Do law schools care if you took a class pass fail?

Asked by: Myrtice McLaughlin  |  Last update: November 18, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (65 votes)

Avoid using the pass/fail option as it doesn't give enough information to evaluate your performance in that course. But don't worry that a single pass will hurt your overall GPA—for classes in which pass/fail is the only option, LSAC does not include the pass in its recalculation of your grade point average.

Does pass fail look bad for law school?

Comments Section Wondering how pass/fail grading in your undergraduate institution will affect your law school applications? Luckily, the answer is none! Schools understand that this is a unique time period, and you will not be penalized for P/F grades.

Is it OK to take a class pass fail?

Consider Taking a Class Pass/Fail If …

You're taking a class outside your major, particularly in one of your weaker subjects. You need the credits but don't want to affect your GPA. You're interested in the subject but scored poorly on your first graded assignment.

Can you get into law school with F's?

Hard to say what medians will do, how they'll be impacted by the new rank weightings, etc, but a single (or even two semesters worth of) F/D/W, won't ruin your shot by itself. Just keep focusing on your GPA and LSAT, and you can definitely do it.

What disqualifies you from law school?

Severe infractions may jeopardize your chances of admission to either law school or the bar, particularly those that reflect poorly on your personal integrity. Examples include fraud, abuse of authority, sexual misconduct, plagiarism or ethical violations.

The Non-LSAT/GPA Numbers that Law Schools Care About

31 related questions found

Can you still go to law school if you fail a class?

Although law school admissions committees look favorably on a high GPA, a less than stellar GPA will not necessarily keep you out of law school. Every school's application offers applicants an opportunity to explain any academic lapses.

Do law schools care about course difficulty?

In one word, NO. Law schools care about many things: your GPA, your LSAT, the story you tell, the obstacles you've overcome.

What is a bad GPA for law school?

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.

What is the lowest score to get into law school?

What Is The Lowest Acceptable Score? 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.

Do law schools care about grades?

Law schools look carefully at the transcript report they receive through the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service, because college grades have been statistically correlated with law school performance.

Does a pass fail look bad on transcript?

Furthermore, colleges typically emphasize your performance in the core subject areas when evaluating your transcript. If you have a strong overall academic record with good grades in your core courses, then one pass/fail course is unlikely to raise any red flags.

Does taking a class pass fail look bad for med school?

In short, pass-fail grades will not contribute to an applicant's overall GPA or biology, chemistry, physics and math (BCPM) GPA. Instead, these courses that denote simply a pass or fail will be listed as supplemental hours – unless the applicant's undergraduate institution provides an “alpha letter grade conversion.”

Does a pass fail class count as an A?

Pass/fail classes

In this case, a passing grade typically indicates that you've earned a C or above. Taking a course on a pass/fail basis may count toward your total graduation requirements, such as the minimum number of credits you need to earn, but your grade will not be used in calculating your overall GPA.

What percentage of law students fail out?

How race and ethnicity play a role in law school attrition. The 2023 law school attrition rate was 3.8 percent, varying across demographics and institutions. This article delves into the types of attrition, the schools with the highest rates, and the impact of these rates on student choices and institutional policies.

Is 3.97 GPA good for law school?

But at the 20 highest-ranked law schools, the average median GPA is much higher – 3.86. Nineteen of those 20 schools had a median GPA that was at least 3.8, and of those, seven had a median GPA that was 3.9 or above.

Is withdrawing from a class bad for law school?

Law school admission officers look beyond your GPA to carefully scrutinize your undergraduate transcripts. One or two withdrawals typically do not present much of an issue. However, a pattern of withdrawals will cause law schools to question your academic preparedness and ability to manage a demanding academic load.

Is a 142 a good LSAT score?

The LSAC also reports a mean LSAT score of 151.88 among all these test-takers. All these factors combined mean a score of 142 is both below average in terms of LSAT scores, and far below average in terms of performance for an LSAT test-taker.

What LSAT score did Elle Woods get?

When she applied to this school, she had a 4.0 GPA with a 179 on the LSAT, the two most important things when applying to law school. The average LSAT score for students applying to Harvard is 174, meaning she got above the average.

What is the easiest law school to get into in Canada?

University of New Brunswick – Faculty of Law: Located in Fredericton, UNB Law primarily offers the JD and the MBA/JD programs. With its high acceptance rate, lower LSAT and GPA requirements, but a smaller number of first year students, these make UNB Law one of the easiest law schools to get into in Canada.

Can a 2.7 GPA get into law school?

Can I Get Into Law School With a 2.7 GPA? Most law schools will not consider a 2.7 GPA to be competitive. However, all hope isn't lost if this is the GPA you have. 25% of Western Michigan's accepted students have GPAs of 2.64.

Do law firms care about grades?

Grades are important to many law firms when making hiring decisions. However, the weight that they carry in these decisions most often depends on the particular firm involved and whether you are (A) a junior attorney or law student, (B) a mid-level to senior associate, or (C) a partner.

What is the easiest law school to get into?

16 Easiest Law Schools to Get Into Based on Acceptance Rate
  • 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%

What is the hardest year in law school?

Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.

Is law school mostly memorization?

Misconception #1: Law school is all about memorization

Instead, it's about taking that information and applying it to new situations. The focus is on developing a deep understanding of the law and learning to think like a lawyer, rather than rote memorization.

Do law schools care about what classes you take?

Unlike medical school, which requires certain prerequisite courses, law school doesn't require that you major in anything specific or take certain classes before applying. Your LSAT score and your GPA are the key determining factors in law school admissions.