Law School Options For Fall 3.3 GPA 135 LSAT With A Record Forum

[lawcareer]

Hello guys Im new to this forum, I just got finished applying to various law schools over two weeks ago. I still got more to apply to. I took the Lsat twice and scored a 132 first time around and a 135 second time around. Im usually am not good with taking these type of iq test. Im a URM as well. Good news I will be graduating with honors with my gpa. I will be taking the lsat again in Feb hopefully I can score over the 140-150 mark I have been studying very diligently. I also have a couple problems. Throughout my college career I been on academic probation before and real probation twice. As a juvie I got arrested and as a juvie I also did double probation with a CWOF. I understand I must put this on my applications. Will this affect my chances ? How should I go about writing about my arrest and me be placed on probation. I just want something brief not get into details about it. Other than that I am preparing to get accepted into some law schools this fall. I already did my finacial aid apps too. Just must get higher score on my Lsat. Please give me some advice.

[nellie06]

uhhh flame!? I'm failing to see how you ended up with a b plus avg which is a solid gpa, while going on academic probation a 'couple times'. AP is usually given after a warning, which would mean a gpa under i think a 2.0 for a semester, so if you got on probation more than once, would have to have back to back semesters of academic futility. Even if this happened twice, so you had lets say, a 1.9 after your first two years not even a 4.3 gpa over the next two years would bring you up to a 3.3....?

[MTal]

*sigh*....replying to these never gets any easier.

[Yointer]

Assuming this isn't a flame...

There are two things you should definitely do before you spend your precious time and money earning a law degree. First, you need to check with the bar and ensure that your past violations would not prevent you from being able to get licensed to practice law after graduation. My guess is that your minor infractions are forgivable, but I'd certainly find out for sure before I went to law school. Second, you would be a vastly more competitive candidate if you were able to increase your LSAT score. To be quite honest, I think it will be difficult for you to be accepted anywhere at all without at least breaking 140. If I were in your shoes, I would take a year off to work/study for the LSAT and use the improved score to boost your candidacy.

[lawcareer]

Well I been on academic probation and real probation. So therefore I been on probation twice. Also I been arrested at a party. So I need to write additional statments for the following. What do you recommend I state on these statements ?

[lawcareer]

Assuming this isn't a flame...

There are two things you should definitely do before you spend your precious time and money earning a law degree. First, you need to check with the bar and ensure that your past violations would not prevent you from being able to get licensed to practice law after graduation. My guess is that your minor infractions are forgivable, but I'd certainly find out for sure before I went to law school. Second, you would be a vastly more competitive candidate if you were able to increase your LSAT score. To be quite honest, I think it will be difficult for you to be accepted anywhere at all without at least breaking 140. If I were in your shoes, I would take a year off to work/study for the LSAT and use the improved score to boost your candidacy.

My probation was as a juvie. I have never had any incidents as an adult. So would my juvie record matter ?

[lawcareer]

Any options ? Im certain I will score over the 140 mark this coming lsat this week. I been doing well on my practice exams with Kaplan.

[Da Stain]

There have been threads about people with criminal records, juvenile or otherwise, who have had to write addendums.

Try the search function to see what other posters in your situation have done.

[hiphoppopotamus]

i'm never one to tell somebody what to do w/ their life, but you should seriously consider the capicity in which you would like to practice...w/ your LSAT and priors, i honestly can't see you getting into anything above a T4, which will leave you with little to no options upon graduation.

you should do some serious self-reflection and, more importantly, research before you decide to go 120k in debt at a T4.

seriously, do some research.

and get that LSAT up. a 135 won't even get you into cooley.

and i'm not trying to knock you or bring you down or anything like that...you just seem to be a little uninformed on this whole law school thing and i think it would behoove you to get yourself well informed, pronto.

with that said, good luck.

[lawcareer]

Again all I need is to pass the 140 mark this week and I will be able to get into most of the schools I applied to. Im doing very well on my kaplan tests. I have a 3.3 GPA and will graduate this spring with Honors. That means alot. Also Im a URM as well in which affirmative action will take place.

[The Agitator]

You have basically no chance of admittance at any law school with a 135/132. Even if you get it up past 140, you have no chance of admittance at any law school that is actually worth going to.

Please browse this site for info on career prospects after graduation. There are many more lawyers graduating from schools than there are jobs available, and a significant number of law graduates will never work as lawyers. Also, compensation is surprisingly low; starting salaries of 30-45K are the norm, unless you graduate from a top school or at the very top of your class at another school.

[lawcareer]

You have basically no chance of admittance at any law school with a 135/132. Even if you get it up past 140, you have no chance of admittance at any law school that is actually worth going to.

Please browse this site for info on career prospects after graduation. There are many more lawyers graduating from schools than there are jobs available, and a significant number of law graduates will never work as lawyers. Also, compensation is surprisingly low; starting salaries of 30-45K are the norm, unless you graduate from a top school or at the very top of your class at another school.

I can get into law school especially being a URM, most schools want them as applicants. Besides I plan on starting my own law firm upon graduation. I dont want to work for anyone but myself. Private practice is the way to go. I will call the shots. I want to represent other minorites in urban areas who will need legal advice. So I dont care abou job prospects after graduation.

[The Agitator]

I can get into law school especially being a URM, most schools want them as applicants.

Even with URM status, I don't see you getting into schools with a 135.

Besides I plan on starting my own law firm upon graduation. I dont want to work for anyone but myself. Private practice is the way to go. I will call the shots. I want to represent other minorites in urban areas who will need legal advice.

Upon graduating, you'll need to get a job somewhere. You will not have the practical experience to open up your own firm immediately after graduation. You simply won't know what to do.

So I dont care abou job prospects after graduation.

They say that the average law school debt is $80K. Expect to pay $125/month for each $10000 you borrow. So, the average monthly debt payment is $1000/month, on top of your undergrad loans.

Also, I think the 80K figure isn't right; most people I know graduate with 100K plus debt.

The point is, you don't have the luxury of not caring about job prospects after graduation.

[Da Stain]

1. You're ideas on URM status are very mistaken.
2. What further advice are you looking for? Get your LSAT up to even have a chance at the lowest rung of law schools and search the site for advice on dealing with your criminal record. I don't think there's really much more anyone can tell you.
3. The only other thing I can tell you given your career goals are go wherever you can get in, try and pay as little as you can for it, and best of luck.

EDIT: And Agitator is certainly right. Consider the financial effects of going to law school. It is a decision that can ruin your life if made poorly.

[Pyke]

Note that all of this does assume you don't have any rich parents who are already lawyers who'll hire you regardless of qualifications.

[lawcareer]

Well Im not paying for my legal education fully anyways, I was part of a legal initiative program in my city as a youth. They incouraged minorities to get a Legal Education and become lawyers. As a result they are paying 80% of my college tuition for law school if I go. So I dont want to miss out on that. So I wont really be in any debt. This is contingent upon me getting accepted to a law school and me graudating also. Thats it. Other than that I need some good advice on making my applications better for this coming fall. I will get a 140 or better on my lsat this week, Im confident in my Kaplan studies which the program paid $1500 for.

[The Agitator]

. Other than that I need some good advice on making my applications better for this coming fall. I will get a 140 or better on my lsat this week, Im confident in my Kaplan studies which the program paid $1500 for.

All you can do is retake the LSAT. As far as the arrest, what did you get arrested for? If it was a misdemeanor it will have no effect whatsoever.

[lawcareer]

. Other than that I need some good advice on making my applications better for this coming fall. I will get a 140 or better on my lsat this week, Im confident in my Kaplan studies which the program paid $1500 for.

All you can do is retake the LSAT. As far as the arrest, what did you get arrested for? If it was a misdemeanor it will have no effect whatsoever.

I also had double probation as well when I was for a disturbance at a house party. Both of these are juvie records.

[The Agitator]

It won't matter at all, since you were so young. Just describe what happened, admit what you did wrong, express remorse. That's all.

[lawcareer]

Sounds good thanks for the advice.

[mzing12]

man, it's one thing to waste time posting here seriously, but crafting these elaborate fake posts over and over again? Dude, get a friend.

[thedogship]

Seriously, this is the biggest flame I've read in a while. Why are people responding to this so much? Red flags - rampant incorrect spelling, claim of starting their own law firm, not worrying about debt, the "you all don't know me, I'm going to be rich no matter where I go to school" theme. All the earmarks of a flame.

[Da Stain]

Nowhere near as many responses as previous ones have got. Corsair FTW!

[lawcareer]

Flame ? I think you people need to shut up talking garbage. I came to this website to get advice and all I get is flame ? My situation is real and I am going to attend law school. Im determined.

[edgarderby]

Hey guys,

I batted a .100 back in Little League. Which Major League teams should I try-out for?

Thanks.