New ABA Requirements Require Law Schools To Report Only Students’ Highest LSAT Score

Will The Law Schools Then Use Only The Highest Score When Evaluating Application Files?

The ABA is responsible for accrediting U.S. law schools. As part of its process of accreditation and ongoing supervision, the ABA requires law schools to report the LSAT scores of students entering their first year class. In the past, the ABA has required that the schools report average LSAT scores. The ABA has changed its policy and now requires schools to report the highest LSAT score.

The requirement to report LSAT scores to the ABA is different from how the schools use LSAT scores as part of the admissions decision. It may be that the requirement to report the highest LSAT score to the ABA, may encourage schools to use the highest score (or at least not mechanically average scores) when evaluating the application file.

This issue is discussed by Philip Shelton, President and Executive Director of LSAS in their July 2006 report. Mr. Shelton makes the point that:

“There is no substitute for the individual evaluation of application files, including the examination of what applicants with multiple scores say about their reasons for taking the test more than once. Don’t punish an applicant because she failed to cancel a score earned under less than optimal circumstances. You will now have more flexibility to give deference to a student who was ill, or took the test “cold,” or was worried about a sick parent or child.”

The complete article may be found at:

http://www.lsacnet.org/publications/lsac-report/ReportJuly2006.pdf