Is applying in February too late for law school?

Asked by: Dolores Jacobs  |  Last update: November 10, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (67 votes)

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 January a good time to apply to law school?

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.

Can you apply to law school with February LSAT?

Many of the top law schools are still requiring a January LSAT deadline. But, as you'll see in the chart below, the February and April LSATs are definitely viable options for test-takers.

Is December 1 too late to apply to law school?

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.

Is February too late for LSAT?

It's Not Too Late!

For some lower-ranked schools, a February score is not too late. They are perfectly happy to consider it, given the less competitive nature of their admission cycles.

Is February Too Late to Apply to Law School? (2023) | S. Montgomery Consulting

37 related questions found

Is the February LSAT harder?

Let's be perfectly clear about this: the February LSAT IS NOT HARDER than any other LSAT given. Certainly the fact that it is undisclosed makes it less appealing; however, there is absolutely no data to suggest that it is in any way more difficult than any other LSAT test.

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.

Can I still apply to law school if I take the January LSAT?

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.

What is the best month to apply to law school?

The best time to apply.

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.

Do law schools accept late applications?

Most law schools (even those with application deadlines) have rolling admissions, where seats in the incoming class are assigned as soon as they start receiving applications. The later you apply, the fewer seats are available.

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 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.

When should you commit to law school?

Students should apply to law school in the fall (preferably by the end of November) of the year before they want to start law school. Most law schools only accept new students in the fall semester.

Should I take a gap year before applying to law school?

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.

Is going to law school at 30 too late?

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.

What is the busiest month for lawyers?

The Holidays

Between November and December, clients often seek attorneys for injury claims. For this reason, the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the busiest seasons for law firms.

What is the toughest year of law school?

Most students consider the first year of law school to be the most difficult. The material is more complex than they're used to and it must be learned rapidly. What's more, the way students are taught and tested is very different from high school or undergrad.

Is it harder to get into law school in the spring?

We strongly counsel anyone seeking our advice to wait a year and apply to schools earlier in the cycle (December or before). This is for several reasons: There generally aren't a lot of spots left by the time you apply to law school in spring. This should hold true to some extent even in the current situation.

Are law schools moving away from LSAT?

‍The LSAT isn't going away.

The ABA announced their decision to nix the requirement that law schools use a standardized test as part of the admissions process. But it won't take effect until 2025.

Do law schools see all LSAT attempts?

What do law schools think about multiple LSAT scores? Law schools will see every time an applicant takes the LSAT. Law schools will see if you cancel a score for whatever reason. Law schools do not average the scores for admission, but we always look at performance if you've taken the test more than once.

Should I take the LSAT in November or January?

1. You can still apply to law school with January LSAT scores. Some law schools consider the January LSAT as the final LSAT you can take and still submit an application for admission in the fall because their application deadlines fall in early February.

What is the average LSAT first time?

Data Summary. The average LSAT score for first-time takers was 151, according to scores tracked from 2006-2013. During this period, second-time test takers had the highest LSAT average score of about 152. The average national LSAT score for full-time, first-year JD enrollees for fall 2022 was about 159.

Which section of LSAT is hardest?

How Hard is the LSAT Analytical Reasoning? Perhaps the most notorious section of the LSAT, the Analytical Reasoning section contains four logic games, each having 5-7 associated questions. Students must juggle complex, and sometimes competing, concepts to make it through this section with a high score.

Is 8 weeks enough to study for LSAT?

For most students, a three-month period of preparation (of approximately 20 hours per week) is a great goal. This is, of course, an estimate; most students are not all students. To find out how much LSAT prep time you're likely to need, we recommend taking a practice LSAT to get a baseline score.