Do law schools still care about LSAT?

Asked by: Prof. Glenna Keeling  |  Last update: October 30, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (36 votes)

Yes, some law schools have chosen not to make LSAT scores a mandatory part of their admission criteria. Instead, they consider other factors like GPA, work experience, or alternative standardized tests.

Do law schools still use the LSAT?

Yes. There are many law schools that don't require the LSAT. In fact, of the 199 ABA-accredited law schools, only 99 require applicants to submit LSAT scores. The other 100 ABA-accredited law schools allow applicants to choose to submit scores from the LSAT or the GRE.

How much do law schools care about LSAT?

Admissions officers look for more than high grades and stellar LSAT scores. Feb. 26, 2024, at 10:36 a.m. While a growing number of law schools accept the GRE and some even accept the GMAT, law schools will use your LSAT score for comparison if you have taken the LSAT.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?

She failed it 3 times before finally passing in 2021 (which apparently is pretty common for people who take this path). A few years later, I have not heard anything about her attempting the real bar exam.

Is the LSAT being phased out?

The ABA's House of Delegates will vote on the Council's proposed change in February 2023. If the House votes to nix Standard 503, the standardized-test requirement won't go away until 2025. So, the LSAT isn't definitely going away, and it's definitely not going away until 2025.

How Will ABA Eliminating LSAT Requirement Affect Law Schools?

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Will law schools require LSAT in 2025?

They believe it could give schools more freedom and encourage new admission methods, but they're also listening to concerns from law school deans and others. As of now, the LSAT is still required for 2025 admissions, but keep an eye out for updates from the ABA and law schools regarding any changes.

Did Harvard get rid of LSAT?

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.

What LSAT score did Obama get?

During his time, the median LSAT scores for Harvard Law were generally between 170 and 175. This suggests that the Obama LSAT scores were within this range, placing him in the top percentiles of test-takers.

How is Kim Kardashian going to law school without a bachelor's degree?

So first, what is “reading the law?” Basically, it's a JD via apprenticeship but without the actual degree. In her case, Kardashian will need to spend at least four years studying with a practicing lawyer or judge to be eligible to take the California bar exam in 2022.

Is the baby bar harder than the bar?

Passing the Baby Bar

The baby bar has a much lower pass rate than most other bar exams. Around 27% of first-time test takers passed in 2020. But this doesn't mean the exam is harder than the actual bar exam in California or any other state.

Does LSAT outweigh GPA?

Yes, many schools with holistic admissions prioritize LSAT scores and other qualities over strictly GPA. Check individual schools for their approach.

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.

Is 158 a bad LSAT score?

As mentioned above, the average LSAT score nationally is a 152. Generally speaking, a score of 160 and above is necessary to guarantee admission into top-100 schools like Tulane, UC Hastings, or Case Western Reserve.

Which is harder, LSAT or GRE?

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.

Do law schools look at GPA or LSAT more?

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.

Is the LSAT a good measure of intelligence?

The LSAT is not an IQ test. It does not measure intelligence the way IQ tests are designed to measure innate ability. A person who is very smart can receive a low LSAT score. A person who is very creative can receive a low LSAT score.

Did Kim K pass the bar exam?

Kim Kardashian learned very quickly how hard bar exams can be. The California state bar is one of the most difficult states to pass, with a 40-50% pass rate. The first attempt rate, the second attempt, and after the third time, she finally passed!

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.

How to be a lawyer without going to law school?

California. An apprenticeship in California must contain four years of studying in a law office with a supervising attorney that has at least five years of active law practice in California. You will need to study a minimum of 18 hours a week, with five of those hours being under the direct supervision of the attorney.

What was Obama's GPA?

Later in 1981, he transferred to Columbia University in New York City as a junior, where he majored in political science with a specialty in international relations and in English literature and lived off-campus on West 109th Street. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983 and a 3.7 GPA.

How rare is a 160 on the LSAT?

A student scoring a 180 is in the 99.9 percentile because the student scored better than 99.9% of test-takers. A student scoring a 160 is in the 74.8 percentile because the student scored better than 74.8% of test-takers. You can hover over the blue outline to see a tooltip for all each LSAT/percentile combinations.

Is the LSAT becoming obsolete?

Beginning in the fall of 2025, law school applicants may be able to skip the formidable task of studying for and taking the LSAT. That is when the American Bar Association will no longer obligate applicants to their accredited law schools to take this or any other standardized admissions test.

Is 172 LSAT good 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.