September 2018 – Pre-Law Advising Services Blog

Mark Your Calendars – Law Fair Edition!

THE LAW SCHOOL FAIR IS THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 10:00AM – 2:00PM AT THE ARC! SCROLL DOWN FOR LOTS OF INFORMATION AND TIPS!

Law School Admission Panel – Tuesday, September 25, 7pm, 1002 Lincoln Hall

Join us for this panel as we hear from experts in law school admissions. What happens after you submit an application? What do they really look for in a candidate? What do they love and hate to see in a personal statement? What can applicants expect during an interview? How can applicants build effective relationships with admissions staff? Get all of your questions answered from this panel of admissions professionals with a vast array of experience. Panelists include admissions deans and professionals from the following law schools:

Columbia Law School
Indiana University–Maurer School of Law
Northern Illinois University College of Law
University of Illinois College of Law
University of Wisconsin Law School

No registration necessary. Bring your questions!

The Law School Fair is THIS Wednesday, September 26, 10am-2pm at the ARC, 201 E. Peabody. We are looking forward to seeing many of you there!

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

Emory Law Interviews – Wednesday, September 26, 3-5pm – After the Law School Fair

Emory Law will be conducting individual interviews on Wednesday, September 26th from 3:00 to 5:00pm. These are not formal interviews, but an opportunity for you to learn more about the programs offered at Emory Law, to discuss the law school admissions process in general, and to get all of your questions answered. If you would like to schedule an appointment, sign up for a time slot here: Emory Law Sign Up. Please be sure to bring a copy of your resume during your time slot. Click here to learn more about Emory Law.

Four Things to Do Before the Law School Fair

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

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

Opportunities at the College of Law

Volunteer/Mock Jurors Needed!

The Fundamentals of Trial Advocacy Course students at the UIUC College of Law will be doing their openings October 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10. The College of Law needs volunteers to serve as mock jurors for this class. This is a great opportunity for pre-law students to observe a law school class and learn something about our trial system. Opening statements would begin at 6pm so all participants are asked to arrive no later than 5:45pm. Volunteers can expect each session to last approximately 2.5 hours. Refreshments/snacks will be served to participants. Interested mock jurors should contact Thanin Stewart, UIUC College of Law, Visiting Law Associate at tostewa2@illinois.edu.

Campus Events

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

Finding an Internship–Sept. 25, 5-6 pm, TCC Conference Room
Resume/Cover Letter/Linked In Reviews
- Sept. 24, 2-4:30 pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm Ikenberry Commons
- Sept. 25, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm BrewLab Coffee Shop
- Sept 26, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm BrewLab Coffee Shop
- Sept. 27, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center

Making Your Major Decision–Sept. 25, 5-6 pm, SDRP 2005
Global Careers: Japan — Sept. 28, 4-5:30pm, TCC Interview Suite, Room 213, 616 East Green Street

Scholarships

THE ILLINOIS CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS: Application Deadline October 13!

Diverse and welcoming, The Illinois Club draws its membership from all areas of the University as well as the surrounding community. Since 1915, The Illinois Club has provided financial support to worthy undergraduate students. This year, we will be giving out the following scholarships:

Make-A-Difference Awards of $3,000
A Global Focus Award of $3,000
A Humanities Award of $3,000
Isabelle Purnell Education Awards of $3,000 • The Judith Life Ikenberry Fine Arts Award of $5,500

General Eligibility: You must be an undergraduate, have earned at least 60 credit hours by the beginning of the Spring 2019 semester, and graduate no earlier than December 2019 to apply. A minimum GPA of 2.75 at both the time of application and winning of award is also required.

For more information about the individual awards, go to http://go.illinois.edu/TICScholarship.

Interested in more scholarships? PLAS has collected information on over 200 scholarships–for both undergrads and incoming law students–on our Scholarships Spreadsheet over on our Pre-Law Compass page. It’s a wide variety of scholarships based on everything from being left-handed to making a video to tweeting, and deadlines vary, so check it out!

Internships

David F. Prindable Undergraduate PAID Internship at the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities (IPRH): Communications and Undergraduate Outreach: Applications DUE THIS Friday, September 28!

Undergraduate majors in humanities disciplines are invited to apply for a paid internship in communications and undergraduate outreach at the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities (IPRH), the campus humanities hub. The successful candidate will assist IPRH with its communications strategy, particularly its email communications and social-media presence, in addition to serving as a IPRH’s undergraduate liaison and chief strategist on undergraduate engagement. This position is funded thanks to a generous gift from David F. Prindable.

To be considered for this internship, candidates must possess strong writing and communications skills, excellent attention to detail, the ability to work independently, and an investigative mind. A broad interest in the humanities is preferred.

All About Law School Interviews

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.

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 like Northwestern offer interview slots to all applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. (To schedule an interview visit their interview calendar here. Hurry, because they will fill fast. Note that IF you are applying Early Decision then you must interview and it must be complete by the ED deadline.)
Group interviews–Some schools like Georgetown will offer group interviews in selected cities. Visit their website here for details and to register.
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.

Mark Your Calendars: Week of September 17

We have some BIG events coming up! Take a look.

Pre-Law Events–Our Fall Event Calendar is posted! Here’s a preview of what’s coming up.

Perfecting Your Personal Statement and Resume for Law School–TODAY, Monday, Sept.17, 4-5pm, 514 IUB. The personal statement is one of the most difficult yet powerful elements of the law school application. Join us for this workshop, which will cover what the personal statement is, how to prepare for writing it, and some tips and suggestions for making it reflect an applicant’s strengths. We will also discuss how the personal statement and resume can complement each other to create a stronger law school application.

Law School Admissions Panel–Tuesday, Sept. 25, 7:00 pm in 1002 Lincoln Hall. Are you wondering what law school admissions professionals really look for in an applicant? How do they weigh LSAT scores, grades, or work experience? What gets their attention–and what would make them deny someone? Join us for this expert law school admissions panel to discover this and more. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. This is a must-see event for anyone considering applying to law school!

Panelists include admissions deans and professionals from the following schools:

Columbia Law School
Indiana University–Maurer School of Law
Northern Illinois University College of Law
University of Illinois College of Law
University of Wisconsin Law School

Law School Fair–Wednesday, Sept. 26, 10:00 am-2:00 pm at the ARC (201 E. Peabody Drive) It’s the biggest pre-law event of the year as 110 law schools visit campus to meet all who are interested in applying to law school. Learn about law schools, scholarships, and the application process while meeting the people who will be reading your law school applications. Application fee waivers and other freebies will be available. Stop by or stay the whole time! This event is free and open to the public. For more information click here to visit our website. No registration required.

Emory Law Interviews–Wednesday, Sept. 26, 3:00-5:00 pm, 504 Illini Union Bookstore Building. These are not formal interviews, but an opportunity for you to learn more about the programs offered at Emory Law, to discuss the law school admissions process in general, and to get all of your questions answered. If you would like to schedule an appointment, sign up for a time slot here: Emory Law Sign Up. Please be sure to bring a copy of your resume during your time slot. Click here to learn more about Emory Law.

Law School Events–Pre-Law students are invited!

Constitution Day 2018–TODAY, Sept. 17, at 7 pm in Lincoln Hall. Tolerance Means Dialogue: Religious Liberty and the Culture War over LGBT Rights: Can University Students Make a Difference? This moderated dialogue is open to the public. Click here for more details.

The Kavanaugh Nomination and the Future of the Supreme Court–Sept. 18, 12:00-1:15 pm in the Law Building Max L. Rowe Auditorium. Panelists include Dean Vikram Amar, Andrew Leipold, Jason Mazzone, and Arden Rowell. Click here for more details.

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

Finding & Applying to Federal Government Jobs–Sept. 17, 3-4 pm, TCC Conference Room
Finding an Internship–Sept. 18, 5-6 pm, TCC Conference Room
Resume/Cover Letter/Linked In Reviews
- Sept. 17, 2-4:30 pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm Ikenberry Commons
- Sept. 18, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm BrewLab Coffee Shop
- Sept 19, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm BrewLab Coffee Shop
- Sept. 20, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center
Creating Your Powerful Cover Letter
- Sept. 17, 4-5pm, TCC Conference Room
Creating Your Powerful Resume
- Sept. 17, 5-6 pm, TCC Conference Room
Making Your Major Decision–Sept. 19, 3-4 pm, TCC Conference Room
Careers Seen on TV–Sept. 19 from 12-1 pm, TCC Interview Suite Room 213. Enjoy lunch and hear from professionals in law, film, HR, and more! Panelists include: Elly Peirson, Federal Prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney at United States Attorneys Office Ronda Holliman, Associate Judge, 6th Judicial Court, U.S. Department of Justice Jessica Embleton, Talent Acquisition Partner, Carle Human Resources Lisa Rogers, Talent Acquisition Partner, Carle Human Resources Ryan Reid, Director of Sports & Special Events/Director of Champaign County Film Office, Visit Champaign County

Scholarships

THE ILLINOIS CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS: Application Deadline October 13!

Make-A-Difference Awards of $3,000
A Global Focus Award of $3,000
A Humanities Award of $3,000
Isabelle Purnell Education Awards of $3,000 • The Judith Life Ikenberry Fine Arts Award of $5,500

For more information about the individual awards, go to http://go.illinois.edu/TICScholarship.

Internships

David F. Prindable Undergraduate PAID Internship at the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities (IPRH): Communications and Undergraduate Outreach: Applications DUE Friday, September 28!

The position commences October 15, 2018 and ends May 15, 2019. The Prindable intern will work approximately two to three hours per week, for 24 weeks, at the rate of $15.75 per hour (up to $1,000 per year). There is flexibility regarding the hours to be worked.

To apply, please email a one-page letter of interest, a resume, and a list of three references (academic or non-academic, so long as they can speak to your skills and work ethic; at least one referee should be able to comment on your writing skills) to iprh@illinois.edu by September 28 with “Prindable Internship” in the subject line. Letters may be addressed and questions directed to IPRH Deputy Director, Nancy Castro (ncastro@illinois.edu).

The Office of Undergraduate Research is Hiring a PAID Graphic Design Intern

Graphic Design Intern: The Illinois Office of Undergraduate Research is seeking a motivated and experienced undergraduate student to assist with creating innovative and visually impactful graphics for the office. The graphic design intern will be expected to work from 5 – 10 hours per week (workstation and required software will be provided). This is a PAID internship at $12/hour. Federal Work Study designation is required.

Primary Responsibilities:

Assist with layout, design, and production of flyers, digital/web graphics, office brochures, and other print/digital resources, consistent with current office branding.
Assist with converting digital assets to web-ready formats.
Assist with other projects as needed.

For a full description of the position, including the required experiences and qualifications and information on how to apply, please visit: http://go.illinois.edu/OURintern

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

Pre-Law Resources

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

Top 6 Ways to Get Law School Application Fee Waivers

Law school applications are now open, which means that application season has officially begun! Those of you who are applying to law school now are finding out how expensive law school applications can be. Each school has an application fee and each school must receive a Law School Report ($45 each), which adds up fast.

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

Apply for an LSAC fee waiver. The best fee waiver is directly through the Law School Admission Council. This fee waiver will waive the fees for two LSAT exams, your Credential Assembly Service fee, and four Law School Reports. In addition, most law schools will waive your application fee too if you received an LSAC fee waiver. You can apply for an LSAC fee waiver and find out more information here.
Attend the Law Fair. If you are not eligible for an LSAC waiver, there are other ways to reduce your costs. First, come to the Law Fair on Wednesday,September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC). Over 100 law schools will be sending representatives to talk with interested students about their programs and their application process. Many schools at the fair will be giving out fee waivers! (Tip: Make sure you sign in at the law school tables. Many schools will email you a fee waiver afterward.) Click here for more details about the Law Fair, like which law schools are attending.
Register for the Candidate Referral Service (CRS) in your LSAC account. This is basically a survey that asks you lots of questions about yourself–your background, interests, grades, etc.–and then “matches” you with law schools that are looking for students like you. Many law schools use the CRS to offer fee waivers, so it is worth your time to complete the CRS survey here.
Directly inquire with your preferred law schools. Send a polite email to their admissions office asking whether they have a fee waiver program, and how you can apply. Some schools will simply respond with a waiver; other schools will have certain parameters (like GPA or financial need) to meet before waiving your fee. Take 10 minutes to craft a friendly form email and send it to all of the schools you’re applying to–it’s an easy way to collect a few fee waivers. It’s well worth your time.
Attend law school visit or open house days. Sometimes when a school sees that you’ve made the effort to visit, they will reward you with a fee waiver.
Join the Pre-Law Facebook Group. Sometimes law schools send our office fee waivers, and we always post them to our FB group on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to join!

Mark Your Calendars – Week of September 10

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

Pre-Law Events

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

Pre-Law 101 – TODAY, Monday, September 10, 4-5pm 514 IUB

This workshop is designed for incoming students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it.

We will cover: What it means to be pre-law at Illinois, course selection, majors, and extracurriculars, building a pre-law resume, and what law schools are really looking for. We will outline a four year plan to maximize your undergraduate experiences in order to make a great law school candidate. We’ll also take any questions about law school and legal careers.

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. Registration is closed by we have a few empty spots available on a first come, first served basis.

Letter of Recommendation Webinar – THIS Friday, September 14, 2-3pm

This is part of our Applying to Law School webinar series for Illinois students and alumni. During this webinar, we will discuss:

How many letters of recommendation law school applications require
Who to ask for recommendations
How to approach your request
Timelines for getting recommendations
How to input your recommenders in your Credential Assembly Service account

Bring your questions! Register for this webinar by September 13 at this link. Webinar link and handouts will be sent to registrants before the session.

Perfecting Your Personal Statement and Resume for Law School–Tuesday, Sept.17, 4-5pm, 514 IUB

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

Panelists include admissions deans and professionals from the following schools:

Columbia Law School
Indiana University–Maurer School of Law
Northern Illinois University College of Law
University of Illinois College of Law
University of Wisconsin Law School

Campus Events

ILLINOIS-IN-WASHINGTON – Information Session Tuesday, September 11, 5-6pm, David Kinley Hall, Room 106

Illinois in Washington (IIW) is an academic internship program open to all U of I undergraduates. Participants live and intern in Washington, DC, while taking U of I classes. IIW offers an exceptional opportunity to gain rewarding work experience while enjoying the political, intellectual, and cultural experiences than only the nation’s capital can offer. Student internships have included positions with members of Congress, think tanks, consulting groups, social justice organizations, and government agencies. Come and join us for an unforgettable semester in one of the most exciting cities in the world. Our information session will provide a brief overview of the program. The application deadline for the Spring 2019 term is October 1st. Application instructions are available at http://www.washington.illinois.edu/apply/information/.

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

CC-I Information Session, Sept. 10, 4:00 pm, Interview Suite Room 213. The actual deadline for the CC-I application is September 11.
Resume/Cover Letter/Linked In Review
- Sept. 10, 2-4:30 pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm Ikenberry Commons
- Sept. 11, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm BrewLab Coffee Shop
- Sept 12, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm BrewLab Coffee Shop
- Sept. 13, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center
- Sept. 14, 2-4:30 pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm Ikenberry Commons
- Sept. 16, 5-7:30pm Ikenberry Commons
Creating Your Powerful Cover Letter
- Sept. 12, 4-5pm, TCC Conference Room
Creating Your Powerful Resume
- Sept. 12, 5-6 pm
Translating Your Study Abroad Experience
- Sept. 11, 5-6pm, Lincoln 1024
- Sept. 12, 5-6pm, Lincoln 1024
Career Fair Prep
- Sept. 13, 4:00 pm

Pre-Law Honors Society: The Order of Prospective Lawyers

If you have a cumulative GPA of a 3.30/4.00, and have completed 30 hours of campus credit prior to initiation (Sophomore status) you are eligible to apply for membership in the Pre-Law Honors Society. Click on the link below to access the application and the instructions for how to apply. Applications are due THIS FRIDAY, September 14, by Midnight! All questions should be directed to prelawhonorssociety@gmail.com.

plhs_application_fall_2018_2019

THE ILLINOIS CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS: Application Deadline October 13!

Make-A-Difference Awards of $3,000
A Global Focus Award of $3,000
A Humanities Award of $3,000
Isabelle Purnell Education Awards of $3,000 • The Judith Life Ikenberry Fine Arts Award of $5,500

For more information about the individual awards, go to http://go.illinois.edu/TICScholarship.

Internships

David F. Prindable Undergraduate PAID Internship at the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities (IPRH): Communications and Undergraduate Outreach: Applications DUE Friday, September 28!

The Office of Undergraduate Research is Hiring a PAID Graphic Design Intern

Primary Responsibilities:

Assist with layout, design, and production of flyers, digital/web graphics, office brochures, and other print/digital resources, consistent with current office branding.
Assist with converting digital assets to web-ready formats.
Assist with other projects as needed.

For a full description of the position, including the required experiences and qualifications and information on how to apply, please visit: http://go.illinois.edu/OURintern

Pre-Law Resources

5 Fall Semester Tips for All Pre-Law Students

Get to know your professors. Go to office hours and participate in class. It’s a great way to learn how to network, a critical life skill. Eventually you’ll need letters of recommendation, and building these relationships now will help you later.
Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
If you already have a resume, update it and take it to the Career Center for a review. If you don’t have a resume yet, now is a great time to draft one. The Career Center offers workshops on creating a resume, or you can find some good templates online.
Now is also a good time to create or update a Linked In profile. While you’re at it, review your social media and clean it up…ask yourself if you would want employers or law schools to view everything that’s posted.
Start looking for spring/summer jobs and internships. It’s not too early! Here’s a blog post that we recently wrote about it with tips and suggestions.
Explore study abroad, Illinois in Washington, and/or national and international scholarships such as Fulbright, Luce, or Gilman for next summer or next year. These take time and have early application deadlines.
Consider your LSAT options for 2019. If you’re planning to graduate in 2019 and take a gap year or two prior to law school, you might want to go ahead and take the LSAT before you graduate. Alumni tell us all the time how challenging it is to balance full-time jobs (plus commutes, family, and personal time) with studying for the LSAT. The scores are good for 5 years so banking the score prior to graduation may save you some time and stress in the future.

Mark Your Calendars: Week of September 4

Welcome back from Labor Day weekend! We have lots of September events going on, so take a look!

Join our Pre-Law Listserv to stay connected. It’s easy–here’s how:
1. Log in to https://lists.illinois.edu/
2. In the search box on the left, type “prelaw” and add yourself to the list
prelaw-l@lists.illinois.edu. That’s it!

Pre-Law Events

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

Interested in joining the Pre-Law Club? Come to a Pre-Law Club Info Session on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 6 pm in Greg Hall Room 223!

Pre-Law 101 Workshop–Monday, Sept. 10 at 4:00 pm. This workshop is designed for incoming students who are new to pre-law or are interested in learning more about it.We will cover: What it means to be pre-law at Illinois, course selection, majors, and extracurriculars, building a pre-law resume, and what law schools are really looking for. We will outline a four year plan to maximize your undergraduate experiences in order to make a great law school candidate. We’ll also take any questions about law school and legal careers. Register here.

Letters of Recommendation: Part of the Applying to Law School Webinar Series–Friday, Sept. 14, 2-3 pm. Register here.
During this webinar, we will discuss:

How many letters of recommendation law school applications require
Who to ask for recommendations
How to approach your request
Timelines for getting recommendations
How to input your recommenders in your Credential Assembly Service account

Perfecting Your Personal Statement and Resume for Law School–Monday, Sept.17, 4-5pm. The personal statement is one of the most difficult yet powerful elements of the law school application. Join us for this workshop, which will cover what the personal statement is, how to prepare for writing it, and some tips and suggestions for making it reflect an applicant’s strengths. We will also discuss how the personal statement and resume can complement each other to create a stronger law school application. Register here.

Law School Admissions Panel–Tuesday, Sept. 25, 7:00 pm in 1002 Lincoln Hall. Join us for this panel as we hear from experts in law school admissions. What happens after you submit an application? What do they really look for in a candidate? What do they love and hate to see in a personal statement? What can applicants expect during an interview? How can applicants build effective relationships with admissions staff? Get all of your questions answered from this panel of admissions professionals with a vast array of experience.This is a must-see event for anyone considering applying to law school!

Panelists include representatives from the following law schools:

Columbia Law School https://www.law.columbia.edu/
Indiana University–Maurer School of Law http://law.indiana.edu/
Northern Illinois University College of Law https://www.niu.edu/law/
University of Illinois College of Law https://law.illinois.edu/
University of Wisconsin Law School https://law.wisc.edu/

Law School Fair–Wednesday, Sept. 26, 10:00 am-2:00 pm at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC). It’s the biggest pre-law event of the year as 120 law schools visit campus to meet all who are interested in applying to law school. Learn about law schools, scholarships, and the application process while meeting the people who will be reading your law school applications. Application fee waivers and other freebies will be available. Stop by or stay the whole time! This event is free and open to the public. For more information click here to visit our website. No registration required.

Campus Events

Illinois Abroad Day is Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 11-3 all over campus. Click here to explore the six events held that day everywhere from the main Quad to the ACES Library.

Gilman Scholarship Information Sessions will be held Sept. 6 at 3:30 and Sept. 7 at 2:00 in 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building. This scholarship awards $5,000 for U.S. citizen undergraduates to pursue summer, semester, or academic year study abroad programs.

Constitution Day 2018–Tolerance Means Dialogue: “Religious Liberty and the Culture War Over LGBT Rights: Can University Students Make a Difference?” Sept. 17 at 7 pm in Lincoln Hall. This event features dialogue catalysts Robin Fretwell Wilson, Roger and Stephany Joslin Professor of Law, University of Illinois, and Director of the Tolerance Means Dialogues, and Shannon Minter, Legal Director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Constitution Day Scholarship Opportunity: Submit a 500 word essay here on what tolerance means to you by Sept. 10, 2018 for a chance to win a $750 scholarship.

The School of Information Sciences will be hosting a Fall Open House event on Friday, September 14 from 12-5 pm. Anyone interested in the programs MS in Library and Information Science or MS in Information Management should attend. Click here to register.

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

Part-Time Job Fair: Sept. 4, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in Illini Union, Room B. Engage with local and campus employers to find paid part-time opportunities! Visit Handshake for a list of participating employers.

CC-I (Career Certificate, International) Information Session, Sept. 4, 4:00 pm
Creating Your Powerful Resume
- Sept. 11, 4:00 pm
- Sept. 12, 4:00 pm
- Sept. 13, 5:00
Career Fair Prep Workshop, Sept. 6, 4-5 pm
Resume/Cover Letter/Linked In Review
- Sept. 4, 2-4:30 pm and 5-7:30 pm
- Sept. 5, 2-4:30 pm and 5-7:30 pm
- Sept. 6 & 7, 2-4:30 pm

Scholarships

We’ve collected 200 scholarships–for both undergrads and incoming law students–on our Scholarships Spreadsheet over on our Pre-Law Compass page. It’s a wide variety of scholarships based on everything from being left-handed to making a video to tweeting, and deadlines vary, so check it out!

Internships

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

Pre-Law Resources