Selecting a law school or a number of law schools to apply to is not an easy task. Students need to attempt to match themselves to law schools where they have a reasonable probability of being admitted and where they believe they will obtain legal training appropriate to their needs. Often times for UW-Whitewater students, the UW-Madison law school is a popular choice since it has an extremely reasonable instate tuition and has been nationally ranked over the years.

Before students apply to law schools, they should consider completing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This test is normally given four times a year at a wide variety of locations which often vary from test to test. This test is not a test on the law. Rather it is a test that measures reading comprehension, writing ability, and critical thinking skills. Composed of several parts, the test is scored and students are ranked on a scale from 120-180 with different numbers indicating how the student compares to other students taking the test. In addition, students are required to do a writing assignment during the test. The writing sample is not scored, but it is sent to law schools along with the student's LSAT score.

You can obtain general information about the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) from their information booklet or through the Web at:

Law School Admissions Council (General information about LSAT)

Additionally, students can register to take the test online and order various materials from the Law School Admissions Council service and use the Online registration for the LSAT from a service called Reggie:

Soon after taking the LSAT students will need to consider registering for the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). This service has various levels for the student to select. Generally, it provides information such as an undergraduate summary, transcripts, LSAT results, and copies of letters of recommendation for the student. Many law schools require the use of this service. The Law School Data Assembly Service is available online

To assist students in selecting a law school the Law School Admissions Council publishes The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools which provides information on law schools as well as information on the admissions criteria used in the previous year. The book and additional materials are available on a CD ROM available for purchase from The Law School Admission Council:

Factors to consider in selecting a law school:

• law school curriculum
• law school specialties
• law school faculty
• law school reputation
• your fit to law school's admission standards
• location
• law school class size
• cost and/or financial aid opportunities