Case Western Reserve University School of Law's application deadline is April 1, while the University of Minnesota Law School's is March 1. Harvard's is February 1. There is no pattern and, in a sense, deadlines don't matter much. No efficient admissions staff is going to wait for all the applications before starting to make its selections. The longer you wait to apply to any school, the worse your chances of getting into that school.

If you're reading this in December and hope to get into a law school for the upcoming fall but haven't done anything about it, you're in serious trouble. If it's December and you've got an LSAT score you are happy with, you're in less trouble. However, your applications will get to law schools after the optimum time and, let's face it, they may appear a bit rushed. The best way to think about applying is to start early in the year, methodically take care of one thing at a time, and finish by December.

Early Admissions
Some schools have "early admissions" options, so you may know by December if you've been accepted (for instance, Duke University's absolutely final early admission deadline is November 1). Early admission is a good idea for a few reasons. It can give you an indication of what your chances are at other schools. It can relieve the stress of waiting until April to see where you'll be spending the next three years of your life. Also, it's better to get waitlisted in December than April (or whenever you would be notified for regular admissions); if there is a "tie" among applicants on the waiting list, they'll probably admit whoever applied first. Of course, there could be some strings attached. Not every school's early admission option is the same (and many schools don't even have one).

Rolling Admissions
Many law schools evaluate applications and notify applicants of admission decisions continuously over the course of several months (ordinarily from late fall to midsummer). Obviously, if you apply to one of these schools, it is even more vital than usual that you apply as early as possible because there will be more places available at the beginning of the process.

Applying on Computer
Almost all law schools want their applications typed. While typing is not exactly rocket science, it is a hassle. Just when was the last time you even saw an old-fashioned typewriter? Applying online--when it's possible--makes the process even easier.