Most of my paid, post-undergraduate work experience was not in a traditional professional industry. However, between winter 2016 and spring 2017, I was fortunate to have the schedule flexibility and connections to obtain part-time internships at a legal non-profit and defenders service.
I also started volunteering as an arraignment court observer a few months before submitting my application.
Before and after my internships, I held several volunteer positions that demonstrated long-term interest in social justice activism and community organizing. Some of these volunteer positions evolved into leadership roles.
Public interest or bust!! Specifically, criminal defense with a radical bent. Prison reform, decriminalize all the things, etc.
In light of my undergraduate GPA, I completed a continuing education certificate program in 'Principles of Finance.' This helped me demonstrate my ability to make grades in the A- - A range. I also put off applying until I got a competitive LSAT score.
I had to write a character and fitness addendum because I was on 'Academic Warning' during my first semester of my junior year. This was due to my grades from second semester of sophomore year.
I avoided telling a "sob story" to explain the circumstances that led to those grades. Instead, I explained the actions I took after that semester to work on my organizational and study skills, and pointed out that I sustained improved grades for the rest of my undergraduate career. I also explained that I changed my major from a creative/arts focused program to a research and writing-focused program in the semester following the one that resulted in my academic warning status.
Hope this helps anyone who feels discouraged because they came to the decision to become a lawyer late, had a tough time in undergrad, or because financial circumstances didn't allow them to jump straight into a low-wage entry level job in the traditional workforce right out of college!