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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 3/15/24
Getting a low LSAT score can be disappointing and discouraging for law school hopefuls. Read on to learn more about how to proceed with a low LSAT score and whether you can still get into law school with one.
The LSAT is the component of your law school application that will take the most time, energy, and resilience. Students often spend months completing dozens of gruelling mock exams to reach their target score and try tirelessly to perfect their reasoning skills.
Sometimes, however, these hours of preparation and practice exams are completed to no avail, and students end up with low LSAT scores. If you’ve found yourself in a similar predicament, you might be asking yourself, “What now”?
This guide will answer this question and explain how to proceed in your legal journey with a low LSAT score.
You can get into law school with a low LSAT score if it is above 144-145. Scores in this range will get you into some lower-ranking schools, although the majority of law schools prefer scores above 150.
Unfortunately, your LSAT is one of the most important parts of your law school application. It’s a definite number that law schools can easily use to compare students, so it’s essential you do your best to score high.
However, if you do receive a low LSAT score, there are ways to prevent it from drastically affecting your candidacy. So, while you can absolutely still get into law school with a low LSAT score, it’s a little more complicated than simply submitting your application with your LSAT score and hoping for the best.
To improve your chances of acceptance with a low LSAT score, consider admissions statistics and strategically apply to a variety of schools while also focusing on strengthening your GPA and highlighting your diverse experiences.
Additionally, craft a standout personal statement and resume, and explain any anomalies in your LSAT score to enhance your application. Let’s take a closer look at each of these tips.
Before you start sending out applications, it's crucial to understand the admissions statistics of the law schools you're interested in. Look into the average LSAT scores and GPAs of students who were accepted into those programs. This gives you a realistic idea of where you stand compared to other applicants and what you need to do to increase your chances of acceptance.
When you're applying to law schools, it's a good idea to spread out your choices. Think about applying to a variety of schools: reach, target, and safety schools.
Reach schools are ones where your scores are a bit lower than the average, target schools are where you're in the running, and safety schools are where your scores are higher than what they usually accept. This strategy gives you the best shot at getting accepted to at least one school.
Your LSAT score matters, but don't forget about your undergraduate GPA. If your GPA isn't as high as you'd like, take action to boost it. Consider taking extra courses to show you're improving academically. If there were any challenges that affected your grades, you can explain them in a separate section of your application.
Your personal statement is crucial for leaving a lasting impression on the admissions committee. It's your chance to showcase what makes you special, sharing your unique qualities, experiences, and reasons for wanting to study law.
Don't rush it; brainstorm and write several drafts, and ask for feedback from mentors or advisors. This way, you can ensure that your statement effectively highlights your strengths and goals.
Crafting a strong resume is essential. Beyond just focusing on your academic accomplishments, law schools appreciate candidates with a wide range of extracurricular experiences. Get involved in activities like student organizations, internships, volunteer work, or part-time jobs.
These experiences highlight your leadership skills, ability to work in teams, and dedication to helping others. By including them on your resume, you show that you're prepared for the challenges of law school.
If you're part of a group that's not often represented or if you've faced big obstacles, think about writing a separate diversity statement. Talk about how your special point of view will add to the mix of ideas and cultures in the law school. Show why having different perspectives is important for learning law and working as a lawyer.
If your LSAT score is lower due to reasons like illness, personal struggles, or needing testing accommodations, you can explain these circumstances in an additional note with your application. Keep it short, stick to the facts, and show how you've bounced back from challenges.
This reassures the admissions team about your capability to thrive in law school despite setbacks.
Your aim should be to prove that you are academically and professionally accomplished despite your low LSAT score. By doing so, the committee will be more compelled to overlook your low LSAT score.
In case you still have reservations about attending a law school with a low LSAT score, here are 15 law schools with the lowest LSAT score requirements.
As you can see, there is still hope for you if you have a low LSAT score!
If you have any remaining questions about a low LSAT score for law school, we may have the answers below!
A 144-145 is generally considered to be the lowest acceptable score to attend law school. The median LSAT score is around 151-152, so 144-145 is significantly lower than this. As such, the majority of law schools will not accept scores below this.
You can still get into law school if your LSAT score is lower than your target. The key is to make yourself a competitive candidate otherwise through a stellar personal statement, impressive resume, and strong letters of recommendation.
If you have the time to retake your LSAT and your desired law school only looks at your highest score, you should attempt the LSAT a second time. However, if you choose this option, ensure you reassess your study plan to increase your score.
A 145 is considered to be a low LSAT score, but various law schools still accept it, as seen on our list above!
To increase your LSAT score on your second attempt, you’ll need to come up with a new study plan that better rectifies your weaknesses.
Now that you have a better understanding of the sections you struggle with the most use this to guide your studies. If you’re not sure where to start or how to improve your study plan, Juris’ 99th percentile tutors can help!
The lowest possible score you can receive on the LSAT is 120.
There is no specific passing score for the LSAT, so you can’t really fail it! While you can receive the lowest score, the only way you might feel like you failed is if you get a score that is significantly lower than your target, as this can reduce your chances of admission to your dream law school.
The journey to law school can really push you to your limits and test your resilience! While a low LSAT score can make you second guess if you should continue pursuing a legal career, your LSAT score doesn’t define you! The LSAT is notorious for being difficult and doesn’t comprehensively reflect your legal potential or skills.
If you get a low LSAT score, it’s important you keep your head up and keep going, no matter how disheartened you are. As discussed in this guide, there are several practical ways to boost your candidacy despite a low score!
