Application Components

The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is designed to measure skills that are considered essential for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to think critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others.

Through the end of the 2023-2024 testing cycle, the LSAT will continue to have three scored sections — logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension. Starting with the August 2024 administration, there will be a change to the three scored sections, which will include two sections of logical reasoning and one section of reading comprehension. Regardless of when you’re taking the test, the LSAT will include a fourth, unscored variable section. The inclusion of the fourth, unscored variable section allows LSAC to validate new test questions for future use. LSAT Writing is a required part of the LSAT for all test takers and is administered remotely using secure proctoring software. Delivered through LSAC LawHub^®, the LSAT Writing exam lasts 35 minutes and can be taken on-demand, anywhere in the world with a strong and stable internet connection. LSAT Writing samples are not scored; however, each test taker must complete LSAT Writing in order for their LSAT score to be released.

The test is administered nine times a year.

The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120 (none correct) to 180 (perfect score).

Numerous preparation resources exist on-line, practice books are available in local bookstores, and there are commercial prep companies that can assist you. The important thing to remember is that the LSAT is a skills test and not a core subject-based test. Therefore, unlike cramming for an exam in a particular subject, you should be devoting an adequate amount of time preparing for this exam by practicing the typical problems that appear on this exam and taking multiple timed practice exams. Many successful applicants devote three to six months to properly prepare for the LSAT and begin thinking about the test in advance by completing courses such as Logic.

The CAS is the Credential Assembly Service which provides a means of centralizing and standardizing undergraduate academic records. All applicants to ABA law schools need to register with CAS. CAS prepares a report on every student and sends it to each law school to which they apply. This report includes:

• Copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and professional school transcripts
• An undergraduate academic summary
• The LSAT score reports and writing samples, and
• Copies of letters of recommendation

Transcripts

You should request a transcript from all schools you have attended. Your transcripts must be sent directly to CAS from the institutions, as transcripts sent from the applicant themselves will not be accepted. Transcripts must be requested by using the specific CAS request form that you can access from your CAS account. You should print this form and send it to every school from which you are requesting a transcript.

The Undergraduate Academic Summary

In addition to actually including all academic transcripts in your reports, CAS will compile an academic summary of all undergraduate coursework you have done using a standardized system no matter what system your undergraduate institutions may use. This will also include a standardized compiled GPA of all undergraduate coursework. This academic summary and GPA will not include any work done after the completion of your first bachelor’s degree.

LSAT Score Report

Your score report will show your most recent test results along with the results of any tests since 2002, including absences or cancellations. An average score is also calculated and reported when you have more than one reportable score. Your writing samples from all reported tests will also be included in this section.

Letter of Recommendation Service

The CAS Letter of Recommendation Service (LOR) is optional unless a particular law school to which you are applying requires it. However, use of this service is probably the most convenient way to handle your letters of recommendation and many law schools do require or prefer this method. You can visit the LOR section of the LSAC website to determine the preference of each school in which you are interested.

Students are sometimes surprised to learn that the law school personal statement is not the place where you should talk about why you want to go to law school in the generic sense. Law schools are not interested in hearing: “I’ve wanted to go to law school for as long as I can remember”, or “I want to go to law school because I’m a good reader and writer”, or, even, “I want to go to law school because I’m good at debating and everyone says I’ll make a good lawyer”. A law school personal statement focused on any of the generic reasons why people think that you would make a good lawyer is generally not a good law school personal statement. Law schools are also not interested in reading that you want to go to law school for any oversimplified reason such as “wanting to help people.” Law schools are generally looking for a story that is personal to you and your experiences and highlights why you would be a good fit for law school or the legal profession.

Some people take the route of talking about a legal, political, or legislative course, internship, program, or experience that led them down this path and how they have pursued it ever since. If you’ve had this type of direct experience, this may make a great personal statement for you; however, if you have never had any type of legal experience, it’s best not to force it.

Commonly, students without legal experience write the “Characteristic Statement”. This allows you the opportunity to talk about a personal experience, major volunteer project, study abroad opportunity, internship, or anything that moves you. The experience does not have to have anything to do with law school or the practice of law, but the important consideration is that you either gained something from the experience (for example, leadership skills and experience) or learned something (in terms of perseverance, overcoming adversity, dealing with diversity, humanity, or world issues), and it’s that characteristic that you think would make you a good fit for law school or for the legal field in general. If there is something in particular that interests you in a school, leave room to devote a few sentences about why that school is a good fit for you.

Students often consider using their personal statements to explain away weaknesses in the application file. Be careful of using your personal statement for this. You want your personal statement to be your opportunity to shine and not something that focuses on a negative aspect. You would be better served by including an addendum to discuss glaring issues, rather than using your personal statement for that purpose. Addendums are useful if there is an explanation for a particularly weak semester, a problem with an LSAT score, or a disciplinary report exists. Be cautious, however, an addendum will not be helpful if you only want to point out, for example, that you are aware that your GPA is low, but you have no good reason for it. The pre-law advisor is available to help you write a strong personal statement and answer questions about whether an addendum is a good choice for you.

UIC Pre-Law Advising conducts periodic Personal Statement Workshops. Check the Pre-Law calendar of events for upcoming sessions.

For information about submitting your letters of recommendation, view the LSAC website. The number of letters requested by the schools varies from one to three, depending on the school. Please be sure that you look up the requirements for each individual school in which you are interested.

An important part of securing letters of recommendation is determining who the best person would be to write them. Law schools generally prefer that the bulk of your letters of recommendation are strong academic references, as opposed to outside letters. For these types of academic letters, you want to identify professors who taught you in smaller courses (versus large lectures), upper-level courses, or courses that allowed your analytic, writing, or research abilities to shine. For further discussion about who might be good choices for you to request letters of recommendation from, please make an appointment with the pre-law advisor.

Once you have determined who you will ask, you want to put together an information packet for each person. What each professor will expect you to include in the packet may vary, so it is important to discuss their expectations with them beforehand. Generally, most professors request the CAS letter of recommendation form, a resume that particularly highlights your academic history and achievements, and a copy of your personal statement. Some may request other items, and some may require you to enclose a stamped and addressed envelope.

There are multiple ways to submit the application form – mailing a hard copy of the form, submitting the online form directly through a school’s website or through the CAS website. Many schools now direct online applicants from their own website directly to the CAS online application. Please be sure to view the CAS Electronic Applications page, and look up the application preferences for all the schools to which you are considering applying.

This is a complicated topic, and you will want to consult with the pre-law advisor to discuss where to apply. Often students fail to gain admission to law school because they applied to the “wrong” schools. Here are some relevant considerations:

How Can I Learn About Schools?

The best way to start is by visiting the individual websites of the schools in which you are interested and requesting that they send you more information. Also, take advantage of the fact that most law schools have Open Houses where you are encouraged to come visit their campus. Students should also take advantage of events like the LSAC Forum in Chicago and on-campus events featuring speakers from various schools. The pre-law advisor is also available to assist you.

Do Law Schools Differ in Terms of Their Curriculum and Specialized Areas?

Law schools provide a general education. The curriculum is fairly standard at all ABA-accredited law schools. Students do have electives in their second and third years of law school, as well as opportunities to pursue particular areas of study. Although most law students typically gain specialized experience through work and internships done during law school, more and more schools are beginning to highlight their ability to prepare students for a career in a specific area by offering certifications and specializations.

Although certifications and specializations can definitely be a great option for people who know exactly what field of law in which they want to practice, it is not necessary to have a certification or specialization. Most schools offer joint degree programs, where students can simultaneously pursue the JD and a master’s degree in another field; the most common of these is the JD/MBA. Keep in mind that the best approach is to be open to your future. A general program in law school will allow you to pursue any legal area that interests you, and you may even find yourself pursuing a career in a legal field that you had never even previously considered.

Should I Attend a School in a Particular Location?

All ABA-accredited law schools provide a general legal education, and graduates are eligible to sit for the bar exam in any state. Law schools do somewhat focus on the law in the state in which the school is located, but since the law is fairly uniform, this should not effect your ability to pass the bar exam in another state. In some instances it does make sense to attend school in the state or region where you plan to live. You will make contacts while attending law school, and it may be easier to find jobs upon graduation if you are already in the locale in which you are looking for jobs.

What Schools are Likely to Admit Me?

You should be realistic. Law schools provide information on the LSAT scores and GPAs of students admitted to their school. The bulk of your applications should be sent to what are considered your “competitive schools.” These are schools where you generally fall right in line with the median numbers of the admitted applicants.

A smart applicant will also be sure to apply to a couple of “safety schools.” These are schools where you generally fall above the median numbers of admitted applicants, making it likely that you will get a favorable admissions decision.

On occasion, a school might admit an applicant whose combined LSAT score and GPA are slightly lower than is normally accepted, particularly when an applicant’s file demonstrates outstanding promise and potential in other ways. For that reason, students are encouraged to apply to one or two “dream schools.” These are schools where you are a bit under the normal numbers for that particular school, but, looking at your package as a whole, you may have a chance. Making sure that your applications realistically cover all three areas (competitive schools, safety schools, and dream schools) is the best way to make sure that all of your bases are covered.

What about Financial Assistance?

The cost of attending law school can vary greatly. Scholarships are available from law schools and can also vary widely from a few thousand dollars a year to full tuition. The thing to keep in mind is that law school scholarships are mainly merit-based versus need-based, so your scholarship offers will likely be higher at your safety schools and may be little to none at a dream school. The remaining bulk of law school costs are usually covered by loans. Students can take up to the authorized graduate study amount from the government for education loans, and some students may still need to take out private loans to cover the total estimated cost of attendance. The amount of debt you are willing to take out for law school is something about which you should think long and hard.