Advising

PRE-LAW ADVISING

Transcripts and Dean's Certifications

Review your applications to assess your need for a Dean's Certification Form and plan up to three weeks for processing during peak application times (November through February).  Your unit (i.e., Business School, Engineering School, etc.) advising office completes this form.  LSA students (non honors, non R.C.) have this form done by Dr. Susan Doyle, Academic Advising Coordinator.  A standard form that is used and acceptable to all law schools, may be picked up at the 1255 Angell Hall front desk or downloaded online.  You need to grant permission for information to be released by signing the form(s) and returning them to the front desk of the Newnan LSA Academic Advising Center.  A stamped addressed envelope for each law school requiring this information is also required. 

The following law school applications request a Dean's Certification Form:

  • Boston University,
  • Brigham Young University,
  • Brooklyn Law School,
  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law*,
  • Columbia University*,
  • University of Connecticut,
  • Cornell University,
  • Duke University*,
  • Howard University,
  • University of Richmond,
  • Univeristy of Southern California*,
  • Southern Illinois University*,
  • Stanford University,
  • Suffolk University, and
  • University of Washington. 

*if applicant has been subject to academic or disciplinary action

The following law schools require a Dean's Certification after an applicant is accepted and chooses to enroll:

  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (see * above),
  • Columbia University (see* above),
  • Georgetown University,
  • Harvard University (use their "official" form only), 
  • New York University,
  • University of Pennsylvania,
  • Stetson University,
  • Wake Forest University. 


Dean's Certification Form

Some law school applications request a Dean's Certification Form. Mainstream LSA students have this Dean's Certification Form have this form done by Dr. Susan Doyle, Academic Advising

Transcripts

Transcripts are available from the Office of the Registrar. For quicker service at LSAC, give the Registrar's Office the Transcript Cover Sheet from LSAC with your bar code on it.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters assessing a student's academic performance and personal achievement are very important. Letters should focus on academic abilities, particularly analytical ability and writing ability. Ideally, letters from professors are preferred...

Letters of recommendation that assess a student's academic performance and personal achievement are very important.  The letter should focus on the student’s academic abilities, particularly his/her analytical ability and writing ability. Some things you might consider discussing include: writing ability, research ability, ability to work independently, and ability to undertake and successfully complete a major project.

Ideally, letters from professors are preferred because their years of teaching/research may allow them to provide a more comprehensive evaluation through comparison with previous students.  If you have been unable to build a relationship with a faculty member, a GSI is acceptable, particularly if he/she can speak with greater ease to your intellectual assets and abilities.  Letters from employers or supervisors who have evaluated your work are also valuable supplements to academic letters.  Character references are not solicited.  Plan to acquire personal references by the end of your junior year if you are applying senior year.  If you are taking at least a year off before applying you have your senior year to gather your letters of reference.  Letters should be requested and ideally filed before you leave campus or shortly thereafter-this will make your application process later much easier.

Letters of recommendation may be processed three ways:

  1. as part of your LSDAS file
  2. at the Reference Letter Center in the Career Center, 3200 SAB http://www.careercenter.umich.edu/students/refletter/index.html 
    OR
  3. individually with each law school. 
  1. Your Letters of Recommendation Cover Forms are available by logging onto your Online Services account, go to the My Docs tab, and select Forms. Your Letters of Recommendation Cover Forms are only available after you register for the LSDAS. 
  2. The Career Center creates a Reference Letter File, with a standard form, that evaluates you in comparison to other students along with a narrative statement.  Their file is maintained for a minimum of five years for an opening fee of $25.00 and a nominal charge to send copies of the letters to LSDAS upon your request. 
  3. Lastly, each law school application (paper or online) has it's own letter of recommendation form.

Any of the three ways of gathering letters of recommendation are acceptable and there are advantages and disadvantages to each, so take the time to evaluate what will be best for you. 

Be sure to ask your evaluators if they are comfortable writing a letter of recommendation and specifically ask for comparison to other students/workers and a statement of your perceived/validated intellectual stamina.  You may submit up to four general letters of recommendation and additional targeted letters of recommendation to LSDAS.
http://www.lsac.org/Applying/letters-of-recommendation.asp

LSAC will send your general letters to law schools in the order in which they are received (up to the number recommended or accepted by the law school).

http://www.lsac.org/Applying/LOR_Preferences.asp

 

 

Consult the Career Center website on Reference Letter Service for additional insight.

http://www.careercenter.umich.edu/students/refletter/index.html