Can you get into a top law school with a low LSAT?
Asked by: Ofelia Wuckert | Last update: October 30, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (65 votes)
You can still get into law school if your LSAT score is lower than your target. The key is to make yourself a competitive candidate otherwise through a stellar personal statement, impressive resume, and strong letters of recommendation.
What is the lowest LSAT score a law school will accept?
The below table shows the schools that accept the lowest LSAT scores. This shows that the lowest acceptable LSAT score is 139. Typically, a good rule of thumb is that you want to at least break 140 to make taking on the cost of law school economically feasible. You can get into a law school with a 140 LSAT score.
Is 147 a bad LSAT score?
Typical LSAT score ranges include: 120-147 Low. 148-156 Mid. 157-164 High.
Is it okay to go to a low ranked law school?
Unless they have personal connections or career experience, graduates of lower-ranked schools face steep odds on the job market. Graduates of top-ranked law schools have a leg up on securing legal internships, clerkships, and job interviews—even with mediocre grades.
What LSAT score do you need to get into top law schools?
Applicants to these schools commonly have LSAT scores in the mid-160s or even higher. For example, the best law schools in the United States, Yale and Stanford, both have scores in the 170s—174 and 173, respectively. Mid-tier law schools have average scores ranging from 155 to 165.
Former Harvard Law School Admission Officer on Low LSAT + GPA
Is 153 a bad LSAT score?
The average LSAT score is about 153.
Do law schools look at all LSAT scores or just the highest?
"The LSAC report for an applicant who has sat for the LSAT more than once will show every score or cancellation, as well as the average score. The ABA requires law schools to report score information based on an admitted student's highest score, and therefore, that is the score to which we give the most weight.
What are the Tier 3 law schools?
- UT Austin School of Law.
- Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.
- Northeastern University School of Law.
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
- Washington and Lee University School of Law.
- University of Florida Levin College of Law.
Do law firms care where you went to law school?
Your Previous (On-the-Job) Training
Certain firms have the reputation for training people very well—and everyone knows that they have high expectations for the people there. If you get a good job right out of school or thereafter (with a major law firm), firms no longer really care about where you went to law school.
Does going to a top 14 law school matter?
Graduates of T14 law schools have excellent employment prospects, often securing positions at top law firms, corporations, and government agencies. The strong job placement rates at T14 schools are a significant factor in their rankings and reputation.
Should I cancel my 148 LSAT score?
Remember, just because you feel you did poorly on the test does not necessarily mean you did. Some people may come out of the test feeling nervous or unhappy with how they did but end up scoring very well. You should only seriously consider canceling an LSAT score if you feel like you completely flunked the exam.
What is a failing LSAT score?
Understanding Your LSAT Scores. The LSAT scores range from 120-180, with 120 being the lowest possible score. If you are wondering what a good LSAT Score is, there is no failing or passing score on the LSAT.
How bad is a 145 on the LSAT?
A 144-145 is generally considered to be the lowest acceptable score to attend law school. The median LSAT score is around 151-152, so 144-145 is significantly lower than this. As such, the majority of law schools will not accept scores below this.
What was Elle Woods' LSAT score?
Elle Woods, a fictional character portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the movie Legally Blonde, is known for her remarkable LSAT score—179 out of 180. Portrayed as a stereotypical "valley girl," she embarks on a journey to Harvard Law School in the movie that has since become a cult favorite.
What is the easiest law school to go to?
- Creighton University Law School – 79%
- University of Wyoming Law School – 78%
- Marquette University Law School – 77%
- Loyola New Orleans Law School – 76%
- Drake University Law School – 75%
- Oklahoma City University School of Law – 72%
Is law school hard or just a lot of work?
Being prepared to work hard – Law school classes are part of a demanding program, and you need to be prepared to be a good student and put in the time and effort to succeed. That work includes doing all of the assigned reading, avoiding low grades, and preparing well for final exams.
What school do most lawyers go to?
- Yale University. ...
- Stanford University. ...
- Harvard University. ...
- Columbia University. ...
- University of Chicago. ...
- New York University. ...
- University of Pennsylvania. ...
- University of Virginia.
Where is it hardest to become a lawyer?
1. California
Law students across the US may be familiar with the famed “impossible” California bar exam. But why is the California bar exam so hard? For starters, the cut score (the score needed to pass the test) of the California bar is 1390 out of 2000, which is 40 points above the national average.
What is a soft tier law school?
LSAT score and GPA are "hard" data. Softs refer to everything in your application that isn't "hard" data. Softs are inherently unquantifiable. That's why they're called softs. The tiers below are very rough guidelines for putting a number on something that really can't be quantified.
Is it worth going to a lower tier law school?
Graduates of lower-ranked law schools are hardly doomed to scratch out a living. Earning a law degree from any reputable program is an impressive achievement. Read the bios for any major law firm and you will see many successful lawyers who attended low-ranked schools.
Which law school is most prestigious?
Yale Law School is widely regarded as the most prestigious law school in the U.S. thanks to its strong reputation, rich history, distinguished faculty, and influential alumni, even though it's currently the second-ranked law school.
Does a bad LSAT score hurt you?
Meaning, a lower score on a LSAT retake should not hurt you. Now admissions officers are still humans, and there is most certainly some psychological negative impact of having multiple lower LSAT scores and then a high LSAT score when compared to someone who just scored high the first time.
Do law schools know how many times you took the LSAT?
Applicants may take the LSAT up to seven times overall, five times within the current and five past testing years, and three times in a single testing year from July to June. Remember that law schools will see the score of every uncanceled test you take.
Should I retake the LSAT if I got a 160?
If you're somewhere within the 25th to 75th percentile, then a retake may not even be necessary—especially when you consider the time and money it'll cost you. If you're one of the lucky few that scored a 170 or higher on the first try, then there's really no point in retaking it at all.