Law School Tips for Success

Considering law school? Here are some pointers and suggestions to help you decide if a law degree is right for you.

Smart Choices

The effects of the recession are still lingering in the legal industry, but many partners at large law firms agree that the market has nearly stabilized. Intellectual property and energy law continue to be lucrative—and competitive—specialities. Most law schools also offer dual degrees, such as J.D./M.B.A. and J.D./M.A. degrees in a variety of fields, which give students greater interdisciplinary expertise that may be a benefit in the workforce.

[Find out what a dual J.D./M.B.A. can add to your education.]

Insider Tip

If you are set on a career in public interest law, don't let finances stop you. Many schools offer debt repayment options to students who work in the public sector, if their salaries are low enough. Low Income Protection Plans (LIPP) and Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP) at schools help students who work in the government and at nonprofits pay back their student loans through loan forgiveness, lower interest rates, or postponed payment plans.

Students with good credit can also fund their entire law education with a mixture of Stafford loans and Grad PLUS loans—both of which are government-run borrowing programs. Better yet, to keep your repayment plan affordable, the government will now tie it to your income, if it's low enough. If you're still working in the public or nonprofit sector after 10 years and you've stayed on top of your payments, the rest of your debt can be wiped clean.

[Read more about paying for law school.]

Getting In

Study hard: High LSAT scores and GPAs continue to set top students apart in the admissions process, especially at the most highly selective schools.

Apply early: Most law schools practice rolling admissions, which means that the earlier you apply, the more openings there are likely to be. Also, try to apply well before scholarship deadlines, even if you don't think you have a shot. Many schools don't ask for any supplemental materials when awarding scholarships, so as long as you apply on time, you'll be considered.

[Check out the Best Law Schools rankings.]

Insider Tip

Application mistakes are common but avoidable. Make sure you don't submit a law school application with one of these 10 common mistakes.

Blog watch: Many law school admissions offices have blogs where they offer up-to-date information about the school and pointers for applicants. Scout the blogs for insights when crafting your personal statement and see what law school deans recommend to increase your chances of being accepted to a particular program.

[For more tips, explore the U.S. News Applying to Law School guide.]

Reality Check

• For the first time in five years, the number of LSATs administered decreased from the previous year. In the 2009-2010 testing year, 171,514 tests were administered; in 2010-2011, that number dropped to 155,050 tests. In years prior, the number of tests administered crept up annually since 2005-2006, with a spike of 13.3 percent more tests in 2009-2010.

• First year associates at large private law firms can expect to make $160,000 in metropolitan markets including New York, Chicago, and Washington, according to the Association for Legal Career Professionals, known as NALP, in its 2011 Associate Salary Survey.