Law schools can be terrible about including their application instructions in the application form itself. Always — always! — check their websites, where they often bury important instructions on random sub-pages. You'll find them after lots of clicking around.
Here's an example. A law school might give these instructions for the personal statement in the application itself:
A personal statement is required. Please upload your personal statement.
Here's what it says on its website, on a page called Application Checklist:
A personal statement must be submitted with the application for admission. The personal statement is an open-ended essay written on any topic the applicant chooses. The statement should be two to three pages in length and well written. It is recommended that you have several individuals proofread and edit your statement prior to submission. Ideally, the personal statement will provide insight to the admission's committee about the applicant's personality and what they will bring to the University of Louisville. The personal statement is uploaded to your credential assembly service account.
And that's if you happen to spot the "Application Checklist" link on a sub-page, which you might get to from a tab called "Future Students.”
There are also some important instructions that show up only when you’re inside your LSAC account looking at the online application in your browser. For example, here’s an important note from Vanderbilt Law School about interview scheduling — they tell you you’re not allowed to schedule one if you have applied elsewhere Early Decision:
They obviously think it’s important because they say it twice and even bolded it. But… that language doesn’t show up on the application Preview that you can and should save for your records, and it also doesn’t show up on their website.
Those are only a couple of examples; there are lots more out there that could serve as illustrations. Hats off to schools that do a good job incorporating their instructions into their application forms and the application Preview. They are few and far between! In the meantime, as an applicant, the burden is on you to go hunting for instructions. And take screenshots as needed so that if you’re ever accused of a misrepresentation or omission in your application, you can prove what you were looking at when you filled out a particular section.