OFF THE RECORD - Seton Hall Law

How to Handle Being on a Law School Waitlist

Posted by Peter Eraca on 9/16/20 4:05 PM

(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:

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Topics: Advice and Tips, Admissions

Questions to Ask at Virtual and In-Person Law School Fairs

Posted by Katya Valasek on 9/16/20 2:21 PM

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, law school admissions staff heads would head out on the road every fall to attend numerous law school fairs, graduate school fairs and LSAC Forums around the country. This year, the events are virtual. Whether in person or through the wonders of technology, these events are so important for interested students because it is the best exposure you, as a candidate, can get to a large number of schools from around the country. You can begin to build relationships with people at your top schools – regardless of where you are in the process. Coming to these events prepared and asking the right questions will make you a more informed consumer.  

Not sure what to talk about once you get there? Use this opportunity to ask for specific information about the schools at the top of your list. Here are some questions to keep in mind when attending a law school fair or LSAC forum:

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Topics: Admissions

How Multiple LSAT or GRE Scores Impact Your Application

Posted by Peter Eraca on 9/16/20 1:49 PM

(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.

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Topics: Advice and Tips, Admissions

Do I Need to Take the LSAT to Get Into Law School?

Posted by Isabel DiSciullo on 9/15/20 1:53 PM

This seems to be an age-old question! In order to answer it, I will try to help you determine what has and hasn’t changed with regards to law school admissions and standardized testing requirements without taking you too far into the weeds of law school accreditation.  There has been quite a bit of discussion and media reports of law schools seeking alternatives to the use of the LSAT.  What is happening?

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Topics: Advice and Tips, Admissions

Understanding Law School Application Deadlines

Posted by Peter Eraca on 9/15/20 1:52 PM

(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.

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Topics: Advice and Tips, Admissions

Your Law School Application's Journey to a Decision

Posted by Peter Eraca on 9/15/20 1:51 PM

(Post updated September 14, 2023)

Now that you have submitted your law school applications you may be wondering – what happens next? Although procedures may be slightly different between law schools – there are certainly some common practices. Read on for a brief overview of what happens to your application once it leaves your hands.  

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Topics: Admissions

Law Professor Explains How to Tackle the LSAT Writing Sample

Posted by Melanie Perez-Vellios on 12/3/19 11:15 AM


So, you want to go to law school?  You already know you will need to complete the LSAT exam, as well as the LSAT Writing requirement.  LSAT Writing is a thirty-five minute writing assignment requiring you to assess a hypothetical problem, select between two possible solutions and write a persuasive essay advocating for one side.  While the essay is not scored, it will play a role in admissions committees’ evaluation of your application so you will want to make the best possible impression.

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Topics: Advice and Tips, Admissions, Writing

Meet Assistant Dean for JD and Graduate Admissions, Issa DiSciullo

Posted by Sarah Jensen on 11/5/19 9:40 AM

Issa DiSciullo jumped right into her role as Seton Hall Law’s Assistant Dean for JD and Graduate Admissions when she took the helm in September 2019. As a national leader in admissions and a recognized expert in diversity and inclusion, she is already making tremendous strides as she commits to providing equal access to education for every prospective student. We asked Dean DiSciullo what she loves about higher education and what she hopes for interested applicants.

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Topics: Graduate Programs, Advice and Tips, Admissions

When and How To Write an Addendum to Your Law School Application

Posted by Peter Eraca on 9/26/19 4:29 PM

(Post updated September 14, 2023)

Once you have tackled your personal statement and secured outstanding letters of recommendation, it is time to stand back and look at the “pieces” of your law school application objectively. It is helpful to view your law school application as a puzzle to be understood by the readers (those evaluating your potential for success in law school and in a legal career).

In most cases the readers will only get to know you from the items in your application file. There will be no interview and no other way to assess your potential. So, stand back and objectively determine – with everything that will be seen in my admissions file, what raises questions? What are the missing puzzle pieces to understanding why I am a good candidate for admission?

If you feel that your application, when viewed as a whole, is missing an important piece of information that could answer the above questions, you should consider writing an addendum. Below are the most common types of addenda we see:  

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Topics: Advice and Tips, Admissions

3L Forms the First-Generation Law Student Association

Posted by Omar Debs on 4/11/19 8:42 AM

It’s going to sound cliché, but as I approached the end of my 2L summer I started asking myself what I could do to leave the law school better than I had found it. It had been a bumpy road for me, largely because of my own struggles as a first-generation law student. Although I felt very confident about my own future, having secured a job offer with Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, I realized that others were dealing with similar issues and I decided that founding a First-Generation Law Students Association (FGLSA) at Seton Hall Law School was the way to go. With plenty of help from administration and other students, the group was successfully formed in September of 2018. The mission of the organization is to create a community for all first-generation students to come together to tackle law school and the legal profession with support. FGLSA now has roughly 60 members, with more joining every week. 

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Topics: Advice and Tips, Admissions, Student Life

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OFF THE RECORD

Seton Hall Law professors, students, administrators and alumni share advice and experiences about law school and life beyond the bar exam.

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