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.
In the next few sections, we’ll review these law school admissions requirements in more detail.
Undergraduate Degree
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.
GPA Requirements
A wide range of GPAs are accepted across law schools. This GPA can be as low as 2.95 or as high as 4.0 for top-ranking schools. Make sure to look into the requirements and median accepted GPA for your specific school. 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.
Admissions Tests
Students must complete the LSAT or GRE, depending on their preferred law school, to be considered for admission.
LSAT
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.
GRE
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 70 U.S. law schools accept the GRE.
The test you take depends on which school you’d like to go to. While only 70 schools accept the GRE, top-ranking schools like Yale and Harvard are part of this list, meaning you can still apply to top-ranking schools if you choose to write the GRE instead of 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.
Personal Statement
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:
Passion: If you write about something you’re passionate about, you’re more likely to be engaging
Originality: The admissions committee reads thousands of personal statements; you want to make sure yours stands out
Structure: Your essay should follow a logical order
Simplicity: You should not cram all your experiences or accomplishments into your essay – focus on one or two and specify how they relate to your desired law career
Care: You shouldn’t have any typos or spelling and grammar mistakes; it should be obvious you wrote the essay carefully and accurately (and ensure you’re actually answering the question!)
What Should You Write In the Open-Ended Personal Statement?
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.
Letters of Recommendation
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:
Extraordinary: Your letters should paint you as someone extraordinary!
Personal: The person writing your letter must actually know you well and be able to speak to your character, your growth, and your accomplishments.
Compelling: These letters must sell the committee on you! They should convince law schools you have the necessary skills and traits to be an excellent student and lawyer.
Extracurriculars
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:
They develop your legal skills
They are service activities
They have substantial time commitments
They show leadership and teamwork
You are a key member of the team (vice president, president, executive member, etc.)
Resume
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:
Personal/biographical information
Education
Work experience
Extracurricular activities
Depending on how many entries you’d have in each category, you can also consider adding sections for:
Honors/awards
Research
Skills/interests
All these law school requirements are the standard at most law schools.
How to Apply
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.
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 puts your best foot forward. Our expert counselors can help you with everything you require.
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:
History
Political Science
English
Economics
Philosophy
Communications
Psychology
Requirements for Top Law Schools
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!
LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 175
A Personal Statement: Share who you are as a person, potential law student, and future lawyer
An Essay: 250 words about an idea that is of particular interest to you – many students write about a time they changed their mind
An Optional Essay: Explain how your unique circumstances will contribute to the Yale community
An Optional Addenda: Explanations for weak parts of your application
Letters of Recommendation: At least two letters are required, preferably written by professors
Statement of Activities: Will ask what you did during terms you weren’t in school, what you did during terms you were, and what other relevant activities you pursued
Dean’s Certification: To be submitted upon acceptance
LSAT/GRE Scores: the median accepted LSAT score is 174
A Resume: One to two pages long, including relevant experience and extracurriculars
Statement of Perspective: One to two double-spaced pages long, giving more context on how your strengths and experiences would make you a valuable contributor to the Harvard community
Statement of Purpose: One to two double-spaced pages long, describing your ambitions and goals as they relate to your pursuit of law
Letters of Recommendation: Two to three letters are required, with at least one from an academic source
Optional Addenda: Explains any negative aspects of your application
LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 172
A Personal Statement: No page limit – it should introduce you and elaborate on parts of your application
A Resume: Lists your work, academic, and volunteer experience
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required, preferably from academic faculty members
Additional Information Statements: Students can submit documents explaining low performance, unique experiences, history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage, and other relevant circumstances
LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 171
A Personal Statement: Describe your ability to succeed in law school; shouldn’t exceed two double-spaced pages
A Resume: One to two pages long
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required, with at least one being written by an academic faculty member
Application Requirements for Other Law Schools
The next 31 schools may not be the highest-ranked in the nation, but they’re still excellent choices for aspiring law students! Here are all their law school prerequisites:
LSAT, GRE, or GMAT scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 171
A Personal Statement: No page restrictions, but two pages double-spaced is recommended
A Resume: No page limit, but one to two pages long is recommended
Letters of Recommendation: One letter is required, preferably from a professor
Optional Responses: You can submit a 250-word response to one of five questions or a one-minute video
Optional Statement: Share how your experiences or perspectives have contributed to who you are as a future lawyer
The University of Minnesota
As the 16th-place law school, the University of Minnesota is a great option for aspiring law students. This school requires the following from its applicants:
Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.83
An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 168
A Personal Statement: Should be two pages, double-spaced, outlining personal goals and reasons for pursuing law
A Resume: No page limit
Letters of Recommendation: One to two letters from academic sources
Optional Statement of Interest: Discuss why you chose Minnesota Law in particular
Optional Addenda: Each addendum should be one page, double-spaced to highlight diversity or explain parts of your application, obstacles, or other important matters
Optional Video Interview: All applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the pre-recorded video interview to introduce themselves to the committee
Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.84. Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.20.
LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 170
A Personal Statement: No more than two double-spaced pages addressing your decision to pursue legal education
A Resume: No more than three pages
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required
Optional Statement(s): Addressing information that you believe your application would be incomplete without and/or describing experiences you’ve had engaginw tih ideas you disagreed with
Optional Addenda: Talk about economic, social, and/or personal background, their undergraduate performance, or their standardized test performance
LSAT/ GRE scores: the median accepted LSAT score is 172
A Personal Statement: Two to three double-spaced pages long
A Resume: Highlights relevant experiences
Letters of Recommendation: At least two are required, preferably from academic mentors
Optional Addenda: Regarding diversity, financial need, experiences, and grades
Brigham Young University (Clark)
The 22nd-best law school in the nation is Brigham Young University. BYU is associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and requires applicants to submit these materials:
Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.92
LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 168
A Personal Statement: Two double-spaced pages long
A Resume: One page long
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required from professors
Optional Essay: One page describing how your background will help you contribute to BYU Law
An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 164
A Personal Statement: Generally one two to three pages, double-spaced
A Resume: Generally one to three pages long
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required, preferably written by academic faculty
Optional Essays: Includes a diversity essay, an essay on leadership potential/experience, and a commitment to public interest/service essay
The University of Florida (Levin)
Tied for 22nd in the nation, the University of Florida may not have made the top 20, but it’s known for producing successful lawyers. These are the application requirements:
Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.9
LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 169
A Personal Statement: Must not exceed four double-spaced pages describing who you are and why you want to pursue law
A Resume: Should detail awards, work or volunteer experience, publications, and/or foreign language proficiency
Letters of Recommendation: One to four letters are required, with at least one coming from someone who can directly attest to your academic abilities
Optional “Why UF” Statement: Further explain why you chose UF
Diversity, Inclusion, and/or Need Statements: Up to two double-spaced pages explaining how you’d foster a more inclusive and diverse community
Optional Addenda: Explains anything you want to elaborate on further in your application
An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 166
A Personal Statement: You must discuss why you want to become a legal professional, why you think you’re ready for the demands of the profession, and why you chose UNC – it shouldn’t exceed four pages
A Resume: Can be up to three pages long
Letters of Recommendation: Two to three letters are required; at least one should be from a professor
Supplemental Application: Determines your residency for tuition purposes
A Personal Statement: Should be no more than two double-spaced pages
A Resume: Typically one to two pages long
Letters of Recommendation: Two to four letters are required, but it’s suggested to only submit two written by academic instructors
Optional “Why Notre Dame” Statement: Should be no more than two double-spaced pages
Optional “Different Kind of Lawyer” Statement: Should be no longer than two double-spaced pages, explaining why you’re unique and what you hope to achieve in the future
LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 164
A Personal Statement: A typed, double-spaced personal statement not exceeding two pages – there’s no specific prompt or format
A Resume: Include details about your education, honor societies, military service, extracurriculars, service, honors/awards, publications, foreign language proficiencies, and any other achievements Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation, ideally from present/previous professors and supervisors
An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 167
A Personal Statement: Should be no more than two pages, double-spaced
A Resume: Should be no more than two pages
Optional Letters of Recommendation: You may submit up to two letters
Optional Inclusive Excellence Statement: Should be no more than one page, double-spaced
Optional Addenda: Should be no more than one page, double-spaced
Optional Elevator Pitch: A 30-second video summarizing yourself and demonstarting your communication skills
George Mason University (Scalia)
While George Mason ties for 32nd overall as a law school, it has the fourth-best part-time law program in the nation! Here are the application requirements to apply:
Median GPA: The median accepted GPA is 3.83
LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 166
A Personal Statement: Shouldn’t exceed two pages, double-spaced
A Resume: No page, format, or content limits
Letters of Recommendation: Only one letter is required and should be written by an academic faculty member
A Mason Statement: A two-page statement explaining why you chose George Mason
LSAT/GRE Scores: The median accepted LSAT score is 158
A Personal Statement: Your personal statement must be two to three pages long, double-spaced
A Resume: Must include your educational/work/extracurricular experiences
Letters of Recommendation: At least one letter should come from a professor (if you graduated less than three years ago) – you must provide at least two letters
Optional Kansas Statement: Explain your interest/connection to Kansas or the University of Kansas
Optional Diversity Statement: Share the life experiences or personal characteristics that would contribute to the school’s diversity
Optional Addendum: Share additional information about your academic record if needed
An LSAT Score: The median accepted LSAT score is 163
A Personal Statement: Must not exceed three pages – you can write about any topic
A Resume: No format or length requirements listed
Letters of Recommendation: One letter is required but two to four letters are strongly encouraged
Optional Essays: Candidates are encouraged to write an essay (no longer than 2 pages) expressing their qualifications, talents, perspectives, and goals
For any remaining questions about admission requirements for law schools, read on to find your answers:
1. What Are the Requirements for Law School in the U.S.?
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.
2. What Is the Easiest Law School to Get Into?
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 59.7% acceptance rate, a median LSAT score of 146, and a median GPA of 3.16.
3. What Is the Hardest Law School to Get Into?
Yale School of Law is the hardest law school to get into, with a 6% acceptance rate.
4. How Long Should My Personal Statement Be?
Most law schools ask applicants to limit their personal statements to two to four pages.
5. Do Law Schools Ask for Resumes?
Most law schools ask for resumes to learn about your experience, skills, and abilities.
6. Do I Need Work Experience for Law School?
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.
7. What GPA is Required for Law School?
Although most law schools don’t list cutoffs, the GPAs of admitted students at the country’s top law schools tend to be at or higher than 3.7.
8. Are There Prerequisite Courses for Law School?
There are no required courses you must take to apply to law school.
9. Do You Have to Go to College Before Law School?
Yes, law schools require applicants to complete college before enrolling.
10. Do You Need a Bachelor to Go to Law School?
Yes, you need a bachelor’s degree to attend law school.
11. Which Test Should I Take to Get Into Law School?
Depending on the school you’re applying to, you can take the LSAT or GRE. Which test you take is ultimately up to you and which schools you’re applying to.
12. Is It Hard to Get Into Law School?
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.
13. Can You Go To Law School With Any Degree?
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.
Final Thoughts
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!
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