Law School Requirements & Prerequisites – 2024
June 11, 2024
Considering law school but not sure where to start with the application? Looking through each school’s admissions website can be overwhelming, not to mention deciding which law schools to apply for, taking the LSATs, and writing your personal statement essay. Continue reading for a discussion of important law school requirements, as well as answers to some common questions asked by future law students throughout the application process. This includes a list of law schools that don’t require the LSAT in 2024. Hopefully, this information covering all law school prerequisites will help you find some clarity and organization as you dive into those law school apps.
What do you need to get into law school?
To begin, here’s a bit about each law school prerequisite and application requirement.
Bachelor’s degree
First of all, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree and a submitted transcript. While some law schools accept associate’s degrees, having only a 2-year degree will limit your options. And unlike medical schools that have certain premed requirements in undergrad, law schools don’t require any specific undergraduate coursework. Students with diverse disciplinary backgrounds (as well as extracurriculars) are encouraged to apply.
Extracurriculars
While law schools are looking for star students, they are also looking for those with unique interests outside of class. In your application, you should be sure to include extracurriculars that contribute to your legal skills, demonstrate interest in service, and show leadership and teamwork skills.
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Letters of rec
You will likely need to submit two letters of recommendation as part of your law school application. These letters should come from professors or mentors who can speak to your academic strengths, work ethic, and character. If you don’t have two professors who know you well? Managers at a job are also good options, especially if they can attest to your qualities that will serve you in law school (determination, problem-solving skills, organization, etc.). As you choose who to ask, it’s most important that your recommenders can provide detailed and thoughtful letters. Make sure to give them over a month to prepare, if possible.
LSAT scores (or GRE/GMAT)
For most law schools, you will need to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) exams as part of the application process, though some schools also accept scores from the GRE, GMAT, or other standardized tests. When should you take the LSAT? Read this article for information on LSAT test dates in 2024.
The LSAT measures critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension, which are necessary skills for successfully completing law school. It consists of five sections (35 minutes each), including one writing section. Make sure to study plenty for the LSAT, since the registration for the exam isn’t cheap (it costs $222 without a fee waiver, and an extra $45-$75 for score preview if you’d like to see your scores before they are sent to law schools). We recommend that you begin studying daily at least 3-4 months before your exam date.
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Personal statement
The personal statement is an opportunity to share your experiences and goals with each law school, highlighting some of the attributes that make you a great fit for the program. It’s also an opportunity to showcase your writing skills, which will serve you throughout your time in the program. Make sure that this personal statement is concise, well-written, and thoughtful.
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Law school application
Most likely, you will complete the official application for each law school through an online platform. In addition to your personal statement and letters of recommendation, you will likely need to upload transcripts, resumes, school-specific essays, and application fees. Make sure to carefully read and follow the directions of each school you’re applying for.
Best college majors for law school applicants
As stated above, you don’t need to have completed a particular undergraduate major in order to apply for law school. However, some college majors are more common on law school apps than others. While these majors can set you up well, competitive law schools are also looking for variation. Whether you major in Agriculture Business, Music, or Anthropology, don’t be intimidated. Depending on how you present yourself, a unique major could be a help rather than a hindrance to your law school acceptance.
1) Political Science/Government
Perhaps the most common pre-law majors, Political Science and Government can lead students to develop deep understandings of legal systems and processes, as well as strong critical thinking and writing skills.
2) History
The history major also develops strong writing skills, while helping students to become familiar with looking critically at past events. History students are often comfortable analyzing detailed texts, while forming arguments based on social contexts and legal implications of past events.
3) Philosophy
The philosophy major is well-known for training students in logical reasoning and critical thinking. Many philosophy majors take courses specifically related to ethics and justice, themes directly connected to issues in the legal field.
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4) Business/Economics
Courses in business and economics help students to understand financial systems and economic patterns, which connect to many areas of law from corporate law, to tax law, to real estate law.
5) STEM
STEM courses (in science, technology, engineering, and math) require problem-solving and logical reasoning skills, which are extremely valuable in law school. Plus, STEM expertise can help in areas of law related to technology, patents, and intellectual property.
Other majors
If you didn’t major in one of these areas, don’t fret! You can still get into law school. First and foremost, law school admissions want to see that you have developed academic skills that are applicable to the legal field (critical thinking, analysis, communication, argument development, and writing, for example). These skills can be honed in majors from Theater, to Religion, to Psychology, and beyond.
What LSAT scores and GPAs are needed to get into law school?
Law schools that require LSAT scores accept students with a range of scores, and it’s a similar deal with GPAs. However, you are most likely to be accepted if you have an LSAT score and GPA at or above the school’s median. For instance, Columbia University Law School’s median LSAT of entering students is 173/180, and its median GPA of entering students is 3.87/4.00. So, if you have an LSAT score of 174 and a GPA of 3.88 you have a pretty good shot at getting into Columbia. If you have an LSAT score of 170 and a GPA of 3.75, admission is still possible (especially if you have a strong resume, great letters of rec, and an excellent personal statement essay), however, you may want to also apply for some of the many great law schools where your LSAT scores and GPA put you above the median.
Law schools that don’t require the LSAT in 2024
While the LSAT is required for many law schools, many ABA-approved law schools now accept the GRE, or in certain situations, the GMAT, as options. For example, at the University of Iowa College of Law, applicants from its undergraduate program can submit scores from the GMAT, GRE, SAT, or ACT instead of taking the LSAT. At the University of Chicago, applicants may submit GMAT scores instead of LSAT scores if they are applying for a dual degree with another graduate program at the university. Other top law schools that are flexible with standardized exams include Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law, NYU School of Law, and UPenn Carey Law School.
The complete list of schools that don’t require the LSAT in 2024 are:
| 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 |
| 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 |
Law Schools that Don’t Require the LSAT
| 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 Colorado 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 San Francisco School of Law |
| 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 |
So, what are the pros and cons of taking the LSAT?
Because of these options, should you bother taking the LSAT? Here are some pros and cons:
Pros of the LSAT
- Specialized for law school: Because LSAT questions are specialized for law, taking the test can help you get a sense of the kind of thinking involved in law school courses.
- Potential scholarships: Taking the LSAT could qualify you for certain merit scholarships based specifically on LSAT scoring.
- Familiarity: Many law schools are more familiar with the LSAT than other exams, meaning they might better understand its scoring and slightly prefer it.
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Cons of the LSAT
- Limited transferability: While the GRE and GMAT are transferable if you decide you’d like to apply for different kinds of graduate degree programs, the LSAT is only useful for law school apps. So, if you’re thinking you’d like to do a dual degree in business, or even apply for business programs later on, the GMAT could be a wise choice.
- Potential difficulty: The LSAT requires a specific logical reasoning skill set and can be more cognitively demanding for some applicants.
Law school application deadlines
Law school application deadlines depend on the program you’re applying for. In general, it is important that you research your programs of interest and mark their deadlines in your calendar as early as possible. Often, however, a school might have multiple or flexible application deadlines. Here are a few factors to consider as you decide when to submit those apps.
Early vs. regular decision
Some law schools offer early decision deadlines (often in the fall or early winter) as opposed to regular deadlines (usually in the winter or early spring). If you apply for a school “early decision,” this means that if your chances of acceptance are slightly higher, and if you’re accepted, you’re committed to attending the following year. On the other hand, “regular decision” deadlines are non-binding.
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Priority deadlines
Law schools often offer priority deadlines for certain scholarships or financial aid opportunities. Like early decision deadlines, priority deadlines can increase your chances of being accepted and/or receiving financial aid. Unlike early decision deadlines, they are usually non-binding.
Rolling admissions
Many law schools offer rolling admissions, meaning that the school makes acceptance decisions they receive applications. The earlier you submit your application for these programs, the higher your chances of acceptance.
Questions to ask when considering applying for law school
As you decide whether to apply to law school, it’s important to reflect on why you wish to attend. What are your motivations for pursuing a career in law? What are your values, skills, and interests that you will take with you? Additionally, you should set your expectations about where you are likely to be admitted and how many schools you should apply for. Below are some useful questions to ask yourself as you think through all of this.
1) Will law school help me with my career goals?
If you aim to be a practicing attorney or a judge, you will certainly need a law degree. On the other hand, if you wish to work in government or policy, a law degree won’t necessarily boost your career (depending on your goals). You could alternatively consider master’s degrees in public policy, environmental policy, or public health, to name a few examples. If being a lawyer doesn’t seem like your dream job, you might want to look at graduate degrees that more precisely fit your goals.
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2) Do I have the skills necessary for succeeding in law school and in a law career?
Law school coursework is challenging, and students need to be academically skilled in order to accomplish the degree. In undergrad, did you thrive in difficult academic coursework that involved reading, writing, critical thinking, and logical analysis? It’s likely you will also thrive in law school. In addition to having smarts, law students must be motivated to put in the work. Law school requires hours of study outside of class, and students tend to participate in internships, special projects, and pro bono work to best prepare themselves for careers in law. If you think you have the skill and determination (as well as the organizational skills) to do all of this, law school could be an excellent fit.
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3) How much time, money, and energy does law school require? Is it worth the commitment?
The short answer is, a lot. Law school is a significant investment, and many law students take on debt to finance their degrees. For some tuition examples, University of Chicago Law School costs $74,607 per year, and Duke University School of Law costs $72,632. One way to save some money is by attending your state university’s law school. For instance, Michigan Law costs $66,808 per year for Michigan residents, and $69,808 for non-residents. University of Maryland (Carey) Law School costs $36,999 for Maryland residents and $53,655 for non-residents.
Additionally, most law programs involve 3-years of difficult coursework, plus internships in the summer months and time studying for the Bar Examination after. That said, if you dream of a career in law, this investment could be worth it.
How difficult is it to get into law school?
It depends on the school. While many law schools (especially T14 schools) are extremely competitive to get into (with acceptance rates between 5% and 20%), others such as Loyola University New Orleans have reasonably high acceptance rates (accepting over 50% of applicants). While attending a highly competitive law school could provide you with particular career opportunities, there are many great reasons to choose a law school aside from its competitiveness. The best program for you could be one that has a specific program, location, or faculty mentor, for example. The difficulty of getting into law school will also depend on your LSAT scores, undergrad GPA, and the quality of your letters of rec and admissions essays.
So, I think I want to apply for law school. How many programs should I apply for?
While different experts have different opinions on this matter, most agree that you should apply for several “reach schools,” “midrange schools,” and “safety schools.” “Reach schools” are those you could get into based on your test scores, but due to the competition, you’re still likely to get waitlisted or rejected. “Midrange schools” are those where your odds of admission are more likely but not assured. At “safety schools,” your chances of admission are pretty solid. Some people apply to as few as 2-3 reach, midrange, and safety schools, and others apply to 5 or more of each. If you want to raise your chances of having a choice at the end of the day, it might be wise to apply to 10-15 law schools total.
If application fees are preventing you from applying to as many schools as you’d like, you should consider applying for the LSAC Fee Waiver Program, which was created to ease the financial burden for future law students.
Law School Requirements & Prerequisites – Final thoughts
We hope that this article has helped you to get a sense of the requirements and prerequisites needed to apply for law school, and that it has given you an idea of what the law school application process will look like. For more information on law school admissions, we recommend the following articles:
- Top Feeders into Law School
- Law School Personal Statement with Examples
- 15 Best Law Schools in New York
- 18 Best Law Schools in California
- 5 Best Law Schools in Georgia
- 15 Best Immigration Law Schools in 2024
- 15 Best Entertainment Law Schools & Sports Law Schools in 2024
