LSAT and LSAC/CAS: How US Law School Admissions Work

The two engines of a JD application: the LSAT and LSAC

US law school (JD) admissions run on two pieces of machinery from the same organization, the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The first is the LSAT, the standardized admission test. The second is the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which gathers your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores into one standardized report that LSAC sends to every law school you apply to.

Most American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law schools require applicants to use CAS, and most also require a standardized test score. Some schools accept the GRE in addition to the LSAT — policies differ by school, so confirm each school's accepted tests on its official page.

This guide explains how these systems work. It does not quote score targets, fees, or deadlines as fixed facts; LSAC and individual schools set those, so verify the current details on the official LSAC pages linked below before relying on them.

LSAT format: what is on the test

The LSAT's multiple-choice portion has three scored sections — two sections of Logical Reasoning and one section of Reading Comprehension — plus one unscored section that LSAC uses to validate new questions for future tests. You will not know during the test which section is the unscored one.

Logical Reasoning measures your ability to analyze and critically evaluate arguments written in ordinary language. Reading Comprehension measures your ability to understand dense, complex passages similar to law-school reading. (Note: the analytical reasoning / 'logic games' section was removed from the LSAT beginning with the August 2024 test.)

Separately, every test taker must complete LSAT Argumentative Writing, an unscored writing exercise administered online with secure proctoring. It is not scored, but you must have a completed, approved writing sample on file before LSAC will release your LSAT score to schools.

How the LSAT is scored

Your raw score (the number of questions you answer correctly) is converted to the LSAT scaled score, which ranges from 120 (lowest) to 180 (highest). There is no penalty for wrong answers, so it is in your interest to answer every question.

LSAC reports your score along with a percentile rank that shows how your performance compares with other recent test takers. The official LSAC pages explain the current scale, percentiles, and how multiple attempts are reported — check them for the latest details rather than relying on older figures.

The CAS report: transcripts, recommendations, and scores in one place

CAS exists so that schools receive every applicant's credentials in a single, standardized format. You request official transcripts from every undergraduate, graduate, and law/professional institution you attended, and LSAC summarizes US and Canadian undergraduate transcripts into a standardized academic summary (while still forwarding copies of the original transcripts).

Letters of recommendation are submitted by your recommenders to LSAC, which includes them in your CAS report according to each school's requirements. Your LSAT score(s) and writing sample are bundled in as well. When you apply to a school, LSAC compiles and sends a CAS report containing the credentials that school requires.

• Official transcripts from every college, graduate, and law/professional school attended
• A standardized academic summary of US/Canadian undergraduate work
• Your LSAT score(s) and percentile, plus your writing sample
• Letters of recommendation submitted directly by recommenders to LSAC
• A CAS report compiled and sent to each school you apply to

Putting the cycle together

A typical JD application combines the CAS report with school-specific items: the school's application form, a personal statement, often optional essays (such as a diversity or 'why this school' statement), and a résumé. You apply through LSAC's application system, which links your CAS report to each school.

Many law schools review applications on a rolling basis, so submitting earlier in the cycle can mean being evaluated while more seats remain — though it never guarantees an outcome. Allow extra time for transcripts to arrive at LSAC and for recommenders to upload letters.

Verify every test policy, deadline, and fee (including any LSAC fee-waiver eligibility) on the official LSAC and individual school pages for the current cycle before you commit to a timeline.