Do law schools look at your resume?
Asked by: Dr. Mozell Gutkowski | Last update: September 30, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (36 votes)
Many aspiring law school students give little thought to the resume attached to their law school application. However, a resume is an equally important part of the application packet as your personal statement. The resume provides the admissions committee with valuable information about your background and experience.
Do resumes matter for law school?
And by having a resume that highlights these aspects of you already, your personal statement can avoid the biggest mistake of being just a glorified cover letter. So yes, your resume does matter for law schools.
Will colleges look at your resume?
Don't Turn in a Lengthy Resume
Not all colleges require students to submit a resume, but some do. Others make it optional. The Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in New York, for example, requires students to submit a resume that doesn't exceed two pages.
Is 3.7 a bad GPA for law school?
A good standard for above average law schools tends to be a 160 LSAT and a 3.5 GPA. However even amongst that people will tell you a 3.7 and a 165 is better. Really just depends on you. Many good law schools ( well above average) will take a 3.5 160. In my opinion average law schools are around the 100 mark.
Do law schools check your background?
The Bar will compare your disclosures on your law school application to criminal records and other information about you and if they determine that you have not been forthright, they may deny your admission.
9 Biggest Law School Application Resume Mistakes
What disqualifies you from law school?
Severe infractions may jeopardize your chances of admission to either law school or the bar, particularly those that reflect poorly on your personal integrity. Examples include fraud, abuse of authority, sexual misconduct, plagiarism or ethical violations.
Do law schools look at all transcripts?
Law schools consider a candidate's whole transcript, as well as other factors, when making admissions decisions.
How rare is a 176 LSAT?
Less than 1% of test takers score a 176. It's a very hard thing to do. Don't let this sub skew your perception of what's realistic.
Is a 2.3 GPA good in law school?
A 2.3 GPA is considered low for most law schools, but it's not impossible to get admitted. You can compensate with a high LSAT score, strong letters of recommendation, and a compelling application.
Is 2.76 a good GPA?
Is a 2.7 GPA good? This GPA means that you've earned an average grade of a B- across all of your classes. Since a 2.7 GPA is lower than the national average of 3.0 for high school students, it will limit your options for college. 3.81% of schools have an average GPA below a 2.7.
Can my resume be 2 pages as a student?
The short answer is that a college student's resume should usually be one page, with some exceptions.
Does dropping out of college look bad on a resume?
Don't underestimate the value of the education you completed, just because you don't have a degree to show for it doesn't mean it's not worthwhile. Even if you're not going to complete your degree, it can still make a valuable addition to your resume because: It can help to explain an employment gap.
What schools accept resumes?
- Barnard College.
- Boston College.
- Brandeis University.
- Brown University.
- Bucknell University.
- Dartmouth College.
- Northwestern University.
- Tulane University.
What not to put on a resume for law school?
An “Objective” or “Summary of Qualifications” section
Your law school résumé is very different from a work résumé—so avoid using your work résumé as your template. And make sure it doesn't contain an objective or summary of qualifications. They serve no purpose except to make your law school résumé unnecessarily long.
Do law schools look at your extracurriculars?
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.
Do you need to write well to be a lawyer?
Although mastering legal writing skills takes time and practice, superior writing skills are essential to success. By following a few simple rules of style and organization, we can improve the effectiveness of your writing. The written word remains one of the most important tools of the legal profession.
Is a 3.7 GPA too low for law school?
The average GPA for law school is between 3.91. However, like LSAT scores, it's important to understand that the specific average GPA can differ depending on the law school and its level of competitiveness. Top-ranking law schools often expect higher average GPAs, typically ranging from 3.8 to 4.0 or even higher.
What is a 88.8 GPA?
An 88.8% grade, translating to around a 3.3 scale, can be considered a strong GPA, especially if balanced with higher grades in other courses. For students aspiring to attend competitive colleges, maintaining or improving grades to raise their GPA is often a key focus.
What is the lowest GPA accepted to Harvard law?
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.
Is a 136 LSAT bad?
As previously stated, the score range for any LSAT exam is 120 to 180, but the average score is about 150. However, most of the top ten law schools require a candidate to have scored at least 165 on the LSAT.
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.
Has anyone gotten a 180 on the LSAT?
The LSAT is scored on a bell curve, ranging from 120 to 180. On recent tests, the hump of the curve has centered around 153. Percentiles vary slightly between tests, but generally around 25% of test-takers score 160 or higher, 5% score 170 or higher, and 1% score 175 or higher. Only one in 1,000 test-takers scores 180.
Does law school require memorization?
Memorization is key not only to your success in law school, but on the bar exam and in your future legal career. The type of memorization required for law school is a bit different than what you dealt with in undergrad and high school. You'll need to memorize a lot more in a shorter amount of time.
What matters more, LSAT or GPA?
Those rankings unquestionably value median LSAT score more highly than they do UGPA; in fact, a peek at the full details of the rankings (only available to those willing to pony up $29.95 for inside access) shows the LSAT score placed front and center, whereas it takes several clicks and some scrolling to discover the ...
Do withdrawals look bad for law school?
However, law schools look beyond just your GPA, and a pattern of withdrawing from courses may give the impression that you are unprepared to handle a challenging academic load.