USF Pre-Law Society
LSAT Information Corner
LSAT stands for Law School Admission Test. Almost all of the ABA certified Law Schools in the U.S. require that you take the LSAT to be considered for admission.
When
should you take the LSAT?
Before you choose an administration, you'll want to consider all of the implications of your decision. Here is a quick summary of upcoming test dates along with some factors to consider for each.
June 9, 2003
The June administration is the only test that is given on a Monday afternoon.
If you have trouble functioning at the usual 8:00 am start-time, June may be a
good option. Furthermore, taking the LSAT in June frees up your summer and fall
to research schools and complete applications. However, June testers who are
still in college must balance their LSAT preparation with both academic course
work and, in some cases, final exams. We recommend that you check your school's
course schedules before deciding on a June LSAT test date.
October 4, 2003
The October test date will allow you to prepare for the LSAT during the summer (an
attractive option for college students who may have some free time on their
hands). Once you've taken the LSAT, you can spend the remainder of your fall
completing applications.
December 6, 2003
December is the last LSAT administration that most competitive law schools will
accept. If disaster strikes and you get a flat tire on test day, you may end up
waiting another year to begin law school. December testers also must balance
their time between preparing for the LSAT and completing law school applications.
Doing so can make for a hectic fall, especially if you're still in college. You
should also remember that, while a law school may accept December LSAT scores,
taking the test in December could affect your chances of admission. Many law
schools use a rolling admissions system, which means that they begin making
admissions decisions as early as mid-October and continue to do so until the
application deadline. Applying late in this cycle could mean that fewer spots
are available. Check with your potential law schools to find out their specific
policies.
February 7, 2004
If you want to begin law school in fall of 2004, the February LSAT will be too
late for most law schools. However, if you don't plan to begin law school until
the year 2005, you can give yourself a head start on the entire admissions
process. Take the LSAT in February, then spend your summer researching schools
and your fall completing applications.
How do
I register for the LSAT?
The LSAT is administered by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). You can register by phone, mail or on-line.
Usually, you need to register for the LSAT a minimum of 30 days before the test administration date. Sometimes it is possible to register as late as three weeks prior to the exam date, however, you will be charged a late fee. Check the LSAC web site for exact dates and additional information.
It currently costs $108 to take the LSAT. You can download useful information, here.
LSDAS stands for Law School Data Assembly Service. This service collects all of the following:
¨ an undergraduate academic summary
¨ copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and law school/professional school transcripts
¨ LSAT scores and writing sample copies
¨ copies of letters of recommendation processed by Law Services
After collecting ALL of this information, LSDAS assembles it into a standard format and sends that information to the law schools of your choice.
You have four basic steps to complete your LSDAS file:
1. Subscribe to the LSDAS and pay all required fees.
2. Take the LSAT or use a prior LSAT score that is valid and reportable.
3. Request that one official transcript be sent to Law Services from the registrar's office of each school you attended.
4. Apply to law school(s). The school(s) will then request your report from Law Services.
The official LSDAS information page is located here. Read it!
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The USF Pre-Law Society, the University of South Florida and the author(s) of this page assume no responsibility for the advice or information on this page. Follow these recommendations at your own risk. Some of the information on this page was compiled from The Princeton Review web site, the Law School Admissions Council web site, and other sources.