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Puzzling about how to get into top law schools without an LSAT, the Law School Admission Test? You will be surprised that many top-notch colleges take students without LSAT. Then why waste your precious time searching for every other university website to check which top law schools that don’t require the LSAT? You will find them on this Rostrum page. This blog contains the top law schools that don’t require the LSAT, requirements for admission, fees, and job opportunities without the LSAT. For more career guidance, connect with us and avail yourself of our qualified career guidance for a better future for yourself.
Complete List of Law Schools that Do Not Require the LSAT
Here is the well-curated list of the schools that do not require you to take the LSAT. If you don’t want to go through the rigorous process and exam of LSAT, you can consider the following colleges to apply without LSAT.
- Boston University School of Law
- California Western School of Law
- Columbia Law School
- Cornell Law School
- CUNY School of Law
- Duke University School of Law
- Emory University School of Law
- Fordham University School of Law
- George Washington University Law School
- Georgetown University Law Center
- Golden Gate University School of Law
- Harvard Law School
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law
- New England Law | Boston
- New York University School of Law
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
- Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law
- Southern Illinois University School of Law
- Southwestern Law School
- St. John’s University School of Law
- St. Thomas University School of Law
- Stanford Law School
- Suffolk University Law School
- Texas A&M University School of Law
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- University at Buffalo School of Law
- University of Akron School of Law
- University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
- University of Baltimore School of Law
- University of California, Irvine School of Law
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law
- University of Chicago Law School
- University of Dayton School of Law
- University of Florida Levin College of Law
- University of Hawai’i at Mānoa – William S. Richardson School of Law
- University of Iowa College of Law
- University of Maryland Carey School of Law
- University of Massachusetts School of Law
- University of Michigan Law School
- University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
- University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
- University of Southern California Gould School of Law
- University of St. Thomas School of Law – Minneapolis
- University of Texas at Austin School of Law
- University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
- University of Virginia School of Law
- University of Wisconsin Law School
- Vermont Law School
- Wake Forest University School of Law
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
- Western State College of Law
- Whittier Law School
- Yale Law School
There are an ample number of universities that don’t require an LSAT!
Top Law Schools that Don’t Require the LSAT
1. Stanford University Law School
Candidates may submit their GRE or LSAT results at the Stanford University Law School. If the LSAT is not your option, you can go for the GRE; both are of equal credibility. Later, if you want to take the LSAT, the university will consider the LSAT scores subsequently, depending on the college guidelines.
2. Harvard Law School
The JD program at Harvard Law School requires applicants to submit their LSAT, GRE, or both scores. For each exam, applicants must provide all valid test results from the preceding five years.
3. Yale Law School
GRE or LSAT results are accepted by Yale Law School. Yale takes only one standardized test result. If the candidate has a good LSAT score, it is better to submit it, and for the GRE, the candidate has to submit all of their GRE results from the preceding five years if they decide to submit them.
4. Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
The LSAT, GRE, or both can be used to get admission to the Pritzker School of Law. The school’s website does not specify any preferences or specific conditions for submitting test results as long as the results are from the preceding five years.
5. UC Berkeley School of Law
Candidates for the JD program at UC Berkeley School of Law may submit a GRE or LSAT result from the previous five years. In some instances, candidates may also submit their GMAT results.
6. Cornell University School of Law
The LSAT, GRE, or GMAT results must be submitted for a full Cornell University School of Law application. As long as the LSAT, GRE, or GMAT results are from the last five years.
Undergraduate students from Hobart William Smith Colleges, Cornell University, and St. Lawrence University may also apply to Cornell Law via the 3+3 program, which takes SAT, ACT, or LSAT scores.
7. UCLA School of Law
Students applying to UCLA must submit their LSAT, GRE, or both exam results. Test results from one or both of the preceding five years should be submitted by applicants. According to UCLA Law, neither standardized test is preferred.
8. Columbia Law School
Applicants to Columbia Law School can submit scores from the LSAT or the GRE. Applicants seeking admission with GRE scores must provide all GRE test scores from the previous five-year period, along with any LSAT test scores obtained during the same timeframe. Alternatively, applicants can submit only LSAT test scores, even if they have previously submitted the GRE.
9. NYU School of Law
The LSAT or GRE results are accepted by the NYU School of Law. All valid test results from the preceding five years must be submitted by applicants.
10. Duke Law School
Candidates may submit their LSAT or GRE results to Duke University School of Law. You can report your LSAT and GRE results or your LSAT results if you take both tests.
Here are the some other best law schools that don’t require LSAT score
1. University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Test results from the LSAT, GRE, or GMAT are accepted at UPenn Carey Law School. As long as the LSAT, GRE, or GMAT results are from the last five years, the university’s website states that there are no preferences or unique prerequisites.
2. Law School, St. John’s University
Test results from the LSAT or GRE are accepted by St. John’s University School of Law. There are no preferences or unique requirements listed on the school’s website for submitting results from either standardized test.
3. Wake Forest Law School
Wake Forest Law School accepts either LSAT or GRE results. You can submit only one test result as per the university guidelines. Hence, the LSAT should not be taken by applicants who want their admissions decisions to be based on their GRE results. The same goes for the LSAT; if you have good LSAT results, the university will not accept GRE scores.
4. The University of Chicago Law School
Candidates may submit their LSAT, GRE, or GMAT results to the UChicago Law School. As long as the scores are from the last five years, the school’s website states that there are no preferences or unique requirements for submitting LSAT or GRE results.
5. Iowa University College of Law
Applicants to the University of Iowa College of Law may submit their LSAT or GRE results. Those who enrol in the undergraduate college’s Kinnick Law Program can also use their GRE, GMAT, ACT, or SAT results to apply to law school. However, to get a scholarship, you need to take the LSAT and submit its results.
6. Carey School of Law, University of Maryland
Applicants to the University of Maryland Carey School of Law may submit their LSAT or GRE results. However, the results should be from the preceding five years, not beyond that. The school’s website does not specify any preferences or unique conditions for submitting test results.
7. Georgetown Law School
Candidates may submit their LSAT, GRE, or GMAT results to Georgetown Law. If an applicant does not currently have acceptable LSAT results, they can apply the test optionally for the law school’s Evening Program. Juniors at Georgetown University who have not received their LSAT, GRE, or GMAT results may apply through the Early Assurance program.
8. Gould School of Law, USC
The LSAT, GRE, or both can be used to get admission to the USC Gould School of Law. However, it is mandatory for applicants who are Rothman Scholars or Early Decision to submit their LSAT results.
9. School of Law at UT Austin
Applicants to the UT Austin School of Law may submit their LSAT or GRE results. As long as the results are from the preceding five years, not beyond that.
10. Virginia University School of Law
Candidates may submit their LSAT, GRE, or GMAT results under UVA law. Regardless of the exam applicants have taken, they must submit all of their results from the preceding five years.
11. Boston University School of Law
Applicants to Boston University Law School may submit their LSAT or GRE results. However, it is compulsory for students to submit LSAT results if they are opting for Early decision applications.
Universities that accept GRE Scores:
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Brigham Young University Clark Law School
- Fordham University
- University of Georgia
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
- University of Texas, Austin, School of Law
- Wake Forest University
- Washington University in St. Louis
Universities that accept GMAT scores
- Cornell Law School
- Georgetown University
- University of Chicago Law School
- University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
- University of South Carolina
- University of Virginia School of Law
Advantages of Avoiding the LSAT
Why do students want to ditch the LSAT and opt for other exams like GRE or GMAT? Here are plenty of reasons why it is advantageous to avoid LSAT; even though it has many pros because of its stringent exam pattern and standards, it is generally avoided due to :
- Very tough to crack: The LSAT is known to be one of the world’s toughest entrance exams. It is very challenging to get good results on the first attempt.
- Fee for LSAT: the LSAT fee for the year 2023-24 is $222, without including additional costs. It is a huge financial burden for students to take it more than once if they don’t clear it in one attempt, and every time, they have to pay the exam fee.
- Number of Tests in a year: Unlike other exams like GMAT or GRE, the LSAT can be undertaken four times yearly. It is administered in February, June, October, and December.
- Time-consuming: To prepare for the LSAT, one must sit long to analyse the exam pattern and prepare accordingly. Many students give up, as it is very time-consuming and complex, and it takes months to prepare for the LSAT.
- Limited Transferability: LSAT is only applicable or accepted by law schools for a student who is still exploring other fields and can take other exams like the GRE, which have a broad range of transferability in terms of changing the field or choosing outside the law discipline whereas LSAT has a narrow range of field.
- Cognitive Demand: The LSAT exam typically focuses on the analytical thinking and reasoning of the students, which is very challenging and highly demanding, time and effort. It requires more mental strength and intellectual capacities to pass the exam than other exams like the GRE.
How to Get Into Law School Without the LSAT
Tips to Get into Law Schools without LSAT:
- Get a high GPA- at your school or college level, focus on your grades and try to get the highest possible grades, which will fetch you good remarks from the admission committee. It is advisable to have a GPA between 3.5 to 4.0.
- Complete your SAT or ACT- look for the schools that accept SAT or ACT scores. If your dream university accepts the SAT or ACT scores, take the exam.
- Complete the GRE- As you have seen above, many top law schools consider GRE scores other than the LSAT. It is a better option to go for the GRE. Hence, plan your exam accordingly and prepare well for it. If you need more assistance with the GRE or getting into law schools without the LSAT, contact us and learn more!
- Complete the GMAT- Some law schools also have GMAT scores other than those on the LSAT. If your college falls on this list, you should take the GMAT over the LSAT, given its feasibility and less difficulty. If you are an applicant interested in undertaking a dual degree in law and an MBA, taking the GMAT is a viable option.
- Personal Statement- Even with or without LSAT, the personal statement is one arena where you can describe yourself, your career goals, and how that particular school will fetch good outcomes in your life. Hence, focus on sketching a beautiful personal statement.
FAQs on Law Schools that Don’t Require the LSAT
1. Can You Apply to Law School Without an LSAT Score?
As listed above, many law schools accept GRE or GMAT scores; you can apply through them if you want to ditch the highly challenging LSAT.
2. Are There Any Law Schools That Don’t Require the LSAT?
Yes, universities like Harvard and Stanford, as well as many universities listed above, don’t require the LSAT.
3. Will the LSAT No Longer Be Required After 2025?
It is not mandatory as many schools opt for test-optional policies, but some schools still require you to submit LSAT scores to get a scholarship, or if you are applying for an early decision, some schools ask for LSAT like USC, Gould School of Law and Boston Law School.
4. Which Law School Is Less Competitive to Get Into?
Less competitive law schools are relative to your capabilities, but generally, here are some universities with high acceptance rates like Western Michigan University (Cooley Law School) – Acceptance rate: ~62%, Appalachian School of Law – Acceptance rate: ~66%, Southern University Law Center – Acceptance rate: ~65% and Thomas Jefferson School of Law (California-accredited) – High acceptance rate.
Author
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Yatharth is the co-founder of Rostrum education. He pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Mathematics and Statistics from London School of Economics and Political Science. He has worked with leading educational consultancies in the UK to tutor students and assist them in university admissions.
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