Whether you are thinking about applying to law school, started the application process, a recently admitted student or even a law student like us: there is a lot of Law School Jargon that you will want to become familiar with. On the Ladies Who Law School Podcast we are bound to say a few of these terms and we hope that if you are familiar with them it will paint a picture of what our law school lives are really like.

So you’re about to apply to law school?

• LSAT- The Law School Admissions Test. This is a logic based test that has four different sections: logical reasoning, reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and an experimental section. The scores range from 120-180, with 180 being nearly perfect. #HarvardMaterial

• Ways to study - What the ladies and their friends used:

  • Powerscore

  • Khan Academy

  • Kaplan Test Prep

  • Blueprint LSAT Prep

• LSAC - The Law School Admission Council. This is where you submit your applications, recommendation letters, etc. This is also where you register for the LSAT and where you can see the LSAT scores that schools typically accept.

• Personal Statement - a short essay in which you articulate who you are and why you want to go to law school.

• Recommendation Letters -  a letter from an employer or professor that vouches for you and lets the admissions committee know why you would be a great asset to their law school.

• Diversity Statement

So now you’re going to law school?

• Plaintiff (π) the person or entity that files the lawsuit

• Defendant (∆) the person or entity being sued

• Legal Symbols

• Tort - a civil wrong that causes a claimant to suffer loss or harm, resulting in legal liability for the person who commits a tortious act

• Civil Procedure a.k.a. Civ Pro - the rules and standards that courts follow when adjudicating civil lawsuits

• Legal Research & Writing a.k.a. LRW→ A class focused on building legal writing, and research skills. Also the use of the Bluebook to learn how to properly cite.

• Contracts - the area of law that governs making contracts, carrying them out and fashioning a fair remedy when there's a breach.

• Property - the area of law that governs the various forms of ownership and tenancy in real property.

• Criminal Law - the body of law that relates to crime. It proscribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people inclusive of one's self.

A little more that you should know about:

• 0L - a student that is planning on attending law school

• 1L - First year law student

• 2L - Second year law student  

• 3L - Third year law student 

• Cold Call - Being randomly called on in class to answer a question, using the socratic method.

• ABA - American Bar Association.

• Gunner - an overly-competitive law student who constantly volunteers in class, interrupts other students, or uses any method to flex on their knowledge.

• O.C.I. - On-campus interviews 

• L.L.I. - Licensed Legal Intern

• Case Briefs - a summary/analysis of a court opinion.

  • Facts - What is the court using in their analysis?

  • Issue - What is the court trying to decide? 

  • Holding/Reasoning - “we hold, the court held”

  • Rule -  Legal principle/black letter law which the court used for its decision in the case.

• Black’s Law Dictionary

• Casebooks - “textbooks” 

• Hornbooks - Books that serve as supplements to the casebooks.

• Some of the Ladies go to’s supplements →  Quimbee Barbri

  • Glannon Guides

    • Torts

    • Civ Pro

  • Examples & Explanations

    • Contracts

• Law School Memes for Edgy T-14s Facebook Group

We hope this helps and let us know if there is anything else you want us to clear up.

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