There is an old quote, commonly attributed to Albert Einstein, which says "You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else." While the actual utterance of the phrase by Einstein is disputed, the truth behind the mantra is not. In any competitive atmosphere, you must first understand the rules of play before you can successfully compete and ultimately win.

In basketball, for instance, a player cannot walk or run with the ball more than 1.5 steps or that is considered a "travel." When a player dribbles the ball, picks up the ball with both hands and resumes her dribble, that is considered a "double dribble." Both of these violations turn the ball over to the opposing team. In basketball, if you fail to understand the rules of the game, you will severely handicap yourself. Similarly, many underrepresented students do not understand the rules of the game with respect to entry into legal education. 

As reported by the Washington Post, the legal profession continues to be the least diverse profession of all. One reason is that many historically underrepresented students do not know the "rules" of law school admissions. In 2017-2018, 51% of black students and 37% of Hispanic students who applied to law school were not admitted anywhere. Thousands of underrepresented students are applying to law school each year, but many are shut out of the legal industry pipeline during the law school application process. If our desire is to increase diversity both in legal education and the profession, we must create meaningful transparency about our processes and expectations.

Strategies for Students

While many different tips and tricks exist in the game of law school admissions, it is vital for a law school applicant to understand the rules, four of which are described below, in order to be a competitive and successful candidate for J.D. program matriculation.

1) Apply early. As the old saying goes, "If you're not early, you're late." This is especially true for law school applications. Although application deadlines typically aren't until January or later, applicants seriously hinder themselves by applying close to the deadline. By applying earlier in the cycle, students increase both their chances of admission and of receiving scholarship funding. 

2) Prepare. As my favorite quarterback says, "The separation is in the preparation." Spend ample time preparing for the LSAT by either taking a course or through self-study. According to the Law School Survey of Student Engagement, merit scholarship funding has a strong positive correlation with high undergraduate GPAs and LSAT scores. Upperclassmen and those who have already completed their undergraduate studies will find it easier to improve their LSAT score than to significantly impact their college GPA. Thus, it behooves students to properly prepare for the LSAT in order to give themselves the best possible opportunity to be considered for merit scholarship funding.

3) Diversify your applications. It is important to apply to a combination of "safety," "target" and "reach" schools. Far too often, underrepresented students are intimidated by law schools' median GPAs and LSAT scores and thus fail to apply to higher-ranked institutions. Alternatively, other students only apply to "reach schools" and are ultimately disappointed. A diversified list of schools is necessary for a successful application cycle.

4) Learn the merit scholarship process for the schools to which you are applying. Some law schools will negotiate scholarship offers while others will not. Some institutions automatically consider students for merit scholarship funding while others require a separate application. Knowing the process of the institution you are applying to will help you achieve better outcomes in terms of financial aid. 

These processes are varied, and at times difficult to navigate, particularly for students who may be first-generation college or law students. However, understanding these four rules, among others, can have a substantial impact on a student's chances of gaining entry to law school. 

Schools Should Be Transparent

Transparency regarding the rules of the game is a necessity when working toward the goal of increasing diversity in the legal profession. Countless law school administrators yearn for greater diversity in legal education. However, many remain unclear as to how to increase diversity in their respective educational institutions. While this endeavor requires a multidimensional approach, one aspect of it requires a willingness to acknowledge the responsibility that we each have in making that happen. 

For those of us who are committed to increasing diversity in legal education, we can't be afraid to look inward and ask ourselves, "What, if anything, can we do differently to help more underrepresented students matriculate to law school and the profession?" Law school administrators must be committed to transparency in their processes and procedures. For example, law schools should make it publicly known what date an applicant needs to apply by in order to be considered for merit scholarships.

Though there are many areas of improvement regarding law school admission, gatekeepers to legal education have the unique opportunity and responsibility to create clarity about the processes, culture and expectations to effectively eliminate barriers that restrict access to the legal industry for so many aspiring students. 

By implementing initiatives that prioritize transparency, law schools can help make the rules of the game accessible to all and create a more inclusive legal profession that reflects the racial diversity of our nation. 

Rachel Patterson serves as the director of programs for diversity with AccessLex Institute in Washington, DC.