Law School Application Time Line
This recommended Time Line for Fall 2023 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 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 our application resources.
Step one: Apply for fee waivers!
January – March 2022
- Decide when you’ll take the LSAT (June, August, September, October, or even November) and how you’ll prepare
March – July 2022
- Register for LSAT and Credential Assembly Service
- Prepare for summer LSAT
- Identify your ideal recommenders
- Talk with recommenders
- Start researching law schools
April 28, 2022
- Deadline for registering for June LSAT
Week of June 10, 2022
- Take the LSAT*
June 30, 2022
- Deadline to register for August LSAT
June – September 2022
- Prepare for late summer or early fall LSAT
- Visit law school websites, become familiar with schools
July 26, 2022
- Deadline to register for September LSAT
Week of August 12, 2022
- Take the LSAT*
September 1, 2022
Week of September 9, 2022
- Take the LSAT*
September – October 2022
- 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 29, 2022
October 14-15, 2022
Week of October 14, 2022
- Take the LSAT*
November 2022
- Week of Nov. 11: Take the LSAT* (think of this LSAT only as your backup plan, not the “ideal” timeline.)
- Finalize applications and transmit
November 11, 2022
December 2022
- Check on LSAC that files are complete; follow up if necessary
January – May 2023
Early January 2023
- File FAFSA and financial aid applications
March – April 2023
- Notifications 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.
