How do law schools determine who is a good candidate to their institutions?

Roxy: How do law schools determine who is a good candidate to their institutions?
ALSO, are there any affordable law schools?

Answers and Views:

Answer by crzywriter
Your grades in university, your scores on the LSAT, and your letters of recommendation, among other things

Answer by Kt
Law schools look at a number of factors, but LSAT score and undergraduate GPA are by far the most important. If you have a good enough combination of those two factors, you will probably have no trouble getting into a top school. For more on this, check out the first article I linked below (on how to go about calculating your chances at a particular law school using just your LSAT score and GPA).

“Soft” factors — basically, everything else in your application package — play a role as well, particularly if you are a borderline candidate at a school. Your two-page personal statement will give you a chance to prove to the admissions committee that you are capable of coherent writing; your letters of recommendation, supplemental essays, and extracurricular or work experience will give them a glimpse of who you are and what is important to you.

As for your next question, there are definitely “affordable” law schools out there. Again, though, it comes down to doing well on the LSAT and getting a high GPA. If this is the case, schools may offer you substantial scholarships. Also, if you happen to live in a state with a good law school (or can establish residency), you can qualify for the lower in-state tuition rate, which can save you a lot of money.