Do law schools accept late applications?

Asked by: Prof. Nicolas Heidenreich  |  Last update: August 6, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (36 votes)

As early as winter, around early-December, your admissions odds begin to decrease. Applying to law school in December, January, or February may not be a death sentence, but such late applications can leave you with outcomes that are less than ideal. You may consider whether it would be worth waiting for the next cycle.

Do law schools accept applications after deadline?

Schools will choose students until all the spots for the new class are taken. Law schools with rolling admission often start taking applications around September 1 and keep going into early in the spring term. Some schools have deadlines as early as January, and some go as late as the middle of the summer.

Does applying late hurt your chances law school?

If you apply late in the cycle, admissions officers have likely filled the bulk of their law school class by the time they review your application. At this point, they are evaluating you against the applicants still under consideration or on their waitlist. This can be a difficult position.

What month is too late to apply to law school?

With application rates back up, the ideal law school admissions timeline has you submitting your applications by the end of December. With that said, some law schools do accept applications through February. If you've only just decided to apply, there is a chance you'll get in.

Is December too late to submit law school applications?

Most law schools don't open their applications until the fall. Usually, applications open between early August and early September, with some opening in October. The majority of students aim to submit their applications between late August and late December.

Great News For Anyone Applying To Law School This Cycle

29 related questions found

Is it OK to apply to law school in November?

An increasing number of law schools are offering early decision options, with deadlines as early as Nov. 1. Even for regular applications, submitting early will raise your odds due to the rolling admissions cycle.

Is it OK to apply to law school in January?

Any application submitted between the beginning of December and the end of January is generally considered “on time.” For some schools, especially schools with a lower median GPA or LSAT scores, applying in February is also considered on time. Applying after February is definitively late in the application cycle.

Is the January LSAT too late to apply?

For most nationally ranked law schools, the January LSAT date will be the latest date accepted in order to apply to start law school in the fall. If your application shows a pending LSAT date, law schools will put your application on hold until the score comes in.

Is 22 too late to start law school?

“Both groups can be extremely successful if they are in law school for the right reasons and at the right time for themselves.” According to the Law School Admissions Counsel (LSAC), about half of all law school applicants from 2011 to 2015 were between 22 and 24 years old.

Is 23 too late to start law school?

To answer the question “how old is too old for law school?” the simple answer is there is no age that is too old for law school. While attending law school later is not as common as attending law school in your 20s, it's still possible!

Is it too late to apply to law school for fall 2023?

While the final deadline is May 31, 2023, the Law School will probably reach its capacity before that date. Once capacity is reached, the committee will continue to evaluate applications through the published deadline; however, the chances of gaining admission or a scholarship offer are greatly diminished.

Do law schools prefer gap years?

In many cases, taking time between college and law school can give you time to strengthen your applications, which is in both your best interest and the law school's best interest. Law schools also prefer for applicants to take sufficient time to confirm that law school is the right career choice for them.

How common is it to drop out of law school?

The first-year law school attrition rate nationwide is nearly 7%. 10 Enrolling in law school but failing to finish offers no greater marketability than a bachelor's degree. It does, however, substantially add to a person's debt load.

Is applying to law school in October too late?

Most law schools start to accept applications by early October and evaluate them on a rolling basis. There are more open spots at the beginning of the season, so early applicants have an advantage. That said, you shouldn't rush. Take an extra week or month to develop the best possible application.

How late can you take LSAT to apply?

Typically, students applying for regular fall admission take the test during June or September/October of the previous calendar year. You can take the test in December or February, but many schools will have filled some of their seats by the time your scores hit the admissions office.

Is April too late to apply for law school?

Application dates vary depending on the school, but most law school deadlines for regular decision fall between February and March. Some schools may accept applications into the summer.

What is the average age of 1st year law students?

The average age of first-year law school students is about 24, but maybe you've spent years in another profession, and now you're thinking, "What if I went back to school and got my law degree?" Going to law school can be a formidable challenge for older students.

What is the oldest age to start law school?

It's never too late in life to apply to law school. Although most applicants are under 25, roughly 20% are 30 or older, according to the Law School Admission Council. Many older law school graduates build fulfilling second careers that draw upon preexisting skills and experiences.

Is 40 too late to go to law school?

You absolutely can go to law school and be very successful if you're over 40. It's never too late!

What is the easiest month for LSAT?

Since the difficulty of the LSAT is carefully calibrated and curved, no test date is easier than another. Popular times like June and September may fill up early, but that is merely a reflection of the academic calendar since many test-takers are in school and have the most time to focus on the test during the summer.

What months are the hardest for the LSAT?

Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

Which month is best for LSAT?

If you are still in college and plan to go to law school right after graduation, you should take the LSAT in the summer after your junior year or the fall of your senior year. For the balance of 2023, the test will be offered in June, August, September, October, and November—the full list of dates for 2023-24 is here.

How likely is law school admission in Canada?

2. What are my chances of getting into law school in Canada? The average acceptance rate for law schools in Canada is around 11.4%, which means getting into law school in Canada is extremely competitive, even at the less competitive schools.

What year is best to apply to law school?

In an ideal world, you would start your law school admissions process about two years before you intend to enroll, giving yourself ample time to research and apply to schools. So if you wanted to enter law school the fall after you graduate from college, you'd start planning around the fall of your junior year.

Is it worth applying to law school in February?

For some of you, you can apply in February and be okay. For some of you, applying in February is not setting you up for a very successful cycle and you should consider waiting until the next cycle.