Do law schools prefer the LSAT?

Asked by: Dr. Neha King II  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.3/5 (11 votes)

"Some law schools will accept tests other than the LSAT for admission; however, students who want to maximize their chances for admission and to be best prepared for law school are advised to take the LSAT."

Do law schools care when you take the LSAT?

Since your highest LSAT score is the one by which U.S. News will judge the law school you attend, it's in law schools' interest to consider your highest LSAT score. So that's generally what they do.

Do law schools Take your best LSAT score?

To keep their rankings high, law schools generally averaged each applicant's LSAT scores in their admissions decisions. ... Effectively, however, law schools take your highest score no matter how many times you take the test.

How much do law schools care about LSAT?

Just how important the LSAT relative to other elements of your overall application package varies a little from school to school. However, generally, your LSAT score alone is thought to be anywhere from twice as important as your GPA to four to five times as important!

How important is the LSAT for law school?

The LSAT is probably unlike any other test you've taken in your academic career. ... Admissions officers care about your score because the LSAT tests the skills you'll use on a daily basis in law school. It's the best predictor law schools have of the likelihood of your success at their institution.

LSAT vs GRE for Law School Applications

22 related questions found

Is 3.6 GPA good for law school?

You'll need a 3.8 or better to be above the median for a top 14 law school, and a 3.6 or better to be above the median for the top 50.

What's the average GPA for law school?

What is a good GPA to get into law school? Only a very few law schools and colleges accept potential student candidates with an undergraduate GPA of 3.49 or lower. Most prestigious law schools require a GPA of 3.85 or higher.

Do law schools care if you take the LSAT twice?

Law schools do not average the scores for admission, but we always look at performance if you've taken the test more than once. Ideally, it would be best if every applicant could secure their ideal LSAT score on the first attempt, but that is often not the case. Law schools will report the highest LSAT score.

Does the LSAT really matter?

With the LSAT, they know that everyone was given the same level of difficulty and very similar questions. This makes it the single most important number on your application. It can even be more important than your undergraduate GPA. In fact, some schools weigh your LSAT 4 or 5 times more than your undergraduate GPA.

Do law schools look at all 4 years?

We consider all years of study and, as a general rule, applicants with strong cumulative averages will be preferred. However, we will place greater weight on the last 2 years of full-time (or equivalent) undergraduate study in appropriate circumstances, typically where the cumulative average falls below 3.7.

Does Harvard look at all LSAT scores?

While applicants need only take either the LSAT or the GRE, HLS does require all those test results from the past five years. What are the median test scores of this year's first-year class? There are no “cut-off” standardized test scores below which an application will not be considered in its entirety.

Does Harvard law take the highest LSAT score?

Although there is no “cutoff” LSAT score that you need to get into Harvard Law School, Harvard only offers admission to a small percentage of its applicants. Therefore, to gain admission to Harvard Law School, you will likely need an LSAT score in the 170+ range.

Can law schools see if you cancel your LSAT score?

Will schools be able to see that I cancelled my LSAT score? Yes. Your Law School Report will reflect that the score was cancelled at your request.

Do law schools look at LSAT flex differently?

5. Will law schools accept the Flex? Yes. They'll continue to weight the LSAT score as they see fit, so that's not changing.

What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?

As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School. If you have a GPA of 3.94 or higher and above a 175, you are pretty much a lock for admission, particularly given the class size of ~560.

Do law schools see all of your LSAT scores?

Law schools do read files holistically and they do read/see every LSAT score/withdrawal/cancellation of each applicant. However, no matter what anyone says, the reality is that the only score the ABA receives is the highest score and is therefore the only score USWNR will ever see.

What did Elle Woods get on the LSAT?

In the film, Elle scored a 179 on her LSAT. That is one point away from a perfect score of 180.

Do law schools care about your GPA?

Keep in mind that law schools look at your application in full — not just your score and grades. An upward grade trend can offset a mediocre or poor GPA, as can a strong LSAT score. Similarly, consistently outstanding academic performance and a strong GPA can offset a less competitive LSAT score.

Can the LSAT be waived?

According to the Law School Admission Council, which administers the standardized tests, many aspiring attorneys will not be eligible to forgo the LSAT completely since they will still need to take the test to apply to law schools other than their current one.

Do law schools see your LSAT photo?

Relax, LSAC doesn't include a copy of the photo in your CAS report schools get to see. They just hang onto it in a warehouse somewhere for a few years in case a reason comes up to suspect an imposter took the test for you and they want to double check things. Just make sure the pic conforms to LSAC rules.

What is the average LSAT score for first time takers?

What's the average LSAT score for first-time takers? The LSAC found that first-time test takers typically scored a 151, while second-time test takers scored a 151.7. Mean LSAT scores were highest for second-time test takers, while third-time test takers had the lowest score.

What is the easiest law school to get into?

These are the 12 law schools that are the easiest to get into in the country — and that still can help you start your dream legal career.
  • Concordia University School of Law, Idaho. ...
  • Roger Williams University School of Law, Rhode Island. ...
  • John Marshall Law School, Chicago. ...
  • Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego.

What do the top law schools look for?

What Do Law Schools Look for in Your Application?
  • Strong Academic Record and LSAT Score. ...
  • Extracurricular Involvement. ...
  • Excellent Writing and Reading Abilities. ...
  • Personal Growth. ...
  • Strong Recommendations from People Who Actually Know You. ...
  • Something Special… ...
  • Demonstrated Interest in the Law School Itself.

Do law schools care about your major?

Law school typically don't care what you majored in

Law schools usually don't care about what you majored in because there is such a huge amount of variation between different schools and majors, and it is very difficult to pinpoint every major on a spectrum of academic rigor.