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Frequently Asked Questions for Pre-law Students

The March LSAT has been cancelled. All March registrants will be automatically registered for the April 25 test in the community where they were registered for the March test, unless they request another action. Keep in mind that there is still much uncertainty about test availability and the need for social distancing by then, so nothing is guaranteed.

In an effort to accommodate students, LSAC has announced the following: “Any candidate who registered for the March 2020 or April 2020 LSAT, and who has a canceled score from a previous LSAT, will now have the opportunity to review their canceled score and restore that canceled score to their record if they choose.” This is aimed primarily at current cycle applicants without an on-the-record LSAT score who wouldn’t otherwise have a score to submit to law schools. It might also benefit those who have a recorded score but were hoping to boost it with a retake. The idea is that you’ll have a chance to see your canceled score and decide whether to revive it so that you can apply this cycle with that score. Applicants affected by this policy will receive an email from LSAC with their canceled score(s) and directions to restore that score if they desire. This is an important decision that should be made in consultation with your advisor and any other people who are supporting your application to law school. We do not recommend asking law schools if you should take this option.

Every school in the country is dealing with this crisis, including law schools. They will know that you had a tough adjustment to make. Remember that the admissions process is never just a numbers game, though. Even though the LSAT and GPA weigh heavily in decision-making, admissions committees really do engage in holistic reviews of applications. They will consider all the many factors that have shaped applicants and their experiences, perspectives, and so on. Without question, the pandemic and the challenges it is presenting to all of us will play a role in the admissions process from here on out.

No. Law school admissions committees are looking at the whole picture, not just one grade or set of grades. You will have other semesters that factor into this semester as well. What’s more, schools will welcome addenda explaining anomalies in your academic record. A brief explanation of the circumstances will help with concerns they might have. This is true whether you’re applying this year or several years from now with perhaps an odd-looking Spring 2020. Remember, every single college student in the US is experiencing this right now, so you are not alone if you struggle with a class or need to make use of an alternative grade or two.

Please note that you should only make the decision to convert your grades in consultation with your academic advisor.

You may have to be creative. There is a legal need in the midst of this crisis, and some law firms may be looking for help. Study abroad may not be an option, but what did you hope the experience would provide you that would be reflected on your application? How can you seek out similar experiences? It may simply be that you need to assume these opportunities are lost and focus on the quality of the rest of your application. Touch base with your references or see what you can do to reflect on this experience in your personal statement.

Make use of the same resources that you are using now for your classes. Consider asking if you can arrange a Zoom meeting with some current students or inquire if they plan to have virtual tours available. One thing you should consider right now is how law schools are treating their current students. Although this crisis has been difficult on us all, it is an excellent opportunity to see in real time how schools value their students (and what the student experience is like).

If you are still struggling with a decision and visiting the school is a major factor for you, it may be time to consider a gap year. You should not make a decision under duress, but these are extenuating circumstance. Some time to recover may be your best solution. Talk to your advisor and those whose opinions you trust.

You may have to be creative. There is a legal need in the midst of this crisis, and some law firms may be looking for help. Study abroad may not be an option, but what did you hope the experience would provide you that would be reflected on your application? How can you seek out similar experiences? It may simply be that you need to assume these opportunities are lost and focus on the quality of the rest of your application. Touch base with your references or see what you can do to reflect on this experience in your personal statement.

NEW UPDATE

See the below communication from LSAC regarding online testing.

In light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, we will be offering an online, remotely proctored version of the LSAT – called the LSAT-Flex – in the second half of May for test takers who were registered for the April test. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely and will make other LSAT-Flex test dates available this spring and summer if the situation warrants. We plan to resume the in-person LSAT once conditions allow, in strict accordance with public health authorities and using all necessary health and safety measures. In the meantime, the remotely proctored LSAT-Flex will provide candidates with the opportunity to earn an LSAT score even if the COVID-19 crisis makes it impossible to deliver the test in-person.

Candidates currently registered for the April 2020 LSAT will be automatically registered to take the LSAT-Flex in the second half of May unless they choose another option. We are committed to broad access and will work with all test takers with disabilities to see that their accommodation needs are met under the circumstances. We will also work with any candidates who may need our assistance with access to computer equipment or other necessary hardware. If you are aware of any April registrants who might need assistance, please urge them to contact us so that we can help.

April registrants who do not wish to take the LSAT-Flex in May can choose another published LSAT test date without having to pay a test date change fee.

We will announce the exact date and instructions for the May LSAT-Flex no later than Friday, April 17. We are working hard in real-time amid this crisis to create new ways for candidates to take the LSAT and get scores in a timely manner. We know how important this is to their future, and also to fairness and integrity in law school admission, which advances access and equity in legal education. We appreciate your continued support and guidance to your students as we all work through this extraordinary public health crisis together.

Our team has worked hard to ensure that the LSAT-Flex test will provide the high levels of security, validity, reliability, accessibility, and fairness that candidates and schools rely upon from the LSAT.

  • LSAT-Flex will be composed of genuine LSAT questions that have been developed and tested in accordance with our rigorous standards and processes.
  • LSAT-Flex will be delivered in the same format as the free Official LSAT Prep practice tests available on LSAC’s LawHub, so your students can familiarize themselves with the format now.
  • To ensure the highest levels of security and validity, all LSAT-Flex test takers will be monitored by live remote proctors via the camera and microphone in the test takers’ computer. The video and audio feed will be recorded, and further reviewed by human reviewers and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques.
  • LSAT-Flex can be accessed by test takers with a laptop or desktop computer with a Windows or Mac operating system to provide wide access for test takers. Your students can learn more about the computer and testing environment requirements here.
  • To meet the anticipated demand and the needs of the remote testing solution, LSAT-Flex will be composed of three 35-minute scored sections (compared to the four 35-minute scored sections plus an unscored section in the traditional test).
  • LSAT-Flex will include one section each of Reading Comprehension, Analytical Reasoning, and Logical Reasoning. Test takers will continue to take LSAT Writing separate from the multiple-choice portion of the test.
  • Test takers will receive a score on the standard 120-180 LSAT range, as well as a percentile ranking. Because all LSAT-Flex questions are actual LSAT questions that have gone through a multi-year process of development and pre-testing, LSAT-Flex results enable LSAC to accurately predict standard LSAT scores. Scores for the LSAT-Flex will have an annotation that the test was administered in the online, remotely proctored format.
  • Given the shortness of time remaining in the current admission cycle, we will accelerate score release for LSAT-Flex test takers. We anticipate LSAT-Flex scores will be released approximately two weeks after testing.
  • LSAC is committed to working with LSAT-Flex test takers with disabilities to see that their accommodation needs are met under the circumstances. All test takers who have already been approved to receive accommodations for the April 2020 LSAT test date will receive the same or equivalent accommodations for the LSAT-Flex administration.