Law School Admissions Guide
LSAT and GPA
More heavily weighted factors that law schools consider in your application are your GPA and LSAT score. Law schools operate on a “median based” metric, your scores will be compared to the median (50th percentile score) of last year’s admitted class.
How is my GPA calculated?
All law schools utilize the Law School Admission Council’s (“LSAC”) Credential Assembly Service (“CAS”). This service takes all the transcripts you have sent LSAC and calculates your GPA, more information about the methodology LSAC uses for calculating your GPA can be found by visiting their Transcript Summarization Website.
How do you assess the competitiveness of your application?
The American Bar Association (“ABA”) requires law schools to disclose last year’s admitted class’s LSAT and GPA, this information in their ABA 509 Report (“509”). The 509 report groups these numbers in averages of 25th, 50th (“median”), and 75th percentiles.
How do you find the 509 Report?
One way (other than Googling the report) to find the mandatory ABA 509 Report is by visiting the American Bar Association’s Standard 509 Disclosure website. Below is a step by step guide on how to find your school’s 509 Report:
First step, select the year of the report you are looking for (we advise that you look at the most recent year’s report). For example, if you are applying for admissions in the Fall of 2026 find the 2025 report. The most recent application cycle’s 509 report does not update until December AFTER the current year’s class has entered.
Next step, select the school you would like to apply to (think: what region in the US can I see myself practicing law in?)
Next, click “Generate Report”.
After you have generated the report, it should download as a pdf file. Open it up and follow the steps below to understand what the numbers mean for your application.
What do the numbers in the 509 report mean for your application?
To figure out what all these numbers mean, look for the LSAT and GPA medians, these can be found under “2025 First Year Class.” After gathering this information, refer to the UGPA and LSAT sections, in these sections the school discloses the GPA and LSAT scores of last year’s admitted students. Then, refer to the “50th percentile”, that is the median score for last year’s admitted class.
What to do once you have found the median LSAT and GPA of the school of interest?
After you have decided which schools you would like to apply to, group these schools into schools you are a competitive applicant for and schools you are not as competitive. At Application Ambassadors, we want to maximize your chances of admission to law school. We want you to prioritize the schools for which you have the best chances of admissions, the next part will help you figure out where you should apply. Remember: this is a guide, the only way to know if you will get into a law school is to apply!
What if my LSAT and GPA are above the 75th percentile? (“safety school”)
This is the school where both of your scores are above the 75th percentile. It is highly advised you consider applying to these schools as they present the highest chances of admissions and scholarships. For example, if your GPA is a 3.9 and your LSAT score is a 171, Fordham Law is considered a “safety” school for you. This does not guarantee you will get in, just that your admissions chances are high.
What if my LSAT and GPA are above the median? (aka “target school”)
This is the school where both of your scores are above the medians but below the 75th percentile , this school is a “target” or a “likely”. It is highly advised you apply to these schools as they present a better opportunity for admissions and scholarships. Following our Fordham Law example, if your GPA is a 3.8 and your highest LSAT score is a 169, you are considered “competitive” for this school and would be highly advised to apply.
What if one of your scores is above the median but the other is below the median?
You should still apply but this is where the rest of your application, beyond the numbers, really matters. Below are some informal terminology based on your LSAT and GPA:
“Splitter”: LSAT above the median, GPA below the median, or
“Reverse splitter” LSAT below the median, GPA above the median.
This is where you really want to shine in your application by writing a great Addendum.
How do I shine in the rest of my application?
Write an Application Addendum! Law Schools allow applicants to write an Addendum – allowing you to explain to the admissions committee any part of your application you think will reduce your admissions chances.
Think of this as “beyond the numbers, this is what the committee should know”. When in doubt, apply! Just be aware that the Admissions Committee will take a deeper look at your Addendum. Stuck on writing your addendum? Let us help you!
What if both my LSAT and GPA are below the median but above the 25th? (“target-reach”)
These are the schools where both your GPA and LSAT are below the 50th percentile (median) but above the 25th percentile, this is what is called a “target reach”. It does not mean you will not get in, it just means your admissions chances are not as high compared to a school for which your application is on target (“target school”).
How do I find out if I am applying to a target-reach school?
For example, if your highest LSAT score is a 166 and your UGPA is a 3.65, Fordham Law is considered a “target reach” school for you. You may still apply, but this is where the rest of your application really matters. Many schools will look beyond the numbers to see your story, your story is your personal statement, diversity statement, addendum, and resume. Application Ambassadors specializes in these services and we are more than happy to discuss in our first free consultation.
What if my LSAT and GPA are below the 25th?
Using the same Fordham Law example, if your highest LSAT score is a 164 and your UGPA is a 3.5, Fordham is considered a “reach school” for you. This is where it is essential that you tell “your story” in the best way possible and Application Ambassadors is here to help!
How can I tell the admissions committee my story?
There are a few pieces of your application beyond the numbers that the admissions committee will look at when they read your application: Personal Statement, Perspective Statement, Relevant Addenda, and Resume. Below are brief descriptions of each.
Personal Statement – 2 to 3 page open ended essay that explains your motivations for applying to law school, personal strengths, and “why you are interested in attending law school”.
Perspective Statement – optional short essay detailing your unique experience that will add value to classroom discussion and campus community.
Addenda – optional short essay that explains potential discrepancies or unusual circumstances in your application. Think of this as explaining to the admissions committee why your GPA is lower, LSAT score is lower, or any potential character and fitness issues.
Resume – more academic in nature than your standard professional resume. This allows the admissions committee to see “what” you have done before law school. Can list clubs, organizations, volunteer experiences, etc.
Below is a free resource you can use to track your applications!
Check out our free application tracker.
Still stuck? We are here to help! Book your first free consultation with me, Brahim, and let me help you maximize your admissions chances.
Consultation Link: https://calendar.app.google/p9XFG3av3JDddoEX8