What GPA do I need for top law school?
Asked by: Dr. Mac Wiza | Last update: December 2, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (48 votes)
Obtain High GPA & LSAT Scores According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools.
Can you get into a top law school with a 3.5 GPA?
These statistics reveal how important the LSAT is to law-school admissions. Earning a high GPA isn't enough. As the Fordham Law School statistics indicate, even those with a 3.5 GPA or better who don't do well on the LSAT have only about a four- percent chance of admission.
Is a 3.7 a good GPA for law school?
A good GPA for law school typically falls around 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. However, what constitutes a ``good'' GPA can vary depending on the law school you're applying to. Top-tier law schools (like Harvard, Yale, or Stanford) generally look for GPAs of 3.7 or above.
Is a 3.2 a bad law school GPA?
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.
Can I get into Yale law with a 3.9 GPA?
We do not utilize a GPA or standardized test score cutoff of any kind in our review process. Every year applicants from all backgrounds and with scores in all ranges are admitted to Yale Law School. The only guarantee you will not be admitted is if you do not apply, and we take seriously every application we receive.
How to Overcome GPA Issues to Get Into a Top Law School #lawschoolapplication
Is a 3.8 GPA good for Harvard Law?
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.
Is 3.95 a good GPA for law school?
Top-ranking law schools often expect higher average GPAs, typically ranging from 3.8 to 4.0 or even higher. They place a strong emphasis on academic excellence to complement strong LSAT scores.
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.
What is a respectable law school GPA?
A good GPA for law school generally falls between 3.5 and 4.0. However, top-tier institutions like Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, and Yale Law School often admit students with median GPAs closer to 3.9 or higher.
Can I get into Harvard law with a 3.2 GPA?
That said, you can get into Harvard Law School even if your GPA is 3.82 or lower.
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.
What are softs for law school?
Softs refer to everything in your application that isn't "hard" data.
Can I get into Northwestern law with a 3.7 GPA?
The school's 2023 class has among the highest average LSAT (168) scores and undergraduate GPAs (3.77) among all law school applicants. Northwestern Law's previous class likewise fared well, with a median LSAT score of 169 and a median GPA of 3.85.
Can I get into Vanderbilt law with a 3.5 GPA?
Aim for a GPA of at least 3.5 (cumulative). The median GPA for Vanderbilt law school applicants is a 3.65. Your GPA is much harder to change as time goes on (it can be hard to play catchup if you have a lot of ground to cover) — so make every attempt to start strong!
Is a 174 LSAT good?
So, a great score on the LSAT is a 172, but more than 100,000 people take the LSAT every year and only 1% score 172 or higher. For the top 50 law schools, the median LSAT score is between 164 and 174. A good LSAT score for top tier(defined by T14 schools for this article) law schools is between 171 and 174.
Is a 3.8 GPA bad for law school?
Contact each law school you would like to attend to learn of their admission requirements. A GPA of 3.8 is adequate for law school entrance.
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 3.7 GPA good for law school Reddit?
Honestly, more or less yes. I applied with a one-take 180 and a 3.7x. Attended a top undergrad and had solid WE, including at a top 3 Big Law firm.
What is the GPA cut off for Jones Day?
We require a GPA of 3.5 or higher. We seek well-rounded, motivated students with the potential to develop into exceptional lawyers and who will embrace Jones Day's culture and mission.
Which schools do big law hire from?
- University of Pennsylvania (Carey): 89.2%
- University of Chicago: 88.5%
- Harvard University: 86.7%
- Yale University: 84.8%
- Cornell University: 84.3%
- University of Virginia: 83.2%
- Columbia University: 83.1%
- Stanford University: 82.7%
What GPA do you need for top law schools?
Among the U.S. News top 20 law schools, the median GPA for accepted students in 2021 was 3.86.
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.
Can I get into Harvard Law with a 3.8 GPA?
While the LSAT score and GPA are significant factors, Harvard Law considers applicants holistically, valuing diversity and unique perspectives. The LSAT score for Harvard Law School typically falls within the 169-175 range, while the average GPA for admitted students is between 3.8 and 4.0.