Widener Law Admissions Blogs

You obtained that elusive J.D. and studied hard for the Bar Exam – but once you meet with your first client, all of that legal knowledge and heightened sense of what makes a persuasive written argument suddenly becomes insignificant. When you find yourself face to face with a live person and you have to deal with them, you realize that no amount of case briefing or essays written in CRAC format can prepare you for this moment. So how do you interview clients? How do you write a contract? What does it take to mediate between parties?

Fortunately, Widener Law offers a robust menu of courses that focuses on the basic, pragmatic skills of lawyering that can easily be overlooked as one prepares for the practice of law. Classes such as Interviewing & Counseling help student develop the skills necessary to meet and greet clients through sheer practice and role play.

Negotiation & Mediation: Theory and Practice is another class that teaches how to navigate client relations, and reinforces its lessons through simulation exercises. These simulations are also analyzed by peers to help inform the student about how effective their mediation techniques are.

Law school is already great for preparing students to tailor their writing to a variety of situations, but Widener Law also offers classes that focuses on how to write for specific instances. For instance, Legal Methods III – Contract Drafting provides students with the opportunity to learn the basic principles of contract drafting, interpretation, and negotiation.

Are you interested in helping shape the future of our public policies? Legislation is a class that explains the processes by which legislation is passed, enforced, and interpreted, while Administrative Law teaches how this country’s various administrative agencies function and make decisions.

As far as preparing students for the nitty gritty details of lawyering, perhaps nothing can come close to participating in one of our Civil Clinics. Here, students have the opportunity to represent real clients with real legal problems while under the supervision of experienced attorneys. In the clinic, students will interview and counsel clients, frame legal issues in cases, draft pleadings and litigate (under the third year law student practice rule). I’m not sure there is a better way to make a difference in your community while pursuing your J.D. than the clinics!

Students love that we offer opportunities for hands-on training, as a recent survey based on the Classes of 2011 and 2012 showed that Widener Law students take an average of 2.5 skills-based courses before graduation. Which ones are right for you largely depends on which path you choose to take. How can we help you along your path?

February LSAT scores were recently released! What does that mean for you? Hopefully you’re score is amazing and you can breathe a sigh of relief. In that case, consider scholarship opportunities on your list of law schools. What are the criteria? What are the retention rates? Widener Law offers funding based on LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. The higher your scores, the more competitive you become for scholarships and grants.  Be careful with scholarship offers and make sure to read the small writing.  What are the requirements to retain the scholarship?  Is it renewable?

What are your thoughts about the LSAT?  Any helpful tips to prepare?

Widener Law hosts two information sessions per school year.  The next one is this Saturday, October 20 and we are excited to greet aspiring law students!  An information session is invaluable if you are interested in law school.  You can meet professors, students, and staff and get a feel for the school’s atmosphere.  Information Sessions may include:

• Admissions presentation
• Clinical opportunities
• Tours of the law school
• Financial Aid information
• Career options
• On and off campus housing

Visiting a school is essential before attending but it’s only one part of the process.  Make sure to do your research – how does a school match your interests?  What clinics are offered?  What electives are available?  Are there legal specialties?  What do faculty publish?  Do they participate in conferences?  Where do students intern?  What student organizations are available?  Can you live on campus?  Do you want to live on campus?  What is the cost of living?  What is tuition and what kind of financial aid is available?

The great thing about an information session is that you can visit and answer these questions all at the same time.  Meet a variety of people, network, and make sure the school you choose is in a geographical area you hope to practice and a place you feel welcomed for three (or maybe four) years.

Hope to see you at one of our Information Sessions!  The second one will be held January 5 from 10 am – 1 pm.  Email lawadmissions@widener.edu to register!

What do you think?  Have you attended an information session or open house?  Was it worth while?

Picture this.  A college student, lets name her Amy, dreams of becoming an attorney.  She did her research about admission to law school and bought a pile of books to prepare for the LSAT.  She took practice tests in her spare time at a secluded corner in the library to minimize distractions.  She read through each question carefully and took her time to consider each response.  After a few weeks of studying, she felt comfortable with the techniques and confident in her practice scores.

The day of the test, Amy can’t focus.  The student next to her is tapping his foot.  The proctor doesn’t notice the construction going on outside.  Time flies by as Amy tries to read through each questions and consider each option.  By the end of the test, Amy is exhausted and defeated.  She bombed.

What went wrong?  Here’s some tips:

1.  Time yourself when you practice for the LSAT.  Get used to reading quickly and efficiently.  Take tests over and over again in the time allotted for the actual test.  Don’t slack on this!
2. Take the test in a simulated testing environment before the actual administration.  Testing rooms, especially for the LSAT, can vary.  Although all environments are carefully monitored, things happen beyond our control.  There are many prep courses that offer practice tests.  Widener Law offers two Mock LSAT experiences in the Fall (Sept. 22 and Nov. 17).  They are offered at no cost and follow LSAC guidelines for administration (including the check in process!).  It’s better to be over prepared than not so take advantage of these opportunities!
3. If there is a disturbance during the test (such as construction outside), bring it up to your proctor!  Follow up with LSAC to make sure they are also aware.  You always have the option to cancel your score if things go awry.

What other tips do you have?

For more information on Widener Law’s Mock LSAT visit:  bit.ly/mmThVA

For more practice tests visit: bit.ly/SAVas9 or lsac.org

Email me with questions!  asdelpuerto@widener.edu.

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Higher education, as you all know, is an expensive yet fulfilling endeavor. How do the benefits outweigh the cost? The Economical Lawyer offers some great insight. She finds her legal education training helped develop three specific skills – critical thinking, self promotion and marketing, and living with no regrets.  These three skills helped her land a job and find fulfillment in her career.  Curious? Read more at her blog. Law school is worth it, just keep focused and goal oriented!

Incoming students and applicants alike wonder what the law school experience is all about. Although curiosity is normal and even helpful, there are a few that go above and beyond to prepare for law school. Most of you aspiring lawyers students already have good testing, studying, reading and writing skills. So keep up your good habits, prioritize your time and focus on the present moment. The rest will come in time so don’t stress before you need to. Take time to do the best you can with what you have. Tom Trettel, third year Student Ambassador, offers the following advice for new students:
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Tom Trettel, 3L

As it gets closer to time to start law school, I (as a 3L) have a few words of advice. As always, take what you find helpful and leave the rest.
1) Breathe.
2) It will all fall into place and in a year you will wonder, “Was I really stressed about That?”
3) Enjoy the next couple of weeks. Hang out with friends and family. Let them know that the next few months will probably be filled with school and little else.
4) Know that having the right kind of computer, highlighter, or dictionary is really not very important. You just need pen, paper, and yourself. (And you can borrow the pen and paper.)
5) Put in the time, do the work and you will be fine. Really. We have all been through it. We survived and so will you.
6) Do not hesitate to ask questions of people who have been through it. We really are offering to help.
7) See #1.

Troy Riddle, Multicultural Affairs Officer

Working full-time and attending law school can be a scary notion.  However,  Troy Riddle, Widener Law’s Multicultural Affairs Officer, is living proof that it can be done.  Mr. Riddle is an alum of Widener Law’s Extended  (part-time)  Division, his entry below describes his experience and tips that helped him through.

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Law school is challenging for a student of any age or academic pedigree, but I believe it is exponentially more challenging for students trying to balance a full-time job and/or family. The sense of accomplishment one feels, however, when the four year’s are over is euphoric.

As an Extended Division student, I was employed full-time as a middle manager in the healthcare industry, managing a staff of more than forty. The nice thing about my work situation, however, was that my boss and the staff knew I was in law school, and provided a lot of support and encouragement to me. This support system proved invaluable to me. Especially on those days where I hadn’t completed all of my assigned readings and needed to steal a few extra minutes at lunch time to try and cover the material before making the drive from Philadelphia to Delaware.

Four years later, it was all over, and to be quite honest, I was a little sad. I actually enjoyed law school. The rigors of legal education challenged me in ways that I didn’t know I could be. I learned a lot…not just about the law and how to craft ingenious arguments, but about life and how the world really works and how the law influences it. Because law touches virtually every aspect of human existence, it’s almost impossible to leave law school without having at least one “light bulb” moment regarding something you previously thought mundane or ordinary.
There are many ways to approach law school if trying to balance it with work and/or family.

Here are a few tips/advice I’d like to share with you:
• Don’t make any life-changing moves or decisions.
• Know that at times you’ll have more reading than humanly possible to complete.
• Know that the people you always see in the library aren’t necessarily getting the top grades.
• Understand that your family and friends won’t understand the demands being place upon you.
• Talk to your professors when you don’t understand a concept/case covered in class.
• Take as many practice exams as you can and get feedback.
• Take time for you (both mentally and physically); exercise, spend time with the family.
• Take at least one day during the week for a reprieve. (I made Friday my “me day.”)
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. (It doesn’t make you a poor law student.)

Much success to you as you embark upon what I think is the most transformative education one can obtain!

Thank you, Mr. Riddle, for sharing your experience!  If you have further questions about the part-time program please feel free to email the Admissions office at lawadmissions@widener.edu.

Law school admission is a tough battle.  For some, classes and tests come easy and law schools welcome students with these natural academic skills.  Others work hard to reach their dreams and simply need the opportunity to show their work ethic in a legal setting.  For these aspiring lawyers, getting into law school can be a greater challenge.  If your GPA is less than stellar and your standardized test taking skills need some work, then consider these steps to improve your chances:

• Prepare for the LSAT.  Take as many practice tests as you can and time yourself in the process!  I frequently meet applicants who study for the LSAT but never timed themselves.  Guess what?  They felt rushed and pressured when they actually took the test.  Don’t be one of these applicants; take a prep class if you feel it’s appropriate.  In addition, search online, contact your pre-law advisor or career development center or ask local colleges if they offer weekend prep courses.  Yes, they are expensive but so is law school.  In the end you might save more money with a scholarship if you score well on the LSAT.  Widener Law offer mock LSAT administration every year.  We invite prospective students to take the LSAT under simulated testing center standards.  This is free and typically offered one week before the actual test.

• Ignore the naysayers.  There’s a lot of gripe about law school out there.  First, yes, it is important to know that you definitely want to pursue law as a career.  Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into (this is a topic for another blog).  If you know it, you can do it.  I believe there is a right law school for almost everyone.  Do your research and find out when law schools begin accepting applications.  Widener Law has a fairly open application season.  We begin accepting application in late August and continue accepting applications through May 15.  However, we continue accepting applications through the summer if space is available.  So if you didn’t get in early, try for different options.  Sometimes schools you never considered are a diamond in the rough, check out JD programs for what they offer rather than just what you heard.

• Contact the Admissions office to ask about your file.  If you were not successful this time around, we can help improve your chances next time around.  Remember that the LSAT and GPA are important criteria for admission.  The Admissions Committee generally looks for applicants close to the incoming class median.  Widener Law’s medians are typically around a 151 LSAT and above a 3.0 GPA.  However, every applicant is review holistically and your personal statement, letters of recommendation, work experience and additional accolades can sway the committee’s decision.

Still not sure where to go from here?  I’d be happy to help, feel free to email me at asdelpuerto@mail.widener.edu.

So you’ve decided to attend law school.  Good choice!  Maybe you were a Pre-Law major interning at a law office, or maybe you studied Biology and only recently decided to follow a legal career.  Maybe you’re 21 or maybe you’re 55.  No matter what your background, law school is a completely different ball game from your past education and experiences.  We all begin law school with a blank slate.  So, how do you prepare?

First, relax.  This is your break before diving into cases and hundreds of pages to analyze.  Try to avoid burn out before you even begin.  Catch up with friends and family, read novels that you find interesting, keep up with the news and current events.  Take a vacation if you can!

Next, consider keeping your mind active with a few classes or books.  They don’t need to be intense, just a way to keep keen for school.  Widener Law offers a summer Paralegal Certificate program that introduces legal research, legal writing and mechanics of the litigation process.  If you feel that extra courses can help you, this is a great head start.

Finally, What else do you think helps prepare for law school?  Do you think internships are useful?  Taking a reading or writing course?  Seeking advice from friends and family?  Interviewing a person in the field?  Share your thoughts!

It’s interesting to look back at when I just started and see how far I’ve come in such a short period of time. The first time I briefed a case in law school, I spent about 3 hours trying to wrangle some sort of meaning from it. I got most of it wrong. The second time it took about an hour, but I still got most of it wrong. The work load has substantially increased this year. In my first semester, most professors gave us 5 to 10 pages of homework per class. This doesn’t sound like much, but it is when each page takes 15 to 20 minutes just to get a basic understanding. By second semester, professors had moved up to giving 10, 20, or even 25 pages of reading per class. This tracked well with my ability to comprehend, and before I knew it, I was actually understanding cases and concepts without having to reread it 10 times.

This year, my work load has dramatically increased, but so has my comprehension. I can still remember posting on Facebook, “My Real Estate professor wants me to read 125 pages by Thursday. I may have made a mistake.” Well, I did the work and survived. I even thrived.

It is now about a month into the Spring semester of my second year, just past the halfway point in my law school career. I am taking 6 classes for a total of 16 credits. The pressures of first year have been replaced with this year’s tsunami of work and the Bar Exam looming in the not too distant future. As long as I keep swimming, I just might become a lawyer.