Merit-Based Scholarships for Law School

If you’re looking to attend law school in the near future, you’ll know that the cost of attendance isn’t exactly light. Many law students incur some form of debt throughout the years. However, there are several ways to cover tuition, such as merit scholarships, which are offered by several law schools, including New York University Law School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Duke University Law School, and University of Chicago Law School.

It’s important to know the difference between merit scholarships and need-based scholarships. Many institutions will offter merit-based scholarships to excelling students who primarily have undergraduate GPAs or LSAT scores that exceed their medians. These two data points are key factors in the U.S. News Rankings, so law schools will entice strong applicants with generous financial incentives who, for instance, might be looking to attend a more prestigious school that may not offer merit scholarships.

While schools will automatically consider an applicant for merit-based scholarships when they apply, it’s good to know that many law schools will reserve these scholarships for 2L and 3L students. In this case, law schools will offer these scholarships to current students when they have achieved academic excellence in their first year, so don’t be discouraged if you weren’t offered extra money to attend, because there still could be an opportunity depending on your first-year perfomance.

Need-based aid is primarily based on an applicants’ financial need. Similarly to applying to financial aid for undergraduate institutions, you will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a law school financial aid assessment forms. Traditionally, prestigious law schools provide the most generous need-based aid because of their large endowments.

To read more about methods to pay back law school debt, make sure to check out our Law School Pathaways Guide, which will discuss merit scholarships in further detail. The guide will be posted on our website shortly!

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: Paying Back Debt Series

If you’re set on applying or attending graduate school in the future and/or plan on working for a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization, then the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program may be an option for you.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans if you have the following qualifications: You must work full-time at a federal, state, local, or tribal government or nonprofit organization, have direct loans, make 120 monthly payments, and repay your loans under an income-driven repayment plan.

So what are a few jobs that qualify for this program? A few examples would be government jobs, working for the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, public safety and law enforcement jobs, public interest law, public health, public library and education services, and military service.

Exceptions to this program would be working for advocacy/political groups and labor unions or clergy/religious work. To apply for the program, use the PSLF Help Tool. The online application is similar to a job application and will provide instructions on filling it out. You’ll have to take the form to your employer to officially sign and upload to the website.

However, it’s important to note that the requirements for qualifying for the PSLF can be tricky. There have also been horror stories with the PSLF, like being enrolled in the wrong repayment plan or holding the wrong type of loan, or making payments for years while working in public service.

This program is just one of a few ways to repay your debt. For more opportunities, keep an eye out for the paying back debt series on the CEC blog!

 

Four law textbooks: tax law, criminal law, constitutional law

Law School in Your Future? Here’s a Guide to Tackling the LSAT

Thinking about studying law after your time at Cornell? Anxious about having to take another standardized test to get there? These feelings are both incredibly common AND valid. 

Below are some facts, advice, and tools to help you prepare for the LSAT – a very important aspect of your law school application. 

The LSAT tests skills necessary for success in the first year of law school; studies even prove it is the best predictor of 1L performance. While this statement is rather jarring, it’s crucial to remember that a) admissions are holistic (GPA, essays, recommendations, etc. matter too), and b) the test is LEARNABLE! Of course, it is tricky and will require intense studying to perform your best, but sticking to a strong study plan and reevaluating your strengths and weaknesses as you prepare is key to success. 

The LSAT consists of four multiple choice sections and one writing section. The former includes reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning questions. The latter does not have to be taken on test day – writing can be completed up to 8 days prior to the exam, and must be finished in order to view test results afterwards. You only have to take the writing section once, so if you take the LSAT multiple times, there is no need to repeat the writing portion! The exam will remain in an online, remote-proctored format through at least June 2022, so it is critical to find a quiet place to take the exam and to ensure your internet connection is strong.  

So, where to even begin with preparation? 

  • Khan Academy has awesome, free resources on every aspect of LSAT Prep
  • LSAC LawHub has 70+ full practice tests to both help you prepare and also to familiarize yourself with the testing platform – with all of the tools and interface that you’ll see on test day
  • SET. A. STUDY. SCHEDULE. Give yourself ample time before test day to be fully prepared to perform your best on the exam!

Good luck! The process is not easy, but definitely will be rewarding. 

What to Consider Before Pursuing a J.D. Dual Degree

Image of a Gavel

If you are considering law school and have already identified a specific area that you would like to practice in that also requires an advanced degree, a joint JD degree program may be beneficial to your career plans. Joint degrees, or dual degrees, are programs that allow students to pursue both their Juris Doctorate and another advanced degree concurrently. Common combinations are JD-MBA (Masters of Business Administration), JD-MPA (Masters of Public Administration), JD-MPP (Masters of Public Policy), JD-MSW (Masters of Social Work) and JD-Ph.D. programs. There are many benefits to pursuing a joint degree, however it is a decision that should be made with lots of forethought. When deciding if a dual degree is the right goal, one should have a clear vision of how the additional degree fits into their future career plans. JD Dual degrees are very intense programs and therefore should not be pursued simply as a “next step” decision, or because one is undecided about their future plans. If deciding to complete a JD joint degree program, one should be able to articulate what opportunity this joint degree will create for them and how it will have benefits additional to the J.D. degree. Further, J.D. dual degrees should not be pursued solely for the sake of “challenging yourself.” Often recruiters agree that a joint degree does not necessarily make one more attractive as a job candidate, and in fact can signify a lack of focus if one does not have a specific plan for how they plan to utilize both degrees.

Key points to consider: Be Intentional

-Cost/Time Commitment: If you are planning to get two degrees anyway, it may be beneficial to complete them concurrently instead of sequentially. One of the benefits of dual programs is that overlapping coursework can be counted for credit for both degrees, eliminating the redundancy of two sequential degrees and cutting the time and number of classes that have to be taken. Additionally, it will remove having to interrupt your career (and income) for several years to pursue that degree later.

-Career/Practice Goal: You should have a definitive goal for how you plan to use your dual degree, not be just trying to keep options open. Be confident that it will increase your value as a job candidate.

 Pros:

-Specialization & Credibility – A joint degree can provide additional credibility to one’s practice and specialization in the overlap of specific areas (ex. JD/MD for a lawyer that aims to pursue medical malpractice)

-Diversified Network – Participation in two study areas increases one’s network of colleagues in both industries

-Cost Effective – cheaper than pursuing two degrees separately, and there is potential for prestigious scholarships

Cons:

-Monetary Cost – Additional year of school means foregoing that first year of salary

-Additional Workload – May be difficult commit fully and be involved in the benefits of each individual degree program offer outside of the classroom, such as law journals or building strong connections with members of MBA cohort.

Resources for Careers in Psychology

typewriter with paper reading "psychology"
Photo Credits to Markus Winkler

Are you interested in getting more involved in the field psychology, but don’t know where to start? The versatile field of psychology can lead to many paths: advocacy, business, mental health professions (clinical psychology, social work, therapy), education, law, medicine & health, and more!

Here are some resources to check out if you are looking to explore more of psychology on and off campus:

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A How-to Guide for Law School Visits

It’s the time of the year when students are receiving acceptance letters from law school, beginning to hear back from financial aid, and weighing which schools are the best to attend.  An important part of this important decision can be the experience of visiting.  Here are some tips and tricks to get you thinking about what your law school visit should be like!

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7 Tips for a Law School Resume

Resume, Career, Interview, Layout, Cv, Templates

It is once again the time of year to start thinking about law school admissions! Whether that excites you or makes you groan in frustration, one way to boost your application is through construction of a great resume. When they read your file, law schools are looking for different things than prospective employers. Therefore, your resume should be carefully crafted to highlight different aspects of your achievements and personality. Here are some helpful tips to get you on your way to a great law school resume!

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7 Things to do with a Law Degree (That Aren’t Practicing Law)

  1. Writer, Journalist, Author

Lawyers are taught how to write effectively and clearly communicate their ideas. Translating these valuable skills into a career as a writer, journalist, or author can be a great way to put your law school education to use. A great deal of news focuses on the law, and the ability to understand the details and translate it to the layperson’s point of view could be a great benefit.

  1. Entertainment Agent

Knowledge of the legal jargon in contracts and the gritty details of how they work can help you get a job as an entertainment agent for talented actors or performers and promote their work. Perks of the job include the potential to help rising stars on the way to achieving their dreams while ensuring that their offers and deals are legally sound.

  1. Government Employee

A law degree can lend itself well and be a benefit in acquiring a job working for the government, whether it is at the national or more local level. There are a wide variety of jobs in these areas, such as working for the Secretary of State, departments in health or law, human resources tasks, or secretarial work. This could also encompass international work, such as becoming a Foreign Service officer or working abroad.

  1. Law Professor

If you love research, the law, and legal writing, this could be a fitting career. While law professors certainly spend time teaching, their main focus is researching and writing about the law. Additionally, you could be in charge of training a new generation of hopeful lawyers, influencing their minds and interests for the better.

  1. Legal Recruiter

Known as the “human resource professionals of the legal world,” legal recruiters can help lawyers find employment. They may work with individual practices or recruitment companies. Legal recruiters learn to recruit possible clients, interact with firms, and work well with employees. A law degree is required for these jobs, but provides an interesting way to use it outside of becoming a practicing attorney.

  1. Law School Career Counselor

Similar to career counselors at Cornell, law school career counselors help students to transition to whatever path they choose after completing their JD. These positions help students gain confidence in their skills and abilities and apply to opportunities that suit their goals. Providing guidance to new lawyers could be a very rewarding job!

  1. Policy Analyst

Policy analysis can be a great choice for those who don’t want a career in the spotlight as a politician, but are still interested in policy issues that affect people’s daily lives. These jobs often focus on research for firms or nonprofits, and include presenting data and facts to leaders in the areas of policy you hope to change. The skills you gain in law school can be beneficial in conducting research, public speaking to present your findings, and raising public awareness of relevant policy issues.

For more online resources, check out 60 Nontraditional Jobs You Can Do With A Law Degree and 8 Other Jobs You Can Get With A Law Degree!

Stop by the CEC in 162 MVR for more information, and to look through our library containing more books about legal careers.

Law School Applications: How to Overcome a “Low” GPA

There’s no doubt that GPA is among the most important factors about your application to law schools. However, don’t let that stop you from applying to schools that interest you, and especially don’t look at your GPA as a deterrent to attending law school at all!

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Should I Retake the LSAT?

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For many students, the most stressful part of applying to law school is the LSAT.  It is well known among pre-law students that even with a great cumulative GPA and sparkling letters of recommendation, a high enough score on this examination is the single factor to make your application stand out from the crowd.  In fact, according to Princeton Review, your LSAT score is weighted about twice as much as your GPA in admissions decisions.    So, what happens if your score isn’t what you’d like it to be?

Here a few factors to consider when trying to ascertain if a redo is right for you.

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