So you want to go to law school…

…say less

Welcome to

WHY

“My education was the starting point for every opportunity I’ve had in my life.”

–Michelle Obama

PURPOSE

Whether you aspire to change the game as a lawyer, politician, professor, entrepreneur, CEO, or a mix of the above and more, this site serves as a guide to help prepare you for the strenuous but extremely worthwhile journey of pursuing law school.

VISION

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…”

–Marianne Williamson

How can I use the Legal Spiral?

1

The Legal Spiral was created to serve as a resource for any individual seeking to apply to law school. There are three main sections:
- 1. So you’re a…..
  - Navigate through this section, located in the header at the top of this page, based on your current academic year. Uncover what you could currently be doing to prepare for the law school admissions process. Are you a graduate? Don’t worry. There’s absolutely a page for you too.
- 2. Let’s do this
  - Need a summer internship, want a second pair of eyes to read over your resume or personal statement? Click on the + icon at the top right of this page for materials and services to help you strengthen your application and tell your story in a clear and memorable manner.
- 3. The blog
  - Within the blog, we will take a deeper dive into the LSAT, potential gap years before law school, and interview current law school students to learn from their applications process. New articles will be posted here regularly.

Let’s start with the basics…

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Law school is traditionally a three year graduate school program—First year (1L), Second year (2L), and Third year (3L).
A law school degree is called a Juris Doctor, commonly referred to as a JD.
Before beginning law school, one must have completed their Bachelor’s Degree.
No specific undergraduate major or degree is required to be accepted into law school.
You do not have to attend law school immediately after completing your undergraduate degree. In fact, many law school students have taken “gap years” where they have studied or worked in related or unrelated professions before matriculating.

What does the law school application process look like?

3

The law school application cycle begins at the end of August and typically ends between February and June.
In addition to a personalized statement, letters of recommendation, and academic information, in order to apply, most law schools require applicants to take a standardized test. The traditional standardized test for law school admittance is the LSAT; however, recently, law schools are beginning to accept the GRE.

Hi, I’m Kristen! Creating this blog has been something that I’ve aspired to do for a long time and I’m elated to finally share it with you!

As a black girl applying to law school as a first-generation lawyer, much of this information was not readily available to me. I learned much of what I know now from mentors, professors, and pre-law programs and internships. I’m not only excited to share this information with you, but I hope you take full advantage of these programs and resources as you embark upon your journey to law school!

***A Word:***

One of the best pieces of advice I can give you for this venture is to *trust the process*. Your journey to law school, and beyond, is not going to look like mine or anyone else’s. Don’t be discouraged when things aren’t working out the way you might have “planned” them to.
**Everything happens the way it is designed to and there is only one you…so take ownership of your story.**

As a native of Richmond, Virginia, I graduated as the valedictorian of my high school. After high school, I attended Spelman College and graduated as the salutatorian of my class with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Spanish. During my time at Spelman, I participated in numerous activities that propelled me on the path towards law school. I studied abroad for a semester in Spain, interned in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill, and attended numerous pre-law and public policy internships at Harvard, the University of Virginia, and the University of Kentucky. There are plenty of internship and program opportunities available and I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions as you research and apply.

In my Junior year at Spelman, I applied and was accepted to Harvard Law School through their Junior Deferral Program. Upon acceptance, I have deferred my matriculation for two gap years to begin in the Fall of 2021. In the interim, I am working as a paralegal to gain experience with the law on a corporate level.

Welcome to The Legal Spiral! This resource is here for you to begin your law school application in preparation for a successful legal career. Let’s diversify the landscape of lawyers throughout the country and be unapologetic in our journey towards a country that prioritizes justice for all.

This space was created for you.