What is a soft law school?

Asked by: Prof. Hollie Schulist  |  Last update: March 5, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (33 votes)

Softs. “Soft” law school application factors/components that are not LSAT score and GPA. This includes work experience, military service, extracurriculars, and anything else that's not generally quantifiable. Think of it as the difference between baking a cake (softs) and measuring the ingredients (hard numbers).

What is the difference between hard law and soft law?

Examples of soft law include recommendations, guidelines, codes of conduct, non-binding resolutions, and standards. In contrast, hard law refers to legally binding instruments, which in international law typically take the form of treaties. Soft and hard law present both advantages and disadvantages.

What law school is the hardest?

The 12 Hardest Law Schools to Get Into
  1. Yale University. With an acceptance rate of just 6.9%, it's no wonder that Yale is the hardest law school to get into. ...
  2. Stanford University. ...
  3. Harvard University. ...
  4. University of Pennsylvania. ...
  5. University of Virginia. ...
  6. Columbia University. ...
  7. University of Chicago. ...
  8. University of Southern California.

Is it worth going to a lower tier law school?

Yes it can definitely be worth it, especially if you get a full or substantial scholarship. But if you have lofty goals (eg, big law, federal clerkship, academia, prestigious public interest, and politics), then you might want to target higher ranked schools.

Is a 2.7 GPA bad for law school?

4) what your GPA actually means -- a 2.7 seems pretty low to be a competitive applicant for the top LLM programs like you want to apply for. but if you were in the top 25%, 15%, 10% of your class, etc. and/or have earned some sort of honors in law school, it may be enough.

What Law School is Like (In Five Minutes)

28 related questions found

Can I get into Harvard with a 2.7 GPA?

While it's certainly possible to get into Harvard with a low GPA, as the numbers bear out, it's improbable. For the Class of 2027, a mere 2.21% of admitted students to Harvard had GPAs below 3.5.

Should I retake a 165 LSAT?

Improve your Scores

Some people would say “yes”, and that is fine. But if you have an above-average score, say, between 165-170, retaking the LSAT seems like overkill at that point.

What is a soft tier law school?

LSAT score and GPA are "hard" data. Softs refer to everything in your application that isn't "hard" data. Softs are inherently unquantifiable. That's why they're called softs. The tiers below are very rough guidelines for putting a number on something that really can't be quantified.

What GPA is too low for law school?

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.

Does going to a top 14 law school matter?

Graduates of T14 law schools have excellent employment prospects, often securing positions at top law firms, corporations, and government agencies. The strong job placement rates at T14 schools are a significant factor in their rankings and reputation.

What is the hardest subject in a law degree?

Some of the hardest classes in law school, according to current and former students, are:
  • Constitutional Law.
  • Civil Procedure.
  • Contracts.
  • Federal Courts.
  • Federal Income Tax.
  • Administrative Law.
  • Partnership Tax.

What is the easiest law school to get into?

16 Easiest Law Schools to Get Into Based on Acceptance Rate
  • 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%

Is law school really stressful?

The combination of long hours, competing with peers, and pressure to perform at a high level can lead to law student burnout. Stress is also a key contributor. Unmanaged stress leads to burnout in any industry, and most law students report significant stress—even when compared to other graduate students.

What are the cons of soft law?

The main problem with regard to soft law, particularly when created by private players, seems its legitimacy. To ensure a maximum of legitimacy, the creation process should be as democratic and transparent as possible and all relevant stakeholders should be involved.

Why is it called soft law?

The term soft law refers to quasi-legal instruments (like recommendations or guidelines) which do not have any legally binding force, or whose binding force is somewhat weaker than the binding force of traditional law.

What is an example of soft law?

The term soft law is used to denote agreements, principles and declarations that are not legally binding. Soft law instruments are predominantly found in the international sphere. UN General Assembly resolutions are an example of soft law.

Can a 2.7 GPA get into law school?

Can I Get Into Law School With a 2.7 GPA? Most law schools will not consider a 2.7 GPA to be competitive. However, all hope isn't lost if this is the GPA you have. 25% of Western Michigan's accepted students have GPAs of 2.64.

How hard is 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.

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 lowest law school GPA in Canada?

One Canadian law school requirement that is given much weight is your GPA score. Most law schools require a GPA that is equivalent or above 3.7 or A- or 80%. This may be vary depending on each law school. If you have a low GPA, make sure that the other requirements are met and are strong enough.

What is the hardest class first year of law school?

1L Year (First Year)

1L is the hardest academic year. The professors of the core classes- criminal law, contracts, civil procedure, and the dreaded property- are trained to wear you down, scare students into working hard, and embarrass them publicly in front of their peers if they are not adequately prepared for class.

What tier law school is Harvard?

Traditionally the T14 schools are:

Yale Law School (always #1) Stanford Law School (#2–3) Harvard Law School (#2–4)

How rare is a 170 LSAT?

170 score: Scoring a 170 on the LSAT is almost always considered a good score — that means you are in the 2-3% of test-takers.

Should I cancel a 155 LSAT?

It is not, however, a reason to cancel your LSAT score. If you seriously studied and committed to preparing for the exam in the months leading up to it, then you should be in a good position to keep the score. Even if you didn't get a 180, it's likely that this score reflects your aptitude and abilities.

Can I get into Harvard law with a 165 LSAT?

So let's take a look at what it actually takes to have a chance of being admitted to the most prestigious and preeminent law school in the world. 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.