Admissible: A Look Inside Law School Admissions
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.
Episodes
S8 E6: AI and the Future of Legal Practice
Artificial intelligence expert and UVA Law professor Mike Livermore joins Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how AI is affecting legal academia and the future of legal practice. Far from replacing the need for lawyers in the future, Livermore argues that AI — when harnessed properly by humans — could in fact elevate the standing of attorneys and democratize access to legal services.
S8 E5: What Admissions Office Student Workers Want You to Know
They’ve seen it all and heard it all, and now they’re spilling the tea. Third-year law student workers join Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to share advice and insights based on hundreds of interactions with applicants and prospective students each cycle.
S8 E4: Inside the 2026 Admitted Students Open House
Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 ventured outside the studio and into a freak snowstorm to report heartwarming stories from behind the scenes of UVA Law’s 2026 Admitted Students Open House. Through on-site interviews with admitted students, their guests, current law students and alumni, this episode highlights the admissions cycle’s main event that brought hundreds of visitors to Charlottesville
S8 E3: How Community Builds Better Lawyers
Assistant Dean for Community Engagement Mark Jefferson joins Dean Blazer to discuss how UVA Law students are trained to become outstanding lawyers by learning to disagree with one another in a supportive environment.
S8 E2: Law School Love Story: Current Student Edition!
Amelia Isaacs ’26 and Kyle Trotman ’26 met as undergraduates at Florida State University and quickly bonded over their interests and aspirations for law school. The couple joins Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to share how they navigated the application process, 1L coursework, leadership positions, job searches and more, all while leaning on one another for support and encouragement.
S8 E1: Director Debrief – The 2026 Cycle So Far
UVA Law’s three directors of admission — Katie Delsandro ’12, Rosanne Ibanez and Jennifer Echemendia — discuss the 2026 application cycle and offer advice to candidates seeking to obtain admission to a top law school in an increasingly competitive process.
S7 E8: Season 7 Wrapped
Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 wraps up the year with insights about each episode of Season 7.
S7 E7: Navigating Today’s Legal Job Market
Assistant Dean for Private Practice Lauren Parker ’08 and Director of Private Practice Kira Walmer ’08 join classmate Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how UVA Law’s individualized approach to career counseling prepares students to navigate an increasingly fast-paced and unpredictable job market. Parker and Walmer offer practical tips for balancing the job search with first-year course
S7 E6: The Education Rights Institute at UVA Law
UVA Law Professor and Education Rights Institute Director Kimberly Jenkins Robinson discusses her passion for education rights and why she founded ERI, how law students are critical to the institute’s operation and the work the institute is doing to further the right to a high-quality education in America. Robinson also shares why she loves teaching at the Law School and why she believes UVA Law s
S7 E5: Happy OWL-oween!
Older, wiser law students (“owls”) Neil Noronha ’26 and Kathleen Samuelson ’26 join Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how they forged their paths as nontraditional applicants and found community at UVA Law.
S7 E4: Approaching the Bench
Judge Lisa Lorish ’08 joins her classmate, Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08, to discuss her path to the Virginia Court of Appeals following a successful career in private practice and as a federal public defender. Currently a lecturer at UVA Law, Judge Lorish offers advice to law school applicants, students and graduates, and shares what she loves most about serving on the bench.
S7 E3: A Roadmap to Law School
From college sophomores to first-year law students, Sarah Beddingfield ’28 and Morgan Gaspar ’28 join Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss their experience in UVA Law’s Roadmap Scholars Initiative.
S7 E2: Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at UVA Law
Professor and Double Hoo Xiao Wang, director of UVA Law’s Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, joins Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how the clinic gets selected to take on high-profile cases; why a people-first approach is critical to successful advocacy; and how his time at UVA helped prepare him for the grand stage of the Supreme Court. Following the clinic’s back-to-back 9-0 victorie
S7 E1: Law and Basketball
Virginia men’s basketball Associate Head Coach Griff Aldrich ’99 joins Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss his journey from UVA Law student to college basketball coach to corporate attorney and back again. Now in his first season coaching at UVA, Aldrich shares the “intangibles” he looks for that signal success on the court and in the classroom, his take on the transfer portal and the re
S6 E6: We Need Lawyers More Than Ever
Assistant Dean for Public Service Ryan Faulconer ’08 joins Dean Blazer to discuss how political instability creates an even bigger demand for great lawyers, and how UVA Law students in particular benefit from the customized counseling and support that his office provides. Reflecting upon his 15-year career as a federal prosecutor, which took off at the height of the Great Recession, Dean Faulconer
S6 E5: Inside the 2025 Admitted Students Open House
Back by popular demand, Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 and her microphone venture outside the studio to give listeners a look inside UVA Law’s Admitted Students Open House. Through on-site interviews with admitted students, their guests, current law students, alumni and staff, this episode highlights the admissions cycle’s main event that brought hundreds of visitors to Charlottesville this spring.
S6 E4: From Waitlist to 1L: How to Shine in a Super-Competitive Cycle
First-year law student Colleen Sullivan joins Dean Blazer ’08 to discuss how she navigated one of the most competitive and uncertain application cycles on record. From authentic communication to patience to staying true to her goals, tune in to hear Sullivan’s advice and how her journey brought her to UVA Law.
S6 E3: The Pro Bono Program at UVA Law
Kimberly Emery ’91, assistant dean for pro bono and public interest, joins admissions dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how the Pro Bono Program at UVA Law helps bridge the justice gap by providing free legal services to clients and communities in need and prepares law students for the significant responsibilities they will carry as attorneys. Through a variety of projects that span nearly all le
S6 E2: Let’s Talk Scholarships
Matt Wakeman, assistant dean for financial aid, education and planning at UVA Law, joins Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss the ways in which merit-based scholarships should – and should not – factor into an admitted student’s decision-making process when it comes to selecting a law school.
S6 E1: Externships at UVA Law
Mason Davenport ’25 joins Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how a UVA Law externship immerses you in legal practice and prepares you for a successful career, all while earning credits toward your J.D. Tune in to learn how the Externships Program works, where in the world our externs are working, what it was like for Mason to extern in the Office of the White House Counsel and so much more.
S5 E7: Director Debrief — The 2025 Cycle So Far
UVA Law’s newest admissions director, Jennifer Echemendia, joins Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 and fellow directors Katie Delsandro ’12 and Rosanne Ibanez to discuss the highs and lows of the 2025 application cycle so far.
S5 E6: You Asked, We Answered!
In advance of the Thanksgiving holiday – always a popular time of year to submit law school applications – Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 collected applicants’ questions via voice memo, email, social media and an in-person Q&A session to learn what’s on their minds. With the help of Admissions student worker Chelsea McKelvey ’26, Dean Blazer addresses concerns about application timing, LSAT sc
S5 E5: Supporting Wellness in Law School
Psychotherapists Dr. Kate Gibson and Karen Painter join Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how they support students at the Law School, offering insights on how individual counseling can help students overcome challenges to achieve success in school and in legal practice.
S5 E4: Dual Degrees and Study Abroad at UVA Law
Assistant Dean for Academic Services and Registrar Jason Dugas ’01 joins Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how UVA Law students can earn a second graduate degree along with their J.D., study abroad while in law school, enroll in elective courses and more.
S5 E3: What Makes for a Successful (Re)Application?
What differentiates a good application from an admissible one? Tyler Stapleton ’27 joins Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss his journey as a reapplicant to UVA Law, sharing how he approached his essays, resume and letters of recommendation the second time around — all while staying optimistic about the process.
S5 E2: Navigating Law School as a First-Generation Student
Lance Ledet ’26 and Bridget Mensah ’26 join Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to share how they navigated the law school application process — and their first year of law school — as first-generation students. Ledet and Mensah discuss the Virginia Law First-Generation Professionals student organization (which they help lead), resources they hope applicants will take advantage of in the admissions
S5 E1: How to Succeed in ‘Big Law’ With Megan Granger ’11
Antitrust attorney Megan Granger ’11 joins Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how she built a successful legal practice at a preeminent global law firm. Granger shares what she wishes she had done differently in law school, her advice to young associates hoping to rise through the ranks, and the secret to longevity in a legal career. (University of Virginia School of Law, Sept. 13, 2024
Admissible Season 5 Trailer
“Admissible” host Natalie Blazer ’08, admissions dean at UVA Law, is back with all-new guests sharing law school admissions advice for the upcoming cycle.
S2 E8: Waitlisted — Now What?
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.
S4 E7: What To Make of the 2024 Law School Rankings
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.
S4 E6: Inside the Admitted Students Open House
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.
S4 E5: Inadmissible
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
S4 E4: Embracing Uncertainty in Your Law School Journey
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.
S4 E3: Law School Love Story
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 prosecutio
S4 E2: Enjoying (and Conserving) the Great Outdoors at UVA Law
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 e
S4 E1: Getting To Know President Ryan ’92 and Dean Goluboff
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 3 Episode 7: Director Debrief: Inside the 2023-24 Cycle
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.
S3 E6: Thankful for Their Service
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.
S3 E5: How a UVA Law Degree Set Mike Keenan ’08 Up for Success
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 tim
Tricks and Treats of the 2023-24 Cycle
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.
S3 E3: What Law Students Do in Charlottesville
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.
S3 E2: Public Interest Careers and Community at UVA Law
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.
S3 E1: So You’re Thinking About Law School
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 epis
Admissible Season 3 Trailer
Learn more about what to expect in the coming law school admissions cycle through new episodes of “Admissible.” Host Natalie Blazer ’08, admissions dean at UVA Law School, gives a preview of the coming season.
S2 E7: Preparing for Private Practice
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.
S2 E6: How to Choose a Law School
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 outcom
S2 E5: Servant Leadership With BLSA President Keegan Hudson ’24
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.
S2 E4: The UVA Law Alumni Network
Selecting a law school to attend is ultimately making a decision to join a lifelong community. University of Virginia Law School Foundation Chief Development Officer Jason Trujillo ’01 shares what makes the UVA Law alumni network so special, and how students benefit from it both while in school and long after graduation.
S2 E3: Checking In With a 1L
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.
S2 E2: Falling in Love … With Tax Law?!
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.
S2 E1: Judicial Clerkships With Ruth Payne ‘02
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.
Admissible Season 2 Trailer
Listen to a preview of the second season of the Admissible podcast, hosted by UVA Law admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08. On tap for this season, learn about clerkships, the classroom experience at UVA Law, how to make your decision about which law school to attend, what to do if you are waitlisted, and more.
S1 E8: UVA Law Admissions Midcycle Debrief
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.
S1 E7: Clinics at UVA Law – The Innocence Project and More
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.
S1 E6: Mental Health and Resilience in Law School and Legal Practice
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 educ
S1 E5: In Pursuit of Dual Degrees
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.
Catch Up With “Admissible”
Host Natalie Blazer ’08, head of the UVA Law Admissions Office, recaps the season so far for listeners, from episodes on LSAT strategies to how to finance law school, and offers a glimpse into topics to come.
S1 E4: Paying for Law School and Investing in Yourself
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.
S1 E3: Behind the Scenes in a Law School Admissions Office
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.
S1 E2: Making the Most of Your Law School Visit
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.
S1 E1: Standardized Testing — LSAT Strategy, Retakes and Addenda
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.
Introducing “Admissible”
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.
Recommended
GROWING IN TRUTH
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke
Social Media for B2B Growth: LinkedIn Strategy for B2B Marketers
Somewhere in the Skies
Buddhability
Raíces - El Podcast de la Dra María Velasco
Artículos de Abre la Biblia
ANA DE LAS TEJAS VERDES - Libros
Supreme Court Decision Syllabus (SCOTUS Podcast)
the JustPod
Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast
