Should You Attend Law School?

Law schools in the US typically offer three-year programs that result in a Juris Doctor degree in law. Graduates of law schools go on to pursue a variety of career paths, but most enter with the intent of practicing law. You will have the best chances of admission and a satisfactory outcome if you first do the legwork to make sure law school is right for you.

Learn more about the law school experience by connecting with MIT alumni or others in your network who are currently law school students or graduated from law school. To find MIT alumni:

  • Search the MIT Advisors Hub. Select “Advice Topics – Admissions – Applying to Law School” or “Industries – Legal” to get the most law-related search results.
  • Search the Alumni Directory. Note that all MIT alumni, students, and affiliates can create an account and access the directory.
  • Search LinkedIn for both alumni and others in your network.

When to Apply for Law School

Admissions officers across law schools agree that you should wait until you can put forth your best application before you apply. That said, admissions for law schools are typically rolling. This means there are more empty seats to fill earlier in the process. It’s a delicate balance between applying as early as possible in the admissions cycle and waiting until you’re ready.