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The Process of Applying for Law School

Are you an aspiring lawyer who’s confused about where to start with law school? Luckily, you’re in the right place! This article will cover three major steps in the application process and anything else you may need to know.  

Here’s what you will need for a solid law school application: 

• An exceptional GPA 
• A Solid LSAT score  

 

GPA 

Having a good grade point average is another way to set yourself up for success. According to usnews.com the average GPA for entering law school students is a 3.55. The top 20 law schools in the country have a higher GPA of 3.86. Law schools like to see that their applicants are well rounded throughout their studies and not just a good LSAT taker. The major you decided to focus on can affect your GPA if you have harder classes as well.  

 

LSAT  

When it comes to applying for law school, you will need to start by taking the LSAT or law school admission test. The LSAT is the only test that is accepted by any law school in the country. The test can be very challenging, so here’s what to expect:  

• A multiple-choice exam lasting about 3 and half hours.  
• There are 5 sections: Logical Reasoning, Logic Games, Reading Comprehension, and an Experimental Section.  
•  test takers are given 35 minutes per section with 15-minute breaks.  
• 120 is the lowest score and 180 is the highest score. You should aim for a score of mid to high 150s depending on the school. Research each school you apply to and their median score.
• The test costs $200 to generate a score. See CAS Report section for additional costs.
• There are multiple proctored tests a year and you can find them in your LSAC account under Centers (In-Person Testing). Online testing is available as well under LSAT (remote option).  

 

Additional Information:  

After you have taken the LSAT, you must start applying for law schools. Each time you apply to a law school you must pay a fee to send over your LSAT score. There is also an application fee to each school which on average costs $50. Fee waivers are available if you reach out to the school you are applying to. The overall cost for the first time applying to law school is around $1,000. This is an expensive process so making sure you have everything aligned is critical. 

A CAS report is another crucial step in applying to law schools. This report is done after you have taken the LSAT and have secured an acceptable GPA.  

 

CAS Report 

CAS stands for Credential Assembly Service and is offered through the LSAC. This report takes your LSAT, transcripts, and work experience and puts it into one document. Here is a breakdown of a CAS Report:  

• Each time you apply to a law school you will have to pay $45 to have your CAS report sent in.  
• The report does analytics on your GPA based on your school rank and gives you a national rank. 
• For no additional charge LSAC will send in a new CAS report to a law school you have already applied to if there is an updated LSAT score or transcript or if there was an error in either.  

The CAS report is a simple step in the process of applying to law school. Although it is expensive, it is essential to get into the law school of your dreams.  

 

Summary  

Applying to law school has a lot of moving parts. Making sure you are squared away when it comes time to apply is critical. Doing your own research and talking to your pre-law advisor is a step in the right direction. Start with securing a solid GPA, taking the LSAT, and ordering a CAS report.  

For more information about applying for law school visit lsac.org.