RECAP: PLTS x PPLA Law School Panel

Group photo of all attendees and panelists!

On March 11th, PLTS and PPLA hosted UCLA Law's first-ever application review session, alongside admission representatives from USC Gould, UCI Law, and Loyola Law! From a mock application review to a Q&A session, attendees gained invaluable advice on how to navigate the law school application process. Thank you to everyone who came out to our event! For those who were unable to make it, below is a short recap of the session!

1. How long does it take to review an application? 

   
   

   One key takeaway from the mock application session was how much time the admissions team spent reviewing each application. In fact, every panelist mentioned how they typically spend 7 to 10 minutes analyzing every aspect of an application! Admissions is not joking around when they say they look at an application holistically. Beyond one's grades and LSAT score (which are extremely important), they also take note of extracurricular activities, work experience, addendums, and the personal statement. It's important to note that an application is usually reviewed by at least 3 people. During the mock session, it actually took the group about an hour to analyze just four candidates! Now imagine this same process for every single applicant that the law school receives…

   
   

2. What are the admissions teams really looking for? 

   
   

   The panel also noted specific qualities that law schools prioritize in an applicant. Here are the qualities that were mentioned:

   • GPA and LSAT Score: The panelists explained the importance of meeting the median GPA and LSAT score of the law school one is applying to. However, they also highlighted how it is perfectly normal to be a "splitter" (someone who has LSAT and GPA numbers that fall on opposite sides of the school’s median). One key takeaway I had from this conversation was how some admissions teams would prefer applicants to include an addendum if their LSAT score dramatically increases. In one of the mock applications, they submitted an addendum explaining a score increase of 15+ points, which was extremely useful for admissions to understand the applicant's commitment to law school given their preparation.

     
     

   • Personal Statement: One panelist stated that a personal statement should be more than just explaining how you excelled in undergraduate studies or what you did post-grad. It should explain why you want to obtain a J.D. and how your interest in law developed. Regardless of the reasons an applicant is pursuing law, all panelists agreed that an applicant should include at least one sentence explaining why they want to become a lawyer. A memorable quote was: “You would be surprised how many applicants submit personal statements but don’t answer the prompt. Don’t be one of those applicants.”

     
     

   • Leadership Opportunities: Law schools want students who will contribute to their academic and community life! Some panelists explained that applicants have a small advantage if their extracurriculars align with the law school’s mission statement. For example, if the law school is heavily focused on public interest law, an applicant with a background in supporting marginalized communities is viewed favorably. Admissions officers also look for positions that demonstrate one’s character. One of the mock applicants was the team captain of their NCAA Division I team, which garnered positive reactions from the panel.

     
     

3. Letters of Recommendation: Professor or TA? 

   
   

   When it comes to letters of recommendation, the panelists stressed quality over quantity—something applicants hear all the time. The session included a lengthy discussion about who the panelists would personally like to hear from. While the panelists agreed that a TA who knows the student better (and can highlight more than just the facts in their letter) would be better than a professor, some did mention that they would prefer to see a more recent recommender.

   
   

   As a transfer-based pre-law society, this note is especially crucial to emphasize because most members have surveyed that they would prefer to ask their community college professors for letters rather than UCLA professors for a variety of reasons. When asked by one of our Directors, panelists mentioned how, while it won’t make or break an application, it might raise eyebrows if an applicant opts for a recommender from 2-3+ years ago.

   
   

4. (If possible) Do NOT wait to submit your applications! 

   
   

   The panel also discussed how rolling admissions can impact your chances of acceptance. Applying early really does increase your chances. Deadlines are extremely crucial in the law application process. Submitting an application even 1 minute late is not possible—depending on the law school, there is no exception to this rule, regardless of circumstances. One example brought up was how, for Early Decision (ED), applications submitted after the 11:59 PM deadline were not considered and were transferred to the Regular Decision (RD) category. 

   
   

   The panel also acknowledged that applications submitted extremely close to the final deadline were at a disadvantage. Some law schools' admissions teams would even consider the time the application was submitted as a factor when deciding between two candidates. Nevertheless, an applicant should not rush their application! One should apply (and submit) when they feel ready. A key quote from this discussion was: “Do not rush to meet early deadlines just because you are trying to beat the clock!”

Conclusion:

Navigating the law school application process is not a task for the faint of heart! It can be extremely overwhelming, especially while juggling academics, extracurriculars, work, and other obligations. PLTS is here to support you if you need it! Insights from events such as the admissions panel make the process more manageable! We highly encourage all members to take advantage of the amazing opportunities PLTS offers to support your journey to law school!

Questions about this blog or the admissions panel? Please contact our Co-President, Morgan Nguyen, at prelawtransfersociety@gmail.com.

If you are an official PLTS member currently preparing for the LSAT, this is a reminder that PLTS offers exclusive discounts from 7 different LSAT prep programs! If you are interested in learning more about the discounts, please reach out to PLTS at prelawtransfersociety@gmail.com***

By: Morgan Nguyen (Co-President of PLTS '24 - '25)

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