Pre-Law Advising Services Events & Services

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 – 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.

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.

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 Nov. 8.

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. 

• • 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.

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.

• • 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.

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 – 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.

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.

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.

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!

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:

• • • 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.

If you took the LSAT in June 2019 or later, then read on! The writing sample part of the LSAT has changed.

What is the LSAT writing sample? The writing sample portion of the LSAT is required but it is NOT scored. During this 35 minute timed portion, you will get a writing prompt and you’ll be asked to provide a written response. The prompts usually present two equally reasonable options. You will be asked to choose one and make a supported argument about why that option is preferable. Every law school to which you apply will receive your writing sample. This is intended to give them a sense of your competence with writing skills when you aren’t given the luxury of unlimited time and outside assistance. For an example of a writing sample topic and instructions, click here.

When do I take it? The LSAT writing sample used to be part of test day, but as of June 2019 it is done separately. LSAT takers will have one year after the LSAT to complete the writing sample. But you should know: Your LSAT score is not complete until the writing sample is submitted and processed. This means that none of your law school applications will be reviewed until your writing sample is complete.

What is the process like? After downloading the proctor software, you’ll take pictures with your computer showing your writing area so that it is clear you are not using forbidden materials like a dictionary. You will also take a picture of your government-issued photo ID to demonstrate that it’s really you taking the test. To learn more, click on the Get Acquainted With LSAT Writing link inside your CAS account.  Click here for more information about the LSAT writing sample, including FAQs.

Once the pictures are submitted, the writing prompt will launch, and you will have 35 minutes to respond. You’ll type your answer in a text box with limited formatting options…kind of like a very simplified version of Word.

How long will it take to be processed? According to the LSAC, the writing sample will likely be processed within a week of completion. However, it can take up to three weeks for processing, so you will want to take the writing sample at least 3 weeks prior to your planned law school application date.

Our advice: Take the writing sample within a week of taking the LSAT. (Just put a reminder in your calendar to make sure you don’t forget.) This way, the ENTIRE LSAT experience will be over and you can apply to law school as early as possible without the writing sample hanging over your head. Don’t wait until the day before your Early Decision deadline to take the writing sample! And don’t wait until months later, when you’re likely to forget all about it and think the LSAT is done. You will be so glad that the entire LSAT is behind you and you can then turn to other elements of the application.

Pre-Law Advising Services Events

Personal Statements & Resumes for Law School Applicants–This workshop is for those who are applying to law school in the next year or so (although all are welcome). We will discuss the personal statement and resume, including: what law schools are looking for, how to get started, what to include and exclude, and a sample plan for drafting them. This workshop is also offered several times throughout the semester.

• • • Personal Statement & Resume Workshop–Sept. 23 at 4:00. Register here.

Meet us at the Majors & Minors Fair TODAY, Sept. 23 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm in the Illini Union Rooms A, B, C.

WHERE is my workshop? If you look at our Events Calendar you will see that many of our event locations have not yet been identified. Due to construction, locations of these events will be announced about a week before the events.  Please continue to check our PLAS Events Calendar and our posts on Facebook throughout the semester to make sure you know where your workshop is being held!

Coming soon…

Law School Admissions Expert Panel – Wednesday, October 2, 7:00pm, 1002 Lincoln Hall

This panel features the law school admissions deans from the University of Illinois, Indiana University, St. Louis University and the University of Texas-Austin!  Click here for more info!

Law School Fair – Thursday, October 3, 10am-2pm at the Activities and Recreation Center

Close to 100 law schools will be here to answer your questions!  Click here for more info including a list of schools scheduled to attend!

Go here to check out other upcoming PLAS Events!

Law School/Legal Education Events

University of Illinois College of Law Special Invitation–Peers Pub on Sept. 26, 4-5:30 at the College of Law.

The College of Law invites all interested pre-law students to their twice/month Peers Pub celebration on September 26, 2019 from 4-5:30.  Please feel free to stop by the College of Law to meet current law students, learn more information about applying to the College, see our updated classrooms, take a tour of the College, and receive light refreshments.  Tours and a classroom will be available from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Harvard Law School Online Info Session

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. 

• • HLS Women’s Law Association–Sept. 24, 6:00-7:00 pm (EST)
  • Law, Science, and Technology–Sept. 26, 6:00-7:00 pm (EST)

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

• • Financing Your Legal Education–Sept. 24, 7:00 pm (EST)
  • Applying to Law School: A Strategic Approach–Sept. 26, 1:00 pm (EST)
  • The Road to Zero: A Strategic Approach to Student Loan Repayment–Sept. 30, 4:00 pm (EST)

Campus Internships

ATLAS Internships for all LAS majors. ATLAS internships help students in the College of LAS gain hands-on learning with technology and provide real tech experience. No specific GPA or tech experience required. To apply or for more details visit their website here.

David F. Prindable Undergraduate Internship. This paid internship for undergrads in the Humanities (through the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities) provides the chance to assist with communications strategies, particularly through email and social media. Visit their website here for more details and to apply. Deadline: Sept. 27.

Office of Undergraduate Research

Proposal Writing in Undergraduate Research–Sept. 25, 3:00-4:30 pm. This workshop will discuss the fundamentals of proposal writing, guiding students to formulate successful research projects and explain their research in a concise and compelling manner that is understandable to a general audience. Students will leave the workshop with (1) basic knowledge about research proposals and their structure, (2) tactics and tools to write successful research statements, and (3) a list of resources for assistance in the writing process.Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research website to register for the upcoming workshop options below.

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:

• • • ACES + LAS Career Fair–Sept. 26 from 1:30-6:00 pm at the ARC (Activities & Recreation Center)–Visit Handshake for more details, including the employers attending
    • Creating Your Powerful Resume and Cover Letter Workshop–Sept. 24, 4-5 pm
    • International Student Job Search Workshop–Sept. 27, 5-6 pm
    • Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.

If you are applying to law school to enter in Fall 2020, but you haven’t yet registered for an LSAT–this post is for you!

Both the September and October 2019 LSAT registration deadlines have passed. Here is a detailed comparison and discussion of remaining LSAT options for this year’s law school applicants.

November 25, 2019. Registration is currently open here for this LSAT and closes on October 10.

• • IF you are planning to apply to law school this cycle (to enter in Fall 2020), then this is the latest LSAT we advise taking. (Why? The next LSAT isn’t until January 2020, which is getting late in the cycle due to rolling admissions.) This LSAT may also be too late to apply Early Decision (ED); some ED programs require an LSAT score by mid-November. (Check the application of the law school you plan to apply ED to if you’re considering this option.)
  • This exam is on a Monday, but it’s also during our Fall Break, so current students won’t have to miss class. It may be necessary to miss work or other obligations.
  • This LSAT is not offered on our campus, so takers should plan to travel elsewhere. Registering as early as possible will help secure a seat at a strategic location near campus or near home, if you want to avoid hotel expenses.
  • For current students–This exam is very close to finals, and LSAT prep will need to be carefully balanced with academic performance throughout the fall semester.
  • This exam is disclosed, meaning that test takers will receive a full report of questions answered correctly and incorrectly.

January 13, 2020 LSAT. Registration is currently open here for this LSAT and closes on December 3.

• • This exam is possible for those who want to enter law school in fall of 2020, but it is getting late in the cycle. Remember that in a rolling admission cycle, law schools begin accepting people–and awarding their scholarships–in September.
  • LSAT takers who are applying to law school this cycle would be wise to complete all other elements of the application as soon as this exam is over in order to apply ASAP once scores are released.
  • This exam is on a Monday, but it falls during our Winter Break, so current students will not have to miss class. It may be necessary to miss work or other obligations.
  • This LSAT is not offered on our campus, so takers should plan to travel elsewhere. Registering as early as possible will help secure a seat at a strategic location near campus or near home, if you want to avoid hotel expenses.
  • This exam is nondisclosed, meaning that test takers will only receive a score and will not receive a report of questions answered correctly and incorrectly.

February 22, 2020 LSAT. Registration for this LSAT is currently open here and closes on January 7.

• • This exam is very late in the cycle for those who are applying to law school to enter in Fall 2020. Applicants may even miss some law school application deadlines by the time February scores are released; check the deadlines of law schools you’re applying to if considering this option.
  • This may be a great option for those who aren’t applying to law school this cycle (but planning to next year). Current students will have all of winter break to focus on LSAT prep. And, you’d be done with the LSAT before midterms–always a plus. You can spend the rest of the semester focused on your classwork.
  • This exam is on a Saturday, so current students don’t need to miss class. Alumni may not need to miss work, either, since it’s on a weekend.
  • This exam IS offered on our campus. Current students and local alumni can avoid travel costs and logistics.
  • This exam is nondisclosed, meaning that test takers will only receive a score and will not receive a report of questions answered correctly and incorrectly.

Whichever LSAT you choose, it’s recommended to register as soon as possible to ensure a seat. Some fall LSAT sites filled quickly.

Student question: What tutoring and academic resources are available at Illinois?

This is a GREAT question! Pre-law students know that their GPA and academic skills are very important for preparing for law school. Who can you turn to and where can you go if you find yourself needing some additional academic help or support?

A great first step: Talk to your TA/Professor. Ask them–they are the experts, after all–about tutoring, suggested resources, or other assistance they can provide.

A great next step: Talk to your academic advisor. S/he will have suggestions for campus resources that you might not know of, and s/he can talk to you about all of your class options such as electing credit/no credit, dropping a course, or changing sections.

How else can you find academic resources around campus? Check out these options.

ACES list of tutoring resources

DGS list of tutoring resources

LAS Academic Success Workshops

Spanish Tutoring Room

OMSA Tutoring

Writer’s Workshop

The Undergraduate Library offers services to help you become a better researcher and writer. From Subject Guides to Research and Writing Consultations to Workshops and this Citation Guide, they offer lots of opportunities for learning research skills.

RSOs—Registered Student Organizations about a particular subject or major are also helpful. You’ll meet other students whom you can ask about tutoring or resources in that subject. Not sure? Ask your academic advisor about clubs and organizations that are related to your department or college.

Khan Academy–Some Khan Academy subjects are helpful for college level courses, like AP resources (AP US Government, AP History, etc.), math, economics, finance, stats, chemistry, biology, and computer science.