Typical Application Timelines
The best plan begins at least 18 months before you start law school. But many people can't reorganize their lives for a year and a half. They're studying abroad, or have a heavy course load, or don't feel ready for the June test and defer. Most applicants can squeeze everything into a slightly shorter time, if nothing goes wrong.
A Comfortable Plan for Applying to Law School
May |
June
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July Study for the LSAT
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August |
September LSAT! |
October |
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March |
February
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January Draft supplemental essays |
December
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November |
April Pay seat deposits, read enrichment materials |
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| May Withdraw from other schools, watch history on YouTube | June Take Prep Course |
July Move. Learn your new city |
August Begin law school! |
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This timeline is fine if you don't have to re-write essays six times, and if you don't need to retake the LSAT. November, December and January become quite a scramble if you need to retake.
A Slightly Uncomfortable Application Plan
May |
June |
July Study for |
August |
September LSAT! |
October |
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March |
February |
January |
December Draft supplemental essays LSAT! |
November get LSAT tutoring |
April Pay seat deposits, read enrichment materials |
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| May Withdraw from other schools, watch history on YouTube | June |
July Move. Learn your new city |
August Begin law school! |
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I urge applicants on this schedule to apply to schools with February 15th and March deadlines. If the majority of your chosen schools have February 1 deadlines, you'll almost certainly make the mistakes caused by too little time.
What if you procrastinated, or felt unready for the LSAT in October -- can you map a course from a December test date to a March application deadline? You can apply to law school in a even shorter time if you don't mind stress and sleepless nights.