the lacrosse team in high school helped you channel your focus in your college application essay, in your law school personal statement, you can talk about how you’re involvement with certain organizations has opened your eyes to the desire to study the law. Here are just a few of the extracurricular activities that are cited in sample law school personal statements.

Membership with NGOs

Being part of a group such as a non-government organization can work for you in your quest to get into law school.  In some sample law school personal statements, authors detail how their passion for saving the earth has prompted them to join an NGO.  Good sample law school personal statements also focus on how earning a law degree can help applicants realize their dream for a more environment-conscious society.  These NGOs are good training grounds for future lawyers.  You are trained in reviewing existing legislation and even help draft new bills for the protection or pursuit of your organization’s cause. Going to law school can seal in better knowledge and skills in understanding how the law works.

The debate club

You’ve probably seen on TV and in movies how lawyers are very eloquent speakers and highly-attentive listeners when it comes to defending their clients and attacking the opposing side.  The debate club hones this talent early on.  Applicants who have a background in public speaking or debating can very well feel at ease in the courtroom when delivering speeches or launching verbal attacks through depositions. Individuals who also excel in writing can also cite this ability in their law school personal statement.  If you have a good command of the language and can fashion these into highly informative and purposeful written output, then you may have the potential to write legal briefs that can be one of the weapons of a lawyer in a case.

Social Work

Though the desire for public service may be for those who aspire for a position in government, having the heart and kindness to serve others is also a great factor that law school admissions panels look for in applicants.  Pro bono, that legal service rendered for free by accredited lawyers, actually translates to “for the good of the public.”  If you possess the intellect and skills for becoming a lawyer and also have the compassion to serve those who need justice, you can do very well by relaying your involvement with social work or community services in your admission essay.

Extracurricular activities also tell much about who you are, your interests, beliefs, and purpose in life.  So don’t forget to highlight these experiences when writing your admission essay for law school.

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Academic success, whichever field you’re in, requires preparation.  If you’re aiming for acceptance in law school, then consider the various extra-curricular organizations you can join during your pre-law.  When choosing an organization during your pre-law, ask yourself these questions: How important is my participation in these activities?  Will these organizations help me develop my skills to be successful in law school?

Your involvement in these organizations can also serve as topics for your winning personal statement law school.  Joining various organizations during pre-law can also serve as preparation since law schools also have various organizations you can choose from to further hone your skills while in law school.  

Joining law school organizations

Law school organizations offer various activities to prepare students for the actual legal scene.  However, joining should not be because you want something on your resume, but because you share the same beliefs that they uphold.  Here are some law school organizations that can hone your skills as a future lawyer.

Student-run journals

Joining a law school journal is one of the most prestigious activities you can do while in law school.  Most schools have several student-run journals.  These include the general journal, also called the “law review,” and specialized law journals (ex: Environmental Law Journal, Global Studies Law Review, Corporate Law Journal, Gender and Equality Law Review, and Taxation Law Journal).  If you have journalistic experience during your pre-law, joining a law school journal becomes easier.  By joining law school journals, your ability to write is further honed.  Keep in mind that excellent writing skills are important when pursuing a legal career.

Legal competitions (moot court and mock trial)

The most common legal competitions are the mock trial and moot court.  In a mock trial, students role-play as attorneys and witnesses.  They present a case to a judge and a jury. Most law schools have mock trial teams that compete against other schools.

Moot court, on the other hand, is a simulated court proceeding which includes drafting briefs and participating in oral arguments.  Even if moot means a gathering of prominent men in a locality to discuss matters of local importance, moot court does not involve actual testimony by witnesses or the presentation of evidence.  It is just focused on the application of law to a set of assumptions based on evidences.  A moot court is considered more prestigious than a mock trial, although involvement in both are attractive to potential employers hiring litigators because a good moot court participant will always make an effective litigator.

Student associations

Law schools also have various student associations.  One comprehensive group that is open to all students is called the “Student Bar Association.”  Also, there are national law student fraternities that serve as social organizations open to all students.  This organizations’ activities include academic conferences, publications, and coordination with other student associations from other law schools.

Debate teams

Communication skills gained from experience in debates and making speeches is yet another parameter for law schools. A potential candidate needs to communicate ideas clearly to be a successful lawyer.

Indeed, extracurricular activities can help you hone your skills as your pursue a legal career.  Your resume will also look good if you’re able to find organizations whom you share your passion and beliefs with.

Law school application process is particularly harder not because of the length or complexity of the questions, but because most questions are very generic and open-ended. Aside from your LSAT scores and undergraduate GPA, Law school admission committees are interested in the following areas:

Reason for pursuing a law degree.
Your qualifications and experiences.
How you are different from other candidates.

Law school admission committees focus heavily on your personal qualities and how you can contribute to a dynamic law community. Therefore, your experiences, personal interests, and unique qualities carry an important message to the admission officers. In particular, the committee wants to know what makes you a good “fit” for their school. Your personal statement should highlight why the law school you are applying to is a good choice for you, as well as for them. Therefore, it is very important that you find out as much information about the school’s strengths, mission, and culture and be able to relate yourself to them.

Pre-Work

It is always to your advantage to start your application early. Before you start writing, give enough time to gather your thoughts and do some homework:

Read and ask around about the list of schools that you are interested in. Find out more information on what makes these schools stand out from the others; their area of focus, extensive research resources, famous faculty etc.
Read through the application materials very carefully. Grasp an idea of the school’s methodology of getting to know you.
If you are near the school that you are applying to, introduce yourself to current students and find more information about their experiences.

These small steps will familiarize you with the school and you may be able to relate more to its culture and their focus of academics in your essay. Be sure to write down all the information you can find and stay organized.

Why our Law School?

Almost every law school you apply to will want to know your answer to this question in one form or another. From your pre-work above, you can now confidently answer this question. Make a connection between the school’s strengths and your skill sets and background.

Prove that you can benefit the most from the school’s program relative to other applicants and also how you can benefit the school community. Aside from academics, also show your enthusiasm for extracurricular activities the school may take pride in. Perhaps the school has a reputable community service organization or nationally recognized acapella singing group. Whatever it may be, show that you like every aspect about the school as a whole and that you are the best fit candidate to mutually benefit.

Popular Law School Essay Questions

Why do you want to be a lawyer?

Every applicant wants to become a lawyer so you want to avoid starting off by saying “It has always been my dream to become a lawyer” or “I want to help fight injustice and help those in need”. Chances are, the admission officer will get thousands of essays discussing how sympathetic they are to the community and that they would love to be able to help them with a degree in law.

The admission committees are well aware that most of the graduates will end up taking a job offer in the private sector with good compensation. Unless you genuinely have extensive and unique experience in the non-profit sector, avoid dwelling too much which may potentially sound too shallow. Remember that it is always easier to impress the admission officers than the traditional route. Whether it was for profit or non-profit, be genuine about your experiences and show enthusiasm using an active voice.

What makes you a unique candidate

The committee is interested in you qualities as a person as well as the skill sets you have which may set you apart from others. They are looking for candidates who are confident, determined, as well as those who possess intellectual curiosity and integrity. Demonstrate that you have these qualities by showing specific examples from your experience. Try not to summarize your resume or transcript. Instead, use the opportunity to tie all of your experiences and skill sets to prove that you are indeed a unique candidate.

One way to standout from other candidates is by explaining a unique career goal(s). Perhaps your goal is to become a lawyer working for the EPA instead of a corporate. By having a distinctive goal, tailor your experiences and skill sets to support your ultimate goal and show that a law degree from that specific school can help you achieve them.

Tips on writing law school application essays

1) Do not write like a lawyer!

Many applicants make the mistake of pretending to write like a lawyer since they are applying to a law school. They don’t expect you to write like a lawyer in the first place since you haven’t been educated as a lawyer yet! Even if you are adept at writing like a lawyer, it may sound too technical and impersonal. Avoid using unnecessarily complex or redundant words.

2) Show that you are not only qualified, but also well rounded.

Most applicants will try to impress the committee with their stellar grades, intense lab hours, great LSAT scores, and their passion for law studies. However, given most candidates possess relatively similar skill sets, the committee is looking for candidates who are well rounded. Be sure to include several examples of your experiences unrelated to law to show that you have an interesting life outside of academics and professional career..

3) Be personal.

You can claim that you have the suitable characteristics of a law practitioner, but if you can’t back it up with examples, it will sound nothing more than an advertisement in a newspaper. Give specific examples from your experiences which can legitimately validate your claims. The goal is to create a vivid image of something that has uniquely happened to you, instead of sounding like something that could be read elsewhere.

4) Stay focused.

Many applicants suffer in this category because they are busy listing their merits and writing about their exciting experiences. Keep in mind what the question is asking and make all of your key points and examples to support answering the question in the end.

5) Don’t be a model student. Be a clown.

Keep in mind that many applicants are trying to impress the committee with their immense amount of leadership, experiences, and their wonderful LSAT scores. You must figure out a way to make your essay stand out from thousands of essays in the pile and the worst thing you can do is to follow the herd and dwell on just how wonderful your life has been so far.

Spend enough time on your introductory paragraph to catch the officer’s attention and maintain it throughout your writing.

6) Keep clarity and organization.

Have an outline of how your essay will be structured and make sure to execute according to plan. The main paragraphs should consist of events, experiences and activities you have thought to include. Keep your sentences concise and to the point. Each paragraph should have a theme relating back to the topic of the essay. Be sure there aren’t any vague words or sentences that could potentially confuse the reader or deviate from answering the question.

Revise!

No matter how well you think you’ve written your essay, chances are, your essay will be infested with grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Part of your revision may even involve deleting parts of your essay! You may also need to write more to make your paragraphs look more transitioned and easy to follow. Also be mindful of choice of words, content and structural issues, and overall style and that the parameter of your essay fits the required criteria.

Revising is not an easy task. It is not only time consuming, but also the chance of improving something you’ve written yourself is low. Have your essay professionally edited. Whether it is for a college application, academic purpose, or for a business presentation speech, a single undetected error can jeopardize your chance of admission, your GPA, or acceptance by your audience.

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Law school can be hard – just ask any 1L who’s had to go without sleep for two days to prepare for the exam next week. What can make negotiating the jungle that is law school even harder is inadequate preparation, or the wrong tools in your armory. The books listed below will help you come to grips with the complexities of law school, and how to balance high grades with a social life without losing your sanity: <b>First Steps: Law School Admission Guides:</b> <b>1. How To Get Into the Great Law Schools</b> One of the best books out there on mastering every aspect of a law school, from the personal statement, to the LSAT, to choosing which college might be the best for your needs and skill set. <b>2. Law School Confidential</b> A book that has been called “a must for anyone thinking of, or attending law school”, Law School Confidential is one of the best books to acquaint yourself with the law school lifestyle. Its conversational, candid style has made it really popular with law students over the years. An essential read. <b>Getting In: Essential LSAT Prep and Personal Statement books:</b> <b>1. The Official LSAT Prep Test 51</b> As the title says, this is the official LSAT Prep Test book brought out by the Law School Admission Council, making it an essential part of your library. Features actual tests from pervious years. <b>2. The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests</b> One of the best books to help you prepare for the LSAT, unlike other books, it features actual tests from previous years. Completing this book will make you feel like a champ when it comes to the LSAT. <b>3. PowerScore Logic Games Bible</b> A great guide to what is probably the hardest section of the LSAT: the logic games. Mastering this book will jump your score up by several notches. <b>4. How to Write a Winning Personal Statement</b> The highlight of this book is the actual essays by the admissions directors of top law schools like Harvard Law, Yale Law, Univ. Of Michigan Law, etc. Other than this, it also features plenty of advice about writing the perfect personal statement. <b>Once You Are In: Guides to Success in the Law School</b> <b>1. Law School Confidential</b> We are compelled to include this book in both this, and the above lists. The advice it delivers is useful for those thinking of applying to law school, as well as those who are already in. A must, and entertaining read. <b>2. Law School Insider: The Comprehensive 21st Century Guide to Success in Admissions, Classes, Law Review, Bar Exams and Job Searches.</b> A high quality, and thorough book that, as the title implies, deals comprehensively with admissions, classes, law review, bar exams, and job searches. A hefty book that will make law school a whole lot easier. There you have it: a comprehensive list of essential books in a law student’s library.

Law school can be hard – just ask any 1L who’s had to go without sleep for two days to prepare for the exam next week.

What can make negotiating the jungle that is law school even harder is inadequate preparation, or the wrong tools in your armory. The books listed below will help you come to grips with the complexities of law school, and how to balance high grades with a social life without losing your sanity:

First Steps: Law School Admission Guides:

1. How To Get Into the Great Law Schools

One of the best books out there on mastering every aspect of a law school, from the personal statement, to the LSAT, to choosing which college might be the best for your needs and skill set.

2. Law School Confidential

A book that has been called “a must for anyone thinking of, or attending law school”, Law School Confidential is one of the best books to acquaint yourself with the law school lifestyle. Its conversational, candid style has made it really popular with law students over the years. An essential read.

Getting In: Essential LSAT Prep and Personal Statement books:

1. The Official LSAT Prep Test 51

As the title says, this is the official LSAT Prep Test book brought out by the Law School Admission Council, making it an essential part of your library. Features actual tests from pervious years.

2. The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests

One of the best books to help you prepare for the LSAT, unlike other books, it features actual tests from previous years. Completing this book will make you feel like a champ when it comes to the LSAT.

3. PowerScore Logic Games Bible

A great guide to what is probably the hardest section of the LSAT: the logic games. Mastering this book will jump your score up by several notches.

4. How to Write a Winning Personal Statement

The highlight of this book is the actual essays by the admissions directors of top law schools like Harvard Law, Yale Law, Univ. Of Michigan Law, etc. Other than this, it also features plenty of advice about writing the perfect personal statement.

Once You Are In: Guides to Success in the Law School

1. Law School Confidential

We are compelled to include this book in both this, and the above lists. The advice it delivers is useful for those thinking of applying to law school, as well as those who are already in. A must, and entertaining read.

2. Law School Insider: The Comprehensive 21st Century Guide to Success in Admissions, Classes, Law Review, Bar Exams and Job Searches.

A high quality, and thorough book that, as the title implies, deals comprehensively with admissions, classes, law review, bar exams, and job searches. A hefty book that will make law school a whole lot easier.

There you have it: a comprehensive list of essential books in a law student’s library.

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