Law School Applications Journey

Hello! My name is Emma Farrell, and I am a senior at the University of South Carolina majoring in Criminal Justice and Criminology with a minor in English. I’m looking forward to graduating in May 2024 as a first-generation college student, with leadership distinction in Professional and Civic Engagement. I plan on attending law school starting in Fall 2024, but first, I need your help!

When I was eight years old, my parents separated. My mom, two brothers, and I moved down to Fort Mill, SC from New Jersey. Growing up, I faced financial adversity including but not limited to, qualifying for free/reduced lunches in school, moving eleven times from rental to rental, and constantly comparing myself to my friends’ financial situations. Unfortunately, I have continued to feel the affects of financial hardship throughout undergrad, accruing a large amount of student loan debt.

Although this is hard for me, it inspires me to work hard in school and achieve good grades to eventually obtain a financially comfortable salary of my own. It is imperative for me to provide my future family and myself with a financially stable home, stress-free from worrying about rent and grocery bills. As I’m aware money isn’t everything, I found my passion for law in high school as I competed in mock trial competitions all four years. This experience is what led me to major in Criminal Justice and Criminology and aspire to be a criminal defense attorney and family lawyer at a firm within the private sector.

I have found myself becoming more passionate with every passing year after choosing my path of criminal justice due to bearing witness and comprehending that our justice system is flawed and arguably ineffective with no true resemblance of justice being blind and balanced. Seeing examples of this imbalance time after time, my passion continues to grow to make an impact toward equal application of the law. Recognizing the issues within our system, paired with the financial adversity I’ve faced, is what drives me to work on the defense side of courtrooms, providing representation and support for individuals who otherwise might be coerced into a plea deal or given a ridiculously high bail.

 It’s always been important for me to succeed and achieve high goals, especially as a first-generation college student. During undergrad, I obtained multiple leadership positions: University 101 Peer Leader, Supplemental Instructor, President of Turning Point USA, mentor in the Adolescent Mentoring program, and Assistant Camp Director at Camp Gray Rock. By pursuing to be a graduate with leadership distinction in Professional and Civic Engagement, I have learned important skills and lessons throughout college that will help me continue to strive for success within my future legal career.

I am currently in the process of completing my law school application journey. One of my highest priorities when deciding upon a law school is the amount of scholarship and financial aid I am offered! Therefore, I would like to apply to numerous schools, ensuring I do not miss out on an amazing scholarship opportunity. This is a main reason I am fundraising, as I simply cannot afford to apply to these law schools without help, despite working two jobs during undergrad.

Law school application fees can range anywhere from $0-$85. Although I am not sure of the point or use of this fee, it is something I cannot change. The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) also requires you to apply for law schools through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) which costs $200, along with a $45 fee for every law school you send your application to. Again, I am unsure as to why these fees are necessary, but unfortunately, this is the way it works.

Currently, I am interested in applying to the following law schools, in no particular order:

University of South Carolina School of Law

Vanderbilt Law School

Seton Hall University School of Law

Penn State Dickinson Law

Drake University Law School

Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law

University of Cincinnati College of Law

Chicago-Kent College of Law

City University of New York School of Law

Brooklyn Law School

Belmont University College of Law

Albany Law School

University of Arkansas Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law

Northern Kentucky University Law School

When taking into consideration the $200 CAS purchase, the $45 CAS fee per school, an average application fee of $50 per school, and two trips to visit campuses (estimated around $600 each, including flight, hotel, food), that equals a grand total of $2,730, just for the application and decision process! Taking into consideration that some of the application fees for schools will be waived, my current fundraising goal is about $2,485.

Any donation, no matter how big or small, will be greatly appreciated. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page would be just as helpful! I want to thank you in advance for supporting my future legal career, a dream of mine that I have been committed to for years.