• It is not easy to get into law school. There are 182 accredited law schools in the U.S., with many more applicants than there are spots. The application process includes submitting college grades, a personal essay, and letters of recommendation. You also need to take, and do well on, the LSAT.

• It's not too early to begin preparing for law school while in high school. While your high school grades and activities won't appear directly on your law school application, the choices you make in high school will lay the foundation for your college career, which will be considered as part of your application.

1. Law schools look for students who can write logically, clearly and concisely, so you'll want to work hard in your English classes.The State Bar of California: How Do I Become a Lawyer
2. Lawyers need to be able to critically analyze problems, so taking higher level courses where these skills are fostered will be useful.The State Bar of California: How Do I Become a Lawyer
3. An attorney needs to be able to early articulate a position on an issue. Joining the forensics team will help to develop these skills.The State Bar of California: How Do I Become a Lawyer
4. The language of the law incorporates many Latin terms, so exposure to Latin in high school will be helpful later.Law for Kids: What High School Classes Should You Take to Become a Lawyer?
5. When applying to colleges, look for a college that has a good track record of getting students into law school. Some elite schools regularly have 80-90% of their students accepted by a law school, while some colleges only have 30-35% accepted.

• As law school admission is highly competitive, you need to do well in college to be accepted. Take tough courses, do well in the them, and foster close relationships with professors who will write letters of recommendation for you. Participate in extracurricular activities that demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, and other skills that are needed by an attorney.The State Bar of California: [http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10581&id=24442#lawer1 How Do I Become a Lawyer?

1. Although there is no formal pre-law major, many successful applicants major in literature, history, philosophy, or political science.
2. Consider attending a law school summer enrichment program offered by a law school you are interested in applying to. It will allow you to learn more about the school, and demonstrate your seriousness of purpose to the admissions office.William Mitchell College of Law: Pre-Law/Law School Prep Program
3. Apply to several law schools, to increase the odds that you will be accepted to one of them. According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), most applicants apply to at least four law schools.The State Bar of California: [http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10581&id=24442#lawer1 How Do I Become a Lawyer?

• You will generally take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) in your junior year, as part of the process of applying to law school.The State Bar of California: [http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10581&id=24442#lawer1 How Do I Become a Lawyer? The LSAT is weighed very heavily by law schools as part of the admissions process. The test doesn't measure subject specific knowledge that you can study for in college. It evaluates your ability to think critically and analytically. You can prepare for the LSAT in a number of ways, including taking a logic course, using practice exams, or taking a prep class.

Some schools take the highest LSAT score; some average them. Unless you're positive that the schools you are applying to only look at thehighest score, you'll want to make sure you ace the LSAT the first time you take it.

• After beginning your preparation to be a lawyer in high school, working hard in college, and getting good scores on the LSAT, you'l have done your best to get into law school. Enjoy your three years of studying the law!