Guest Blog #1: Law School Admissions for Transitioning JMOs
So, you’re interested in going to law school! Maybe you want to make bank working at a BigLaw firm, continue serving the nation as a government attorney or counsel, or fight for underprivileged communities in navigating our complex legal system. Whatever your goals may be, I hope this blog helps you navigate some of the intricacies of getting into law school.
To give you some context, I served on Active Duty in the Army for a little over four years. I made the decision to go to law school only about 14 months prior to actually starting law school and 10 months from my ETS date, completing the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), school visits, and applications all while on Active Duty. I hope my experience can help shed some light on this path!
Law School Timeline
First off, you’ll want to make sure you try to plan some general things out so you don’t fall behind and miss key dates. I know that, especially with deployments, exercises, FTXs, and everything else with Active Duty, it can be hard to plan your transition. Here’s a sample timeline for a student who hypothetically wants to start in Fall 2021.
- Winter 2020: Create your Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) online account. Here, you’ll find information about applying to schools, registering for the LSAT, and submitting your documents.
- Spring 2020: Start preparing for the LSAT – I have a section on that later, but your LSAT score will help you scope which schools you can realistically apply to and expect admission and potential merit scholarships.
- Summer 2020: Plan to take your first LSAT – If you do great, then don’t worry about taking it again. If you think you can do better or want to open up additional opportunities, schedule another one in early fall.
Pro Tip: When registering for the LSAT, opt-in to the Candidate Referral System (CRS)! List all of your special circumstances, such as being in the military. Schools pull data from CRS to target applicants. With this, I got fee waivers and invites from top law schools I never thought I’d get into — and I was accepted!
- August 2020: Register for LSAC CAS – All your applications, transcripts, LSAT score, and recommendation letters are processed here. Send official transcripts to LSAC now.
- August 2020: Ask for Letters of Recommendation – Especially important for schools that require academic LoRs. Reach out early to professors or supervisors who know your work ethic.
- Fall 2020: Begin campus visits – Now that you have a score, tailor your search. Ask questions during info sessions and see where you fit best.
- September/October 2020: Retake the LSAT if needed – This is your chance to boost your score before applications go out.
- November 2020: Submit Applications – Some schools have Early Action deadlines. Applying early can increase chances of acceptance and scholarships.
- January 2021: You’ll start receiving decisions. Some come with scholarships right away, others trickle in later.
- February/March 2021: Attend Admitted Students Days – schools will wine and dine you to lock in your enrollment.
- April 2021: Pick your school – final deadlines usually fall around April 15 or May 1.
- August 2021: Start your law school journey!
Now, let’s cover the biggest pieces of your application: the LSAT, your transcript, your letters of recommendation, and your application.
The Big Bad LSAT
The LSAT is a unique test with four sections: Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games), Reading Comprehension, and a written portion taken separately. It’s a beast, but it’s beatable.
Good News:
- All questions are multiple choice. Only one correct answer per question.
- No penalty for guessing, so never leave blanks.
- You can practice with real old tests (called PrepTests), complete with scoring rubrics.
- You can retake the test to improve your score, ideally in summer and again in fall.
Bad News:
- It’s hard. Average scores won’t cut it for top schools. You’ll need a 160+ for the T14, and 170+ for T7 schools.
- Logic Games feel impossible at first. But with enough reps, they can become your strength.
- The LSAT is now digital. Get used to the interface with digital PrepTests on LSAC’s site.
Note: Some law schools accept the GRE, but the LSAT is still the standard. If you take both, many schools will want both scores.
Preparing for the LSAT
- Start with a primer like Introducing the LSAT: The Fox Test Prep Quick & Dirty LSAT Primer.
- Use a study book or class — Kaplan and Mike Kim’s LSAT Trainer are both solid.
- Buy PrepTests — Volume VI contains the 10 most recent ones. Work through them section by section before doing full timed exams.
- Use disclosed test results to identify weak areas and target them.
Transcripts and GPA
It’s probably too late to change your GPA — but here’s the good news: LSAC recalculates your GPA to its own universal scale. This might boost your standing slightly. Mine bumped up by 0.09 — enough to shift me from 25th percentile to median at some schools.
Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)
Most schools require 2, sometimes 3–4. If you’ve been out of school for years, they’ll accept professional ones — but academic LoRs are still highly valued, especially at top schools.
- Get at least one from a professor if you can — especially someone who knows your academic ability.
- Military LoRs are powerful, but they must speak to your intellectual capacity too, not just leadership.
- Quality matters more than rank — a genuine, detailed letter from a direct supervisor beats a vague one from a colonel.
The Application
You’ll apply through LSAC’s website. Most of your info carries across schools, but you’ll still write custom answers and essays.
Pro Tip: Apply by November to maximize merit aid and avoid late-season rejections. Some schools don’t start reviewing until after their deadline (e.g., Yale), but many offer rolling admissions.
Personal Statement
- Usually 2–4 pages. You can reuse it across schools if it’s strong.
- Focus on your goals, how the school fits you, and how you’ll contribute.
- Highlight your military experience — it’s rare and valued.
Addenda
- Use one to explain any poor grades, gaps, or challenges.
- Be honest but don’t overdo it. If in doubt, call admissions and ask if you should include one.
Character & Fitness
Every school asks about criminal history. Read the question carefully. Some want every infraction, even speeding tickets; others don’t.
If you have a record, disclose it honestly. Explain what happened, what you learned, and how you’ve grown. Bar associations will also review this, so lying is a big mistake.
Picking a Law School
Once the offers roll in, you’ll have a lot to think about. Here’s what helped me and what might help you:
- Check their ABA 509 Report: Every ABA-accredited school publishes this. It shows job outcomes, salary ranges, and firm sizes. Great for evaluating BigLaw potential.
- BigLaw: First-year associates make ~$190k+ (plus bonuses). It’s intense, but it’s a fast way to knock out debt and build experience. Most top firms hire summer associates with intent to convert full time.
- Rankings matter: The T14 (top 14) basically guarantees BigLaw access. Below that, you’ll need top grades and law review/journal involvement to compete.
- Scholarships: Apply early for maximum financial aid. I had schools increase their offers when I showed competing ones.
- GI Bill: Many top law schools offer unlimited Post-9/11 benefits. Also check if they waive in-state tuition or offer benefits to Guard members.
Clinics
Clinics let you practice law while supervised. You handle real cases with real clients — immigration, housing, tax, criminal justice, etc. They’re incredible resume builders and learning experiences.
Journals
Every top school has a flagship Law Review and sometimes specialty journals. Getting on one signals academic strength — and for BigLaw, it's a big plus.
OCI (On-Campus Interviews)
These are major. During OCI week, top firms swarm T14 campuses to interview rising 2Ls. That’s where most BigLaw offers come from. Be ready for dozens of interviews in just a few days.
Clerkships
Judicial clerkships — local, state, or federal — are powerful stepping stones. They're usually 1 year, not super lucrative, but prestigious. Some lawyers clerk after practicing for a while. Federal ones are highly competitive, but there are less competitive geographic pockets you can target.
The better your grades and the better your school, the more options you’ll have.
Final Thoughts
As you explore your passion for law — whether it's fighting for justice, protecting innovation, or just earning a serious paycheck — remember that your path is yours alone. Tailor your school search and application strategy to your long-term goals.
As a veteran and officer, you already bring leadership, discipline, and a deep understanding of mission-first execution. Those qualities are gold in law school and the legal profession. Highlight them.
Bottom line: Start early. Prepare for the LSAT like it’s your full-time job. Apply early. Use your military edge. And don’t sell yourself short.
If you're still serving, carve out prep time — during staff duty, PT breaks, or evenings. That consistency pays off.
It’s going to be frustrating, but stay focused on the goal. Crush the LSAT. Pick the right school. And go change the world — one argument at a time.
Good luck!
Guest Blog #2: My Path to Law School and Beyond
I studied Business Administration in undergrad, and one semester out from graduation all I knew was that I hated business and wanted nothing to do with it. At that time, I was working for the Green Bay Packers in their email marketing department (Go Pack Go!). I knew if I didn't enjoy doing marketing work for the Packers, I was going to absolutely hate working in marketing for anyone else.
Business Law was a prerequisite for graduation, and I put it off until my last semester of college (mostly because I heard it was difficult and I didn't want it to tank my GPA). From the first class of the semester, something in my brain clicked. I loved memorizing rules and applying them to fact patterns. I loved writing with no frills. I asked my professor, who, at the time, was also a judge in the county where I went to college, what I should do if I was considering going to law school. Honestly, he blew me off and told me to try taking the LSAT and go from there. After the first test of the semester, the professor called me up to the front after class and told me he thought I could actually be a very successful lawyer. So I graduated college in December, took the LSAT in February, and applied to law schools in March.
I graduated college summa cum laude but did not study for the LSAT. I ended up with a 157 on the LSAT, which is absolutely and completely average. I hated feeling average and went into application season very nervous. I applied to about 30 law schools, none ranked higher than number 20. I was offered a full scholarship to attend Michigan State University's law school, and I took it. I figured I could go back to business if I hated law school.
I loved my first year of law school. It was, though, without a doubt, the hardest year of my life. I faced a lot of challenges personally, and no one really prepares you for just how dumb law school makes you feel. I was shocked when I ended up ranked number one in my class.
I clerked for a Sixth Circuit Court judge after my first year of law school, and one of his clerks encouraged me to transfer to a T-14 law school. If you want to work at a big law firm after law school, you should attend a T-14 law school. I had no idea if big law was what I wanted, but I wanted to excel at something and really challenge myself. I applied to the University of Michigan's law school and got in.
Transferring law schools was also a very difficult time in my life but transferring is not a decision I regret. An important thing to note is that transfer students do not receive any financial aid in the form of scholarships. This is common across all law schools. Deciding to attend Michigan was deciding to incur over $200,000 in debt. I would never have gotten the job I have now had I not transferred to Michigan, though.
My first week on campus was On-Campus Interview week ("OCI"). OCI happens at most top law schools, and during the week, top employers interview hundreds of students starting their second year of law school. I had 20 interviews over 2 days. Many firms have grade cutoffs and will not interview candidates who fall below a 3.5 GPA. OCI is exhausting, but it's absolutely essential to participate in if you want a career in big law. Firms offer you call-backs, where you fly to the city you're interviewing in and get wine-and-dined by the firm interviewing you. You get offers for summer associate positions by the end of September, and your job is secured for the summer after your second year of law school.
The summer after my second year, I worked for the firm I work at now as a summer associate for 11 weeks. At the end of the 11 weeks, I was given an offer to return as a full time associate after I graduated law school. Firms generally hire summer associates with the intention of offering them full time positions at the end of the summer. This means the offer for the full time job is usually yours to lose (those who lose the offer generally do so because of poor work performance or a lack of judgment at social gatherings).
I accepted the offer to come back to the firm and currently work in big law in Chicago. The hours are rough, the swing from super busy to bored out of your mind is harder, but the paycheck is nice. My starting salary was $190,000, which has allowed me to pay off my loans rather aggressively. This salary is standard across most big law firms, as are year-end bonuses if you hit the firm's billable hour requirement. To be honest, without this salary, I would be drowning in student loan payments. I'm fortunate to have the job I do.
In hindsight, the biggest change I would make is waiting to go to law school. I was the youngest person in my graduating class and the one with the least life experience. Now, I'm the youngest person in my class at my firm. Law is a second career for a majority of my classmates at Michigan and a majority of my colleagues at work. I attended school with, and also currently work with, veterans, former PhD candidates, former members of the peace corps and people who had no idea what they wanted to do with their lives for years after graduating college. It is not the norm to go to law school right after graduating college, and it is not the norm to have law as your first career.
At the end of the day, law school rankings matter, and T-14 law schools like students with real life experience. If I could go back, I would work for at least a year before applying to law school. I would save money. I would study for the LSAT. I would have hopefully received a scholarship to a T-14 school. I wish I had done many things differently, but I don't regret where I am now. I love the law. I use my brain every day, and I feel like I'm part of something important and bigger than me. I wouldn't change that for the world.