A look at past UIUC applicants…

One of the most helpful tools for any applicant to law school is good research.  With approximately 200 law schools to choose from and a very competitive application process, it is important to have good information to help guide your efforts and choices.   With the 2022-2023 Application Cycle quickly approaching, we have compiled some helpful insights from recent years to assist in your information-gathering efforts!

When to Submit?  Law admissions is a rolling admissions process, meaning law schools will be extending admission offers throughout the application period.  Most applications will open in September and close in mid-spring (typically March) – be sure to check specific deadlines for the schools you are most interested in!  While it is not necessary to submit applications within the first few weeks of the application period, you do want to be strategic with your submission timeline.  We highly recommend submitting applications during the first half of the cycle. Last year, 65% of all UIUC applications were completed and submitted prior to February 1.

Where to Apply?  Determining where to apply is an important part of the application process.  Any school you apply to should be a school that you would potentially attend.  In determining where to apply, you should first clarify your individual admission goals and priorities – these can range from academic offerings to geographic location to cost.  Once you have determined your individual preferences, you can begin looking for schools that will fit these needs and goals.  UIUC applicants applied to over 150 different law schools from across the country last year alone! 

Below is a list highlighting the 50 schools* where Illini students submitted the most applications during the 2021-2022 application cycle. The top ten are in bold.

Generally speaking, you should apply to a variety of schools to maximize your opportunities for success!   Be sure to speak with a PLAS advisor or attend an upcoming workshop for more information on creating your list of schools!

A great way to explore and learn more about law schools is by attending a law school fair. UIUC is hosting an in-person law fair this fall.

Don’t Miss out!

Illinois Law School Fair | September 28, 2022

How will my academic program be measured? Law schools are looking for academically accomplished candidates from all majors.  Ideally, your major has allowed you to explore your interests, engage in professional learning opportunities, helped you develop necessary skills for law school, solidified your interest in the legal profession, and provided an opportunity for you to excel academically.  The social science majors make up the largest portion of law applicants each year, but UIUC applicants hail from a wide range of disciplines.  Below is a list of some of the majors* represented amongst the 2021-2022 UIUC applicants.

*Majors are picked from pre-determined titles and may not reflect exact titles of academic majors at UIUC.

How successful are UIUC applicants?  The short answer is – VERY!  Each individual applying to law school should shape their application strategy and process to fit their own individual needs and goals.   UIUC is consistently ranked as one of the top US feeder schools to ABA-approved law schools in the country.  In addition, during the 2020-2021 admission cycle, approximately 88% of UIUC senior applicants were admitted to law school compared to approximately 68% of all applicants nationwide, with the 2020-2021 admission cycle considered one of the most competitive application cycle in the past 10 years (and possible beyond).   Stay tuned for additional details regarding applicants from the 2021-2022 cycle or check out our Instagram to see our featured ILLINI beginning law school this fall!

Meet with a Pre-Law Advising Expert!

Each year UIUC applicants present a diverse set of credentials and qualities to law schools across the country. We welcome the opportunity to support you on your individual journey to law school and hope to speak with you soon!

 

For those anticipating application in the upcoming 2022-2023 cycle, the summer is an excellent time to take steps to prepare for a smooth and successful admission process.  Two of the most important steps are to create a general timeline and to set goals for the upcoming months to ensure you stay on track and keep the application process as manageable as possible.

Below are a few recommendations on creating an application timeline and plan to enhance your success.

Step 1: Set up a System: 

You will be navigating a large volume of information and communications over a long period of time.  It is important to have a system to organize these details.  Your system should include the following components:

1. 1. 1. • Document Storage:  You should have an online storage space or backup system for all the application materials you are crafting – resume, personal statement, etc.  You should also have a place to organize documents or information that you receive.  You will want to have a physical space to store and organize, as well as an electronic space.  Most information will be communicated electronically, but you may also accumulate materials at visits or fairs, or through mailings.  Consider investing in a container for all law school materials.  For digital material, consider utilizing “Box” and setting up folders to organize information by school, type of information, or whatever makes sense to you.

• • • • Email Correspondence:  Almost all communications regarding applications will be received via email, with some mail and phone communications possible.   Evaluate your available email accounts.  Determine now which one you will utilize for your applications, you could even create a new one!  Once you determine your “application email” plan to utilize that for all applications and application-related matters.  Set up folders in your inbox now to organize and respond to communications you anticipate receiving.  Determine a plan for checking and managing incoming communications – will you check every day? (yes), how many times a day?  Start utilizing your system now to make it a habit, it will make managing your email communications during the busier months feel more manageable.

• • • • Information Management:  As you get further along in the application process you will begin developing a potential list of schools to apply to, eventually you will apply to a definitive list of schools, and later you will begin receiving offers.  Having a comprehensive place to track and notate information about each school is critical to the process of comparing and contrasting each institution, ultimately deciding on your best fit.  This type of information tracking also helps ensure you do not forget or overlook any information you acquired along the way.  We recommend creating a spreadsheet that you can tailor to your own individual priorities, goals, and school attributes you are seeking.

Step 2: Establish Target Goals:

• Part of building a timeline is having targeted goals for completing tasks.  For a successful application timeline you should consider the necessary tasks for applying to law school, but also other obligations you will have during this time period including family, academic, and extracurricular responsibilities.  Below are some examples of areas where you may want to set goals:
  • • LSAT Preparation and LSAT attempts (first and second)
    • CAS Registration
    • Transcript Submission
    • Researching Schools
    • Completing Application Components
    • Submitting Applications
    • Visiting Schools
    • Academic Projects
    • Leadership Programs and Events

Step 3: Prioritize and Plan Ahead:

It is a wonderful thing to have a timeline and goals, but you only have 24 hours in a day and only so much attention or energy to give to any one task, opportunity, or obligation.  Being able to prioritize so that you can be successful in all aspects of your life is important.  Good prioritization requires establishing what is most critical and when.  Your first step in doing this is establishing the goals we mentioned above.  The second step in doing this is keeping yourself accountable, and finally, it is planning ahead to ensure you have set yourself up to be successful.  Create your semester calendar now.  Add in any family or personal obligations you are aware of – discuss holiday and other plans now so you know what time commitments will be necessary.   Begin dividing obligations by daily, weekly, monthly or one-time only events.  Review your course syllabi as soon as possible – map out large projects and due dates.  Begin researching important application dates and events now.

• • • TIP:  Give yourself individual deadlines for projects and other work.  Set your individual deadlines several days or more prior to the actual deadline.  This will help you accommodate any unexpected issues.
    • TIP:  Begin thinking about your time each week.  Evaluate how much time you will spend for class, essential personal items (groceries, meals, health, fitness), study, and other leadership activities.  Determine when these items will take place in your weekly schedule and how much time remains after for other uses.
    • TIP:  Set expectations for yourself and others.  Realistically evaluate how long things usually take you (i.e. writing a paper), and build those realistic timeframes into your goals.  Let others that are important in your life know that the upcoming semester will be a critical one and talk now about how that may limit your time.

Join Us! Application Roadmap Workshop

To learn more about setting goals and specific timeline recommendations, consider attending our Application Roadmap Workshop.  The workshop will be offered multiple times in the upcoming months.  Get a head start by attending a workshop this summer on July 20 @ 6 pm or August 9 @ Noon (via Zoom).  To learn more, visit the PLAS calendar online.  PLAS programs are open to all UIUC students and alumni.

The summer is an excellent time to reconnect, gain new experiences, move forward with your academic progress, or simply relax and rejuvenate.  With the summer officially underway, this is an excellent time to evaluate your goals for the summer and set some priorities as they relate to your prelaw plans.

You have completed another academic year and it is something to be celebrated.  This summer spend some time planning and considering the following:

• • Is your academic curriculum set (major/minors)? Do some research as there is an incredibly diverse set of programs to choose from at Illinois!

• • How will you engage with the campus and the community? If you were involved, did you enjoy your experiences?  How can you gain additional leadership and volunteer experiences next year?
    • • Student Engagement at the University of Illinois

• • How is your academic performance? Now is the time to evaluate and reflect.  What worked and helped you succeed? If you experienced challenges, what were they and why?  Use the summer to identify what practices you will continue into next year to contribute to your success and where adjustments are necessary.  Research resources to assist in the areas where you would like to improve.
    • • Tutoring and Academic Support – Office of the Provost (illinois.edu)

• • Use the summer to research. What type of internships might you be interested in next year?  Are you interested in study abroad, Illinois in Washington, or other unique learning opportunities?  Learn more about internship opportunities with the PLAS Internship Newsletter!
    • • Stay Tuned!  Check back later this summer for our post on unique and prestigious opportunities at UIUC, perfect for prelaw students!

• • Network! Talk to individuals in the legal profession or to upper level peers who have pursued opportunities that you would be interested in.  Use these conversations to gain insights and perspectives about your future goals.
    • • Alumni Attorney Talks – catch up on our Alumni Attorney Talk series featuring practicing attorneys and judges.  The series can be found on this blog!  Just search on “Alumni Attorney Talks” or visit our Canvas page for a comprehensive list.

• • Think ahead.  Planning ahead is key for prelaw students.  It allows you to monitor progress and seek resources if necessary; manage competing obligations with success; and pursue unique opportunities that will benefit your goals for law school. If you will be applying during your senior year, you will likely begin your LSAT prep no later than the spring of your junior year.  How does that semester look in terms of course load?  What will your academic progress/achievements be at the beginning of your senior year (if this is the year you will apply to law school)?
    • • For those applying to law school during senior year, you will ideally be submitting applications during the Fall semester (approximately 1 year prior to when you would like to begin law school).  It is important to evaluate what achievements, academic work, and other opportunities will be included in your resume for consideration by law schools.

• • Take time to rejuvenate!  The summer should be utilized to take some time for yourself, tending to your wellness and recharging for the upcoming year.  Keep reading for some fun summer suggestions!

Just for Fun…

As mentioned summer should be utilized as a time to enjoy and relax.  

Here are some suggestions on some fun law-related books, movies, podcasts, and TV shows to check out!

Books:

• • The Color of Law
  • Thieves of Book Row
  • Crime and Punishment
  • The Rainmaker
  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • In Cold Blood
  • I’ll Be Gone In the Dark
  • Radium Girls
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
  • Becoming

Check out this list of recommended books for more options!

Movies/Documentaries:

• • The Staircase (documentary)
  • Find Me Guilty
  • Marshall
  • RBG
  • Erin Brockovich
  • On the Basis of Sex
  • Philadelphia
  • Legally Blonde
  • The Firm

Check out this list of recommended movies for more options!

TV Shows:

• • How to Get Away With Murder
  • Damages
  • Bull
  • Better Call Saul
  • The Good Wife
  • Law and Order

Check out this list of recommended shows for more options!

Want to share your favorites?

Visit us on Instagram to share your top picks!

 

 

Each year, May brings important endings and new beginnings.  It also presents a perfect opportunity to reflect back and gain insights from past accomplishments, challenges, and experiences.  As we celebrate our Class of 2022 graduates we took the opportunity to gain some valuable insights from our graduating students.

Part I: Reflections from a Law Student

Courtney Koenig

Courtney has served as the Pre-Law Advising Services Graduate Assistant since Fall 2020.  Following graduation from the University of Illinois College of Law in May 2022, she will begin work at Thompson Coburn, LLP in St. Louis focusing her practice in Corporate and  Business Law topics.

A conversation with a law student…

Check out the video below to hear insights from Courtney about her pre-law journey, law school experience, professional opportunities, and her advice for pre-law students and alumni, including tips for individuals beginning their law school journey in Fall 2022!

 

Stay Tuned! Part II – Reflections from Pre-Law Seniors!

 

 

Making the Right Choice for You…

You’ve applied, you’ve waited, and you’ve been accepted – now you have to decide.  Although this might feel like the easiest part of the process, many applicants are surprised to feel unsure, anxious, and overwhelmed once they face making the final decision on where to attend law school.  It’s important to know that these feelings are normal!

As you advance through the application process you gain more knowledge and insights about the schools you have chosen to apply to, what it means to attend law school, and what the most important aspects of a law school are to you.  As a natural result, your priorities and perspectives about the schools you applied to may have also changed.  A school that may have been in the middle of your list – could now be your top choice.  A top choice school, may no longer feel like the right fit for you.

One of the most important things you can do at this stage is to reevaluate! 

In addition to your personal rankings and perspectives, you are also now working with more information about the realities of what your choices may be.  Some schools may no longer be options (aka you received a denial), you may have received generous scholarship offers you weren’t expecting.   This is an important time to step back and assess your situation – reevaluating your goals and seeking out information you need to feel confident in your decision.

Take a look at the following slides for perspectives on navigating your selection process:

Need to Talk? Join Us…

SOUND OFF @ 7: March 23|April 6

Many applicants seek peer perspectives through online discussion platforms and social media as way to help navigate the application process and create community.  Sound Off is a discussion group which aims to create a community unique to UIUC students and alumni who are participating in this year’s application cycle.  Sound Off provides an opportunity to discuss personal experiences, share insights, offer advice, and connect with one another. This is a great way to meet new people and establish a network of UIUC students who will be attending law school after graduation.  We hope you can join us!

Discussion are held at 7 pm via Zoom, visit the PLAS calendar for Zoom link and to learn more!

Wellness has many important dimensions...

But…You may wonder what wellness has to do with law school?

In fact, taking a careful approach to wellness will not only help you succeed personally and in both college and law school, but is essential to being a successful legal professional.

Law students and lawyers live very busy, and at times, very stressful lives. They are expected to maintain high levels of personal and professional behavior, even in the face of time pressure and stress. Keeping your body in good shape is an essential first step in managing a busy, stressful schedule, but other skill sets need to be included in your wellness routines to help ensure your short and long-term success as a student and professional.  Successfully studying law and becoming a legal professional means that you have attend to other forms of wellness as well.

In recent years, efforts have been made to examine the overall well-being of the legal profession.  As a result, we now have a much greater understanding of the direct connection between the state of individual wellness to issues within the legal profession.  These issues include professional happiness, professional ethics, incidents of malpractice, and personal health.  In response, many steps have been taken to help support wellness in the profession, provide resources to practicing attorneys and judges, and to foster a mindset of wellness in working professionals.  To demonstrate the commitment to these goals, wellness in now considered an aspect of legal professionalism with many jurisdictions requiring attorneys to regularly complete continuing education training on wellness topics as part of their ongoing obligations for licensure.

• • Learn More! You can learn more about wellness and the legal profession online through the the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.

In addition, the ABA also found a direct relationship between wellness and successful law students.  To help you begin thinking about wellness as part of long-term goals and readiness,  we have articulated a few important aspects of wellness for you to consider as you plan for pursuing a legal education.

*Keep in mind the topics below are only a highlight – there are many aspects to wellness and you should investigate them all as you think about your overall well-being and health!

Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

There are many, many aspects to your mental and emotional wellbeing – but one area that is very common amongst high performing individuals is stress management.  In terms of study and work, stress can distract focus, decrease efficiency, and increase mistakes. Stress can also harm your judgment in ways that can have negative effects on your professional and personal life.  Stress has also been proven to have significant impacts on our physical health if not managed properly.  Maintaining your emotional health and preventing the negative effects of stress is extremely important.

Unfortunately, the reality is that pursuing a legal education and law profession will create opportunities of stress and challenge.  The good news is, stress can be managed.  Knowing you may encounter challenges of this nature provides you an opportunity to be purposeful and proactive in taking steps to develop methods and skills to manage through these times successfully.

There are many strategies you may employ to tackle stress and developing these skill sets now can have benefits throughout your life.   It is important to make sure you are developing healthy stress management techniques and avoiding relying on sources of outlet that might provide temporary relief, but can create long-term damaging habits (such as substance abuse).   As you begin developing healthy management skills you may need to try different tactics and approaches to learn what works best for you.  Some individuals mange stress through relaxation, mindfulness, meditation, socialization, spiritual practice, and simple exercise.  Some seek a more structured approach through therapy and counseling to cope.

Whatever healthy approach to stress management works for you is right.  What is important is that you identify how stress impacts you and what methods create relief.    Some aspects of stress management to consider include:

• • • Mindfulness. Mindfulness is a particularly useful skill to develop. Mindfulness allows you to maintain relative emotional calm, even in stressful situations, and helps you sharpen mental focus. Techniques for enhancing mindfulness are simple and can be practiced every day.
    • Relaxation & Exercise. Appropriate forms of relaxation can refresh your mind, and renew the energy and focus you bring to your tasks. If you build a reasonable amount of relaxation into your busy schedule you will benefit with better results in your work. Relaxation can take many forms, from reading, to watching TV, to enjoyable hobbies and socializing.  Exercise has long been proven to provide an outlet for managing overall health – including stress.  Explore and discover health exercise activities that work for you.
    • Spiritual practice. Spirituality can take many forms and does not necessarily refer to an organized religion (although it may for you). If spirituality or religious faith is part of your life, attending to it can help you manage stress. In the busy life of being a law student or legal professional it is important not to lose touch with the spiritual part of yourself. Caring for your spirituality will provide you with many benefits.
    • Positive Thinking and Positive Self-regard. Having a positive outlook is important and has been tied to overall health benefits, but you also need to be kind to yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, or fails from time to time. Learn to forgive yourself for your perceived failures, be mindful of setting positive and realistic goals, and work to silence any negative self-thoughts.  We all need a pick-me-up sometimes, in a pinch – consider an emergency compliment to lift up your day!

Below are some additional resources to help you begin thinking through stress management techniques:

• • • UIUC Counseling Center  Be sure to check out upcoming programs with the Counseling Center, particularly Tuesdays @ 7 programs  that feature stress management, mindfulness, and other workshops each semester!
    • McKinley Stress Management Resources
    • UIUC Stress Management Peers
    • Relaxation Exercises 
    • Illinois Extension Stress Management

Find what works for you! There are also tremendous online resources and apps to help with daily mindfulness, relaxation and stress  – consider trying out a few and adding theses practices into daily life.  Consider trying this online breathing exercise from CALM as a start!

Time management

Time management is an obvious companion to stress management and a key part of wellness.  It is also an incredible tool that can be an invaluable asset to helping you achieve goals in all aspects of your life!

Although you have been busy as a college student, law school will provide new challenges for managing your time. Law students are under incredible time pressure, and professional attorneys tend to be under such pressure as well. Building time management skills now will help you rise to the challenges of law school and professional obligations and provide the structure necessary to tend to all aspects of your life whether it be academic, personal, or professional.

It is a good idea to build a systematic time management scheme that is suited to your life and your personality. There are many time management systems out there, but they all build on a few basic concepts or skills. Here some things to consider when building time management skills:

Organization and Planning. A key to effective time management is staying organized. A good time management system will allow you to manage and schedule  important tasks, activities, and information in your life so that it is easy to manage and execute.  It is important that you think of time management at different levels including daily, monthly, by semester, and yearly.   As you consider your system – keep in mind the following:

• • • • Deadlines. It is essential that your time management system allow you to keep abreast of the deadlines and obligations in your life, both the upcoming ones and those further in the future.  Don’t forget to plan for the unexpected – consider giving yourself internal /pre deadlines a few days or a week before critical/final deadlines.
      • Format. Because a time management system is essentially an information management system, the format will be important. Many people manage their time using online calendars, apps, or other tools, but paper-based time management tools are also popular. Whichever format you choose, it must work in a way that feels natural to you and be readily available throughout  your day/week/month.

Tracking/Accountability. A good time management system will allow you to both see what is coming up in your life, but also what you have done in the past.  It is also important to find systems to hold yourself accountable to the schedule and goals that you set, being realistic and making adjustment when you miss a goal.

• • • • Assess Your Time Needs:  Sometimes we don’t truly understand how long tasks actual take us to complete (especially in a distraction free setting).  Spend a week actively tracking the time it takes you to prepare for class, read assignments, commute, make dinner, grocery shop, etc.  Once you have specific understand of your time needs, you can make a good plan!
      • Be Realistic!  One of the easiest ways to become discourage with your time-management efforts is to be overly ambitious and unrealistic.  Set yourself up for success by planning more time than you think necessary for tasks such as homework, papers, class projects, or academic prep. Plan for the unexpected by building in time to your schedule for things you do not anticipate, emergencies, or delays.

Personalization. Finding a time management system that works seamlessly for you is essential. There are many, many time management systems available, but the one you choose should work for you, including being easy to modify to suit your particular needs.

Learn More about Time Management…

• • UIUC Counseling Center Time Management Resources
  • UIUC Housing Department Time Management Resources
  • LAS Time Management Calculator
  • How does time management effect lawyers?  Learn more here.

Financial Wellness

You may not normally think of your finances as a wellness issue, however,  developing an understanding of your personal financing and obligations is essential for long-term success and opportunity.  This may include taking steps to fully understand your current financial situation, having a reasonable personal spending plan or budget, appropriate saving habits, and planning for the future.  Law school is expensive and most students will incur some level of debt to manage these expenses.  Developing your financial wellness skill set and knowledge will assist you in preparing to assess your financial obligations as they relate to your legal education, increase your eligibility for assistance options (law school loans), and set your long-term career goals.

Below are important skill sets you can begin developing now as an undergraduate student!

Develop Good Financial Habits.  Being a good steward of your financial health and credit history will be invaluable to ensure the widest possible opportunities to you as a law student and law graduate.  Below are some simple steps to begin fostering your financial wellness.

• • • Learn to Budget. Creating a workable spending plan, or budget, helps you understand the relationship between your expenses, income, and overall needs.  Developing budgeting skills should be important for anyone considering law school, regardless of your current financial circumstances.  This process will help you think long-term about goals as a professional (salary) and long-term debt prospects associated with educational loans.  This skill will also be critical as you enter law school as you may be require to create individual projected budgets for determining loans, financial aid, and grants.  Consider budgets in terms of monthly and yearly needs and goals.
    • Develop and Manage Credit.  Having good credit is an important priority.  Take small steps now to avoid any unnecessary challenges in this area.  Invest in mastering the following simple steps:
      • • Create a bill payment system/tracking process to ensure payments are never missed.  
        • Make all payments on-time.
        • Avoid “bad” debt wherever possible (credit cards) and be mindful of interest rates!
        • If you have debt (credit cards, car loans, etc) make meaningful efforts to bring balances to zero prior to law school.
    •  Saving. As a student the idea of saving may seem impossible. However, building a saving habit, even of a very small amount, on a regular basis will have immense benefits down the road. Consider starting a small emergency fund or general savings to help offset unexpected costs and expenses and reduce potential stress down the road. 

• Having an understanding of your finances and necessary skills to manage, will allow you to reach for the things you want in life and set you up for a successful financial future.  Below are some additional resources to explore as you tend to your financial wellness.

• • • UIUC Student Money Management Center
    • Illinois Extension Financial Wellness for College Students
    • Financial Wellness Toolkit
    • Access Lex Financial Education
    • Illinois Financial Wellness Hub

Final Thoughts

One thing that can be a tremendous benefit no mater what aspect of wellness you are exploring is your relationships with others – whether friends and family; your professors, advisors, and campus leaders;  or connections you make professionally – healthy and fulfilling relationship can serve as a fantastic source of support and benefit to you.

Interpersonal skills are also an essential tool for practicing attorneys.  Creating and maintaining positive relationships will serve as the building blocks for your future professional relationships as well.  Keep in mind that good relationship building can often come down to the simplest steps remembering that professional and work relationships benefit from the golden rule: Treat others as you would wish to be treated. Respect, courtesy, civility, and consideration for others are not just formalities. They are important to your success.

As a law student or legal professional you will be leading a complicated, busy life. Maintaining wellness, in all forms, is essential to being successful. By caring for yourself in these ways you make it possible to achieve what you want in life, and also to make the best contribution to you can to society and the lives of others.