Delia McDevitt: Harvard Law '26
Delia McDevitt is a rising 2L at Harvard Law School. She graduated with a degree in Legal and Political Philosophy and minors in Political Science and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies from The University of Tennessee. Delia spent this past summer as a legal intern at Democracy Forward. At Harvard Law, she is part of The Alliance for Reproductive Justice, Women's Law Association, and several other organizations. Next summer Delia will be working as a summer associate at Selendy Gay PLLC in New York.
Why did you choose to study philosophy and are there any aspects of law school that this degree prepared you for?
I chose to study philosophy in large part because I had the opportunity to sit in on a philosophy class prior to my freshman year and really enjoyed it. I started out as a Political Science major but I found that I really enjoyed philosophy, so I switched majors and kept Political Science as a minor. My school also had a legal and political philosophy concentration which was great because I was able to focus on the law and social philosophy in a way that I thought was unique. Another reason that made me decide to study Philosophy instead of Political Science was because I was able to talk to other people who had gone to Law School and pick their brains about what law schools are looking for, the importance of your undergraduate major, etc. The general consensus was that law schools wouldn't prioritize political science over philosophy or any other major, so I made the switch. Law schools want you to do something that you enjoy and are passionate about. My philosophy major also prepared me for law school, as it was reading and writing-intensive and requires a lot of critical thinking.
My philosophy major helped me feel very prepared for the reading comprehension on the LSAT, as well as studying in law school. As an undergrad, my homework everyday was reading complex pieces, which helped me develop a skill set that makes it easier in law school to break down the lengthy texts that we are assigned.
What was your study plan for the LSAT and what were the kind of resources that you used?
My study plan changed a lot as I progressed in my LSAT studying. I started out with books because I honestly didn't know what to do. I didn't really like them and later realized there are tons of great online platforms out there to study for the LSAT and I found those more helpful. For some people books might be a better resource but I found that the online programs gamified studying and I think that made it more interesting for me and helped me study more. I tried a few different test prep services before eventually landing on LSAT Demon. I did most of my studying with LSAT Demon, and still work with them! They believe in the one hour LSAT plan, which says that if you maximize your time and use it efficiently, you can spend only an hour a day and still achieve the score you want. This was an appealing idea to me because I was studying while in school and through my summer break while I was working, so I really needed to fit in studying in a way that was flexible with my schedule.
I tried to keep my studying as regimented as possible, and even though I had other obligations I really tried to spend at least an hour a day studying, or breaking it into doing more some days so that I could do less on others and my time would still even out. The first time I took the LSAT I got a 171 and I was very, very happy with that but I wanted to take it again because according to a scholarship estimator I used, my scholarships would increase significantly if I got my score up just a few more points. The potential to receive scholarships and financial aid was a big priority for me in my preparation for the LSAT and decision to attend law school.
What is one piece of advice you would give to students trying to write their personal statements and just how was your experience with that process?
I really struggled to come up with a topic for my personal statement. I felt I hadn't done anything interesting or exciting enough to turn into a compelling personal statement. I think this is a common problem for applicants. g. However, don't let yourself believe that you don't have something interesting to speak about. Everyone has something that they have done that represents them as a person or that exemplifies a time they showed potential to be a great law student and lawyer. it just takes work to find out what these experiences were. I personally found it helpful to work with a personal statement editor. n My editor helped me brainstorm potential topics based on my life experiences that ended up being incredibly helpful. This worked for me, but it might not work for everyone. Some people are better at just jumping in and starting the writing process but I had a big initial roadblock and really needed another opinion. I loved working with an editor, n but I think applicants can also just talk to a friend or someone in your family that will help you think of things that you've done. Even just doing voice-to-text and getting some words on the page so that you at least have a starting point can be valuable.
What factors did you consider when applying to law schools?
I prioritized applying to T14 schools as well as schools outside the T14 that had great reputations for diversity of opportunity, both during law school and post-graduation.
This was important to me because while some people come into law school knowing exactly what they want to do and exactly the job and the place that they want to work for after law school, and that's great, but that was not me. I wanted to go somewhere that would provide me with lots of different opportunities, where I saw people going into big law, where I saw people going into the public interest/nonprofit sector, and where I saw people going all over the country and all over the world even.
Some people come into law school knowing exactly what they want to do and exactly the job and the place that they want to work for after law school, and that's great, but that was not me. I wanted to go somewhere that would provide me with lots of different opportunities
I also really prioritized financial considerations. I think it's a huge priority for lots of people, but doesn't necessarily get talked about a lot. I wanted to go somewhere that I would not leave strapped with debt that I was unable to repay. Thankfully, I was able to find that at HLS but it's hard so make sure to look out for opportunities to fund your law school experience if finances are a concern for you, through internal or external scholarships, financial aid, etc.
Lastly, I was looking for a school that encouraged students to pursue various kinds of hands-on clinical opportunities. This is something that was super exciting to me, and as a first-generation law student I wanted to get as much hands-on experience as I could. Lots of schools have great clinics, but Harvard has over 30 which really stood out to me.
While these schools are actively making changes to foster diversity and equity amongst students, several Ivy League/T14 schools are perceived as only having wealthy students who have had generations of their families attend university/grad school. As a first generation law student, did you feel isolated in the law school admissions process, and have you experienced imposter syndrome as a student?
First, having a really good LSAT score and GPA are really the most important things you can do to help ensure a successful law school admissions process.I know everyone says this, but these factors really are the most important ways you can distinguish yourself as a law school candidate.
As long as you're willing to seek help and consult resources, there will be ways for you to overcome your struggles.
I don't have any lawyers in my family, I'm from rural Tennessee and went to my state school, and I was not super wealthy growing up, but I was able to get a really awesome LSAT score that I'm proud of, and I had a good undergrad GPA. I don't want to make it seem like this is all these schools care about, life and work experiences are also very important, but I cannot overstate the importance of a good GPA and a good LSAT score. I think I was also able to communicate my story in my personal statement, and I think law schools do genuinely want you to let your true self shine through your application materials.
In terms of being a first generation law student, my school has been so great with offering resources to help accommodate any struggles or challenges first-gen students face.
As long as you're willing to seek help and consult resources, there will be ways for you to overcome your struggles. At Harvard there's an organization called First Class for first-gen students. It's a great organization and everyone tries to help one another succeed, both inside and outside the classroom.That's made a huge difference for me. It's definitely not been super easy being a first-gen law student, because I feel like sometimes I'm struggling to figure things out on my own, but it has not been impossible and there are always people and programming there to help you out if you need.
I experienced imposter syndrome a little at first, but I think everyone does, even people who aren't first-gen. Once you start to believe you were admitted for a reason, and everyone was, it gets easier.
At the University of Tennessee, you were part of Chi Omega. What are the benefits of being in a sorority as an undergrad interested in law school, and did this organization help you in law school/the law school application process?
Being in a sorority was such a valuable experience for me. It helped me develop my social skills, especially since I'm more of an introvert, which made me more comfortable in interviews with law schools and then employers in my first year. The friendships I formed in my sorority have kept me grounded during law school. I still reach out to those friends when things get tough.
How was your interviewing experience in your law school applications?
Interviews are a big part of the application process. My best advice is to be yourself and be able to clearly articulate why you want to be a lawyer now.
The first year is a huge learning curve, and maintaining mental health is key to success.
It's more about showcasing your personality and experiences rather than just trying to show what you know about the school. However, it's also critical to be able to explain your interest in the particular school you're interviewing for and not just your interest in law school in general. The number of interviews and format varies by school and it's important to be prepared for each format.
If you could change anything during your first year of law school, what would it be?
I'd probably prioritize self-care and my life outside of law school more. The first year is a huge learning curve, and maintaining mental health is key to success. The volume of reading and the type of work were vastly different from undergrad, and the initial adjustment can be really difficult. I wish I had leaned on my people more and told myself it was okay to put down the textbooks every now and again.
What is one piece of advice you would give to undergrads or high schoolers interested in going to law school?
Take as many opportunities as possible to take classes related to the law and/or do internships or law-related work. Anything that can help you get some first-hand experience with the law to help you make sure it's a field you want to go into is really important. For example, I worked at a local law firm as an assistant after my first year of college to see what day-to-day life was like for an attorney.
You also don't have to go to law school right out of undergrad. In fact, I am in the minority at HLS as someone that went straight through from undergrad to law school. Most people take time off to work or travel or live their lives. I think there's this false narrative that I heard that you have to go straight through from undergrad, but that's totally not true and not the typical or practical path for most students. Do what you enjoy. Find something that you're passionate about. Keep your GPA up and get hands-on experience, but remember to also enjoy college. I didn't even start thinking about law school and the LSAT until my junior year of college. Finding out what you're passionate about is important not only for yourself, but also for your success in the law school admissions process and beyond into your legal career.