Month: September 2017

Applications, Open Houses, and Finishing Up Your Fall 2018 Applications

While the fall is a busy time for everyone, if you are currently working on your law school applications for Fall 2018, you should be wrapping things up!
Next steps once your applications are almost done or done:

If you are applying for law school this year to enter into school in Fall 2018, consider attending our “Applying to Law School” Workshop to get any of your last minute questions answered. The event is on Monday October 16 at 4PM in the Illini Union Bookstore Building Room 514. Click here for more information.

If you are still working on your personal statement, attend our “Perfecting Your Personal Statement and Resume for Law School” workshop on Monday October 23 at 4PM in the Illini Union Bookstore Building Room 514. Please register for this event by clicking here so we can ensure we have enough materials and spots for everyone that would like to attend.

Once the Law School Fair is over on Wednesday, you should begin wrapping up your law school applications and registering for open houses and touring schools. Listed below are the open houses or tour opportunities for schools in Illinois.

Open House/Tour Info for Illinois Law Schools 2017-2018

Some schools schedule formal open houses and others require you to choose a date for a visit. Open houses are a great opportunity to visit the campus, sit in on the class, see what the students and professors are like, and a great opportunity to answer all your questions. Here are some options for visits and open houses for Illinois schools:

Please check our Compass page for more information if you are in the process of applying. The information is located in Compass under the “Applying to Law School Folder.”

3 Things To Do Before a Law School Visit or Open House

Once you decide to attend a law school open house or tour, here are a few things you should do.

  1. REGISTER! Make you are following the school’s directions and reserve a spot for the open house or tour.
  2. Dress professionally for the event. Likely the open houses will have a business casual dress code. Tours may be more casual attire, but check with the school and see what they encourage prospective students to wear. You want to make a good first impression!
  3. Read the website and be familiar with the time, date, where to park, and what to bring to the event. Write down any questions you have so you can ask them on the tour or during the visit.

Also, research schools that you are considering out of state. Most schools offer open houses throughout the year and regular tours. Make use of the week off for Thanksgiving break and the long winter break for farther distance trips. Schedule these events early!

Mark Your Calendars – Law School Application Week Edition

It’s Law School Application Week! Check out our 3 wonderful events going on this week!

The Law School Fair is Wednesday September 27, at the Illini Union in Rooms A, B, and C. We are looking forward to seeing many of you there!

 Join us as over 100 law schools visit campus to meet with prospective students. Gather information about law schools, talk with admissions professionals about their schools, collect some fun freebies and law school application fee waivers. This event is FREE and open to the public. Dress is business casual. For more information, including a list of law schools attending the fair, visit our website. See you at the fair! No registration is required.

Four Things to Do Before the Law School Fair

Here are a few things to do before to get the most of out of the Law School Fair.

  1. Look at the Schools’ Websites and Do Some Background Research
    1. Have specific questions for the admissions representatives that are coming to campus. Most basic questions can be answered by simply looking at the website (GPAs, LSAT scores, where their graduates work, professors, etc).
    2. Example questions to ask: Where do students typically work after their first year summer? What is the school environment like? Are there study groups or other academic resources available? What do students do in their free time? How many students are involved in clubs and activities? What is the most popular class at the law school?
  2. Have an Elevator Pitch Ready
    1. What’s an elevator pitch? It is a 30 second introductory speech about yourself.
    2. The elevator pitch should start out by telling the representative your name, your hometown, your major, when you are applying to law school, and why you are interested in that specific law school. The law schools want to get to know you, so you should tell them a little about yourself.
    3. Don’t read off the speech, consider it the beginning of a conversation.
  3. Get Your Outfit Ready
    1. Dress is business causal for the event.
    2. Men – A dress shirt, dress pants, and a tie are appropriate. No suit coat is needed.
    3. Women – A dress shirt, blouse, or sweater, and dress pants or a skirt are appropriate.
  4. Things to Bring With to the Event
    1. A list of schools you want to talk to and why you are interested in those law schools.
    2. A notebook and pencil. If you are impressed with a school or want to remember a specific detail about a conversation, it is best to write it down right away.
    3. No need to bring a resume – most law schools will not accept resumes at this event.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

For Law School Application Week we have some great events planned!

FALL EVENTS

Law School Admissions Panel Tuesday September 26

7:00PM 1002 Lincoln Hall

What are law school admissions professionals really looking for in an applicant? How do they weigh LSAT scores, grades, or work experience? What makes them take notice of an applicant–and what would make them deny someone? Join us for this expert law school admissions panel to discover this and more. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. This is a must-see event for anyone considering applying to law school!

Panelists include:

Dean Ann Perry from the University of Chicago Law School  http://www.law.uchicago.edu/

Ms. Grace Mayeda from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law  https://www.law.berkeley.edu/

Dean Rebecca Ray from the University of Illinois College of Law  https://law.illinois.edu/

Law School Fair Wednesday September 27

10:00-2:00PM Illini Union Rooms A, B, and C

It’s the biggest pre-law event of the year! Join us as 120+ law schools visit campus to meet all who are interested in applying to law school. Learn about law schools, scholarships, and the application process while meeting the people who will be reading your law school applications. Application fee waivers and other freebies will be available. Stop by or stay the whole time! This event is free and open to the public. Business casual dress.

Getting to Know Northwestern Law (co-hosted with Pre-Law Honors Society) Thursday September 28

6:00 – 7:30 pm  1090 Lincoln Hall

Interested in Northwestern Pritzker School of Law?  Join us as Assistant Director of Admissions Sarah Rewerts discusses The Northwestern Law Difference.  Sarah will also share her inside perspective on Northwestern Law’s admission process, including:  the Early Decision program; the interview process; the recent decision to begin accepting the GRE (for the Fall 2019 entering class), and more!  This is a great opportunity to get to know Northwestern Law and to have your questions answered!

Pre-Law 101 Tuesday October 3

4:00-5:00PM Room 514 of the Illini Union Bookstore

This workshop is designed for incoming students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it. We will cover: What it means to be pre-law at Illinois, course selection, majors, and extracurriculars, building a pre-law resume, and what law schools are really looking for. We will outline a four year plan to maximize your undergraduate experiences in order to make a great law school candidate. We’ll also take any questions about law school and legal careers. Click the link above to register so that we can guarantee seating and materials for everyone. Each Pre-Law 101 session is the same. Incoming students should attend a Pre-Law 101 prior to setting up an individual pre-law advising appointment.

Scholarships

We’ve collected 275 scholarships–for both undergrads and incoming law students–on our Scholarships Spreadsheet over on our Pre-Law Compass page. It’s a wide variety of scholarships based on everything from being left-handed to making a video to tweeting, and deadlines vary, so check it out!

Internships

It’s NOT too early to start looking for spring/summer internships today! We post internships on our blog and our Facebook page. Check out this blog post for a plan on how to start finding spring and summer internships this fall.

Pre-Law Resources

Now is a great time to check out–or join–all of our pre-law resources! Click the links to explore. You can also search this blog for posts about the LSAT, law school applications, resumes, internships, and more!

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Compass page

 

What to Do Now That the LSAT Is Over

If you took the September LSAT, now is the time to be planning ahead for the rest of the fall semester. The release date for scores (via email) for the September LSAT is October 12.

The regular registration deadline for the December 2nd LSAT is only 6 days after the release date. The regular registration deadline for the December LSAT is Wednesday October 18. The late registration deadline (with possible additional fees) is Wednesday October 25.

By registering for the December LSAT then, it is not guaranteed that your preferred testing location will be open. Spots will fill up quickly, especially for the LSAT location in Urbana-Champaign.

If you took the September LSAT and are currently waiting for your score, this blog entry will go on to discuss how to decide whether to retake.

Whether to retake the LSAT. The bigger question for many of you will be: Should I retake the LSAT? This consideration is even more important due to the timing of the next LSAT (in December).

How do Illini perform on an LSAT retake? As a general guideline, most retakers score within 2.5 points of where they scored on the last LSAT. We did a study of University of Illinois LSAT takers from 2012-2015 and found these results:

  • 44% of Illini took the LSAT more than once
  • The average Illini LSAT retaker scored 2.45 points higher on the second exam
  • Of all Illini LSAT retakers:
  • 51% of Illini retakers scored better on a subsequent LSAT
  • 15% of Illini retakers scored worse on a subsequent LSAT
  • 6% of Illini retakers scored the same on a subsequent LSAT
  • 33% of Illini register to retake and then are absent for the subsequent exam

Some questions to ask yourself about whether to retake:

  • Was your actual score consistent with your practice exams?
  • Do you have the time and willingness to continue your LSAT preparation consistently until December?
  • How will you continue LSAT prep without your academics suffering? (Consider final papers and exams.)
  • What can you do differently so that this exam performance is better?
  • How close is your score to the medians of your top choice law schools? Is it likely that you could achieve the medians by retaking?

If you decide to retake in December, here are some suggested next steps:

  • Register ASAP; you may not get your preferred test site and that will mean making other arrangements such as a hotel
  • It is VERY important that you return to studying for the LSAT now! Don’t wait.
  • Clear your upcoming schedule as much as possible to allow you to balance prepping for the LSAT and prepping for final exams/papers/projects.
  • Consider doing something different in your LSAT prep–exploring a different book, class, website, using a different study plan, etc. (For some suggested resources visit our Compass page and click on the LSAT folder.)
  • Revamp your application timeline. Your goal should be to apply by mid-January, when the December LSAT scores will be released.

You may find it helpful to speak with a Pre-Law Advisor about next steps. Call 333-9669 to make an appointment!

Mark Your Calendars – Week of September 18

Pre-Law Events

Next week is Law School Application Week! Save the date for the Law School Fair! Next Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 10 am-2 pm at the Union over 100 law school reps will be here to meet YOU! Click here for more details, including a list of who’s coming.

Next week also has the Law School Admission Panel, featuring the admissions deans at UC Berkeley, University of Chicago and at our own UIUC College of Law on Tuesday, September 26.  Then on Thursday, September 28, there will be a presentation by Northwestern/Pritzker School of Law.  Go to our Events Calendar for information about time and location for these great events.

Perfecting Your Personal Statement and Resume for Law School– Tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept.19, 4-5pm. The personal statement is one of the most difficult yet powerful elements of the law school application. Join us for this workshop, which will cover what the personal statement is, how to prepare for writing it, and some tips and suggestions for making it reflect an applicant’s strengths. We will also discuss how the personal statement and resume can complement each other to create a stronger law school application. Each session is the same, so select the one that best suits your schedule. Register here for this session.

Engineers and others thinking about patent law! Mark your calendars now for this great event in November!

Patent Bar Exam Session

335 Grainger Engineering Library, Nov 15, 2017  5:00 – 6:00 pm 

The patent bar exam is the required first step to becoming either a patent agent for the United States Patent & Trademark Office or a patent prosecutor/litigator as a practicing attorney. Students with a background in engineering and the sciences (such as biology, biochemistry, physics, chemistry, computer science) are eligible to sit for this exam. (To see all exam requirements, visit the link below).  Join us for this Patent Bar session to learn about the exam from an expert. Mark Dighton, Director of the Practicing Law Institute Patent Office Exam Course, will be here to answer all of your questions.

He’ll also answer any other questions you have about the patent bar exam. This session is specifically designed for those undergrad and graduate students in engineering, science, or technology disciplines who are eligible to sit for the patent bar.

For a list of eligible majors or backgrounds visit  https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/OED_GRB.pdf

For more information and to register for the Patent Bar Exam Info Session, click here.

Campus Events

Career Center 

Here are some workshops offered this week.  For the full Career Center calendar, click on this link.

How to Sell Your LAS Degree at Career Fairs – Today, Monday, September 18, 4-5pm, 1092 Lincoln Hall

Creating Your Powerful Resume — Today, Monday, September 18, 5-6pm, Room 143, Career Center (go here for other times for this workshop)

Making Your Major Decision — Wednesday, September 20, 4-5pm, 1064 Lincoln Hall

International Student Career Meet Up — Thursday, September 21, 4-5:30pm, Career Center Interview Suite (616 E. Green Street) Room 213

Finding An Internship — Thursday, September 21, 4-5pm, Career Center Room 143

Job Search Resources for International Students — Friday, September 22, 4-6pm, Career Center Interview Suite (616 E. Green Street) Room 213

Criminology, Law, & Society Minor Information Session

3057 Lincoln Hall, 2:00 – 2:30 pm

Learn more about the Department of Sociology’s new minor in Criminology, Law, & Society! If you have additional questions, contact soc-advising@illinois.edu

JUSTICE JESSE G. REYES TO PRESENT DEAN’S PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LECTURE

Thursday, September 21 at 12 p.m. Max L. Rowe Auditorium, Law Building

Justice Jesse G. Reyes, Illinois Appellate Court, First District will discuss important priorities for the legal profession, including diversity inclusion in the legal profession, and providing a voice for a large segment of our middle class and working population.The lecture is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided to lecture attendees.

Minority Association of Future Attorneys (MAFA) meeting is Tuesday September 19 at 7PM. Noyes Lab 165 – everyone is welcome!

College of Law Opportunities for Pre-Law Students

Prospective Client Volunteers Needed–Please consider volunteering to play the role of a prospective client with a possible legal issue for students in CFI: Interviewing, Counseling & Fact Investigation.  Volunteers are needed on September 27 and 28 at varying times.  You will meet with and be interviewed by your lawyer for approximately 15-20 minutes.  You will be given the fact pattern for the role you volunteer to play.  Please consider signing up for multiple sessions.  To volunteer or for additional details, contact Angela Martin (aymartin@illinois.edu).  Feel free to refer any non-law, or undergraduate friends.  Your time is greatly appreciated!

Scholarships

We’ve collected 275 scholarships–for both undergrads and incoming law students–on our Scholarships Spreadsheet over on our Pre-Law Compass page. It’s a wide variety of scholarships based on everything from being left-handed to making a video to tweeting, and deadlines vary, so check it out!

Internships

It’s NOT too early to start looking for spring/summer internships today! We post internships on our blog and our Facebook page. Check out this blog post for a plan on how to start finding spring and summer internships this fall.

Pre-Law Resources

Now is a great time to check out–or join–all of our pre-law resources! Click the links to explore. You can also search this blog for posts about the LSAT, law school applications, resumes, internships, and more!

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Compass page

Top 6 Ways to Get Law School Application Fee Waivers!

Law school applications are now open, which means that application season has officially begun! Those of you who are applying to law school now are finding out how expensive law school applications can be. Each school has an application fee and each school must receive a Law School Report ($35 each), which adds up fast.

Here are our Top 6 tips for getting application fee waivers.

  1. Apply for an LSAC fee waiver. The best fee waiver is directly through the Law School Admission Council. This fee waiver will waive the fees for two LSAT exams, your Credential Assembly Service fee, and four Law School Reports. In addition, most law schools will waive your application fee too if you received an LSAC fee waiver. You can apply for an LSAC fee waiver and find out more information here.
  2. Attend the Law Fair. If you are not eligible for an LSAC waiver, there are other ways to reduce your costs. First, come to the Law Fair on September 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Illini Union. Over 100 law schools will be sending representatives to talk with interested students about their programs and their application process. Many schools at the fair will be giving out fee waivers! (Tip: Make sure you sign in at the law school tables. Many schools will email you a fee waiver afterward.) Click here for more details about the Law Fair, like which law schools are attending.
  3. Register for the Candidate Referral Service (CRS) in your LSAC account. This is basically a survey that asks you lots of questions about yourself–your background, interests, grades, etc.–and then “matches” you with law schools that are looking for students like you. Many law schools use the CRS to offer fee waivers, so it is worth your time to complete the CRS survey here.
  4. Directly inquire with your preferred law schools. Send a polite email to their admissions office asking whether they have a fee waiver program, and how you can apply. Some schools will simply respond with a waiver; other schools will have certain parameters (like GPA or financial need) to meet before waiving your fee. Take 10 minutes to craft a friendly form email and send it to all of the schools you’re applying to–it’s an easy way to collect a few fee waivers. It’s well worth your time.
  5. Attend law school visit or open house days. Sometimes when a school sees that you’ve made the effort to visit, they will reward you with a fee waiver.
  6. Join the Pre-Law Facebook Group. Sometimes law schools send our office fee waivers, and we always post them to our FB group on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to join!

 

Mark Your Calendars: Week of September 11

September is a big month for pre-law students–scroll through to see why.

Pre-Law Events

Our Fall Event Calendar is posted! Here’s a preview of what’s coming up.

Perfecting Your Personal Statement and Resume for Law School–Tuesday, Sept.19, 4-5pm. The personal statement is one of the most difficult yet powerful elements of the law school application. Join us for this workshop, which will cover what the personal statement is, how to prepare for writing it, and some tips and suggestions for making it reflect an applicant’s strengths. We will also discuss how the personal statement and resume can complement each other to create a stronger law school application. Each session is the same, so select the one that best suits your schedule. Register here for this session.

The Pre-Law Honors Society is now taking applications! Here are membership requirements for joining:

1. Student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30/4.00
2. Student must have completed 30 hours of campus credit prior to initiation
3. Student must complete 10 hours of community service each semester
4. Students must attend every meeting unless they emailed the board before the event with reason why they could not attend.

Click here to apply by Sept. 15!

LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION WEEK is coming! Join us for any or all of these events!

Law School Admissions Panel–Tuesday, Sept. 26, 7:00 pm in 1002 Lincoln Hall. Are you wondering what law school admissions professionals really look for in an applicant? How do they weigh LSAT scores, grades, or work experience? What gets their attention–and what would make them deny someone? Join us for this expert law school admissions panel to discover this and more. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. This is a must-see event for anyone considering applying to law school!

Panelists include:

Law School Fair–Wednesday, Sept. 27, 10:00 am-2:00 pm in Illini Union A,B,C Rooms. It’s the biggest pre-law event of the year as 105 law schools visit campus to meet all who are interested in applying to law school. Learn about law schools, scholarships, and the application process while meeting the people who will be reading your law school applications. Application fee waivers and other freebies will be available. Stop by or stay the whole time! This event is free and open to the public. For more information click here to visit our website. No registration required.

Get to Know Northwestern Law–Thursday, Sept. 28, 6:00 pm in 1090 Lincoln Hall. Interested in Northwestern Pritzker School of Law?  Join us as Assistant Director of Admissions Sarah Rewerts discusses The Northwestern Law Difference.  Sarah will also share her inside perspective on Northwestern Law’s admission process, including:  the Early Decision program; the interview process; the recent decision to begin accepting the GRE (for the Fall 2019 entering class), and more!  This is a great opportunity to get to know Northwestern Law and to have your questions answered!

Campus Events

Constitution Day Panel Discussion: Legal Perspectives on Charlottesville will be held at the College of Law (Max L. Rowe Auditorium) on Sept. 15 from 12:00-1:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided to attendees. Click here for more information.

The School of Information Sciences will be hosting an inaugural Fall 17 Open House event on Friday, September 15th. Anyone interested in the program—MS in Library and Information Science should attend. For details of the event please click here: http://ischool.illinois.edu/events/2017/09/15/ischool-fall-open-house

Fall Family Fest–Sept. 17th from 12:00-2:00 pm at Orchard Downs Community Center, 510 Huff Drive, Urbana. Attention student parents! The Women’s Resources Center and Orchard Downs Family and Graduate Housing are housing a family-focused social for student parents and their kids! Join us for games, food, crafts, a music show (sing-a-long), and resource fair for parents! This event is free and open to the public.

LER.Masters.Students.InfoSession The School of Labor & Employment Relations will be hosting an Informational Meeting on its Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations program on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 5:30-7:00 in the Labor and Employment Relations (LER) Building, 405 E. Armory, Room 35. Dinner will be provided, and participants will learn more about a career in human resources along with application requirements to start the program. Click on the link for more details.

Career Center Events—Click here to visit the Career Center’s website for more information or to register for these sessions.

  • CC-I Information Session, Sept. 11, 4:00 pm
  • Creating Your Powerful Resume
    • Sept. 11, 4:00 pm
    • Sept. 12, 4:00 pm
    • Sept. 13, 5:00
  • Career Fair Prep
    • Sept. 11, 5:00 pm
    • Sept. 13, 4:00 pm
  • Resume/Cover Letter/Linked In Review
    • Sept. 12, 2-4:30 pm
    • Sept. 14, 2-4:30 pm
  • Meet Handshake, Sept. 13, 3:00 pm
  • Finding an Internship, Sept. 14, 4:00 pm

Applications are due Sept. 12 for the Fall 2017 Career Certificate-International Students program. Click here for more information.  

College of Law Opportunities for Pre-Law Students

Prospective Client Volunteers Needed–Please consider volunteering to play the role of a prospective client with a possible legal issue for students in CFI: Interviewing, Counseling & Fact Investigation.  Volunteers are needed on September 13, 14, 27, and 28 at varying times.  You will meet with and be interviewed by your lawyer for approximately 15-20 minutes.  You will be given the fact pattern for the role you volunteer to play.  Please consider signing up for multiple sessions.  To volunteer or for additional details, contact Angela Martin (aymartin@illinois.edu).  Feel free to refer any non-law, or undergraduate friends.  Your time is greatly appreciated!

PAID Video Operators Needed– The Trial Advocacy Program needs video operators for the fall semester on Tuesdays and Wednesdays evening from approximately 5:30/6:00 p.m. – 8:30/9:00 p.m. at the Champaign County Courthouse, Urbana.  You can choose to do one evening a week or both evenings.  The pay is $8.25/hour.  For full job details and requirements, please contact Angela Martin (aymartin@illinois.edu).  Feel free to refer any non-law or undergraduate friends.

Scholarships

We’ve collected 275 scholarships–for both undergrads and incoming law students–on our Scholarships Spreadsheet over on our Pre-Law Compass page. It’s a wide variety of scholarships based on everything from being left-handed to making a video to tweeting, and deadlines vary, so check it out!

Internships

It’s NOT too early to start looking for spring/summer internships today! We post internships on our blog and our Facebook page. Check out this blog post for a plan on how to start finding spring and summer internships this fall.

Pre-Law Resources

Now is a great time to check out–or join–all of our pre-law resources! Click the links to explore. You can also search this blog for posts about the LSAT, law school applications, resumes, internships, and more!

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Compass page

Starting Your September Off Strong and Introducing . . . Law School Application Week!

Now is the time to plan ahead and make sure you are organized for the fall semester!

Freshmen –

  • Attend a Pre-Law 101 session to learn more about what you should be doing the next four years. The next session is: Monday September 11, 4:00-5:00PM, Room 514 of the Illini Union Bookstore.
  • Make sure to get involved on campus with a few extracurricular activities, too! Explore Pre-Law Advising Service’s Compass page for more information.

Sophomores –

  • Also consider attending a Pre-Law 101 session if you are new to pre-law. If you are eligible, apply to be a member of the Pre-Law Honors Society.
  • Remember that you will need professors to write recommendations letters for law school applications, so keep in touch with professors!
  • Start planning your potential LSAT date, and consider possible conflicts like work, internships, and study abroad.

Juniors –

  • Solicit letters of recommendation from your professors.
  • Remember to keep your GPA as high as possible. Grades are very important for a law school application.
  • Plan to attend the Law School Fair on Sept. 27 to explore law schools and find out what they’re looking for in a candidate! http://prelaw.illinois.edu/law-school-fair
  • If you haven’t taken the LSAT, pick a date for your test. Our Practice LSAT for Sept. 8 is full, but we will host another in the spring, so be on the lookout for that one.

Seniors –

  • You should be working on your applications if applying for Fall 2018. Attend the Perfecting Your Personal Statement and Resume for Law School on Tuesday September 19 from 4:00-5:00PM in Room 514 of the Illini Union Bookstore. And see our Application Week events below!
  • If you are taking a gap year or two, start considering job opportunities and what you will do during your time off. The Career Center offers more information on Handshake, the new way to apply for jobs and internships. For more information, click here.
  • The Career Center also offers Resume/Cover Letter/ and LinkedIn Reviews, Career Fair Prep, and Resume Workshops throughout the month of September. For more information on the Career Center’s events, click here.
  • Finalize your recommenders for your law school applications. If you have not asked your recommenders for a letter of recommendation, ASK THEM NOW.

For more information what you should be doing now to prepare for law school, click here to learn more about Pre-Law Advising Service’s suggested timeline for students.

Pre-Law Advising Services offers many great events in September and this year we will have a special week devoted to law school application-related events.

The week of September 25 is Law School Application Week!  Here are our 3 great events for Law School Admissions Week!

Event #1 – Law School Admissions Panel

Tuesday September 26, 7:00PM

1002 Lincoln Hall

What are law school admissions professionals really looking for in an applicant? How do they weigh LSAT scores, grades, or work experience? What makes them take notice of an applicant–and what would make them deny someone? Join us for this expert law school admissions panel to discover this and more. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. This is a must-see event for anyone considering applying to law school!

Panelists include:

Dean Ann Perry from the University of Chicago Law School  http://www.law.uchicago.edu/

Ms. Grace Mayeda from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law  https://www.law.berkeley.edu/

Dean Rebecca Ray from the University of Illinois College of Law https://law.illinois.edu/

Event #2 – Law School Fair

Wednesday September 27, 10:00-2:00PM

Illini Union Rooms A, B, and C

It’s the biggest pre-law event of the year! Join us as 120+ law schools visit campus to meet all who are interested in applying to law school. Learn about law schools, scholarships, and the application process while meeting the people who will be reading your law school applications. Application fee waivers and other freebies will be available. Stop by or stay the whole time! This event is free and open to the public.

Event #3 – Get to Know Northwestern Law

1090 Lincoln Hall

Thursday September 28   6:00 – 7:30PM

Interested in Northwestern Pritzker School of Law?  Join us as Assistant Director of Admissions Sarah Rewerts discusses The Northwestern Law Difference.  Sarah will also share her inside perspective on Northwestern Law’s admission process, including:  the Early Decision program; the interview process; the recent decision to begin accepting the GRE (for the Fall 2019 entering class), and more!  This is a great opportunity to get to know Northwestern Law and to have your questions answered!

Mark Your Calendars – Week of September 4

Save the date for the Law School Fair! On Sept. 27 from 10 am-2 pm at the Union over 100 law school reps will be here to meet YOU! Click here for more details, including a list of who’s coming.

Pre-Law Events
Scholarships
Internships
Pre-Law Resources

Pre-Law Events

Our Fall Event Calendar is posted! Here’s a preview of what’s coming up.

Practice LSAT–Friday, Sept. 8 from 8:30-12:00. Whether you are taking the real LSAT in September or this is your first-ever baseline test, this is a great opportunity to take the LSAT in a testlike environment with a proctor. Seating is limited; register here.

Pre-Law 101–Monday, Sept. 11, 4-5 pm. This workshop is designed for incoming students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it. We will cover: What it means to be pre-law at Illinois, course selection, majors, and extracurriculars, building a pre-law resume, and what law schools are really looking for. We will outline a four year plan to maximize your undergraduate experiences in order to make a great law school candidate. We’ll also take any questions about law school and legal careers. Register here for this session. Each Pre-Law 101 session is the same. Incoming students should attend a Pre-Law 101 prior to setting up an individual pre-law advising appointment.

Perfecting Your Personal Statement and Resume for Law School–Tuesday, Sept.19, 4-5pm. The personal statement is one of the most difficult yet powerful elements of the law school application. Join us for this workshop, which will cover what the personal statement is, how to prepare for writing it, and some tips and suggestions for making it reflect an applicant’s strengths. We will also discuss how the personal statement and resume can complement each other to create a stronger law school application. Each session is the same, so select the one that best suits your schedule. Register here for this session.

Save the Date for the Law School Fair on September 27 from 10-2 in Illini Union A,B,C Rooms! Find more details here. We’ll be posting more about this, so stay tuned!

Campus Events

The School of Information Sciences will be hosting an inaugural Fall 17 Open House event on Friday, September 15th. Anyone interested in the program—MS in Library and Information Science should attend. For details of the event please click here: http://ischool.illinois.edu/events/2017/09/15/ischool-fall-open-house

Illinois Abroad Day is Wednesday, September 6th all across campus.  Any interested students to stop by one or more of the following fairs to explore programs and talk to study abroad returnees.

Illinois Abroad & Global Exchange (all majors) Main Quad (behind the Union) – 11AM-3PM

LAS Main Quad (between Lincoln & English) – 11AM-3PM

Engineering Bardeen Quad – 1PM-4PM

ACES Heritage Room, ACES Library – 1PM-4PM

Business BIF Atrium – 1PM-4PM

Additional events:

Funding Your Study Abroad Experience: workshop & information session

4:30pm-5:45pm on September 6, 2017

213 Gregory Hall (810 S Wright St, Urbana)

Learn about the Illinois for Illinois (I4I) and Illinois International Programs (IIP) scholarships, nationally competitive awards, and other opportunities to help fund your study abroad trip. This information session will include a short workshop on how to budget for your trip.

Find the I4I and IIP Scholarships application here: http://international.illinois.edu/students/student-funding.html

Contact Sam Celmer at smcelme2@illinois.edu for scholarship questions.

 

Psychology Major/Minor Information Meeting – Wednesday September 6, 4:00-5:00PM

Psychology Building, Room 21

For UIUC students interested in learning more about the Psychology major and/or minor. A Psychology advisor will facilitate the 45 minute meeting. For more information, click here.

Women’s Resource Center Open House – Wednesday September 6- 4:30 – 7:00PM

NEW LOCATION 616 E. Green Street, Suite 202, MC-302, Champaign, IL 61820

Come see the WRC’s new location and meet the staff! For more information, click here.

Native American House & American Indian Studies Welcome Pot Luck Dinner – Thursday September 7, 4:00 – 6:00 pm  

Native American House, 1206 W Nevada St.

Native American House & American Indian Studies invite you to join us for a pot luck dinner to bring in the academic year. This is a welcome community event to meet, connect, socialize, and eat! The main dish is on us. Prepare your family or community recipe or bring your favorite side, dessert, or drinks to share. Sign up by contacting Native American House.

College of Law Opportunities for Pre-Law Students

Prospective Client Volunteers Needed–Please consider volunteering to play the role of a prospective client with a possible legal issue for students in CFI: Interviewing, Counseling & Fact Investigation.  Volunteers are needed on September 13, 14, 27, and 28 at varying times.  You will meet with and be interviewed by your lawyer for approximately 15-20 minutes.  You will be given the fact pattern for the role you volunteer to play.  Please consider signing up for multiple sessions.  To volunteer or for additional details, contact Angela Martin (aymartin@illinois.edu).  Feel free to refer any non-law, or undergraduate friends.  Your time is greatly appreciated!

PAID Video Operators Needed– The Trial Advocacy Program needs video operators for the fall semester on Tuesdays and Wednesdays evening from approximately 5:30/6:00 p.m. – 8:30/9:00 p.m. at the Champaign County Courthouse, Urbana.  You can choose to do one evening a week or both evenings.  The pay is $8.25/hour.  For full job details and requirements, please contact Angela Martin (aymartin@illinois.edu).  Feel free to refer any non-law or undergraduate friends.

Scholarships

We’ve collected 275 scholarships–for both undergrads and incoming law students–on our Scholarships Spreadsheet over on our Pre-Law Compass page. It’s a wide variety of scholarships based on everything from being left-handed to making a video to tweeting, and deadlines vary, so check it out!

Internships

It’s NOT too early to start looking for spring/summer internships today! We post internships on our blog and our Facebook page. Check out this blog post for a plan on how to start finding spring and summer internships this fall.

Pre-Law Resources

Now is a great time to check out–or join–all of our pre-law resources! Click the links to explore. You can also search this blog for posts about the LSAT, law school applications, resumes, internships, and more!

Website

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Compass page