"Law Admissions: Behind Closed Doors": Thursday, November 4, 1:00-2:15 PM Eastern (10:00-11:15 AM Pacific)

During this session Michelle Heck and Jessica Fonseca-Nader will lead an interactive discussion about what law school admissions panels consider when they view applicant’s files. This session will provide attendees with the insight necessary to understand the factors that schools consider when reviewing applicants’ grades, LSAT scores, personal statements, and extracurriculars.

Michelle Heck
Associate Dean of Admissions, University of Richmond School of Law

Michelle Heck is the Associate Dean of admissions at the University of Richmond School of Law. Prior to joining Richmond Law in 2019, she spent 13 years as the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Missouri School of Law, where she worked in admission, financial aid, and student services. She earned her BS in marketing from Union University and her MA in educational leadership and policy analysis at the University of Missouri. During her time in law school admissions, she has served as Vice President and President of the Midwest Alliance for Law School Admissions (MALSA) and on the Planning Committees for the Midwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors (MAPLA) and MINK Law Day (a law fair sponsored by the law schools in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas). In her participation with the Law School Admission Council, she has served on the Annual Meeting and Educational Conference Planning Work Group, Services and Programs Committee, and Information Systems Division Advisory Group, as well as on many forum panels. She has served as well as chaired the New Admission Personnel and Faculty Members Workshop Planning Work Group.

https://law.richmond.edu/admissions/mheck/

Jessica Fonseca Nader
Assistant Dean for Enrollment and Scholarships, St. Thomas University School of Law

Jessica Fonseca-Nader is the Assistant Dean for Enrollment and Scholarships at St. Thomas University School of Law. Dean Fonseca-Nader, a graduate of St. Thomas Law, joined St. Thomas University School of Law as full-time Legal Writing faculty in 2006.

Before joining the St. Thomas Law faculty, Dean Fonseca-Nader served as career clerk to The Honorable David L. Levy and, later, to The Honorable Barbara Lagoa, at the Third District Court of Appeal. Dean Fonseca-Nader has extensive experience in civil litigation support and appellate practice. After graduating from law school, Dean Fonseca-Nader joined Bunnell, Woulfe, Kirschbaum, Keller, McIntyre as an associate, working directly under the firm’s Appellate Division partner. Later in her career, Dean Fonseca-Nader joined Black Srebnick Kornspan & Stumpf as Special Counsel.

Dean Fonseca-Nader has taught Legal Research and Writing, Advanced Legal Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Art of Lawyering. She currently teaches a Senior Seminar, Moral Dilemmas. As a student, Dean Fonseca-Nader was the Editor-In-Chief of the St. Thomas Law Review, served as a research assistant to two professors of law, was selected to the Appellate Litigation Clinic, and published an article: Florida’s Comprehensive Medical Malpractice Reform Act: Is it Time for a Change? 8 ST. THOMAS L. REV. 551 (1996).
Dean Fonseca-Nader has served on many LSAC and Pre-Law Association Committees and Panels.

https://www.stu.edu/law/faculty-staff/faculty/jessica-fonseca-nader/