Does your GPA really matter for law school?
Asked by: Prof. Shaina Shanahan Sr. | Last update: October 9, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (59 votes)
While law schools consider applicants' letters of recommendation, personal statements, work experience and extracurricular activities, many experts say undergraduate GPA and LSAT scores are often the most heavily weighed factors in admissions decisions.
Do law schools really care about GPA?
Simply put, GPA is the second most important factor in determining whether to admit a law school applicant. Moreover, it is also the second most important factor in determining whether to award an applicant a merit scholarship (not all law schools...
Do employers care about law school GPA?
Usually not the GPA (law school grading scales can be weird), but the big firms will care about your class rank, especially if you didn't go to a super top school. They don't care so much if you went to Stanford or Harvard, but if you go to a school like mine, they will often only talk to the top 5% or 10%.
Is a 3.7 GPA too low for law school?
The average GPA for law school is between 3.91. However, like LSAT scores, it's important to understand that the specific average GPA can differ depending on the law school and its level of competitiveness. Top-ranking law schools often expect higher average GPAs, typically ranging from 3.8 to 4.0 or even higher.
What is the lowest GPA a law school will accept?
What Is the Lowest GPA For Law School? Since the majority of law schools require a GPA of 3.0 or higher, anything below a 3.0 is considered very low. Some of the absolute lowest GPA requirements for schools are 2.80.
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Can a 2.5 GPA get you into law school?
So generally, if you're trying to get into the top schools, a GPA below 3.6 will be considered low. But to answer the question what GPA do you need to get into law school, any law school, then the answer is at least a 2.5. That is realistically the lowest GPA you can have to get into law school.
Is a 3.0 GPA bad for law school?
Is a 3.0 GPA Low For Law School? Considering students are generally advised to score a GPA of 3.5 in college to get into law school, a 3.0 is typically considered low. However, it all depends on the schools you're applying to! As discussed earlier, several schools consider a 3.0 to be within their competitive range.
How rare is a 176 LSAT?
Less than 1% of test takers score a 176. It's a very hard thing to do. Don't let this sub skew your perception of what's realistic.
Is GPA or LSAT more important?
In general terms, it can be said that law schools value LSAT scores more than they do undergraduate GPA, but whether or not this statement applies to a given institution and how by much depends on the school.
How do I fix my low GPA for law school?
- 1) Ace the LSAT. See your chances of getting into top law schools. ...
- 2) Get Great References. ...
- 3) Take a Gap Year or Two. ...
- 4) Explain Your Circumstances. ...
- 5) Set Your Sights a Little Lower. ...
- 6) Apply to as Many Law Schools as Possible. ...
- A Final Word for the Fretful Applicant.
What is a good first year law school GPA?
3.0 first year, 3.1 upper years. No mandatory curve; 3.1 to 3.3 mean for 1L courses, except First-Year Rhetoric. 3.25 to 3.45 mean for most upper-level courses.
Should I put 3.4 GPA on resume?
You should include your GPA if you are a current student or recent graduate (within the last three years) of a college or high school and your GPA is above 3.5. In some cases, employers may specifically ask applicants for their GPA, which means you need to include it no matter what it is.
What GPA do big law firms want?
What Is a Good GPA for Big Law? It depends on what firms you're hoping to work with. Many firms require lawyers to have a GPA of 3.5 from a top school, while many others consider a 3.0 from the same institution to be acceptable.
How hard is the LSAT?
This process is not only time-consuming but can be very expensive as well. So yes, the LSAT is hard, and it is designed that way. It's not so much a test that requires a student to remember random facts, but instead, it is a test that showcases a student's thought process.
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.
Do law school grades really matter?
Law Students
Firms can also judge how much they like you. Nevertheless, in terms of judging how serious you are about law school and how much aptitude you show for the practice of law, grades are generally the most important standard that firms use in the hiring of law students.
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.
Should I keep a 150 LSAT score?
How “good” of a score is good enough depends largely on what law schools you're applying to. For example, to get into a top-ranking law school, you'll probably need an LSAT score of at least 160 or above, while a score in the mid-150s is often acceptable at many excellent law schools.
Which GPA do law schools look at?
When it comes to the primary GPA that law schools look at, it's your undergrad GPA. A grad GPA is nice, but it doesn't replace or get combined with the UGPA. A low UGPA will not be bolstered by a high grad GPA.
Is a 136 LSAT bad?
As previously stated, the score range for any LSAT exam is 120 to 180, but the average score is about 150. However, most of the top ten law schools require a candidate to have scored at least 165 on the LSAT.
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.
Will a 180 LSAT get you in anywhere?
LSAT takers can score anywhere from 120 to 180. With that big of a range, what kind of score should you aim for? Realistically, you should try to get a score of at least 150. That's the score that will get you into any accredited law school.
How many times can you take the LSAT?
How many times may I take the LSAT? Five times within the current reportable score period (i.e., since June 2019). A total of seven times over a lifetime.
What is the easiest law school to get into?
- 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 a Tier 14 law school?
The T14 law schools are the top 14 law schools in U.S. News and World Report's annual Best Law Schools rankings. This is the very tip-top of the top law schools. The T14 law schools usually include schools such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Stanford Law School, to name a few.