The Best Law Schools' Admissions Secrets: The Essential Guide from Harvard's Former Admissions Dean

I bought this book for my nephew, a college sophomore who is a bright, wonderful kid, but kind of lost about what to do once he graduates. I think this book will help him preserve his options. Curll's advice is, of course, directed specifically at those who are considering law school. But the essential ideas deserve a much broader audience. For example, the chapter on letters of recommendation explains how to select the people best suited to write such letters and how to help them write letters that will be effective. The chapter on how to write the personal statement (part of the law school application) can help anyone who must seize a limited opportunity to "market" him or herself. Particularly useful to my nephew -and to most college students, undoubtedly -is the chapter describing how to make the most of the college years. Curll offers a compelling rationale and specific strategies for choosing courses that develop critical thinking, participating in extra-curricular activities that develop leadership and teamwork, and broadening one's perspective through internships and work experiences. Curll writes in an accessible, engaging style and uses entertaining vignettes to illustrate her points. While law school applicants are the natural audience for this book, Curll has a great deal to offer all those contemplating graduate study in the professions.

Easy read - straightforward advice provided. Gave insight of the admission process for law school. I would recommend purchase to anyone considering law school.

Undergraduates would be well advised to read this readable, inexpensive volume before investing three years and more than $100,000 in a law school. Dean Curll wisely begins her guide by raising and discussing whether the would-be applicant really wants a career in the law. The guidebook then reviews the many factors that effect law school admissions, making it clear that while there are no quick, clever ways to beat the system, there are any number of ways to improve one's chances. My only concern about the book is the likelihood that undergraduates may lack the experience to appreciate the volume's intelligence, wisdom and wit.

When trying to beat law school competition, how do you know what to do go get in the 'yes' pile? Insider Joyce Curll, former Dean of Admissions for Harvard Law School, provides some of the secrets to getting in that pile; from preparing the application and understanding differing state laws to learning how the admissions process works behind the scenes. No other law school guidebook offers this level of expertise and insider advice, making it a 'must' for would-be law students and libraries catering to them. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

Ms. Curll has written an outstanding narrative on the process of admission to law school, and advices on how to choose the one that is right for you. She has chapters on how to prepare for law school while still in college, but also reviews the process for those who are starting out later in life. In one of the early chapters she tackles the question of whether law school is the right choice for you by asking many useful questions connected with the career. As a former Harvard Dean in Law School admissions, she can write with many details about what the admission effort involves,including suggestions for positive interview results. She suggests some helpful work experiences you may want to explore before making a decision, and also reviews some questions on how to finance law school. Finally, she touches on some of the possibilities a law school graduate might consider after graduation, including clerkships, internships, and summer employment opportunities. This is an extremely readable and informative book for anyone considering law school. She includes many useful anecdotes and personal stories from her own long career and personal experience.