Do extracurriculars matter to get into law school?
Asked by: Prof. Osvaldo Mosciski PhD | Last update: October 7, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (55 votes)
Ultimately, extracurricular activities are a plus factor. Law schools weigh grades and LSAT scores most heavily, but keeping busy in interesting and admirable ways is a way to distinguish yourself against a sea of applicants with similar numbers.
Does law school care about extracurriculars?
Law schools do not care about extracurricular activities. Now, if you are a national champion in debate, they might care (a bit), but it's never going to be a big factor in admissions.
Do law firms care about extracurriculars?
Law firms and potential employers absolutely love to see one of these extracurriculars on your resume.. 2L year brings your first exposure to on-campus interviews. A favorite question interviewers ask is whether you participate in any extracurriculars.
Do you need extracurriculars to get into Harvard law?
As a general guideline, most admitted applicants demonstrate potential for success in law school through an exceptional undergraduate academic record, standardized test scores in the top percentiles, and substantial accomplishments in work or extracurricular activities; however, no one of these aspects of an ...
Do law schools care about work experience?
You don't need any legal experience to apply to law school, and schools will basically never consider your job experience over a higher GPA and LSAT. Focus your efforts there.
A Harvard Lawyer's Picks for the Best Law School Extracurriculars
What jobs look good on law school applications?
- Paralegal or legal assistant.
- Research or policy analyst.
- Teaching.
- Community work.
- Working for a startup.
Do law firms care where you went to law school?
Your Previous (On-the-Job) Training
Certain firms have the reputation for training people very well—and everyone knows that they have high expectations for the people there. If you get a good job right out of school or thereafter (with a major law firm), firms no longer really care about where you went to law school.
Can I get into Harvard law with a B+?
A high GPA is 3.99 and the median is 3.92. There's no lowest GPA but you probably won't get into Harvard with a 2.5 GPA. Your GPA still needs to be somewhat competitive with the median GPA. That said, you can get into Harvard Law School even if your GPA is 3.82 or lower.
What do top law schools care about?
There's really no way around it—your LSAT score, GPA, and the rigor of your undergraduate course work are basically the most important things law schools are looking for. Also keep in mind that your LSAT score and GPA can make a huge difference in the scholarships and grants you'll be eligible for.
What is the best volunteer experience for law school?
Volunteering with a law firm, legal nonprofit, government office or political organization is a strong way to show interest in a legal path. Such offices are often looking for help with everything from answering phones to collecting and organizing information.
Do law firms look at law school grades?
Grades are important to many law firms when making hiring decisions. However, the weight that they carry in these decisions most often depends on the particular firm involved and whether you are (A) a junior attorney or law student, (B) a mid-level to senior associate, or (C) a partner.
Is law school really competitive?
Law school is a highly competitive environment for most people, and students are constantly vying for grades and job opportunities. Grade curving, which is a common practice by law school professors, often means that only the best students succeed in law schools.
Can you get into law school with no softs?
What Impact Do Softs Have? It is important to note that softs are not a magic wand that will get you into law school. Softs can help if you are a little below the median stats for a school, but they won't offset stats that are far below a school's medians.
Do you need to be in clubs to get into law school?
How Much Do Extracurriculars Matter for Law School? Extracurricular activities are typically less important than grades and LSAT scores, but they can be more important than other “soft” factors.
Which law school are students happiest at?
- Samford University Cumberland School of Law (no change)
- Duke University School of Law (no change)
- Stanford University School of Law (no change)
- Boston College Law School (no change)
- Vanderbilt University Law School (ranked #3 last year)
Do I need a 4.0 for law school?
According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools. However, that is the bare minimum, and you should aim higher if you want to increase your chances of getting into the top 3.
What did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?
Elle Woods, a fictional character portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the movie Legally Blonde, is known for her remarkable LSAT score—179 out of 180. Portrayed as a stereotypical "valley girl," she embarks on a journey to Harvard Law School in the movie that has since become a cult favorite.
Can you get into law school with one C?
In the first place, one poor grade has never kept anyone out of even the most competitive law school, and secondly, you should be willing to explore. You may find that once you are exposed to unfamiliar territory, it may become an exciting academic interest.
Can I get into Harvard with 3 B's?
It's absolutely possible to be admitted to an Ivy League school with a few B's on your transcript. Admissions aren't solely based on your grades, they consider a holistic approach and evaluate multiple factors like extracurricular activities, leadership, essays, recommendation letters, and standardized test scores.
Does it actually matter where you go to law school?
School rankings matter because they matter to employers. There are always exceptions to the rule, but generally, students at higher-ranked schools have better post-graduate outcomes.
Do law firms pay off law school debt?
Many civil legal aid organizations and some other public interest employers provide loan repayment assistance to their attorneys. A centralized list of employer programs has not been compiled, so law students and attorneys need to discuss the possible availability of such assistance with individual potential employers.
Where is it hardest to become a lawyer?
1. California
Law students across the US may be familiar with the famed “impossible” California bar exam. But why is the California bar exam so hard? For starters, the cut score (the score needed to pass the test) of the California bar is 1390 out of 2000, which is 40 points above the national average.