If you’re wondering how to get into law school, we’ll show you exactly what it takes. Law school admissions hinge on your academic record, test scores, and personal essays, but standing out requires going beyond the basics. We’re sharing expert tips, from nailing the LSAT to writing an unforgettable law school personal statement, so you'll be prepared to present an open-and-shut case to the admissions committee. Whether you're fresh out of undergrad or pivoting to a legal career, these strategies will help you build a winning argument for your application.
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How to Get Into Law School: A Quick Overview
Getting into law school requires meeting a series of key academic and application milestones. The process involves:
- Earning a competitive GPA in your undergraduate degree,
- Achieving a strong LSAT score or GRE score,
- Writing a compelling law school personal statement,
- Securing stellar law school letters of recommendation, and
- Showcasing other relevant experiences.
To get started, research your target law schools’ acceptance rates and their specific requirements and medians for GPA and test scores. Figure out when you should take the LSAT, gather your application materials, and make note of important deadlines. While meeting these benchmarks is essential, standing out involves presenting a cohesive, authentic story that ties your academic achievements, personal experiences, and career aspirations into a compelling narrative.
How to Get Into Law School: Meet Law School Admission Requirements
Meeting the admission requirements is the foundation of your law school application. While the basic qualifications are straightforward, going beyond the minimum will significantly improve your chances. Below is a detailed breakdown of each requirement with expert tips to maximize your success.
1. Undergraduate Degree
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required for law school, but there’s no single "best" major. Law schools value diversity in academic backgrounds, as different perspectives enrich their programs.
Popular choices for pre-law students include Political Science, History, English, Business Administration, Psychology, and STEM fields, but admissions committees prioritize strong GPAs over specific majors. Excelling academically in a subject you’re passionate about is what truly matters.
Law School Admissions Tip
Regardless of your major, choose courses that build key law school skills like writing, research, and critical thinking. For example, philosophy courses can enhance your ability to analyze arguments, while debate classes improve quick thinking and oral advocacy. Rhetoric courses teach persuasive writing and public speaking, skills essential for crafting legal briefs or presenting cases. Additionally, electives in political science can provide insight into government systems, and economics classes can help you understand regulatory and financial frameworks that are often integral to legal practice.
2. GPA Requirement
According to a Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) report, the average undergraduate GPA of admitted law school students during a recent admissions cycle was 3.5, with more competitive schools, like Harvard Law School, reporting even higher averages. At some of the easiest law schools to get into the lower end of the GPA range for accepted students was around 2.8. It is possible to get into law school with a low GPA!
To find the GPA ranges for the law schools you’re applying to, consult each school’s admissions website, where they often publish the median and range of GPAs for their most recent class profile. Another helpful resource is the LSAC’s Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools, which allows you to search for schools by GPA medians, giving you a clear picture of where your academic record stands relative to other applicants. Using this data, you can identify target schools where your GPA falls within or above the average range and adjust your application strategy accordingly.
Law School Admissions Tip
If your GPA needs a boost, consider taking courses in law-related fields like business law, ethics, or public policy. These classes show your commitment to legal studies and demonstrate your ability to excel in challenging subjects.
Additionally, connect your GPA to your strengths—if you thrived in research-heavy or writing-intensive courses, highlight how these skills prepared you for law school. Use your essays or law school addendum to frame your academic achievements as evidence of your readiness for the demands of legal education.
This video includes some of our best tips to help your law school application stand out!
3. LSAT and GRE Scores
The LSAT is a cornerstone of the law school admissions process, evaluating skills like logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and reading comprehension—abilities essential for thriving in law school. A strong LSAT score can improve your application, often compensating for a lower GPA, as many law schools weigh it heavily in their decision-making process.
Some law schools accept GRE scores instead of the LSAT. This offers a little more flexibility for applicants, especially those pursuing multiple graduate programs. The GRE tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing, making it a broader assessment than the LSAT’s focus on logic and reasoning.
Law School Admissions Tip
To score well, start 3 to 6 months before your LSAT test date or GRE test date, and work backward to create a tailored study plan. Begin with an LSAT diagnostic test to identify your baseline score and focus on improving weaker areas, such as LSAT reading comprehension or GRE vocabulary.
Regularly practice with timed tests and incorporate targeted study materials into your schedule. If self-study isn’t enough, consider enrolling in a professional LSAT prep course for additional support.
Finally, research the median LSAT or GRE scores of your target schools to align your performance with their admission standards. This will help you create a balanced list of reach, target, and safety schools.
How to Get Into Law School: Understand the Application Process
The law school application process can vary based on where you are applying, and understanding the process will save you time and ensure your application is complete.
In the US, most applicants use the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) portal to manage their applications. Through the LSAC's online platform, you can send your LSAT scores, official transcripts, and application materials to multiple law schools efficiently. It’s a one-stop shop that simplifies the process and ensures your materials are received promptly.
In Canada, the process is province-dependent. While most law schools require you to apply directly through their online portals, applicants to Ontario law schools must use the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS), which centralizes the application process for schools in the province.
How to Get Into Law School: Ace the Law School Application
1. Law School Personal Statement
Your law school personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your unique story, motivations, and aspirations. The biggest mistake applicants make when applying to law school is focusing only on their GPA and LSAT, ignoring the power of their story. Numbers may open the door, but a riveting narrative helps you get admitted.
Follow each school’s specific prompts and word limits carefully—most personal statements are around 500 to 750 words. Structure your essay to flow naturally: begin with your story, connect it to your growth and aspirations, and conclude with a reflection that ties everything together. Avoid generic statements and focus on creating a narrative only you can tell. Edit meticulously for clarity, grammar, and adherence to guidelines, and seek feedback from trusted advisors to refine your work.
Law School Admissions Tip
Use a specific, compelling anecdote to anchor your essay. For example, describe a moment that sparked your passion for the law or challenged your perspective in a meaningful way. Tie this story directly to your decision to pursue law school, your future goals, and how they align with the values and mission of the school you’re applying to. Highlight aspects of the program, such as a focus on public service, advocacy, or innovation in legal education, and connect them to your experiences and aspirations.
2. Law School Recommendation Letters
Strong law school letters of recommendation serve as your “character witnesses”, offering an external perspective on your skills, integrity, and suitability for law school. They help admissions committees evaluate your ability to succeed academically and contribute to the law school community.
Typically, schools require two letters, but some may ask for more or allow additional submissions. Choosing recommenders who know you well and can highlight your strengths with concrete examples is crucial.
Law School Admissions Tip
Provide your recommenders with an info packet that includes your law school resume, personal statement, and details about the law school programs you’re applying to. This helps them tailor their letters to emphasize the qualities most valued by admissions committees, such as your analytical abilities, work ethic, or leadership. Schedule a meeting with each recommender to discuss your goals and ensure they feel confident writing a strong, personalized letter.
3. Extracurriculars and Experience
Your law school extracurricular activities and professional experiences add depth and context to your application. They illustrate your interests, personal growth, and commitment to causes or skills that connect to a legal career. While not every activity needs to be law-related, your experiences should reflect qualities like leadership, dedication, and a passion for learning.
Law School Admissions Tip
Highlight a few key extracurriculars or roles where you made a measurable impact. For example, if you led a team, increased membership, or organized a major event, quantify these accomplishments to show tangible results. Connect these experiences to skills relevant to law, such as critical thinking, communication, or problem-solving, and explain how they’ve prepared you for the challenges of law school and a legal career.
4. Law School Interview
The law school interview is often the final—and most personal—component of the admissions process. It’s your opportunity to articulate your story, clarify your motivations, and demonstrate your interpersonal skills. A strong performance might solidify your acceptance, while a weak interview will jeopardize your chances. Law school interview preparation is key to standing out.
Law School Admissions Tip
Research common law school interview questions and prepare thoughtful, authentic answers that tie into your other application components and the program’s values. Practice with law school mock interviews that include personalized feedback to refine your delivery.
Additionally, research the school thoroughly and prepare a few insightful questions for your interviewers about specific programs, clinics, or opportunities they offer. This shows genuine interest and sets you apart as a well-prepared candidate who is truly invested in their institution.
How to Get Into Law School: Go the Extra Mile
To give your application a boost and help you stand out from the crowd, here are a few more highly encouraged things you can do:
1. Write a Law School Diversity Statement
Admissions officers read hundreds if not thousands of personal statements from applicants, so adding a law school diversity statement that helps you stand out from this crowd is a nice bonus. Plus, law schools want to admit students from diverse backgrounds with an array of life experiences who will contribute to the legal profession, so this extra essay can tip the scales in your favor.
2. Nail the Law School Optional Essays
Your law school optional essays might be “optional” but we strongly encourage you to write them anyways! These supplemental essays are usually short and written in response to specific law school essay prompts. Optional essays are a great way to add more information to your application and set yourself apart from other applicants.
Check out our quick reference guide on law school optional essays!
3. Send a Letter of Continued Interest or Law School Letter of Intent
If you end up on a law school waitlist, a law school letter of continued interest expresses your desire to attend a certain law school and your interest in enrolling if you are admitted off the waitlist. It’s a nice to do something proactive while you’re waiting for your chance to be admitted.
If there is one law school at the top of your list, write a law school letter of intent explaining why this school is your top choice and why you should be admitted.
Just be sure to check that the school accepts these types of letters from applicants, since not all of them do.
4. Provide a Law School Addendum
If there are aspects of your law school application you are concerned will hurt your chances of getting accepted, you can include a law school addendum to address them. For instance, if your GPA is a little low or you have multiple LSAT attempts, a law school addendum provides some context and explanation.
FAQs
1. WHAT ARE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS TO GET INTO LAW SCHOOL?
Law school admissions typically require a bachelor’s degree, a competitive LSAT or GRE score, strong letters of recommendation, and a compelling personal statement. Additional components like extracurricular activities, professional experience, and diversity statements can also strengthen your application.
2. HOW IMPORTANT IS THE LSAT IN LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS?
For many law schools, the LSAT is one of the most critical factors in your application, as it evaluates skills essential for legal studies, such as logical reasoning and analytical thinking.
3. WHAT GPA DO I NEED TO GET INTO LAW SCHOOL?
Most admitted students have GPAs of 3.5 or higher, but the range varies by school. Some competitive schools like Harvard require a much higher GPA, while others accept students with GPAs as low as 2.8. Research the GPA medians of your target schools to align your application strategy.
4. HOW DO I WRITE A STANDOUT PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR LAW SCHOOL?
A standout personal statement should include a compelling anecdote that ties your experiences to your decision to pursue law and your future goals. Highlight how your values and aspirations align with the mission of the law school you’re applying to for maximum impact.
5. WHO SHOULD I ASK FOR LAW SCHOOL RECOMMENDATION LETTERS?
Ask professors, academic advisors, or employers who know you well and can speak to your strengths, such as analytical skills, leadership, and work ethic. Avoid friends or family members. If possible, a letter from a legal professional who has supervised you is a strong addition.
6. WHAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES LOOK GOOD ON A LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION?
Activities that demonstrate leadership, critical thinking, or commitment to causes are particularly valuable. While not all experiences need to be law-related, highlight those that connect to legal skills, such as debate, public service, or internships in a legal setting.
7. HOW CAN I INCREASE MY CHANCES OF GETTING INTO LAW SCHOOL?
To boost your chances of getting into law school, aim to meet or exceed the average GPA and LSAT scores of accepted students at your target schools. Then, put together a strong law school application and go the extra mile to make your application stand out. Finally, be sure to prepare well in advance for your law school interview. If you feel that professional help would be an asset, you can consider law school admissions consulting.
8. DO I NEED LEGAL EXPERIENCE TO GET INTO LAW SCHOOL?
No, legal experience is not required, but it can strengthen your application. Internships, volunteer work, or jobs in a legal setting show admissions committees that you’ve explored the field and are committed to a legal career. If you don’t have legal experience, highlight transferable skills from other roles, such as leadership, research, or public speaking.
9. WHAT CAN I DO IF I’M WAITLISTED FOR LAW SCHOOL?
If waitlisted, send a letter of continued interest to express your enthusiasm and commitment to attending. Highlight any new accomplishments or updates since your application. Additionally, confirm whether the school allows supplemental materials like an updated resume or an additional recommendation letter.
To your success,
Your friends at BeMo
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