Law School Application Time Line
This recommended Time Line for Fall 2024 admission assumes that you will complete and submit your applications by Thanksgiving-ish 2023. It’s an ideal time line — meaning you started thinking about the process at least a year and a half before you intend to start law school. As you’ll see, there are a number of places where you can “catch up” to the time line, if you didn’t start thinking about things that early. You can view this same information as a checklist here or go here for all of our application resources.
Step one: Apply for fee waivers!
January – March 2023
- Decide when you’ll take the LSAT (June, August, September, October, or even November) and how you’ll prepare
March – July 2023
- Register for LSAT and Credential Assembly Service
- Prepare for summer LSAT
- Identify your ideal recommenders
- Talk with recommenders
- Start researching law schools
June 9-10, 2023
- Take the LSAT*
June 29, 2023
- Deadline to register for August LSAT
June – September 2023
- Prepare for late summer or early fall LSAT
- Visit law school websites, become familiar with schools
July 25, 2023
- Deadline to register for September LSAT
August 11-12, 2023
- Take the LSAT*
August 31, 2023
Week of September 8-9, 2023
- Take the LSAT*
September – October 2023
- Request transcripts from UMass registrar and from other colleges/universities you have attended
- Visit law schools, if possible
- Verify accuracy of Credential Assembly Service information
- Request LSAC email to recommenders with upload link (or print and give recommendation form to recommenders)
- Make final decisions about which schools to apply to
- Draft personal statement, other essays, and résumé
- Complete applications online
- Check in with recommenders
- Request Dean’s certification letters (if required)
September 28, 2023
October 13-14, 2023
or
- Take the LSAT*
November 11-12, 2023
- Take the LSAT* (think of this LSAT only as your backup plan, not the “ideal” timeline)
Thankgiving-ish 2023
- Finalize applications and transmit
December 2023
- Check on LSAC that files are complete; follow up if necessary
January – May 2024
Early January 2024
- File FAFSA and financial aid applications
March – May 2024
- Notifications should arrive from law schools
- Weigh offers, scholarships
- Make a decision
- Pay seat deposit
* Ideally you’ll only take the LSAT once! So choose just one among these options.
