Faye Shealy Interview: Law School Admissions Advice from William & Mary Law School

^{Last Updated: September 2026}

Applying to law school involves much more than submitting an LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. Admissions committees examine an applicant's academic record, writing ability, experiences, recommendations, motivations, and potential contributions to the law school community.

In this interview with Faye Shealy, former Associate Dean of Admissions at William & Mary Law School, Top Law Schools explores how admissions professionals evaluate applications and what prospective law students can do to present their strongest possible candidacy.

Shealy discusses the role of LSAT scores and undergraduate grades, personal statements, recommendation letters, application addenda, waitlists, transfer applications, law school rankings, and the factors students should weigh when deciding where to attend.

Editor's Note: This interview was originally published in October 2009. Specific William & Mary admissions policies, deadlines, scholarship programs, tuition figures, and other institutional details may have changed. The interview has been reorganized and edited for clarity and evergreen value because much of Shealy's broader advice about preparing a law school application remains useful to prospective applicants. Applicants should verify current requirements directly with individual law schools.

Key Law School Admissions Lessons from Faye Shealy

Several themes emerge from Shealy's advice:

Law school applications should be evaluated as a complete package rather than simply as an LSAT score and GPA.
Applicants should put serious effort into every component of their application.
Personal statements should reveal something meaningful that cannot already be learned from the résumé or transcript.
Applicants should use addenda when there is legitimate context that helps explain an unusual academic or testing result.
Strong recommendation letters usually come from people who know the applicant well rather than people who merely have impressive titles.
Waitlisted applicants should demonstrate continued interest and keep their application files updated.
Rankings can provide useful information, but students should consider cost, location, programs, career opportunities, culture, and individual fit as well.
Choosing a law school should ultimately be based on the applicant's own professional and personal goals.

Applicants who want additional application guidance can also review the Top Law Schools guide to law school personal statements.

How Does a Law School Admissions Committee Evaluate an Application?

TLS: What does the law school admissions process consist of, and how is an application evaluated?

Faye Shealy: An admissions committee considers the information contained throughout the application rather than relying on one isolated factor.

Academic ability is naturally important. A committee may examine undergraduate and graduate transcripts, GPA, the rigor of an applicant's coursework, the institution attended, the difficulty of the major, outside employment or significant extracurricular obligations, and the amount of time that has passed since graduation.

An applicant's ability to succeed in the academic study of law is another important consideration. LSAT performance and other components of the application can help admissions officers evaluate that potential.

At the same time, applicants bring many personal qualities and experiences that cannot be summarized by numbers alone. Career goals, leadership, community service, work experience, cultural and educational background, research ability, communication skills, and other experiences can all contribute to the overall review.

Applicants should therefore use their personal statements, résumés, recommendation letters, and optional materials strategically. The goal is to help the admissions committee understand what strengths and perspectives the candidate would bring to law school.

There is not necessarily a mathematical formula that can explain every admissions decision. A holistic file review involves judgment.

How Important Are GPA and LSAT Scores in Law School Admissions?

TLS: Realistically, how much do factors other than GPA and LSAT scores matter?

Faye Shealy: The weight of different factors can vary considerably from one application to another.

Academic performance remains important because law school is an academically demanding environment. However, candidates with similar numerical qualifications may distinguish themselves through other accomplishments.

For example, one applicant may have demonstrated exceptional public or military service. Another may have achieved significant professional success. Others may demonstrate leadership, meaningful community involvement, unusual life experiences, or notable accomplishments.

Applicants should not assume that one non-numerical factor automatically guarantees admission. Instead, the admissions process involves considering how the different pieces of an applicant's record fit together.

What Should Prospective Students Do Before Applying to Law School?

TLS: What advice would you give students preparing to apply to law school?

Faye Shealy: First, make sure that attending law school is your decision.

Law school should not be pursued simply because of family expectations, outside pressure, or the belief that it is the automatic next step after college. Legal education is demanding and represents a major investment of time, effort, and money.

Applicants should also prepare seriously for the LSAT and every other component of their application. If you intend to devote years to legal education, it makes sense to devote sufficient time to preparing for the admissions process.

Treat every part of the application as important because other applicants will be presenting their strongest possible case as well.

Students preparing for the transition can also review LawCrossing's Ultimate Guide to Preparing for Law School for additional guidance on law school preparation and career planning.

How Should You Choose the Right Law School?

TLS: What should an admitted student consider when deciding which law school to attend?

Faye Shealy: The "right" law school is different for every applicant.

Students should think carefully about what matters most to them rather than assuming there is one formula that applies to everyone.

Relevant considerations may include:

Academic programs and curriculum
Areas of legal specialization
Geographic location
Tuition and total cost of attendance
Living and travel expenses
Employment outcomes
Bar passage information
Clinical and experiential opportunities
School culture
Student support
Career services
Alumni networks
Personal and family responsibilities

Visiting a school can also help applicants understand its culture and determine whether they can see themselves being happy and productive there.

Law school represents a substantial investment. Applicants should evaluate schools thoughtfully rather than relying on a single factor.

LawCrossing's Navigating Law School: A Career-Focused Guide for Aspiring Attorneys provides additional guidance on connecting law school decisions with long-term career development.

Should Applicants Retake the LSAT?

TLS: How should applicants think about multiple LSAT scores?

Faye Shealy: Applicants should prepare carefully before taking the LSAT, but a retake may make sense when an initial result does not accurately reflect an applicant's ability.

Admissions committees can review the information available in an applicant's testing record, and applicants should follow each school's current policy regarding multiple scores.

If there is a significant or unusual reason for a particular result, an applicant can also consider whether an explanatory addendum would help the admissions committee understand the circumstances.

When Should You Submit a Law School Addendum?

TLS: When should an applicant submit an addendum explaining a low GPA, LSAT score, or another issue?

Faye Shealy: An addendum can be helpful when it provides legitimate context for an academic or testing irregularity.

For example, an applicant may have experienced circumstances that affected one semester of academic performance or a particular test administration.

The purpose of an addendum should be to provide useful information—not to make excuses.

An effective addendum is generally concise, factual, and focused on circumstances that the admissions committee could not otherwise understand from the application.

Can Applying Early Help?

TLS: Can applying early improve an applicant's chances of admission?

Faye Shealy: Applicants should always check each school's current admissions process and deadlines.

Regardless of timing, applicants should focus on submitting the strongest application they reasonably can. Do not rush an incomplete or poorly prepared application simply to submit it earlier.

Every part of the file deserves careful attention.

Applicants should clearly communicate their strengths and provide evidence of their ability to succeed in law school and contribute to the legal profession.

If meaningful new information becomes available while an application is under review—such as updated grades, an award, new responsibilities, or another important accomplishment—applicants may be able to update their file depending on the school's policies.

How Do You Write a Strong Law School Personal Statement?

TLS: What advice do you have for applicants writing their personal statements?

Faye Shealy: Take the personal statement seriously.

Writing quality matters. Grammar mistakes, spelling errors, typographical errors, weak organization, and careless writing can distract admissions officers from the substance of an otherwise strong application.

Applicants have time to revise and proofread their personal statements before submission, so the finished document should demonstrate care and professionalism.

Before writing, determine what you genuinely want admissions officers to learn about you.

Then develop that idea clearly and thoughtfully.

A personal statement should not simply repeat information already available elsewhere in the application. Instead, use it to reveal an aspect of your background, character, motivation, experiences, or perspective that gives the admissions committee a fuller understanding of who you are.

Top Law Schools' comprehensive Law School Personal Statements Advice provides additional guidance on selecting topics, structuring the essay, writing introductions and conclusions, and avoiding common personal statement mistakes.

What Makes a Personal Statement Stand Out?

TLS: What separates a memorable personal statement from an ordinary one?

Faye Shealy: Strong writing stands out.

An effective statement can demonstrate reflection, maturity, passion, and depth while telling admissions officers something meaningful that cannot be found elsewhere in the application.

The essay should be focused. Applicants should not use unnecessary material simply to fill space.

Most importantly, applicants should sound like themselves.

Trying to manufacture a personality or write what you assume the admissions committee wants to hear can make an essay sound artificial.

Authenticity combined with careful writing is generally much stronger.

What Personal Statement Mistakes Should Applicants Avoid?

TLS: Can a personal statement actually hurt an applicant?

Faye Shealy: Yes.

Applicants sometimes underestimate the importance of this part of the application and submit statements that appear rushed or poorly prepared.

Other mistakes include:

Repeating the résumé
Repeating information found elsewhere in the application
Making unsupported or insincere claims
Submitting inaccurate information
Using unusual formats merely to attract attention
Trying too hard to be humorous or creative
Failing to explain the significance of the story being told
Ignoring grammar, spelling, organization, or proofreading

Applicants are applying to a professional school. Their application materials should demonstrate professional judgment.

Should You Write a School-Specific Essay?

TLS: Can an applicant benefit from explaining why a particular law school interests them?

Faye Shealy: Yes.

Law schools want to understand why applicants are interested in their particular institution.

When a school provides an opportunity to discuss that interest, applicants should research the institution carefully.

Instead of simply praising the school's reputation, identify meaningful reasons for your interest.

These might include:

Particular academic programs
Clinics
Faculty interests
Experiential opportunities
Student organizations
Geographic advantages
Career opportunities
Public service programs
Other features that fit your goals

Applicants should also think about what they would contribute to those programs and to the broader law school community.

Who Should Write Your Law School Letters of Recommendation?

TLS: Applicants often struggle with choosing recommenders. What advice would you give them?

Faye Shealy: A meaningful relationship is generally more important than an impressive title.

A detailed letter from someone who knows the applicant's abilities can be far more useful than a generic letter from a prominent person who barely knows the candidate.

For applicants who are still in or recently graduated from college, professors who know their academic ability may be particularly helpful.

When requesting a recommendation, contact the recommender personally and provide clear information about:

Why the letter is needed
Where and how it should be submitted
The deadline
Your academic and professional goals

It can also be useful to provide the recommender with an updated résumé and transcript so they have additional context.

A substantive recommendation should tell the admissions committee something meaningful about the applicant's ability, character, work, or potential.

The TLS Law School Admissions Forum contains applicant discussions about recommendation letters, application strategy, and other admissions issues.

Does Undergraduate Major or School Matter?

TLS: Does the undergraduate institution or difficulty of an applicant's major matter?

Faye Shealy: Admissions officers can consider the context of an applicant's academic record, including the institution attended, major, course selection, and rigor of the curriculum.

Looking only at the final GPA may not reveal the entire academic picture.

A transcript can show how an applicant challenged themselves academically, whether performance changed over time, and how different responsibilities may have affected the academic record.

Applicants should not choose an undergraduate major solely because they believe law schools prefer a particular subject. A diverse law school class benefits from students bringing different academic backgrounds and perspectives.

Does Graduate Education Help a Law School Application?

TLS: How are graduate degrees considered?

Faye Shealy: Graduate work can provide additional evidence about an applicant's academic abilities and interests.

However, applicants do not need graduate degrees to attend law school.

A graduate transcript can become another part of the admissions file and may give the committee additional evidence about academic performance after college.

Applicants should remember that graduate study does not erase an undergraduate record; rather, it adds more information for the committee to evaluate.

What Should You Do If You Are Waitlisted?

TLS: What can applicants do after being placed on a law school waitlist?

Faye Shealy: Applicants should follow the school's instructions carefully.

If the school asks whether you wish to remain on the waitlist, respond within the requested timeframe.

If the school permits updates, applicants can also communicate genuine continued interest and provide meaningful new information.

Useful updates might include:

New grades
Graduation information
A significant award
An employment promotion
New professional responsibilities
An additional substantive recommendation
Meaningful work or volunteer experience

Keep the application current and as strong as possible.

Applicants considering a letter of continued interest can review the TLS forum discussion on LOCI articles and samples.

What Matters for Law School Transfer Applicants?

TLS: What factors are important when evaluating transfer applications?

Faye Shealy: An applicant's performance during the first year of law school becomes particularly important in the transfer process.

Admissions committees may also examine other materials required by the school's transfer application, which can include undergraduate performance, LSAT information, recommendations, statements, and reasons for seeking a transfer.

Because transfer policies and available spaces can change considerably from one year to another, applicants should consult current requirements directly with the schools they are considering.

How Much Should Law School Rankings Matter?

TLS: What role should rankings play when applicants choose a law school?

Faye Shealy: Rankings can contain useful information, but applicants should be careful about allowing a numerical ranking to determine their entire decision.

Law schools differ in ways that rankings may not fully capture.

Applicants should also consider:

Cost and potential debt
Employment outcomes
Bar passage
Academic programs
Faculty
Clinics and practical training
Geographic placement
Alumni networks
Student culture
Quality of life
Career goals

A school that is a better personal and professional fit should not automatically be dismissed because another institution occupies a slightly different position in a ranking.

The TLS Choosing a Law School Forum offers discussions from applicants comparing schools based on costs, career goals, location, rankings, and other considerations.

What Was the Culture of William & Mary Law School Like?

TLS: How would you describe William & Mary Law School's culture?

Faye Shealy: One quality we valued was balance.

Law school is inherently demanding, but students benefit from an environment in which they can challenge themselves without feeling that success requires undermining their classmates.

William & Mary's culture emphasized collaboration alongside academic ambition. Students worked hard and motivated one another, but they were also willing to help their peers.

That sense of community was an important part of the student experience.

Prospective students should consider culture when comparing law schools because the environment in which you study for three years can affect both your academic experience and your overall quality of life.

Final Advice for Law School Applicants

Faye Shealy's central message is that successful law school applications require more than chasing a particular LSAT score, GPA, or ranking.

Applicants should approach the process strategically but authentically.

Prepare carefully for the LSAT. Understand your academic record. Choose recommenders who actually know your abilities. Write a thoughtful personal statement. Explain genuine anomalies when necessary. Research individual schools. Keep your application updated. And when admission offers arrive, evaluate the entire educational and financial picture rather than relying on prestige alone.

Most importantly, applicants should make sure that attending law school—and choosing a particular school—fits their own goals.

For additional career-focused guidance, see LawCrossing's Law Student's Guide to Building a Competitive Career Profile and Success in Law School.