For many in the legal profession, the concept of work-life balance seems elusive. Perhaps a narrative shift is needed: one that doesn’t compartmentalize work and life, but integrates them. Barristers’ Ball, an annual event hosted by the Student Bar Association (SBA), offers students a chance to unwind and rejuvenate while immersing themselves in the legal community. Barristers’ was held on March 23 at an exciting new venue, The Legacy Castle in Pompton Plains, NJ, which exuded an atmosphere of refinement with its soaring ceilings and chandeliers.

Once you are a law student, it is easy to make the library your second home. However, as much as Seton Hall Law students love ramping the building and visiting Café Deni for a quick caffeine fix, sometimes a new study space is much needed.

Seton Hall Law School’s Leadership Fellows Program, under the direction of Prof. Paula Franzese, is an honors program comprised of third and fourth year law students with demonstrated leadership ability and/or leadership potential. Students selected for the Program participate in the Leadership, Ethics, and Decision-Making course and develop and implement a community-based service project. In the Leadership course students hone decision-making skills, consider the ethical challenges sometimes faced by lawyer-leaders, develop core leadership proficiencies, hone time-management abilities and consider pathways to balance in the legal profession. Distinguished leaders of the bench and bar share their wisdom as part of the Program’s Leadership Speaks lecture series.

(Post updated September 14, 2023)

One of the most frequent questions I get is how Seton Hall Law handles law school applications with multiple LSAT or GRE scores, whether someone should include an addendum explaining an increase or decrease in score, and whether they should retest. Before we get there, let’s talk about exam choice.

Many law schools, Seton Hall included, accept both the LSAT and GRE for consideration, but you should choose one test and stick with it. Often, if the law school is presented both BOTH a GRE and a LSAT, the LSAT will control consideration of the application because the ABA mandates that is what we report regardless of which score we use in the decision process.

(Post updated September 14, 2023)

One of the top questions Admissions Counselors are often asked is whether there is an optimal time to submit your law school application. The answer depends upon the deadlines of the particular law schools to which you plan to apply. With that in mind, here are a few things to consider as you begin your application process and map out all the deadline dates.

(Post updated September 14, 2023)

Now that you have written a superb personal statement, let’s focus on another aspect of your law school application – Letters of Recommendation (LORs) are another way that an otherwise average application may rise above the pack.

Although you do not have control over what your letter writer(s) may write, you certainly have control over the process. This includes ensuring that you select the individual(s) with the most relevant and positive things to say and that you provide them with all the information they need so that they can speak thoughtfully to your strengths and, if necessary, address any weaknesses your application may reveal.

(Post updated September 14, 2023)

There is no doubt that there's just a little bit of pressure on you to write the best personal statement you can. After all, there's no other component of the law school application that you can control as much as this one. And...a well-written personal statement can really help to set you apart from all the other applicants since this is essentially your interview on paper. So, how do you write a personal statement for law school? I'm hoping that I can offer some thoughts to prevent you from dreading the personal statement and instead embrace it as an amazing tool to share your story!

Pursuing three different placements through Seton Hall Law’s Externship Program organically led me to re-discover my passion for healthcare. As an undergrad at Oberlin College, I majored in Biology planning to pursue a career in healthcare and life sciences. But after college, my career path shifted to government and public policy, moving away from the healthcare space for nine years. Then as I took steps to become a second-career law student, I chose Seton Hall Law in large due part to its top-ranked health law program. Little did I know that I would find fulfilling experiences in health law through Seton Hall Law School’s externship program.

Prior to law school, I heard rumors about how competitive law school would be – like classmates ripping pages out of books to make sure you do not get ahead of them. As a first generation law student, these rumors terrified me. While law school is competitive, the community at Seton Hall Law School is nowhere near the rumors I heard.

(Post updated September 14, 2023)

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

After all the hard work that goes into completing and submitting a law school application, it can be disappointing to find out that you have been waitlisted at one of your top choice schools. Being waitlisted can be particularly troubling for people used to being proactive, so we often get questions about the process moving forward.  Here are some things to keep in mind: