How To Write a Law School Letter Of Continued Interest

So, you spent weeks, months, maybe years studying for the LSAT. You meticulously crafted a personal statement that tells the world why you want to go to law school. You maybe even wrote optional essays and completed any requested law school interviews. Then, after all that hard work, you waited to hear back. Finally, an email from the law school of your dreams. You open it and read… wait even longer, you’re on the waitlist. What now? Is there anything you can do to get to the “front” of that line?

While there is no magical solution, it is crucial to demonstrate your legitimate interest in matriculating to that law school if given the opportunity to get off their waitlist. Doing so will help admissions officers know that, if you are offered a seat, there is a very good chance you will accept that offer. One way to show this is by writing a law school Letter of Continued Interest.

What Is the Law School Waitlist?

Law schools generally receive many more applications than they can admit. Moreover, not every student admitted to a given law school ends up going to that law school. As a result, law schools place students on their waitlist to ensure they can fill their seats while avoiding over-admitting students. Law schools also use the waitlist as an opportunity to see if later applicants appear to be a better fit and are more competitive. Typically, some students elect to remain on the waitlist. Others drop off for various reasons, such as committing to other law schools.

How Long Will I Have To Wait?

Stereotypical law school answer incoming…it depends.

On the one hand, law schools only admit about 5-10% of their waitlist. This means your odds of getting off the waitlist are slim to begin with. On the other hand, if a law school tells you that you are on their priority list, you might get an offer after the first round of admissions. However, there have been instances where people are admitted from the waitlist two weeks before the semester starts. How long you choose to wait is up to you. However, plan to sit tight for a while. Be patient.

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What Makes for a Compelling Letter of Continued Interest?

Law schools want to know that you are legitimately interested in attending their school. Accordingly, convincing admissions officers that you will matriculate if admitted should be the primary goal of the Letter of Continued Interest. For that reason, a good Letter of Continued Interest will typically have the following 4 components:

A statement—if true—that, if admitted, you plan to attend that law school.
Specific aspects about the law school that demonstrate your legitimate interest. This should go beyond merely writing that they have classes or clinics you hope to take. Show them that you have gone above and beyond in researching the law school. Explain why you are a great fit and how this particular law school will help further your academic and career goals.
Any relevant updates that might increase your odds of admissions: A new job or increased professional responsibility; an updated transcript or LSAT score; or additional volunteer work that relates to your professional interest.
An offer to provide any additional materials or to speak with anyone at the law school who might want to learn more about you.

When Is It Best To Send In a Letter of Continued Interest?

Typically, it is best to send a Letter of Continued Interest to law schools after the first deposit deadline. For most schools, the deadline is usually around April 1st, but can vary from school to school. After the first deposit deadline, law schools are more likely to pull from their waitlist to fill any remaining spots.

If, however, upon receiving your waitlist notice, the law school gives you the opportunity to write a letter demonstrating your interest, you should write the letter within a week or two after that school has reached out.

Should I Keep Writing More Letters / Calling?

After writing your Letter of Continued Interest, ask the school if it would be ok to follow up in a month. Ultimately, you want to really let law schools know you are interested in going, but don’t want to become a bother. Most schools will welcome a short follow-up every 4-6 weeks.

Sample Law School Letter of Continued Interest Outline

Paragraph 1: Why ____ Law School?

Your first paragraph should reiterate your interest in a particular aspect of the school. For example, if there is a particular clinic or legal interest center you’re interested in, you should mention that. Tell the admission committee what sets their institution apart and why that appeals to you.

Paragraph 2: Why are you a more attractive candidate than you were before?

You should sell yourself as an applicant in the second paragraph. This is where you can talk about any new jobs or other updates you’ve had since submitting your initial law school application.

Paragraph 3: Why not another school?

Your last paragraph, in addition to wrapping up and signaling your interest even more clearly, is an opportunity to name-drop another offer you’re considering. For example, let’s say you were admitted into X school, which is higher ranked than Y school. You might want to mention that offer to both state why you’re still seriously considering Y school and as a way of further demonstrating your value to this school.

This is by no means the only way to write a LOCI, but it is a succinct way to both demonstrate your interest and make yourself a more attractive applicant.

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