Does volunteering look good on law school applications?

Asked by: Carmine Walker  |  Last update: October 30, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (54 votes)

An applicants' volunteer work can help law school officials see examples of leadership and community building. Whether you are applying to law school as a college student or are already in the workforce, what you do in your free time says a lot about who you are and what you value.

What extracurriculars look good on law school applications?

However, some extracurricular activities stand out more than others on a law school application:
  • Activities that cultivate legal skills.
  • Research and writing.
  • Service activities.
  • Substantial time commitments.
  • Leadership and teamwork.
  • New or lifelong hobbies.

Does volunteering look good on a college application?

Absolutely yes! It gives the admission committee an insight into who you are, and it is pretty much required for top tier schools, who expect you to complete community service which you are committed to.

What is the best volunteer experience for law school application?

For example, social activism, volunteering in campus or local politics, or providing research assistance for a faculty member in a law-related field can stand out to admissions officers. Showing law-related experience is not make-or-break for a law school application.

What jobs look good on law school applications?

Here are five great jobs for a gap year to strengthen your candidacy before law school:
  • Paralegal or legal assistant.
  • Research or policy analyst.
  • Teaching.
  • Community work.
  • Working for a startup.

STATS + EXTRACURRICULARS that got me into harvard + mit + more ! | gpa, sat score, interviews, etc

30 related questions found

What experience looks good for law school?

The Skills Law Schools Are Looking For. While legal experience such as working as a paralegal, legal assistant, legal clerk, or court representative will undoubtedly look good on your law school application, gaining work experience in other fields is just as worthwhile.

What does Harvard look for in law school applicants?

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 like volunteering?

Law schools appreciate and value the positive benefits that these programs offer to their members. If you are interested in volunteering with such an organization, consider using www.serviceyear.org to search for an organization. Alternatively, volunteering locally is also a valuable use of your time.

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.

What are the best softs for law school?

Some common softs are extracurricular activities, such as holding a leadership position in a college club and participating in college athletics; completing an internship; and having notable work experience. Unique softs include publishing a book, holding a world record, and having an unusual hobby.

How many volunteer hours look good on a college application?

The consensus is that the ideal amount of volunteer hours you should have for a college application is between 50 to 200 hours. With fewer than 50 hours of volunteer work, college admissions officers may draw the conclusion that you were not committed enough to a cause to commit a substantial amount of time to it.

Is 200 hours of community service a lot?

You should aim to complete between 50 and 200 volunteer hours. If you complete more than 200 hours, you may very well be overworking yourself.

How do colleges know if you volunteered?

About verifying those hours, most colleges actually don't have a formal process for checking volunteer hours for every applicant. However, they may decide to spot-check certain applications by contacting the organizations you listed or checking their records.

What stands out on a law school application?

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.

Do law schools verify extracurriculars?

The short answer is generally speaking extracurricular activities are all self-reported in the application. However, college admissions officers can verify your academic record and extracurricular involvement through your school counselor, teachers, transcript, and a simple Google search.

What extracurriculars should I do to get into Harvard law?

The best law school extracurriculars tend to be pre-law internships, student government, debate club, sports, and mock trials.

What clubs look good for law school?

If you don't know where to get started on choosing an extracurricular activity, one of these may be a great fit for you.
  • Law Review/Journals. ...
  • Moot Court. ...
  • Externships, Clerking, and Clinics. ...
  • Student Bar Association. ...
  • Networking and Career Fairs.

Is the lawyer field oversaturated?

Law School Myth 5:

The job market for lawyers is oversaturated. While it is true that there are more law school graduates than there are jobs available in some markets, the job market for lawyers is actually quite strong overall.

Which law school are students happiest at?

Here are the schools with the best quality of life, per Princeton Review:
  • 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 colleges like volunteer work?

Fifty-eight percent of respondents agreed that “a student's community service experience has a positive impact on his or her acceptance to our higher education institution.” Fifty-three percent of respondents said community service can be a deciding factor when the choices are equally qualified students.

Where is the best place to volunteer for law?

Students: How can you help
  • University/law school clinics. The first point of call for any student wanting to carry out pro bono work is to find out whether your university or law school has a legal advice clinic. ...
  • Law Centres. ...
  • The Free Representation Unit (FRU) ...
  • Pro Bono Community. ...
  • Support Through Court. ...
  • Probonoskills.

What is the hardest law school to get into?

According to Lawschooli, the ten hardest law schools with the lowest acceptance rates are:
  • Yale University: 6.9%
  • Stanford University: 9.72%
  • University of Pennsylvania: 14.6%
  • University of Virginia: 15.3%
  • Harvard University: 15.6%
  • Columbia University: 16.8%
  • University of Chicago: 17.5%
  • Duke University: 20.2%

What is a perfect LSAT score?

The LSAT scale ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest possible score.

Is the LSAT or GRE harder?

For most test-takers, there are several reasons why the LSAT® is simply more intimidating than the GRE: Timing and Difficulty Level: Unless you're a wickedly fast reader, you're probably going to run out of time on the LSAT®, and that's not a fun experience.