Question:

How do you tell schools to not look at your file until you appear for the Jan 2020 LSAT i.e. ignore your scores so far ?

Seems like CAS will report every score after it is available but the school might not know you registered for a future LSAT and might give a decision without considering your future LSAT score.

Link:

https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school/jd-application-process/credential-assembly-service-cas/law-school-reports

https://www.lsac.org/lsat/taking-lsat/lsat-scoring

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LSAC has decided to release LSAT scores to schools even if the test-taker hasn't taken LSAT Writing. Here's the full text of a recent LSAC communique (though the emphasis is mine):

As you know, starting in June 2019, we separated the writing portion of the LSAT from the multiple-choice portion. After five months of experience with the writing portion (“LSAT Writing”), many of the benefits we expected – including a shorter test day and the ability for candidates to provide their writing sample in a more natural setting at a convenient time and place of their choosing, as well as a more legible and useful writing sample for admission consideration – have come to fruition. But we have also heard from a number of member schools that they are interested in receiving applicant scores as soon as they are available, even as candidates are still completing LSAT Writing.

Therefore, to help candidates and schools move expeditiously through the admission process, we will be releasing scores for the multiple-choice portion of the LSAT to candidates and to the law schools to which candidates apply (or have applied), as soon as scores are available, even if candidates have not yet completed their writing sample. This change applies to anyone who took or will take the multiple-choice portion of the LSAT in this testing cycle which began June 2019 and ends in April 2020.

This change does not mean that legal writing is any less important. Many law schools require a writing sample as an integral part of their admission decision, and therefore, candidates should take the writing sample immediately and to meet schools’ application deadlines. Writing samples will be shared with candidates and schools as soon as they are completed. LSAC includes the fee for the writing sample as part of the LSAT fee to encourage this prompt action. In case candidates are not applying in the current cycle, please note they have a maximum of a year to take LSAT Writing without an additional fee; after that it is a separate fee unless they take the entire LSAT again.

As mentioned in a recent communication, 97% of candidates applying for fall 2020 have completed a writing sample and 73% who have started but not finished a 2020 application have completed a writing sample. As a reminder, candidates need only one writing sample on file to be considered complete, even if they take the multiple-choice portion of the LSAT more than once.

We understand that this is an important decision and a shift in the way that schools have received LSAT scores and the writing sample. We considered many factors in making this decision – balancing candidate and school requests for speed in score release, the varying admission requirements that institutions have, and the need to communicate clear policies and procedures to candidates and institutions. We will continue to work with our community to explore options for how to best offer LSAT Writing in the next testing cycle and will share those decisions well in advance.

I struggled with self-doubt for 2 years with this test and never thought I would make it here. A huge weight has lifted knowing that I've got at least one down. Thank you so much to this incredible community!!!!

Everything in my application is on track to be ready in the next couple of weeks, except for obviously my LSAT, which I won't have the score for until I assume early Feb...

I'm applying in Feb with (most likely) above median stats, and possibly above 75th at some of the T14, buuut I realize it's late. Am I going to face imminent rejection? Is it cool to shoot my shot out here? Thanks guys!

Can writing the optional essays improve my chances in getting accepted? Some of the law schools I'm applying to I have the borderline gpa and I’m still waiting for my October lsat score.

Since people write different kinds of addenda, in the header should I specify mine is an undergrad performance addendum or simply keep the right header "Addendum [page #]" ? Thanks in advance.

None

For example, major, GPA, rank?

Schools have our transcripts anyway. And I believe I was told by one law school admissions office that it didn't matter to them. But do any schools penalize you for not filling this section out in full? I don't have my transcripts in front of me and don't remember my GPA or have any clue as to my rank in my class.

I took it in 2016 when I thought I'd be going to a different graduate program; and I took the LSAT earlier this year. I can't figure out whether submitting my GRE score is mandatory. Even if it's not, should I submit it if I did well?

This is for UChicago.

Scheduled for a retake in January and was wondering if I should devote my time solely to studying or study/get the ball rolling with applications?

Thanks

So I’ve been self-employed for the past 4 years and I’m not sure how I should put that type of work experience on my resume for law schools. I do contract work for companies to make custom pieces for them and I’m not sure if I should list all my clients and how long I’ve been working with them? Or if I should just put that I’m an independent contractor and have a small description for what I do? And how do I make a distinction on my resume from my independent contract work and my past employment work?

N/A

Is there anyone that works full-time and is going to go to law school part-time? I am teacher at a high school and am considering it, I am not sure how I would be able to do it though. Is anybody going to do this? If so, just curious what job do you have and how do you plan on juggling the two? It looks like the part-time evening programs run from 6-9 and only on weekdays, which means I would be working 8-4:30 (4:30 being the earliest I could leave). I go back and forth on whether or not this is feasible and if I should attempt it, any advice?

We’re almost finished compiling the application requirements of every ranked ABA-approved law school: https://coda.io/d/Canonical-7Sage-Law-School-List_daa7untIi1o/2020-App-Requirements_sumP8#2020-Law-School-Requirements_tu7bq

These are taken word-for-word from the schools’ LSAC applications. They’re a handy way to check requirements before you submit. Just type the name of your school in the search box:

This document also notes which schools interview, and it collects accounts of interviews from last cycle:

Finally, it has information about medians, acceptance rates, yields, scholarship awards, and more:

If you prefer a different format, we've also written out the requirements for T40 schools:

We hope it’s useful. Good luck!

My current plan would be to graduate from Bowen as it has low tuition and practice in Arkansas. So is this a case where I don’t necessarily have to go to higher tier schools?

Hey all,

took the October lsat and waiting on baited breath.

I'm having some transcript confusion and was wondering what you all thought.

I spent the first 3 years of undergrad at an unaccredited institution with a 4.0 GPA

I then transferred to an Accredited college (who accepted those credits but without GPA) and will be granted a bachelors by the end of this year. The issue is I just started at the accredited place and don't have any transcripts from them yet.

Basically I'm wondering if I just send LSAC the credits from my first college (the unaccredited one) will they count that as a real GPA.

Thanks 🙏

#help I was wondering what a good number of law schools to apply to would be? I want to be sure I give myself the best chance, but also make sure I am reasonable as it is an expense to submit an application each time. Thanks!

As I am submitting applications, I've been reading and re-reading my essays. I read somewhere about a text to speech app that will read aloud your essays. It has helped me enormously. What my eye reads and what my ear hears is different. I use an app called SpeakLine. It has caught minor but significant errors (eg. statue vs. statute). Just letting you guys know!

Hello all, I was just wondering if anyone knows if law schools actually take 6-8 weeks to get back to you with decisions? I've been waiting a total of 48 hours and I'm already going crazy lol

Quick question: Should professors use our first names in LORs or is that considered too informal? @help

Does anyone know of a resource (or just have examples off the top of your head) that has info on good schools that are likely to offer large scholarships. I have a 3.69 GPA with a 168 on the LSAT in September (retaking in November and hoping to break 170) with fairly strong work experience, but given my careers goals I'm thinking I may be better off trying to get a really good scholarship at a very good but not elite school rather than hoping to sneak into the bottom part of the T-14 somewhere. My understanding for example is that WUSTL often offers full rides, but I'm having trouble finding good info if there are other schools in that general range that will frequently hand out big amounts of money. If so, would be great to try and apply to as many of them as possible. Thanks so much for any help you can provide!

Hi all!

This might be a silly question, but the applications online aren't that clear and the admission offices haven't replied my emails. Does anyone know if we have to order transcripts (from our post-secondary schools) and have them mailed to the desired law schools directly? Or do we have to pick them up/have them mailed to us first, then mail it out to the schools ourselves?

These applications exclude the schools in Ontario. I'm aware they go through their own application system.

Thanks so much and any help is appreciated!

I'm in the process of applying for law schools and where it says to list extracurricular & community activities I've listed the ones I participated in in undergrad. My question is - should I include volunteering from high school? I volunteered at the VA hospital & Boys & Girls Club neither of which are super applicable, but I was also a member of Peer Court, a nonprofit organization that helps provide restorative justice to troubled youth. I feel like the fact that I was a member of Peer Court might strengthen my application because it was kind of like court but with high school students. Will it be frowned upon if I include something from high school?

Thanks

I applied to HLS (totally not getting in, it was on a dare) and I sent in my LSAC application and report on the 22nd. LSAC is reporting the HLS application as "complete" and saying online that the academic report was sent over on the 22nd. I checked my status today on the HLS tracker, and it says it hasn't gotten my LSAC report OR my application fee (paid through LSAC). What gives? Should I just call LSAC and tell them?