A new podcast hosted by Natalie Blazer ’08, admissions dean at the University of Virginia School of Law, aims to answer law school applicants’ burning questions and give a taste of what life is like at one of the nation’s leading law schools.

Introducing “Admissible”

UVA Law student Sebastian Van Bastelaer ’24, who took the LSAT (twice) and the GRE, discusses taking standardized tests and his strategy for explaining his testing history, as well as the overall application process.

Episode 1: Standardized Testing — LSAT Strategy, Retakes and Addenda

Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 talks with first-year UVA Law student Tessa Morrison about visiting law schools from the view of a prospective student and the Admissions Office’s Kailey Boatright offers tips on enhancing your visiting experience.

Episode 2: Making the Most of Your Law School Visit

With the help of her UVA Law teammates — Associate Director of Admissions Emily Cockrell and Assistant Director of Admissions Sierra Shelton — Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 dispels some common myths about what really happens after an applicant hits “submit” on their law school application. The team also shares what they wish they saw more — and less — of from law school applicants.

Episode 3: Behind the Scenes in a Law School Admissions Office

Assistant Dean of Financial Aid Jennifer Hulvey lends her expertise on the momentous task of financing a legal education. From loans to scholarships to payment plans and counseling, learn how UVA Law’s personalized support helps its community to make smart financial decisions without undue stress.

Episode 4: Paying for Law School and Investing in Yourself

J.D./MBA candidate Peter Lee Hamilton ’24 shares his story of pursuing a dual degree at UVA Law and UVA’s Darden School of Business. From navigating the application processes to balancing coursework with job recruiting, this episode covers what applicants and students interested in a dual degree need to know.

Episode 5: In Pursuit of Dual Degrees

UVA Law Dean of Students Sarah Davies offers advice on how law students can prioritize their mental health while in school, and explains why the trait of resilience is critical for future lawyers to possess. In addition to detailing the various mental health and wellness resources available at UVA Law, Dean Davies recounts stories from her own journey to law school, legal practice, and higher education.

Episode 6: Mental Health and Resilience in Law School and Legal Practice

You’ve probably heard about the Innocence Project’s work on the news and in other podcasts like “Serial.” On this episode, 2L Casey Schmidt shares what it’s like to actually work in the Innocence Project Clinic, and what you can expect from UVA Law’s 24 clinics generally, including the benefits of hands-on legal work.

Episode 7: Clinics at UVA Law – The Innocence Project and More

Directors of Admissions Katie Delsandro ’12 and Rosanne Ibanez (Col ’08) join Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to break down the biggest takeaways at this halfway point of the 2022-23 law school admission cycle. They share what they’ve been excited about, what they’ve been noticing in admissions interviews, tips for communicating with admissions offices throughout the application process and more.

Episode 8: UVA Law Admissions Midcycle Debrief

Senior Director of Judicial Clerkships Ruth Payne ’02 offers insight into how UVA Law students and alumni continue to break records when it comes to securing judicial clerkships. Payne breaks down the application process, details the support and guidance provided by faculty and staff, and shares why keeping an open mind may be the key to landing one of these prestigious opportunities.

Season 2 Episode 1: Judicial Clerkships With Ruth Payne ‘02

Public service auction winner Jeremy Kass ’23 reflects on his path to UVA Law and his future career as a tax attorney. This episode also explores UVA’s Public Interest Law Association and the many resources the organization provides to law students committed to working in the public interest.

Season 2 Episode 2: Falling in Love … With Tax Law?!

First-year UVA Law student Mackenzie Kubik joins Dean Blazer for a candid discussion about 1L year — which fears are founded (and which are not!), what to look forward to and what steps you can take to set yourself up for success. Kubik also offers advice to applicants currently facing the home stretch of the 2022-23 admissions cycle.

Season 2 Episode 3: Checking In With a 1L

Second-year law student and Black Law Students Association President Keegan Hudson discusses building community, “mowing your own grass” and tuning out misinformation when it comes to applying to law school.

Season 2 Episode 5: Servant Leadership With BLSA President Keegan Hudson ’24

With deposit deadlines just around the corner, prospective law students have just a few weeks left to decide where they will matriculate this fall. UVA Law student ambassadors James Hornsby ’24 and Laura-Louise Rice ’25 join Dean Blazer for a candid discussion about the various factors that go into selecting which law school to attend. From rankings to financial considerations to employment outcomes and more, Hornsby and Rice offer advice for how to navigate this important life decision.

Season 2 Episode 6: How to Choose a Law School

Senior Assistant Dean for Career Development Kevin Donovan explains how UVA Law’s Office of Private Practice guides students through the law firm recruiting process, helps them discover which firms are a good fit for their goals and coaches them to become invaluable associates wherever they work.

Season 2 Episode 7: Preparing for Private Practice

As deposit deadlines come and go, admissions offices turn their attention to the prospect of waitlist activity. Directors of Admission Katie Delsandro and Rosanne Ibanez are back to discuss how waitlisted candidates can manage expectations and maximize outcomes during this period of uncertainty.

Waitlisted. Now What?

You’ve seen lawyers on TV and in movies, but what does it really mean to practice law? What is law school like and what does it take to succeed as a law student? Professor Joe Fore ’11 joins Dean Blazer to discuss lawyering, law school and what he has learned from teaching 1Ls at UVA Law. Whether you’re just starting to think about law school or already deep into the application process, this episode is for you.

Season 3 Episode 1: So You’re Thinking About Law School

Assistant Dean for Public Service Leah Gould joins Dean Blazer to discuss how the Public Service Center helps set students up for successful careers, and how the public service community at UVA Law supports students throughout law school.

Season 3 Episode 2: Public Interest Careers and Community at UVA Law

Second-year law student and Double Hoo Brian Cameron joins Dean Natalie Blazer to discuss how UVA Law students interact with the Charlottesville community. From civic engagement to pro bono work to nature hikes, breweries, live music and more, Cameron shares how students make the most of their three years in C’ville.

Season 3 Episode 3: What Law Students Do in Charlottesville

In this spooky, special episode of “Admissible,” Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 shares her key observations of the 2023-24 cycle so far. From personal statements that are a treat to read to letters of recommendation that give her a fright, Dean Blazer provides listeners with tricks for putting their best foot forward in the application process.

Tricks and Treats of the 2023-24 Cycle

Local business owner Mike Keenan ’08 shares how his UVA Law degree prepared him to practice law and launch his organic juice and smoothie company, The Juice Laundry. Having attended both law school and high school with Dean Natalie Blazer ’08, this episode is packed with tips for making the most of your time in law school, advice for charting your own career path and shared memories from their time at UVA Law.

Season 3 Episode 5: How a UVA Law Degree Set Mike Keenan ’08 Up for Success

In honor of Veterans Day, Captain Trey Ratliff ’24 sits down with Dean Natalie Blazer to discuss his unique path to law school and how the UVA Law community has supported him along the way.

Season 3 Episode 6: Thankful for Their Service

Directors of Admission Katie Delsandro and Rosanne Ibanez join Dean Natalie Blazer to break down the 2023-24 cycle so far. From essay missteps to interview tips, tune in to learn what the admissions committee is looking for in applicants this year.

Season 3 Episode 7: Director Debrief: Inside the 2023-24 Cycle

UVA President Jim Ryan ’92 and UVA Law Dean Risa Goluboff join Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 for this very special episode. Ryan and Goluboff discuss their favorite moments from their time at UVA Law, the joy they find in teaching, the importance of transparency in higher education, their ideal ways to spend a Saturday in Charlottesville and so much more.

Season 4 Episode 1: Getting To Know President Ryan ’92 and Dean Goluboff

Third-year law students Casey Crowley and Elizabeth Putfark join Dean Blazer ’08 to discuss the many ways law students take advantage of UVA’s location in scenic Charlottesville, Virginia. Putfark, who will join the Southern Environmental Law Center as an associate attorney this fall, shares how UVA Law’s environmental law clinic, curriculum, faculty, and student organizations nurtured her legal education and set her on the path to success.

Season 4 Episode 2: Enjoying (and Conserving) the Great Outdoors at UVA Law

UVA Law faculty members Crystal Shin ’10 and Jordan McKay ’10 met as first-year law students in 2007. A friendship formed in Property class eventually blossomed into romance, but an ACC basketball rivalry soon threatened to derail their relationship. Tune in to learn how they overcame a first date that felt more like a direct examination, months of long distance, and opposing careers in prosecution and defense.

Season 4 Episode 3: Law School Love Story

Public service auction winner Tommy Whiteley ’26 joins Dean Blazer to discuss how applicants can thrive in the admissions process, 1L classes, job search and more by accepting the unknown and moving forward despite not having perfect information.

Season 4 Episode 4: Embracing Uncertainty in Your Law School Journey

Every year, UVA Law receives thousands of applications for 300 spots in the incoming class. When it comes to the process of getting admitted, how much is a numbers game, and how much is within your control? Directors of Admission Katie Delsandro and Rosanne Ibanez join Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss what makes an application package inadmissible — and how to give yourself every opportunity to beat the odds.

Season 4 Episode 5: Inadmissible

In this special episode, Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 and her microphone venture outside the studio to give listeners a rare look inside UVA Law’s Admitted Students Open House. Through on-site interviews with admitted students, their guests, current law students, faculty and staff, this episode highlights the admissions cycle’s main event, which brings hundreds of people to Charlottesville each spring.

Season 4 Episode 6: Inside the Admitted Students Open House

Mike Spivey of The Spivey Consulting Group joins Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss the latest iteration of the U.S. News and World Report law school rankings.

Season 4 Episode 7: What To Make of the 2024 Law School Rankings

UVA Law Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 offers insights into the world of law school admissions and a behind-the-scenes look at life as a law student through interviews with students, faculty, alumni and staff.

Admissible

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