Hours spent poring over cases, chapters of endless legal jargon to muddle through, and hallways littered with eager students dressed in suits ready to take on any court. Is this picture appealing? Then law school may be for you.

So what does it actually take to get in to law school? Don't be intimidated about not having a traditional law background, says Kaila Mikkelsen, assistant dean to students at the University of British Columbia Law School student services. Most of our students come from a very diverse background, including music, fine arts and engineering. There is not a single category of student suited for law school, but there are many similar characteristics shared by students who apply. Students attracted to law school want to see both sides of an argument and are fascinated by how laws are made.

Students considering law should be clear about why they're interested, says Vivien Hoang, a second year law student at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School. Schools consider everything from the personal essay to grade point average and the L-SAT, she says of the standardized test law schools require candidates to take to complete the application process. You need to show you're interested and be honest about why you're applying.

Many law schools require a personal statement and they have a discretionary category. There is a quite a bit of discretion in the admissions committee as to whether they make an offer (of acceptance), adds David Townsend, interim dean of law at the University of New Brunswick. Do your homework and accept this as a serious challenge, says Townsend about the application process. We still see lots of students whose applications arrive on the last day of deadline and appear hurried. To have a competitive package of material start early, investigate the law school programs and especially their admissions policies. Admissions requirements can differ markedly from school to school, Townsend says. Extracurricular activities and grades are also considered, he notes. But the time and effort a candidate puts into her or his application is also key. Think about whether your references are worthy, and approach them early."

I didn't know what to expect going in, says Hoang, adding the reality of law school is very different from what's depicted in the movies. You see horror stories of sabotage and overzealous, competitive students, but it's not like that at all, she says. In fact it's the opposite.

Guidance is always available, says Hoang, who notes first-year students at Osgoode are placed with a mentor and sorted into study groups. However, she interjects: there is a lot of readingit can be a lot to take in. Students read the equivalent of a John Grisham novel nightly, while juggling case studies and mandatory extracurricular activities.

And there is a big emphasis on participating in social events. You want to maintain a good balance between your personal life and the classroom, Hoang notes of additional public interest courses and volunteering hours Osgoode requires for students to graduate.

The workload is heavier than an undergraduate degree, but not unmanageable, says Mikkelsen. Students become immersed in the experience and are in class almost daily, but there are many opportunities to participate in social activities. Of course, there are also times of stress. It can be very difficult and stressful and you need something to sustain you, notes Townsend. I had to adjust to the amount of work and the difficulty now, as a teacher, I try to get my students to think and bring some levity into my teaching.

From the admissions process through your final year, law school can be an exciting challenge. Deciding to attend is not an easy decision to make, but the opportunity to succeed is there, says Mikkelsen: No matter what your background you have the opportunity for success in law school.

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