Other – Pre-Law Advising Services Blog

The 2019 Internship/Job Newsletter is Available on Compass!

The 2019 Internship Newsletter is now available on Pre-Law Advising Service’s Compass page. Please visit our Compass page to begin combing through the newsletter for summer opportunities that interest you!

Not already on our Pre-Law Compass page? All Illini can access it. Just follow these simple steps, which are also posted on our website.

1. Login to Compass

2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select “Browse Course Catalog”

3. Type Pre-Law into the search box and click “Go”. You’ll see our Compass page called OPEN LEARNING: Pre-Law Advising Services

4. Under the “Course ID” column, click on the drop down menu (the circle with the downward arrow) that appears

5. Select Enroll (after clicking on the drop down menu arrow)

6. The Pre-Law Advising Services Compass page will appear in the “My Courses” section of your Compass homepage.

*Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for a newly enrolled course to appear in your My Courses menu

Positions are available throughout Illinois, Washington D.C., St. Louis, Indianapolis, and other cities across the country. Many positions have due dates over break and in early Spring, so we encourage you to begin working on applications as soon as possible.

Dec. and Winter Break Pre-Law Appointment Availability

December is prime law school application season, and our November LSAT registration was high, so we know that this will be a very busy month in terms of our appointments.

Pre-law advising appointments will be available through Dec. 20. Our office will close and reopen on Monday, January 6. Limited advising appointments will be available over winter break from January 6 through January 17. The winter break appointment slots will be released the week of Dec. 15. You can select phone, Zoom, or in-person formats for your appointment. (Click here to schedule.)

Due to a high appointment volume between now and Dec. 20, please make sure to follow these guidelines.

For personal statement/essay reviews: When you are ready to get our input, make an appointment and upload your documents. We are not able to provide reviews via email. We can only review what you have uploaded when you made the appointment. Click here to schedule.

Please only make one appointment at a time. Back-to-back or multiple appointments within one week will be cancelled so that we can provide availability for other Illini.

We cannot fix your LSAC account or troubleshoot a problem with your CAS. LSAT or CAS questions can be directed to the LSAC at 215-968-1001.

Need to order a transcript? Our Pre-Law Handbook includes a step by step guide for ordering your Illinois transcript. Click on Applying to Law School and then CAS and Transcripts.

Many application questions are addressed in the Pre-Law Handbook here . Click on the Applying to Law School tab and you’ll find orange sub-tabs for each element of the application.

Mark Your Calendars: Week of December 2

Pre-Law Events

Personal Statement & Resume workshop–Today (Monday Dec. 2) at 4:00 pm. All Illinois students and alumni are welcome, particularly those who will be applying to law school this fall. Register here. This workshop will cover:

What the personal statement is (and isn’t)
The role of the statement in the application process
A suggested plan for drafting it
An overview of law school resumes
How to make sure that your resume and personal statement complement each other.

Taking the GRE? We have vouchers that expire Dec. 31 for a $50 discount on GRE registration fees. Email Jamie at thomas99@illinois.edu if you are planning to take the GRE to apply to law school and we can provide you with one of the vouchers.

Law School/Legal Education Events

Harvard Law School Online Info Sessions. Interested in learning some tips about applying to Harvard Law School? HLS has begun offering online information sessions. Some concern the admissions process, others offer insight into campus life, student organizations, and clinical opportunities at HLS. Click here to register for these upcoming sessions, and to see the entire schedule.

- Need-Based Financial Aid — Dec. 5, 12:00-1:00 pm Eastern Time
- JD Application Requirements & Insights – Dec. 14, 3:00 – 4:00 PM Eastern Time

AccessLex, a nonprofit working to educate law students about the financial aspects of legal education, invites all who are interested to these free upcoming webinars. Click here to register and to view their full schedule.

- The Road to Zero: A Strategic Approach to Student Loan Repayment, Dec. 4, 9:00 pm (ET)
- Your Public Service Loan Forgiveness Plan Webinar, Dec. 5, 4:00 pm (ET)

Internships and Jobs

We’ll be posting our winter break Internship Newsletter on Dec. 9! We’ve also been posting internships and job opportunities for December grads over on our Pre-Law Compass page and on our Facebook page. Follow us on Facebook to make sure you don’t miss any postings!

Career Center https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/

Handshake–Looking for internships, jobs, career fairs, networking receptions, or other professional opportunities? Handshake is where it’s at! All students, not just seniors, should set up an account and start checking in on a consistent basis to see what opportunities interest you. Set up your account here.

ALL students should utilize the Career Center’s services! They offer a variety of programs to help you identify career paths through workshops, career fairs and individual meetings. Click on the link above to view all of their offerings.

Here are some of their upcoming events:

- - International Student Career Meetup: What Employers are Looking For – Dec. 6, 4:30-6:30pm, Career Center Conference Room (143)
  - Peace Corps Drop Ins – Dec. 6 & Dec. 10, 10:30-12:30, Career Center Resource Room
  - Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.

Scholarships

UK Summer Fulbright Information Session–Dec. 6, 3:00-4:00 pm, 1090 Lincoln Hall.

The US-UK Fulbright Commission offers special Summer Institutes for US citizens to come to the UK. These summer programs provide the opportunity for undergraduates (aged over 18), with at least two years of undergraduate study left to complete, to come to the UK on a three, four, five, or six week academic and cultural summer program. There were nine Summer Programs available for US students in 2019. The Summer Institutes cover the majority of the participant costs (round-trip airfare from the US to the UK, tuition and fees at the university, room and board, and social programs). More information about the institutes and their application can be found at: http://www.fulbright.org.uk/fulbright-awards/exchanges-to-the-uk/undergraduates.

This info session will tell you everything you need to know about the benefits of attending a UK Fulbright Summer Institute and how to be a competitive applicant. We hope to see you there!

November 18, 2019 – Mark Your Calendars

As Fall Break approaches, the campus schedule of events is winding down. However, there still are some interesting programs and events, on and off campus, before, during and after the break, so scroll down and mark your calendars!

Pre-Law Advising Services

Personal Statement and Resume Workshop – Monday, December 2, 4-5pm, 503 IUB

This workshop will cover:

What the personal statement is (and isn’t)
The role of the statement in the application process
A suggested plan for drafting it
An overview of law school resumes
How to make sure that your resume and personal statement complement each other.

All Illinois students and alumni are welcome, particularly those who will be applying to law school this fall.

Please register by clicking on this link so that we can ensure enough seating and materials.

Career Center

The Career Center will continue to offer Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn reviews this week, over break and when you return from break. Go here for the schedule for these sessions.

1L Year at HLS
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
6:00 – 7:00 PM Eastern

Students of Color at HLS
Thursday, November 21, 2019
6:00 – 7:00 PM Eastern

Living and Learning in Greater Boston
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
6:00 – 7:00 PM Eastern

Law School Open Houses Over Fall Break

University of Chicago Law School – Monday, November 25, 1:30-4:00pm. For more information and to register, go here.
DePaul University College of Law – Saturday, November 23, 10am. For more information and to register, go here.
Loyola University School of Law – Friday, November 22, 11:15am To register, go here and scroll down the page to find the registration for the November 22 information session.

Go here to see the November 13 PLAS Blog post for a detailed list of other law school Open Houses.

Resume Tips for Pre-Law Students & Alumni

Are you an undergrad student applying to legal jobs and internships? Or getting ready to graduate and applying to full-time legal jobs before law school? Either way, here are tips for prepping your resume.

Keep updating your resume. You should be ready to apply for positions as soon as they are posted–the earlier, the better. So your resume should be updated, polished, and ready to go at any time.

Accurately describe your degree.

- - - If you are in LAS, your degree isn’t in “history” or “English”–it’s a Bachelor of Arts (or possibly science) in Liberal Arts & Sciences with a major of history or English. (Not sure what exact degree you’re getting? Click on your major in the Academic Catalog to find out which degree you’re getting.)
    - A double major is not two degrees when the two majors are in the same college. It’s one degree consisting of two majors. For example: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences. Majors: Communication and Political Science.
    - A double degree–two majors from two separate colleges–IS two different degrees and should be indicated as such. For example: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Major: History
      Bachelor of Science. Major: Advertising
    - If you have not yet graduated, then your resume should indicate “Expected Graduation: May 2020” or whenever you expect to graduate. If you have graduated, then the date should be Month Year.

Start and update a master resume. You may have multiple versions of your resume. At some point, you will gather so many work and internship experiences that you can pick and choose which to include depending on the job for which you’re applying. Having a master resume with every one of your jobs and internships, along with the primary duties of each, will let you develop job-specific resumes over time. (Also: When you apply to sit for the bar exam, you must provide a list of every job you’ve held and when, so this is a great document to have for the future.)

Be concise. Lawyers are very busy. Keep it to one page unless you have several years of post-college work experience.

Use action verbs. Drafted, presented, created, researched: these are all action verbs. Use this list of action verbs if you need ideas.

Watch your verb tenses. Is the job over? Then your verbs should be in the past tense. Are you still working there? Then it should be in the present tense.

Keep the format simple and clean. This is not an industry that enjoys creative fonts, colors, pictures, fun formats, etc.

Be specific. Go beyond the title you had to describe what, exactly, you did. Over what period of time? How many people were involved? What was the budget? What was the end product or deliverable?

Edit to perfection. Legal professionals must be DETAIL ORIENTED, and mistakes will be noticed. The resume should be 100% error free, meaning:

ABSOLUTELY NO: typos, grammatical errors, misuse of punctuation, or incorrect use of words like “there” and “their”

No need to include the following in your resume for law school or for a legal job:

- - Professional goal. Law schools/legal positions aren’t looking for this.
  - Skills overview. They will determine or infer what skills you have based on what you present elsewhere in the resume.
  - A list of specific courses you took. If they want to know that, they will request and review your transcript.
  - High school information or activities. By the time you are a junior/senior in college, this is no longer recent or relevant.

Want to know more or see examples? Visit our Pre-Law Handbook for more details on law school/legal job resumes. (Click on the Applying to Law School tab, and then on the Law School Resumes sub-tab.)

Take it to the career center and/or make an appointment with a pre-law advisor to have it reviewed. Not sure whether to include something? Talk to us and we will help you decide what is the best use of your resume space.

September and October LSAT Takers – The LSAT is over! Now what?

So the LSAT is behind you. Congratulations! Now what? Here is a checklist of items you should be working on to get those applications completed and submitted as soon as possible, with a target deadline of Fall Break.

Complete the writing portion of the LSAT. You will not be able to submit your applications until you finish the writing section of the LSAT so hop on that ASAP!
Register for the Credential Assembly Service if you haven’t already. This is the account where your letter of recommendation writers will send your letter–and they can’t write your letter until you set this up. Click here for more information.
Follow up with your recommenders. By now you should have already approached your letter of recommendation writers, but if not, now is the time. Provide a resume and allow at least 6-8 weeks for them to write and upload the letter to your CAS account.
Order your transcript(s) now. Note: You will need to order a transcript from every undergraduate institution where you took courses–even summer courses–so now is a good time to reach out to the registrar of any community colleges or schools from which you transferred. Here is where you order your UIUC transcript. Want more information about the LSAC’s transcript policies? Go here.
Write your personal statement. Not sure where to start? Sign up for our next Personal Statement and Resume Workshop, set for Tuesday, November 5, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB. If you are unable to attend a workshop, we also provide a quick overview of the personal statement in our PLAS Handbook. Click on the “Applying to Law School” tab. Once there, select the “Personal Statement” tab. We have additional information in the “Applying to Law School” section of our PLAS Compass page. As both of these resources explain, each law school will have its own prompt(s) for the personal statement. While you may discover that many of these personal statement prompts are similar, you need to CAREFULLY REVIEW each prompt for each law school and reply to that prompt. Besides giving you a topic or direction to take, the prompt may also contain information about font size, page limits, etc. You need to open your CAS account and then begin to apply to each law school to see the details in each application. Note: just because you open an application today does NOT mean you have to finish it today. You can begin your law school applications and then go back and work on them at your own pace. The law schools do NOT see anything until you actually submit your application.
Research law schools. The very first thing to consider is: What are your top 3 priorities in a legal education? (Location, employment, affordability, and admissibility are common priorities.) You’ll want to develop a list of 8-10 law schools that meet those priorities. You can find LSAT/GPA data, employment information, tuition, and more by using a resource like the American Bar Association’s Required Disclosure reports. On this website you will find these reports:
1. 509 Required Disclosures = Previous year’s incoming class data such as GPA, LSAT, ethnicity, number of applicants + admits, etc., plus you can find tuition, number and amount of scholarships awarded, and transfer data.
2. Employment Outcomes = Law schools are required to report the employment status of graduates 10 months after graduation. Here you will see how many of the law schools’s most recent grads are employed, and in what sectors.
3. Bar Passage Outcomes = Law schools must report bar passage data about a year out. This report will show which state bar exam this school’s grads take, how many pass, and comparisons to the general state pass rate.

If you have questions and would like to meet with an advisor, go here to schedule an appointment.

Mark Your Calendars – Week of October 28, 2019

Scroll down for information on GRE vouchers, law school open houses and tours, our Pre-Law 101 session set for tomorrow, the Midwest Law School Virtual Fair, jobs, internships, scholarships and more!

Taking the GRE? We have vouchers for a $50 discount on GRE registration fees. Email Jamie at thomas99@illinois.edu if you are planning to take the GRE to apply to law school and we can provide you with one of the vouchers.

Pre-Law 101 – TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 29, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB. This workshop is designed for students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it. All Illini are welcome. 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. Each Pre-Law 101 session is the same, so pick the one that best suits your schedule. Incoming freshmen should attend a Pre-Law 101 prior to setting up an individual pre-law advising appointment. Please register here so that we can ensure we have enough seating and materials.

Personal Statement & Resume workshop–Nov. 5 at 4:00 pm.

This workshop will cover:

What the personal statement is (and isn’t)
The role of the statement in the application process
A suggested plan for drafting it
An overview of law school resumes
How to make sure that your resume and personal statement complement each other.

All Illinois students and alumni are welcome, particularly those who will be applying to law school this fall. Register here.

Go here to check out other upcoming PLAS Events!

Law School/Legal Education Events

University of Toledo College of Law – Launch into Law Program – Applications due THIS THURSDAY, October 31, 2019! Launch into Law is an immersive, 5-day experience at Toledo Law designed to prepare students from traditionally underserved groups for the law school application process. Learn test-taking strategies for the LSAT, enhance your legal writing skills, and connect with student and professional mentors to explore law school options and legal career paths. The program will be held at Toledo Law January 13-17, 2020.

Students who complete the program and later apply to Toledo Law are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship upon acceptance to The University of Toledo College of Law. Go here for more information and to apply. This program is open to highly-qualified undergraduates at no cost. Space is limited. Students from traditionally underserved populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Selected students will be notified on or before November 8.

- Political Discourse at HLS — Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 6:00 — 7:00 PM Eastern
- International Students at HLS – Thursday, October 31, 2019
  12:00 – 1:00 PM Eastern

- The Road to Zero: A Strategic Approach to Student Loan Repayment –Oct. 30, 9:00 pm (EST)

Law School Open Houses/Admissions Programs

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 a class, see what the students and professors are like, and a great opportunity to answer all of your questions. Most law schools require you to register for these events. We have listed below some upcoming open houses for law schools in Illinois, some of which will happen in the next couple of weeks and over Fall Break. If you want to research other law schools’ open house info, you can begin by checking out our list of the law schools that attended the Law School Fair October 3. Scroll down the page. When you click on the law school, the embedded link will take you to that school’s admissions page.

Chicago-Kent Law School Open House/Admissions Workshop: Preparing for a Legal Career. Saturday, November 16, 9am-12:30pm. This will be an in-depth workshop on Preparing for a Legal Career, including a mini law school class, admissions overview, and tour. Click here to register!

University of Chicago Law School Open House – THIS Friday, November 1, 9am-1pm. The programs for the Open House will give you a glimpse into life at the Law School: you will attend a class, meet with students, faculty, and staff, and take a tour of the school. Members of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid will be available to answer any questions you have about applying for admission to the Law School or about the Law School in general. Click here for more information and to register!

DePaul University College of Law – Saturday, November 23, 10am. The faculty, students and staff of DePaul University College of Law invite you and a guest to our Open House events for prospective students. Our programs provide you with information about admission requirements, areas of concentration and financial aid. Each Open House also includes a student panel discussion, mock class, lunch and a tour of our facilities. Programs begin promptly at 10 a.m. For more information and to register, go here.

Loyola University School of Law – Friday, November 22, 11:15am We host information sessions to provide an informal opportunity to ask questions of a member of the JD Admission team. Approximately 45 minutes will be allotted for the information sessions. These sessions are offered on select dates during fall and spring semesters. Information sessions are intended for prospective students; admitted students should select from our other visit options. To register, go here and scroll down the page to find the registration for the November 22 information session.

Northern Illinois University College of Law Open House—Saturday, November 16, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Includes a student panel, mock class, tour, and lunch with current law students. For more information and to RSVP visit their website here.

Northwestern University School of Law – Super Saturday – November 9. After requesting an On-Campus Interview within your JD application (so you need to submit your application first), the Admissions Office will send you an invitation and you will be equipped to select from available slots for your interview. Go here for more info. Note: Early decision / ED applicants are required to complete an online video interview. Upon submitting your ED application to Northwestern Law, you will receive an invitation to our online video interview portal and guidance for completing this requirement. For additional information on the interview process, visiting the school and other questions you may have, check out the FAQs on Northwestern Law’s website here.

Southern Illinois University School of Law The best way to really connect with SIU is the see it for yourself. Visits are scheduled during normal business hours – Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Complete the information here and an admissions representative will be in contact with you to customize your visit. We appreciate 48 hours notice for any campus visit. If you have any questions, please call the Office of Admissions at (618) 453-8858.

University of Illinois College of Law – Nothing will give you a greater sense of the College of Law at Illinois than an in-person visit. We look forward to meeting you on campus.

Please reach out to our Office of Admissions to schedule your visit. You may also want to browse our events calendar, in case you’d like to schedule your visit to coincide with one of our upcoming events. For more information, go here.

UIC John Marshall Law School Throughout the academic year, the Office of Admission offers open house programs for prospective students interested in UIC John Marshall. The open house programs provide an overview of curriculum, the classroom experience, and student life, and offer prospects a chance to familiarize themselves with legal education. In addition, the Law School offers guided tours to prospective students at scheduled times throughout the week. To schedule a tour, call the Office of Admission at 800.537.4280. For more information, go here.

Marquette University Law School – Open House Saturday, November 16, 9:00am-11:30am. Tours begin at 9am followed by an Information Session and Student Panel beginning at 10am. RSVP online here or by calling 414.288.6767.

Midwest Law School Virtual Fair – Wednesday, November 13, 10am-2pm CST

Over 25 law schools are registered and eager to connect with prospective students in a virtual way. To see a list of participating law schools, click on this link. Registration is FREE! Interested students should register here.

Internships and Jobs

We’ve been posting job opportunities for December grads over on our Pre-Law Compass page and on our Facebook page. Follow us on Facebook to make sure you don’t miss any postings! We will be posting summer internships too.

2020 Census Takers Needed

Looking for a way to make some extra money this year? The U.S. Census Bureau is looking to hire individuals all across the United States to help collect data for the 2020 Census. Hourly rates vary by location, with pay starting at $15 per hour in Champaign County and ranging from $18-$22 per hour in Cook County. Go here for more information and to apply!

International Programs in Engineering (IPENG) Communication & Multimedia Intern: IPENG is responsible for the delivery of study abroad services and resources to students and faculty in the College of Engineering. For more information, please visit www.engineering.illinois.edu/ipeng .

We are currently seeking a student intern who will create digital and print materials that will brand, position and promote International Programs in Engineering. In addition, our intern will take photos at IPENG Events as needed and maintain a strong database of images to be used across the multiple advertising platforms. This opportunity may extend into additional semesters by mutual agreement. This part time position offer flexible hours, requiring approximately 8-10 hours per week. The starting pay is $9.00/hour. We are looking for a self-starter who can work both independently and on a team.

Interested candidates should submit resume, cover letter, and a portfolio of work as a single .pdf file attached to an email message sent to Jana Gadbury, jgadbury@illinois.edu by November 18, 2019. Please put “Communications and Multimedia Intern” in the subject of the email.

The International Business Immersion Program is one of the oldest faculty-led study abroad programs on campus. In Spring 2020, the course (ACE/BADM 436) will be traveling over spring break to northern India to explore contemporary issues in agriculture, business, and development in India. The application deadline for this program has been extended to Nov. 15. Click here to apply.

I-STAR Applications DUE November 1, 2019!!

Career Center https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/

Here are some of their upcoming events:

- - Careers at the United Nations – Wed., Oct. 30, 5-6:30pm, Main Library, Room 66
  - Drop In Coffee Chat with the United Nations – Thurs., Oct. 31, 9:30am-11:00am, Career Center Interview Suite Room 213, 616 East Green Street
  - Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.

Scholarships

Beinecke Scholarship – Information Sessions

The Beinecke Foundation is looking for students who have demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement, and personal promise during their undergraduate years. The program seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated U.S. citizen juniors to pursue graduate studies in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Each scholar receives $4,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. Preference is given to candidates for whom the awarding of significant financial aid would increase the likelihood of the student’s being able to attend graduate school.

The University of Illinois is one of a select few institutions that may endorse a candidate for the Beinecke Scholarship, and the National and International Scholarships Program has planned two sessions to assist students interested in earning this $34,000 award. The campus deadline for nomination is January 21, 2020. Additional information about the award may be found at: https://topscholars.illinois.edu/beineckebros

If you are interested in applying, please plan to attend our informational sessions:

Beinecke Scholarship Information Session: Thursday, October 31st, 3:30-4:30 pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building

Beinecke Scholarship Writing Workshop: Friday, November 1st, 3:00-4:00 pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building

For more information, contact the scholarships office at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit our website at www.topscholars.illinois.edu

Graduate Hotels’ $150K Payoff – Applications DUE October 31!

Graduate Hotels and Scholly are teaming up to conquer $150K
in student loan debt. Three current college students or college
graduates will each receive a $50,000 scholarship or loan payoff! Part 1 of the application is due THIS THURSDAY, October 31. Click here for more information and to apply. Interested in other scholarships? Check out the list of over 150 scholarships on our Compass page!

University of Illinois Women’s Career Institute Student Survey

The University of Illinois Women’s Career Institute will be on Sunday, February 9th, 2020. In order to create a more worthwhile event, the planning committee is asking students to fill out a short survey. Students can take the survey here! More information regarding the event can be found here https://oiir.illinois.edu/womens-center/our-programs/career-leadership-development-programs.

How to Interview for Law School – Including Changes to NW Interview Process

Here’s everything you need to know about law school interviews–what they are, how to prepare for them, and what to expect. Note: Registration is already open for many law school interviews!

What is the purpose of the interview? In addition to admission, law schools might use the interview to screen candidates for scholarships, research opportunities, or special programs such as law school ambassadors. It is definitely worth an applicant’s time and effort to take the interview seriously.

The Illinois Career Center holds Mock Interviews for student. Mock interviews provide an opportunity to practice interviewing and receive feedback in preparation for actual interviews. Click here to schedule a mock interview

Know what kind of interviews your law schools offer

Research your law schools’ websites to see whether and what format of interview is offered. We posted a list of known interview types by school over on our Compass page.
First come, first served interviews–Some law schools offer interview slots to all applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Group interviews–Some schools like Georgetown will offer group interviews in selected cities. Visit their website here for details.
By invitation only–some law schools like University of Chicago choose to interview applicants after applications are submitted and by invitation only.
Recorded interviews. Some law schools are now offering applicants the opportunity to record an interview. Usually this is how it works: You are given a prompt, and then 2-3 minutes to think about that prompt. Then the webcam records you for a few minutes while you give your answer to the prompt.
- TIP: Make sure that you look professional and are in a quiet place without interruptions. Also, take a picture with your webcam before the interview so that you can see what’s behind you…you may be surprised to see that pile of laundry or unmade bed in the background.

Preparing for the interview

Do your research. You should expect them to ask you “Why this law school?” and they will want to hear specific answers. Take a careful look at the school’s website, employment data, and social media.
- Do be prepared with specific talking points about the school that interest you: A particular journal, clinic, moot court, externship, or certificate program is a good example.
- Avoid general platitudes like “you have a national reputation” or “you’re the best ranked school I can get into.” They want to see that your interest goes beyond their ranking.
Carefully review your resume and be prepared to discuss anything on it.
Many schools will also ask something like “What are your career goals?” or “Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years?,” or even “Why do you want to be a lawyer?” and you should be prepared to discuss your career interests.
Decide how you will address the inevitable “What are your strengths and weaknesses” question.
Behavioral interviewing. This mode of interviewing will ask you to “Tell me about a time when…” For example, you’ll be asked to tell about a time when you resolved a conflict, managed a team project, made a mistake, or made a big decision.
Practice. Sign up for a mock interview with Career Services, or have a lawyer/professor/trusted person sit down with you and ask you mock questions. Think carefully about what you want to say, and how you can best convey it.
At the interview

Make eye contact, introduce yourself, and shake hands. (You would be surprised how many people skip this. Seriously.)
DO NOT BE LATE under any circumstances. The biggest sign of disrespect to lawyers is wasting their time. Allow yourself plenty of time for parking/traffic/restroom. If you absolutely cannot avoid being late, call the office to let them know.
Dress up. This is not a business-casual situation; business formal is best.
Engage in small talk. How’s the weather, what a lovely office/view, how is your semester going, etc., is not only socially necessary but also gives the interviewer an idea of how good you are at making people feel comfortable talking with you–a critical skill to be a successful lawyer. This might even be part of the interview itself.
Bring questions for the interviewer. Most interviewers will ask if you have any questions for them. Use the opportunity. Some examples might include:
- What are the most important qualities in a Law School X student?
- How would you describe the student body/atmosphere here?
- What challenges do you see current law students facing?
- What’s the best advice you have for an aspiring law student?
Thank the interviewer for their time. Reiterate your interest.

After the interview

Follow up with an email thanking the interviewer for their time.
Include something specific that you learned or enjoyed about the interview. Examples:
- Thank you for your advice about _______________; I found that very insightful.
- It was so interesting to hear your perspective on the unique qualities of this school.
- I appreciate your candid advice for prospective law students.
Take the opportunity–again–to reiterate your interest in the school.

Changes to Northwestern University Early Decision Process

Applicants must submit their ED application before having an interview
Upon submission of your application the Office of Admissions will send you an invitation and detailed instructions to complete the interview
ALL ED interviews must be held ONLINE
Completion of an online video interview is a requirement for ED applicants
Applicants admitted through the ED program will receive a $120,000 merit scholarship, split evenly over the three years of their legal education.

Mark Your Calendar: Week of October 21

Pre-Law 101 – Tuesday, October 29, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB. This workshop is designed for incoming students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it. All Illini are welcome. 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. Each Pre-Law 101 session is the same, so pick the one that best suits your schedule. Incoming freshmen should attend a Pre-Law 101 prior to setting up an individual pre-law advising appointment. Please register here so that we can ensure we have enough seating and materials.

Go here to check out other upcoming PLAS Events!

Law School/Legal Education Events

Pre-Law Honors Society: Guest Speaker Tony Allegretti – The Pre-Law Honors society is having Tony Allegretti from Illinois Student Legal Services come and speak about his experiences working with students and the law. The event will be from 5-6 pm at Lincoln Hall Room 1002

University of Toledo College of Law – Launch into Law Program – Applications due October 31, 2019! Launch into Law is an immersive, 5-day experience at Toledo Law designed to prepare students from traditionally underserved groups for the law school application process. Learn test-taking strategies for the LSAT, enhance your legal writing skills, and connect with student and professional mentors to explore law school options and legal career paths. The program will be held at Toledo Law January 13-17, 2020.

- Clinics & Student Practice Organizations — Oct. 24
- Political Discourse a HLS — Oct. 29

- Financing Your Legal Education–Oct. 22, 4:00 pm (EST)

Law School Open Houses/Admissions Programs

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 a class, see what the students and professors are like, and a great opportunity to answer all of your questions. Most law schools require you to register for these events. We have listed below some upcoming open houses for law schools in Illinois. If you want to research other law schools’ open house info, you can begin by checking out our list of the law schools that attended the Law School Fair last week. Scroll down the page. When you click on the law school, the embedded link will take you to that school’s admissions page.

University of Chicago Law School Open House – Friday, November 1, 9am-1pm. The programs for the Open House will give you a glimpse into life at the Law School: you will attend a class, meet with students, faculty, and staff, and take a tour of the school. Members of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid will be available to answer any questions you have about applying for admission to the Law School or about the Law School in general. Click here for more information and to register!

Northern Illinois University College of Law Open House–Saturday, November 16, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Includes a student panel, mock class, tour, and lunch with current law students. For more information and to RSVP visit their website here.

Internships and Jobs

2020 Census Takers Needed

We are currently seeking a student intern who will create digital and print materials that will brand, position and promote International Programs in Engineering. In addition, our intern will take photos at IPENG Events as needed and maintain a strong database of images to be used across the multiple advertising platforms. This opportunity may extend into additional semesters by mutual agreement. This part time position offer flexible hours, requiring approximately 8-10 hours per week. The starting pay is 9.00/hour. We are looking for a self-starter who can work both independently and on a team.

The application deadline for this program has been extended to November 15^th! Please share the attached flyer with your students, and please contact me with any questions.

Career Center https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/

Here are some of their upcoming events:

- - Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.

Mark Your Calendars: Week of October 14

Pre-Law Advising Services Events & Services

Pre-Law 101 – Today, Monday, October 14, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB. This workshop is designed for incoming students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it. All Illini are welcome. 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. Each Pre-Law 101 session is the same, so pick the one that best suits your schedule. Incoming freshmen should attend a Pre-Law 101 prior to setting up an individual pre-law advising appointment. Please register here so that we can ensure we have enough seating and materials.

Go here to check out other upcoming PLAS Events!

Law School/Legal Education Events

Volunteer jurors needed for law students in Trial Advocacy who will hold trials next week! Email Skylar Layman at slayman2@illinois.edu to sign up; indicate which date you’d like. Cookies will be served.
Tues, Oct. 15, 6-8:30 pm
Mon, Oct. 21, 6-8:30 pm
Tues, Oct. 22, 6-8:30 pm

All Illini are invited to hear from Judge John Coady, Illinois alumnus, on Oct. 18 from 2-3 pm in 404 David Kinley Hall. Judge Coady will speak about his career as a state’s attorney and then judge. RSVP here: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/6720206

Illini are invited to join the Federalist Society at Illinois Law for a Minimum Wage Debate on Wed, Oct. 16 at noon in Room D of the Law Building. Lunch will be served.

- Journals, Research, & Scholarship at HLS — Oct. 17
- Clinics & Student Practice Organizations — Oct. 24

NYU Law School Online Info Session–Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 3:00 pm EST. The Office of JD Admissions is inviting all prospective applicants to attend their Online Information Sessions to learn more about the law school application process and about NYU Law’s offerings. The presentations will be a special broadcast of a live information session with an admissions representative. Participants will have an opportunity to submit questions about NYU’s curriculum, student life, and the admissions process via our online chat tool. Click here to register for an upcoming session and to see the entire schedule.

- Applying to Law School: A Strategic Approach — Oct. 17, 4:00 pm (EST)
- The Road to Zero: A Strategic Approach to Student Loan Repayment–Oct. 17, 12:00 pm (EST)
- Financing Your Legal Education–Oct. 22, 4:00 pm (EST)

Law School Open Houses/Admissions Programs

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 a class, see what the students and professors are like, and a great opportunity to answer all of your questions. Most law schools require you to register for these events. We have listed below some upcoming open houses for law schools in Illinois. If you want to research other law schools’ open house info, you can begin by checking out our list of the law schools that attended the Law School Fair last week. Scroll down the page. When you click on the law school, the embedded link will take you to that school’s admissions page.

ADMISSIONS EXPERT PANEL–All Illini are invited to the Admissions Panel Road Show featuring admissions deans from the University of Chicago, Stanford, Cornell, and Duke law schools today, Oct. 14, 5:30-7:30 at Posinelli in Chicago. To register and find additional details visit this website.

Internships and Jobs

2020 Census Takers Needed

Career Center https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/

Here are some of their upcoming events:

- - Coping with Cultural Differences in the Job Search –Oct. 16, 5:30-7:00pm, Asian American Cultural Center 1st Floor
  - International Career Festival--Oct. 19, 1:00-5:00 Location TBD. Check the website for updates.
  - Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.