Currently, law schools can be very selective about whom they admit into their programs. Demand for legal education has been high in recent years and continues to remain strong. In the last few years, between 5,000 and 7,000 applicants have competed for approximately 2,300 first-year places in Canada’s common-law law schools. Admission committees are faced with denying admission to many well-qualified applicants due to limited space and resources.

Admission requirements

All law schools consider a variety of factors in admitting their students, and no single qualification will independently guarantee acceptance or rejection. To be fair, schools rely heavily on selection criteria such as the Law School Admission Test, commonly referred to as the LSAT. They also rely heavily on academic achievements that relate to expected performance in law school and which can be applied to all candidates.

Other things that may increase your chances for admission into a law school include:

• Personal Statements: This is where you tell your story. You explain why you want to study and why now?
• References/Letters of Recommendation: You will need a reference from people who know your work ethic and character.
• Work Experience: Legal experience helps, but any professional experience matters.
• Interviews

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

A large proponent of the admission process is the LSAT. The LSAT provides a standard measure of acquired reading and reasoning skills that law schools can use in assessing applicants. It is a standardized test required for admission to over 220 Law School Admission Council (LSAC) member law schools located in Canada, the United States, Australia and a growing number of other countries worldwide. The LSAT is administered in two parts:

1. Part 1 consists of four 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions.
2. Part 2 is LSAT Argumentative Writing.

The LSAT tests three critical skills:

Logical Reasoning: This section tests your ability to dissect arguments and think critically.

Reading Comprehension: Think of yourself reading a complex contract or legal brief under time pressure. You need to understand not just what it says, but what it means and implies. This section simulates that real-world skill.

Unscored LSAT Writing Sample: The primary purpose of the LSAT writing sample is to assess a candidate’s ability to formulate a clear, logical, and well-organized argument in writing.

For more information, refer to 892 What is the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)?

Academic record

Along with an applicant’s LSAT score, their academic record plays a large part in determining their acceptance. Generally, undergraduate performance is an important indicator of how someone is likely to perform in law school. Therefore, many law schools look closely at university grades when considering individual applications. Course selection can also make a difference in admission evaluations. Applicants who have taken difficult or advanced courses in their undergraduate study are often evaluated more favourably than students who have concentrated on easier or less advanced subjects.

Admission status

Once an application and its supporting documents have been received, many law schools will make a preliminary judgment about what the applicant’s admission status will be. At this preliminary stage, many schools use an admission index to evaluate candidates. The index ordinarily is a combination of an applicant’s academic record and LSAT score. These index formulas are unique to each school and are followed more rigidly at some schools than at others.

Many law schools do not wait to accept or reject applicants on a specified date. Instead, the schools operate what is known as a “rolling admission process.” A rolling admission process means that the school evaluates applications and informs candidates of the school’s admission decision on a continuous basis over several months, usually beginning in winter and extending to midsummer for waiting-list admissions. Successful candidates are notified in order of preference.

More info

For more information on law school admission requirements or to register for the LSAT, visit the Law School Admission Council website, or contact the law school you are interested in attending.

								
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