Law School Acceptance Rates & Admission Tips in

Law School Acceptance Rates

How Competitive Are Law School Acceptance Rates?

The median acceptance rate for all law schools in the US sits at 41%, which is already a fairly competitive rate.

The top 15 law schools in the US, such as the T14 law schools with acceptance rates below 20%, are even more selective.

The toughest law school to get into, Yale Law School, has an acceptance rate of just 5.72%. Conversely, even the easiest Ivy League law schools to get into, such as Cornell Law School, Columbia's law program and UPenn Law School have very competitive acceptance rates.

Getting into law school in the US is undeniably challenging, but it is possible. If you’re concerned about how to get into law school with a low GPA or below average LSAT score, don’t worry. There are ways to compensate for lower statistics and get in.

What GPA and LSAT Score Do You Need to Get Into Law School?

To get accepted to law school, you’ll need an excellent application, a high GPA (above 3.3) and good scores; including an LSAT score between 150 and 160 to be considered for competitive programs.

A law school advisor can help guide you in navigating this really difficult law school requirement. They can help you figure out how to study for the LSAT to get a competitive score—for students who score below 145, a retake is typically necessary. Adequate prep and expert advice can help avoid this type of scenario!

Here's some tips for those who are trying to get into law school with lower grades:

Law School Acceptance Rates: What They Mean and Why Your LSAT Score & GPA Matter

For law school admissions, acceptance rates provide a general sense of a school’s selectivity. However, the median GPA and LSAT scores of admitted students are often far more critical indicators of competitiveness—and these have risen across the board in recent years. This isn’t limited to Ivy League or top-tier schools; it reflects the increasing competition at all U.S. law schools.

So, how much do GPA and LSAT scores matter? Quite a lot. As Aaron Schulze, JD graduate of the The University of Texas School of Law, explains:

“When I was applying, I was told by multiple sources that an applicant’s ‘numbers’ (GPA and LSAT) were always the most significant factors. Of course, the written parts of the application are important, but they are not weighed the same. While strong scores can make up for weak written materials, strong written materials can rarely make up for weak scores.” - Aaron Schulze, JD

Tyler Chiasson, JD graduate and LSAT expert, echoes this sentiment:

“[A] personal statement may push a student over the finish line to acceptance, but I don’t think it’s given as much importance – I did not do much to personalize my personal statements to each school but got many acceptances anyway.” - Tyler Chiasson, JD

This is not to say the rest of your application doesn’t matter—of course it does! But for the most competitive schools, a low GPA and LSAT score are hard to overlook, even if the rest of your application is stellar. To put it bluntly: your numbers get you into the game, while the other components—your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and resume—help you stand out once you’re there.

How to Use Law School Acceptance Rates and Admissions Data

Understanding a school’s acceptance rates and admissions statistics can help you make strategic decisions about where to apply. Here’s how JD expert Aaron Schulze approached it:

“I spent a considerable amount of time researching and finding all the metrics (i.e., average GPA, average LSAT, etc.) for the schools I was interested in. Because I was unsure of where I wanted to practice, I wanted to apply to recognized, more notable programs with a reputation both in-state and out-of-state. However, these programs were more competitive. I divided my school list into categories of how likely my acceptance would be based on comparing my numbers with the school’s statistics.” - Aaron Schulze, JD

This strategy works because it’s realistic and focused. Start by comparing your GPA and LSAT scores to the median scores of the schools you’re targeting. If your numbers are a strong match (or above), that’s a green flag. If you’re slightly below, you’ll need to compensate with exceptional personal statements, strong letters of recommendation, or unique experiences.

The good news? You don’t need to hunt for these stats—they’re all provided above in this blog! Once you’ve identified the schools where you’re a competitive applicant, you can shift focus to crafting the rest of your application to stand out from the crowd. Remember, every other applicant will also have strong numbers, so you need to show something extra.

Want some extra tips on getting accepted to your dream Law School? Check out this video:

How to Increase Your Law School Acceptance Chances

It goes without saying that for the best chance at getting into law school, you’ll need a well-rounded application. This means a respectable LSAT score, the highest GPA possible, and a compelling law school personal statement.

Having a good balance of all application components is best, but a weak point in your application can be overcome by a solid whole. Having a really strong application is especially important if you have lower statistics. The following components are just as vital as a high GPA:

Submit Strong Law School Essays

Your law school personal statement will answer the question “why do you want to study law?” and why you’ve chosen to apply to a particular law school. Some applications may include specific law school essay prompts you need to respond to, so review the law school admissions essay topics you’ll be writing on to help you construct a strong essay and brainstorm ideas.

Many students struggle with the written sections of an application, particularly law school essays, and plenty of students hire a grad school essay tutor for this reason. Reading examples can be an excellent way to prepare for this step, too. Try reading some Harvard Law School personal statement examples for inspiration on writing stellar personal statements for law school.

Secure Law School Recommendation Letters

Law school recommendation letters can be another powerful tool on your application. Recommendation letters are important because law schools want to evaluate your character and fitness for the legal field, not just your academic skills. Hearing about your abilities and strengths from others who know you can be a strong asset for your application. Make sure you secure referees and build relationships with them early on!

Prepare Supplemental Law School Application Components to Enhance Your Application

There are also some important ways you can compensate for lower law school admissions statistics. These are supplementary parts of your application but can be highly effective tools:

Get Ready for Law School Interviews

Early law school interview preparation is essential. Practice for your law school interview with mock interviews, or read some law school interview questions well ahead of time to establish a sense of confidence and familiarity.

Law school admissions consulting is worth considering if you’re hoping to ace your interview the first time and work with a professional (who has been in your shoes) on refining your answers, appearing confident and professional, and making the best impression possible!

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Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting