Top Law Schools

Non-academic involvement is an important factor in it getting accepted into the top law schools. I'm not terribly involved, so I am a bit concerned that this will hurt my chances at some schools.

3.8/expect 168+LSAT (yes, I know - "horse before cart." got it)

involvement:
<1 semester - member of student democratic primary election club
1 yr - member of Amnesty International
1 semester study abroad internship at int'l non-profit women's organizations in Switzerland
1 summer volunteer at animal shelter
Honors college
On campus job last 2 years

I do plan on getting involved with at 3 more student organizations/clubs this year dealing with minority rights and the pre-law club.
And I'm taking a year off before law school to hopefully find a job or internship in DC, California, or Midwest.

Does this fall into a weak or mediocre softs category? And are my softs going to be detrimental to my chances at the top schools (#4-15)?

Softs are below average. They don't matter though, just study harder for the LSAT and get >170 for T-14.

I do plan on getting involved with at 3 more student organizations/clubs this year dealing with minority rights and the pre-law club.
And I'm taking a year off before law school to hopefully find a job or internship in DC, California, or Midwest.

Does this fall into a weak or mediocre softs category? And are my softs going to be detrimental to my chances at the top schools (#4-15)?

Unless you're actually interested in the organizations, don't waste your time doing it just to add it to your resume. It won't help with the law school process unless you hold a significant position (President) within the group.

I would say you do fall into the weaker softs category but I don't think it will be detrimental; it just might not help. Study hard for the LSAT and stop worrying about softs - unless you are on the edge of inventing the time machine.

You won't get Columbia. Chicago/NYU will be very difficult. This is without considering softs.

Berk will probably care about softs. You have an ok shot at Penn, softs may hurt you. You look ok at Michigan, but who knows? Dean Z seems to like softs. UVA/Duke look like waitlists anyway. You're probably in at NU/Cornell/Texas softs or no softs. Georgetown/UCLA look ok if you apply early, softs may hurt.