IU to host law fair with 108 visiting schools

IU will host the largest university law fair in the country today, welcoming 108 different law school representatives to the Indiana Memorial Union. \nRepresentatives from a record number of law schools have registered to attend this year’s event, said Director of Health Professions and Pre-law Center Mac Francis.\n“No other college or university in the country is able to attract so many law schools,” Francis said.\nLaw day will begin with a panel discussion featuring four law school deans at 9:30 a.m. in the Georgian Room of the IMU. \nThe discussion will be followed by a law fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Alumni Hall at the IMU. At the fair, representatives from 108 law schools will be present to answer questions and talk to students. \nThe Indiana Conference on Legal Education Opportunities will be there to help students from traditionally underrepresented populations, such as first-generation college students and minorities. IU’s two pre-law clubs, Phi Alpha Delta and the Legal Studies Club, will also be at the fair.\nStudents will be able to talk one-on-one with law school admissions deans about financial aid and what they look for in law school applicants, Francis said.\n“It’s a laid back atmosphere and students will be able to chat,” Francis said. “If they leave a good impression, that’s only going to help them.”\nAt the fair, law school deans will discuss what works, what matters and what they \nfind annoying. \n“It’s insider information that’s not available in stores,” Francis said.\nIU School of Law-Bloomington Assistant Dean of Admissions, Dennis Long, has been part of the panel discussion for several years. He has provided students with information about letters of recommendation and how to write personal statements.\n“The more information you have, if you’re applying to law school, the better off you are,” Long said. “Like applying to any graduate school, the more homework you do the better it’s going to look.”\nSome sophomores and juniors have attended the discussion in the past to decide what majors work best when applying, Long said.\nStudents who plan to attend seem very excited, Francis said. He said the students can expect to leave more optimistic and upbeat. \n“Law school admission is about more than just your LSAT score,” Francis said. “To hear that from deans of admissions is very convincing.”