Can you take GRE instead of LSAT for law school?
Asked by: Chaim Keebler | Last update: August 1, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (13 votes)
At the end of 2022, more than 94 accredited law schools were accepting the GRE instead of the LSAT as part of the application for admission. That number may continue to grow should the American Bar Association (ABA) continue to change its testing requirements for law schools.
Do law schools accept GRE instead of LSAT?
Once the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar voted to allow law schools to accept applicants' scores from the GRE in lieu of the LSAT® in November of 2021, a larger number of law schools followed suit.
Is the GRE harder than the LSAT?
For most test-takers, an elite LSAT® score is much harder to achieve than an elite GRE score. However, certain characteristics – stronger verbal skills and weaker quant skills, for example – might make the GRE a tougher test for you personally.
Is it harder to get into law school with GRE?
Getting into law school with a GRE is not easier or harder. Admission teams assess applicants holistically. If you have a good reason for submitting a GRE score in place of an LSAT score, your chances are the same as everyone else in the applicant pool.
Can I go to law school without LSAT?
While many law schools still require potential students to take the LSAT and submit their scores, there is a growing trend away from this requirement. Today there are several highly respected law schools that no longer require this specific type of test, and more schools are following suit each year.
Former Harvard Law School Admission Officer on LSAT vs GRE
Why is the LSAT no longer required?
Certain law schools have made the LSAT optional because they believe it doesn't provide a complete picture of an applicant's potential for success in law school or the legal profession.
How to get the LSAT waived?
You can apply for a fee waiver up to a year before registration date of your desired LSAT Exam date. You'll have 45 days after you fill out your application to submit your federal tax forms, a Verification of Nonfiling Form (if you weren't required to file a federal tax return), and DACA documentation, if applicable.
Is 320 a good GRE score for law school?
For top 20 law schools, the median composite GRE score for accepted students runs from 332 to 319. So, a pair of 160's (for a composite score of 320) on the GRE wouldn't put you in a great position for Yale or Harvard, but would be decent for USC or Boston University, for example.
Does Harvard Law prefer LSAT or GRE?
Harvard Law School accepts either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). We do not have a preference for either exam. Similarly, a candidate is not considered more committed by taking both exams or disadvantaged by taking the same exam multiple times.
Do law schools see all your GRE scores?
For most law schools if you take both the LSAT and the GRE they will review both scores. Some schools will prioritize your highest test score, whether it is the GRE or LSAT.
How hard is it to get a 178 on the LSAT?
The LSAT is scored on a bell curve, ranging from 120 to 180. On recent tests, the hump of the curve has centered around 153. Percentiles vary slightly between tests, but generally around 25% of test-takers score 160 or higher, 5% score 170 or higher, and 1% score 175 or higher. Only one in 1,000 test-takers scores 180.
What is the most difficult part of LSAT?
Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games)
This may not seem like a lot, but with a 35-minute time limit, students will only have about eight and a half minutes to complete each individual “logic game.” These “logic games” are one of if not the most notorious sections of the LSAT because they are meant to trick the test-taker.
Does Duke law accept GRE?
All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Does LSAT or GPA matter more for law school?
Most law schools tend to give LSAT scores a bit more weight, but some schools care more about grades. The admissions process is inevitably subjective, and some admissions officers might be more forgiving of a gap than others.
What is a good GRE score?
Overall GRE Score
The score ranges from 260 to 340 in one-point increments. The overall score of 310 is considered a solid baseline for most graduate programs in the institutions. For highly competitive and top-tier programs, applicants may need to score higher up to 320 and above.
Can I get into law school with just a GRE?
With GRE scores, you can apply to your choice of 100 law schools, as well as countless graduate and business programs.
What did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?
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 lowest GPA to get into Harvard Law School?
A high GPA is 3.99 and the median is 3.92. There's no lowest GPA but you probably won't get into Harvard with a 2.5 GPA. Your GPA still needs to be somewhat competitive with the median GPA. That said, you can get into Harvard Law School even if your GPA is 3.82 or lower.
Do law schools prefer LSAT over GRE?
Why are so few students admitted to law school with a GRE score? In short, law schools still seem to prefer the LSAT®, for all sorts of reasons.
Is a 3.33 GPA good for law school?
A low GPA for law schools will entirely depend on your goals. If your GPA is at or below a school's 25th percentile, your GPA will be considered low for that school. So generally, if you're trying to get into the top schools, a GPA below 3.6 will be considered low.
Is 295 a bad GRE score?
A GRE score average of 290 to 300 can take you to a quality university in the USA, which would surely help you take off your career ladder.
How to get 7Sage for $1?
Students who receive a fee waiver from LSAC can access 7Sage Core+Live for just $1 per year. We also offer 30% off of all our tutoring packages to students with a fee waiver. It's simple to enroll—eligible students should email studentservice@7sage.com a copy of their fee waiver confirmation from LSAC.
Are law schools getting rid of LSAT?
In November 2022, the American Bar Association voted to eliminate the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) requirement for law schools, effective 2025.
How to get LSAT for free?
If you can't afford to pay for the LSAT or to apply to law school, you can apply for a fee waiver from the LSAC. Eligibility is based on your income and there are two tiers of support depending on your need.