Application Tips

The admission process for law school often seems daunting, but it does not have to be that way. The Office of Admission is here to help you and to walk you through the process. We want you to be the best candidate possible when your file is reviewed by the admission committee.

If you have questions, concerns or just need to talk to an admission representative, please contact the Office of Admission by phone, (843) 377-2143, or email, info@charlestonlaw.edu.

LSAT

All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) sponsored by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for the purpose of assessing the applicant’s capability of satisfactorily completing the educational program.

LSAT scores are valid for five years. Many law schools, including Charleston School of Law, only consider your high LSAT score, so do not be afraid to take the test more than once. If you do not think your score reflects your abilities, be sure to include an addendum with your application explaining why you feel this way. Let the admission committee know the steps you took to prepare for the LSAT.

GRE

In an effort to increase the accessibility of law school, the Charleston School of Law will accept the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) beginning with the application for fall 2023 admission under the following conditions:

1. An applicant does not have a reportable LSAT score.

A. If an applicant has a reportable LSAT score on file at any time during the admissions process, the GRE score will not be considered.

B. If an applicant has been admitted with a GRE score, receipt of a subsequent LSAT score will result in a reevaluation of the applicant’s file and admission decision by the Admission Committee.

2. Applicants must submit all GRE scores from the past five years. Both total and individual section scores are required. The Admission Committee will evaluate scores from all sections of the GRE.

3. Applicants who choose to apply with only a GRE must submit an explanation for why they have chosen to take the GRE over the LSAT.

We encourage all applicants to take the LSAT; while some merit scholarships will be available for GRE applicants, the majority will be for those with an LSAT score.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

The personal statement is your opportunity to provide a candid evaluation of yourself and to make the admission committee feel your passion and desire to study the law. If you find yourself struggling to talk about how great you are, ask someone close to you – mother, father, friend, etc. – why they think you are great. The personal statement is your opportunity to tell the admission committee something about yourself that they would not otherwise know from reading the rest of your application or résumé.

Here are a few things to consider including in your personal statement:

• Evidence of your abilities and strengths
• Motivation to study law
• Examples of leadership abilities
• Evidence of your maturity
• Evidence of your organizational skills
• Information regarding any educational or financial obstacles you have overcome
• Disabilities that may have affected your academic performance

Please remember that the personal statement is a writing sample; there should be no typos. If you begin or end with a quote, make sure that it is relevant to the rest of your statement.

RESOURCES

• Tips to Remember when Writing a Personal Statement from Michele DeMary of Susquehanna University
• Tips for Your Personal Statement from The Princeton Review
• What Not to Do in a Law School Personal Statement from U.S. News & World Report

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

What you need to know about letters of recommendation:

• Two letters of recommendation are required, and at least one should be written in the past year
• You may submit no more than four letters
• Ask for a recommendation from someone who will write a great letter about you
• If you ask someone and they are hesitant, it is likely a sign that you should ask someone else
• One letter should be from someone in academia if you are in college or recently graduated
• One letter should be from an employer if you have been in the workforce for several years
• The second letter may be from a colleague, friend, co-worker, etc.
• Recommender should speak to your work-ethic and/or classroom ethics

RESUME

Be sure to tailor your resume to law school admission. You should expand on and provide more details than the application allows in regards to leadership roles, community service and work/internship experience.