How to Get Into the Top Law Schools, 4th edition

I found the most valuable feature of the book to be the quotes from law school admission staff members at various schools. Virtually every topic includes input from admissions counselors and directors. And these aren't people from "Joe's J.D. Mill." They work at the top law schools in the nation. These are the people who make the decisions about who gets in to a top school and who doesn't. Their candid advice is invaluable.

As a whole, the book is well-written and informative. Some portions may be redundant to people who have already done a significant amount of research on law schools and the admission process. But it's all good information and it's useful to have it in one place.

While I don't recommend using this book as your sole source of advice, it's a fabulous starting point. If you're serious about going to law school, buy this book. It's well worth the price.


Excellent advice for those seeking to attend top law schools   November 23, 2002
 16 out of 17 found this review helpful

I discovered this book last summer when I first decided to put myself through the law school application process (again). What a find! I only wish I had had it the first time around. There are so many little nuggets of advice that are useful to those applying to top 20 law schools. The emphasis on the importance of the LSAT cannot be missed. There's also a great section on how to get the best letters of recommendation from profs (although the sample letter Montauk includes seems a little unrealistic--it's almost four pages long). Also, don't worry if your resume isn't as solid as some of the sample ones included--those people are NOT your typical law school applicants.

Montauk does a thorough job of going through every aspect of the law school admissions process, including the most important one: Is law school right for you? The first chapter is invaluable in evaluatng whether you're making the right choice for yourself, since law school is a costly commitment (time, effort and money-wise). There are also countless data tables that examine statistics for each law school and a great chapter on law school rankings.

Overall, I would say that this book is worth every penny for those applying to top law schools (for those who are looking outside of the top tier, I would be more hesitant to recommend it since the data he includes is restricted primarily to top 20 schools).


The Best Book on the Subject   October 12, 2005
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is the only book you will need to help you apply to law school. The author covers everything from personal statements to Loan repayment programs at top schools. The author focus on top twenty schools but the information should be helpful to anyone. The best part is hundreds of quotes on all subjects directly from the deans of admissions at top schools. It includes quotes from the deans at every school in the top 15 in the U.S. News and world report rankings and a number of other institutions including Boston College, George Washington, USC, UCLA, and Boston University. This is particularly helpful if you are targeting one of these top schools. There are executive summaries at the end of the chapters if you don't have time to read the entire book. This work will help anyone taking the application process seriously to maximize their chances of getting into the best school they can.


Fantastic!   January 2, 2002
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This book is absolutely indispensable for prospective law school students. It offers top-notch counsel on virtually every topic of importance to those considering a J.D. degree, including the pros and cons of pursuing a law degree to begin with. "How to Get Into the Top Law Schools" also provides an extremely thoughtful analysis of the available law school rankings and their limitations.

The bulk of the book, of course, is devoted to the application process itself, and it is clear that the author has devoted a significant amount of time speaking to the people who know the most about what really counts--the admissions directors themselves. I found their advice and the author's strategies and tips to be invaluable.


Great advice for getting into the top schools   November 29, 2001
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

I've read a number of books this fall about getting into law schools but find this one to be the most useful and comprehensive. It's apparent that Montauk has spent a lot of time speaking with the various admissions directors, and the advice he shares has really helped me tailor the approach I'm taking in applying to different schools. I also got a lot out of the chapters of interviewing and essay-writing. And I appreciated Montauk's thoughtful critique of the law school rankings. The book is an extremely helpful resource.