• Diversity Essay – This essay should be written by individuals who come from different cultural, social, ethnic, or economic backgrounds and who can add to the educational experience of all students in the class. Do not write this essay unless you meet the criteria set forth. Limit to two pages double-spaced.
  
• School Specific Essay – Some schools (not many) may require a brief statement (one page limit) on why you are applying to their law school. Make sure you are familiar with the key aspects of the school and can make a case for why you and that particular school are a good match. Limit to one page.

Recommendations

Faculty, Employer, or other Recommendations: We recommend that you use the Law Services Letter of Recommendation Service (see page 21in the LSAT & LSDAS Registration and Information Book). The Service will take up to three recommendations. We recommend for those currently enrolled at Duke, that two faculty members and one other meaningful recommendation be submitted. For graduates, at least one from faculty and one or two from employers or others should be submitted. Employer or other meaningful recommenders should state (a) their connection with you, (b) your performance under their supervision, (c) their assessment of your ability to perform in law school, and (d) their estimate of your success as a lawyer. (See Basic Information for Senior Pre-Law Students, “A Word to Seniors About Faculty Recommendations, p. 7)

NB: The Dean’s Form or College Questionnaire is NOT part of this system.

Dean’s Forms/College Questionnaire

These forms should be brought to Dean Wilson’s office along with a stamped envelope addressed to the law school. We do not fill out these forms, but rather write a letter of recommendation and attach this to each form.

Since we do write a letter, we recommend that we send the letter( often with handwritten specific to each school) from our office to all of the law schools to which you apply even if they do not require such a letter. We suggest this because of our long standing communication with law schools and our willingness to show institutional support for a student application. Just give this office a stamped envelope for each law school, addressed to the law school.

All Dean’s Forms and letters will be mailed directly to the law schools.

For further information, see the handout “Basic Information for Senior Pre-Law Students," available in the Pre-Law Advising Center, 04 Allen Building.

Deadlines

Deadlines for early decision/early action applications should be noted. These deadlines are usually very firm.

For other applications the best rule still is to get the application in early, but the question is defining “early”. By all means aim for early December or early January at the very latest. A school may state that their application deadline is March 15, but by that time 90% of the class will be filled, so make sure you have your application completed and in well before the closing date.

This sheet is meant to contain just a summary of some basic information for applicants. For further information, consult the sources indicated in NAPLA/SAPLA Book of Lists available in the Pre-Law Advising Center, the Duke Pre-Law Handbook and the Pre-Law Advisor.

Dean Gerald L. Wilson, Ph.D.
04 Allen Building, Box 90048
Durham, NC 27708-0048
Phone  919-684-2865  Fax  919-684-3414
prelaw@duke.edu

Applications

Several options are available in terms of preparing and sending applications. Students may, as in the past, request and receive paper applications, download applications from law schools’ web sites, or apply electronically using the LSACD Rom for Windows or the LSACD on the web. All of these are acceptable, but we recommend that students seriously consider the LSACD on the web because it saves application information on LSAC’s secure central database so students can access it from any Windows compatible computer (see inside back cover of 2004-2005 edition of LSAT and LSDAS Registration and Information Book, or visit the LSAC website, www.LSAC.org, or call (215) 968-1001.)

LSDAS

All applicants are required to use the service of the Law School Data Assembly Service (see pp. 18-20, 2004-2005 Edition of LSAT & LSDAS Registration and Information Book). For information about transcripts from Study Abroad see the Handouts available in the Pre-Law Advising Center

Resume

Students should send to every school to which they are applying a one-page resume. (Sample copies are available.) Note the following suggestions concerning resumes from Dr. Patricia O’Connor, former Director of the Career Center at Duke University.

1. Decide the style/format for the resume. Since it is usually read from top to bottom, put the important things at the top of each section. Don’t include something just to make it look good. Be ready to defend everything on it. Minimize the use of bold, italics, and type style changes; they can detract from the essence of the document. Two sample resumes may be viewed or downloaded here and here. (Adobe Reader required.)
   
   
2. Proof read the document, and have at least one friend do it, too. Do not rely on spell-check on the computer. Sue and use, leaned and learned, for and fro, lust and must are all correct words but spell check may not help to discover problems with usage. A typo such as to for two suggests you do not pay attention to detail. Your documents are being read to evaluate your future performance as a good lawyer.
   
3. Never allow the receiver of information to think or guess. Provide enough information in this document and the essay to ensure that the reader does not jump to the wrong conclusion about your qualifications.

Essays

There are potentially four essays that may be requested by law schools, listed below. The Pre-Law Advisor will be available to read and react to any and all of them if you wish. If you are currently enrolled, please bring the essays to 04 Allen and leave them in the designated folder. Dean Wilson will read them and return them to the folder within 24 hours.

If you are not currently enrolled, but wish for Dean Wilson to read your essays, you may email them to gwilson@asdean.duke.edu; fax them to (919) 684-3414; or mail them to Dean Wilson at Box 90048, Duke University, Durham, NC 27707.

• Personal Statement – The statement should be at least two pages double- spaced and sent to all schools whether requested or not. For more specific guidelines, see the article in The Pre-Law Handbook for Duke Students “The Private ‘I’: The Personal Statement”.
  
  Academic Essay – Some law schools may request an “academic essay” which is not to exceed two pages double-spaced. Some schools give specific word limits. This should not be a repeat of your personal statement but rather should indicate your ability to make an intellectual contribution in the classroom and beyond. Choose some topic that has engaged you intellectually.