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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 10/04/23
If you’re thinking about applying to several law schools and want to know exactly how to do so, read on to learn more about the law school application requirements and the different steps to take when applying to law school.
Narrowing down the law schools you want to attend the most can be challenging, and compiling a list of everything you need to apply to these schools can make the process even more complicated.
To ease some of your stress and to make the beginning of your legal journey easier, this comprehensive guide will review basic requirements for applying to law school and specific requirements at the top 45 schools.
There are some law school prerequisites you must think about applying to law schools. The following are the main law school application requirements:
In the next few sections, we’ll review these law school admissions requirements in more detail.
The first prerequisite for any law school is a baccalaureate degree. Law schools don’t require applicants to take specific course prerequisites. However, it’s worth noting that there are some dual degree programs that allow students to finish the final year of their undergraduate degree while also completing their first year of law school.
A wide range of GPAs are accepted across law schools. While many law schools set a minimum GPA of 3.0 for consideration, it's important to focus on the median GPA of recent matriculants for a clearer idea of your target. Aim slightly above the median to give yourself the best chance of standing out!
Also, keep in mind that if you’re applying to law school, you’ll receive an entirely new GPA: your LSAC CAS GPA. Our Law School CAS GPA Calculator makes it easy to calculate your CAS GPA.
Students must complete the LSAT or GRE, depending on their preferred law school, to be considered for admission.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a challenging exam known as the primary admission test accepted by U.S. law schools. For most schools, you have to write the LSAT.
You will need to study hard in order to pass the LSAT. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but if you keep up good study habits and stick to a plan, you can manage your stress.
According to experts, applicants should aim to get at least 150 to be accepted into an accredited university, 160 or higher to be accepted into the top 25 universities, and 170 or higher to be accepted into the top 10 universities.
You don’t have to take the GRE if you take the LSAT. You can choose to write either the LSAT or GRE when applying to schools that allow this option. To date, about 119 U.S. law schools accept the GRE.
The test you take depends on which school you’d like to go to. Top-ranking schools like Yale and Harvard are part of the list of schools accepting the GRE, meaning you can still apply to prestigious schools without the LSAT.
Luckily, you don’t have to make this decision on your own; Juris Education offers GRE and LSAT consultations to help you decide which option is best for you and how to ace your chosen test.
The JD-Next is an alternative, new law school admissions test that includes an eight-week online prep course followed by a final exam. Unlike traditional standardized tests, JD-Next focuses on legal reasoning and comprehension by immersing students in law school-style learning
While only a few schools accept this test so far, it is a great option to consider!
Your law school personal statement is a fantastic opportunity to let your fit, passion for law, and personality shine. Many top-ranked law schools ask for personal statements, including Columbia, UPenn, Harvard, and Cornell.
To make this admission requirement less daunting, here’s a list of qualities law schools seek in personal statements:
The personal statement is an opportunity for you to help the admissions committee get to know you better. You should expand on your application, not re-state it. Write something fresh and original.
Consider writing about a significant aspect of your personality or character that you haven’t had the chance to explore yet in your application. You may also choose to write about something in your background or history that has shaped you in a unique way.
This law school prerequisite requires less effort on your side in terms of writing. Most law schools require you to submit letters of recommendation from people who can attest to your character. You should aim to have at least one letter written by an academic faculty member.
Recommendation letters should be:
Another factor to consider before even applying to law school is participating in extracurriculars that will help make your application stand out.
All extracurriculars are important! They show you have good time management skills, want to help others, and are able to work as a team. So, ensure you join extracurriculars you will enjoy.
To boost your application, however, you should aim to join extracurriculars with the following qualities:
Your law school resume should be one to two pages long, typed in a standard font. The main sections you should include in your resume are:
Depending on how many entries you’d have in each category, you can also consider adding sections for:
All these law school requirements are the standard at most law schools.
To apply to law school, you will be required to fill out an application form and submit your additional application materials online. Check the application process for each of your desired schools.
Prepare for the law school application cycle with the help of our free Law School Admissions Checklist!
While it may help prepare you for law school, studying pre-law is not a prereq for law school. You can choose nearly any major you want for your undergraduate degree.
Since there are many requirements, speaking with law school admissions consultants can help you put your best foot forward. With help from experts, you’ll receive guidance on every aspect of your application to maximize your chances of success.
It’s a good idea to choose a major that you enjoy and that fits your skills and abilities. That way, you can ensure good grades for your law school applications. However, here is a list of some of the best majors for law school:
The coveted T14 law schools are often at the top of students’ lists. These schools are the most prestigious law schools in the country and are some of the hardest to get into!
Ranked as the best law school in the U.S., Yale has high expectations of its prospective students. Here are Yale’s application requirements:
Dean’s Certification: To be submitted upon acceptance
Tied with Yale for first place, here’s what it takes to gain admission to Stanford Law.
Letters of Recommendation: Two to four letters are required, preferably all from academic mentors
The University of Chicago is the third-best law school in the nation. To apply, you’ll have to submit the following:
Optional Addenda: Explains lower GPA or LSAT scores
The fourth-best law school in the nation is the University of Pennsylvania. Here’s what you’ll need to get into UPenn:
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required; at least one should be written by an academic faculty member
Tying for fourth place as well is Harvard University, another law school giant. These are the application materials you’ll need to apply to Harvard:
Duke University is yet another fourth-place school. Duke requires the following from all its applicants:
As the final fourth-place school, the University of Virginia is another top pick for aspiring law students. UVA requires the following from its applicants:
Columbia University ranks as the eighth-best law school. These are the application requirements for this school:
NYU comes in ninth place. Here are the prerequisites for its law school:
Tying for ninth place is Northwestern University. The school requires students to submit the following as part of their application:
UMichigan is also tied for the ninth-best law school. Here’s what it takes to gain admission:
UC Berkeley’s law school ranks 12th in the nation (tied with Pritzker). To get into Berkeley, students must meet the following admission requirements:
In 13th place, we have UCLA. Students are required to submit the following as part of the application process:
This Ivy League law school ranks 14th in the nation. Cornell’s admission requirements are as follows:
As the final school, Georgetown University ranks 14th as the best law school and requires the following application materials:
Optional Statement: Share how your experiences or perspectives have contributed to who you are as a future lawyer
Ensure you take note of the application requirements, set a target LSAT score, and begin preparing your application as early as possible!
Try out our Law School Admissions Predictor to learn your odds of getting accepted into your target schools!
For any remaining questions about admission requirements for law schools, read on to find your answers:
Requirements for law school often include completing an undergraduate degree with a high GPA, LSAT or GRE scores, a personal statement, a resume, and several letters of recommendation from academic sources.
Law schools with lower rankings are generally the easiest to get into. These law schools typically have a high acceptance rate and lower GPA and LSAT requirements, such as the Southern University Law Center. This law school has a 62.9% acceptance rate, a median LSAT score of 146, and a median GPA of 3.15.
Yale School of Law is the hardest law school to get into, with a 5.25% acceptance rate.
Most law schools ask applicants to limit their personal statements to two to four pages.
Most law schools ask for resumes to learn about your experience, skills, and abilities.
Many law schools tend to prefer applicants with work experience, but it’s only one component of your application. Candidates with extensive volunteer and extracurricular experiences may be able to use these to make up for lack of work experience. In short, work experience isn’t necessarily a requirement to go to law school.
Although most law schools don’t list cutoffs, the median GPAs of admitted students at the country’s top law schools tend to be at or higher than 3.8.
There are no required courses you must take to apply to law school.
Yes, law schools require applicants to complete college before enrolling.
Yes, you need a bachelor’s degree to attend law school.
Depending on the school you’re applying to, you can take the LSAT, GRE, or JD-Next. Which test you take is ultimately up to you and which schools you’re applying to.
This depends on the school you’re applying to, but it is generally difficult to get into law school. You’ll need a strong application that exceeds all the requirements.
While you need a bachelor’s degree for law school, you can take almost any major. Choose a major that suits your skills and interests to ensure that your grades are top-notch.
After going over this comprehensive guide of general and the top 45 law school application requirements, you should know exactly what you need to apply to your top choices! Good luck!
