IU to host largest law fair in the country

The IU Health Professions and Prelaw Center is bringing the future to prospective law students at the Indiana Memorial Union today. \nIU's Law Day has become the largest university-sponsored law fair in the country, said Rachel Tolen, the center's assistant director.\nStudents will have the opportunity to meet representatives from the 107 law schools registered for the Law Fair portion of the event, the center's director, Mac Francis, said. There are 192 law schools in the country, so it speaks well for the University that so many schools are interested in meeting IU students, he said.\nMany law schools will be sending an admissions dean or assistant admissions dean, so students might have the opportunity to speak with the person who will decide whether or not they will be admitted, Francis said.\nLaw Day will begin with a panel discussion titled "What I Really Like in a Law Application." Deans of admissions from IU, DePaul University, Iowa and Saint Louis University will share their perspectives during the panel discussion.\n"We made an effort to pick experienced people who have been around for a long time," Francis said. "The panel provides very practical tips for being successful in the application process." \nFrancis said the panel will help dispel law school application myths because the representatives will talk realistically about what they like, what's annoying and common application mistakes.\nAfter the panel, students will be able to mingle and talk to law school representatives, as well as speak with representatives from the Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunities, whose mission is to help students from populations that are traditionally underrepresented in the legal field gain admission to an Indiana law school, Francis said. The organization provides up to $7,500 per year in tuition assistance to some students.\nSenior Liz Emanuel attended Law Day as a junior last year. She said the fair helped give her an idea of whether law school was something she wanted to pursue.\n"I was able to talk to schools and have them send me information, allowing me to get a better idea of what direction I may want to go and what type of law I might like to pursue," Emanuel said.\nEmanuel said she has decided she would like to go to law school and plans to attend Law Day for a second time this year. The fair will give students a better idea of what to include and exclude on her application, Emanuel said, and talking to the recruiters will give her a better understanding of the law schools that interest them. \n"Students do make a big first impression at law fairs in the way they approach the recruiter and the level of preparation in their questions," said Dani Weatherford, director of recruitment for the IU School of Law.\nStudents who take the time to engage the recruiter and are prepared enough to ask specific questions about the school and its programs could leave a positive impression, Weatherford said.\nEmanuel also said that based on her experience last year, she would advise other students to be prepared when they go to Law Day.\n"Bring paper and a pen because the panel answers a lot of really important questions and gives a lot of valuable advice," Emanuel said. "Get an idea about what kinds of questions you will have for recruiters; it tends to be crowded and knowing what you want to ask before you get there will help ensure you get the most out of the experience"