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Last Updated on September 11, 2023
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) has for decades been the standard admissions test that law schools use. However, an increasing number of law schools, including many top schools, now also accept the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with law school applications. So, the question becomes, should you take the GRE for law school?
In this article, I’ll answer some common questions about submitting GRE scores for law school, including which schools accept GRE scores, whether schools prefer the GRE or LSAT, and whether it’s necessary to submit both GRE and LSAT scores with your law school applications.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- Can I Take the GRE for Law School?
- Do Law Schools Prefer GRE or LSAT Scores?
- Do You Need to Report GRE Scores to Law Schools?
- LSAT vs. GRE for Law School: Key Considerations
- What’s Next?
To start, let’s discuss how to figure out whether you can take the GRE for law school.
Can I Take the GRE for Law School?
The only way to know for sure whether you can take the GRE for law school is to check the individual websites of the programs in which you’re interested.
ETS, the maker of the GRE, maintains a list of law schools that accept the GRE for their JD programs. That list is a good starting point because you can link directly to the various schools’ websites from there. However, the number of law schools accepting the GRE is still growing — after all, the policy of allowing law schools to accept GRE scores is a relatively new one. (The American Bar Association officially decided to allow law schools to accept the GRE in December 2021.) So, if you don’t see a school, you’re interested in on the ETS list, you shouldn’t assume that the school does not accept the GRE.
For example, as of this writing, the University of California-Berkeley (ranked #9 by U.S. News) is not on the ETS list. However, in the fall 2019-2020 application cycle, Berkeley Law began a three-year pilot program that allows some law school applicants to submit GRE scores. So, if you’re relying on the ETS list alone to determine which schools accept the GRE, you might not know that you may be eligible to submit GRE scores to Berkeley Law.
TTP PRO TIP:
The only way to know for sure whether you can take the GRE for law school is to check the individual websites of the programs in which you’re interested.
Let’s talk a little more about which law schools accept the GRE.
Law Schools That Accept GRE Scores
As of this writing, the aforementioned ETS list contains 80 law schools in the U.S. and one in China that accept the GRE. And, as I already mentioned, not every law school currently accepting the GRE is on that list.
So, if you’re thinking about taking the GRE for law school, you have quite a few options. Notably, most of the top 14 law schools in the U.S. accept both GRE and LSAT scores, and all of the top 6 do. So, if you’re interested in top schools such as Yale (#1), Stanford (#2), or Harvard (#3), you’ll be happy to know that the GRE is accepted.
Likewise, if you’re looking at law schools in the top 25, you’ll find that the GRE is accepted at many of them. For instance, the law schools at Northwestern (#12), Cornell (#13), UCLA (#14), Georgetown (#15), Boston University (#20), and Notre Dame (#22), just to name a few, all accept GRE scores for their JD programs.
KEY FACT:
Most of the top 10 and all of the top 5 law schools in the U.S. allow JD applicants to submit GRE scores.
Now that we know that numerous law schools accept GRE scores from applicants to their JD programs, let’s discuss whether schools prefer LSAT or GRE scores.
Do Law Schools Prefer GRE or LSAT Scores?
Although the ABA policy change is relatively recent, some law schools — including top schools — have been giving applicants the option to submit GRE scores instead of LSAT scores for a while now. For example, Harvard Law School began to accept GRE scores in the fall of 2017. Similarly, Columbia Law School began to accept the GRE in the fall of 2018. So, the newness of the ABA’s policy should not, on its own, lead you to assume that law schools prefer the LSAT to the GRE.
However, the question of whether law schools prefer LSAT or GRE scores is a somewhat complicated one. The fact is, every school has its own policies and preferences. So — you’ll notice a running theme here — your best bet is always to check individual program websites. For instance, Georgetown Law explicitly states that it has no preference between the GRE and LSAT and will accept scores from either test (or both).
If you can’t find guidance on a school’s website, or if you need clarification about something stated on the website, you shouldn’t hesitate to email or call the admissions office. Schools are generally up front about what they’re looking for, and admissions offices are there to help.
TTP PRO TIP:
Look for information about whether schools prefer the LSAT or GRE on their individual websites, and don’t hesitate to contact the admissions office for further guidance.
Consider Whether You’re Interested in a Dual/Joint Degree
When making decisions about which admissions test to take for law school, you should consider whether you’re interested in dual or joint degree programs. For instance, Columbia University’s Three-Year JD/MBA program requires that applicants submit either a GRE or GMAT score; an LSAT score alone is not sufficient.
So, if you’re interested in a dual or joint degree, just make sure that you don’t go by the JD test requirements alone when figuring out which test(s) you should take.
KEY FACT:
Dual or joint degree programs may have testing requirements that are different from or additional to the regular JD program requirements.
You may now be wondering, “For law school, do I need both GRE and LSAT scores?” Let’s discuss.
Should I Submit Both GRE and LSAT Scores?
Unless a program specifically states that it requires both GRE and LSAT scores, in general, you should plan to take either the LSAT or GRE. It is not necessary (unless stated) to submit both LSAT and GRE scores for law school admittance.
Keep in mind that most ABA-approved schools require applicants to use the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) to submit law school application materials. CAS is an online system administered by the Law School Admission Council. The system streamlines the process of sending transcripts, recommendations, and other required application materials to various schools. The thing is, if you have taken the LSAT, that test score is automatically included in the CAS report sent to the schools you’re applying to.
So, let’s say you take both the GRE and LSAT, and you want to submit only your GRE score because it is more impressive than your LSAT score. At that point, you may not have a choice. If the schools you’re applying to require a CAS report, as most do, your LSAT score will be sent automatically with that report. Thus, your only choice will be to submit your GRE score in addition to the less-than-ideal LSAT score.
KEY FACT:
Most ABA-approved law schools require applicants to use CAS to submit their application materials.
The Benefits of Planning Ahead
As JD programs generally require only one admissions test, it’s wise to plan ahead about which test you’ll take. Planning ahead will help you avoid the scenario we just discussed, allowing you to have more control over which test scores schools see.
Planning ahead will also save you time, money, and stress associated with taking admissions tests. Who wants to take more tests than necessary, right? Whether you’re preparing for the GRE or the LSAT, a significant commitment is required, and you still have other aspects of your law school applications to think about.
TTP PRO TIP:
Since LSAT scores are automatically sent with CAS reports, you’ll have more control over which test scores schools see if you plan ahead about which test you’ll take.
Of course, plans and goals can change, and many people find themselves in scenarios in which they have both GRE and LSAT scores. This begs the question, if you have a GRE score, do you have to submit it?
Do You Need to Report GRE Scores to Law Schools?
One might assume that since schools typically receive LSAT scores automatically, there is some similar automatic process for reporting GRE scores. This is not the case. You can decide whether to submit your GRE scores to law schools. In fact, if you choose not to submit your GRE scores, law schools will never even know that you took the GRE.
Furthermore, ETS offers a feature called ScoreSelect that allows you to choose exactly which GRE scores you send. So, if you end up needing to take the GRE more than once to earn your target score, you can choose to send only your highest score. In that case, schools will never know that you took the GRE more than once or earned any lower scores. (You can read more about sending GRE scores here.)
Score Reporting Is Less Flexible for the LSAT Than for the GRE
LSAT score reporting does not allow for the flexibility that GRE reporting does. Through CAS, all of your LSAT scores from the past 5 years are reported to schools. So, if you take the LSAT more than once, schools will know, even if you cancel your score from a particular LSAT.
Furthermore, schools will see the LSAT scores from any tests not associated with a canceled score. If you cancel a GRE score, schools will not see any record that you sat for a GRE on that date, so they will not know you canceled a score.
Now, many schools may pay the most attention to your highest LSAT score or be fine with multiple retakes if your scores show progressive improvement. Again, check school websites or speak with admissions to get guidance on this front. However, if you take the LSAT more than a couple of times, you run the risk of looking unprepared, disorganized, or unqualified in the eyes of admissions — particularly if your scores fluctuate rather than steadily improve.
Since you don’t have to show a law school GRE scores you’re not comfortable with or let schools know you sat for the GRE more than once, all else equal, you may decide that submitting a GRE score for law school is a better option for you.
KEY FACT:
Unlike LSAT scores, GRE scores are NOT automatically reported to schools.
Now, let’s review the steps you can take to decide which tests to take for law school.
LSAT vs. GRE for Law School: Key Considerations
To decide whether to take the LSAT or GRE, you can do the following:
- Research program requirements and preferences.
- Research which test plays to your strengths.
- Consider whether there is any advantage to taking both tests.
Let’s discuss each of these three steps.
Step 1: Research program requirements and preferences.
The first and most important step is to research which test(s) your desired programs require or prefer. Simply put: you want to take the test that admissions wants you to take. So, remember to plan ahead, and check program websites and call admissions if you need to.
It may be that once you complete this step, the decision will be made for you. However, if the programs you’re interested in allow the submission of either LSAT or GRE scores, and admissions does not prefer one test over the other, move on to step 2.
Step 2: Research which test plays to your strengths.
If you have the option of taking either the LSAT or GRE, you’ll want to research the format and question types of each exam, to see which one plays most to your strengths t. In other words, all else equal, you want to take the test on which you can score highest. So, if the logic games on the LSAT play to your strengths, you may want to opt for that test. On the other hand, if you’re a quant wiz, you may be better suited to the GRE. (Here is a helpful article on the GRE format to get you started in your research.)
If you’re unsure which test will best suit your strengths, or you simply want to put your suspicions to the test, you can take a free, official practice test of each. You can access a free practice LSAT here and a free practice GRE here.
Don’t forget also the added flexibility that the GRE allows when it comes to score reporting. If, for example, you know that your desired programs regard multiple test sittings negatively, you may feel that the GRE is a safer bet for you, even if you could perform well on either exam.
Step 3: Consider whether there is any advantage to taking both tests.
For the most part, there is no reason to take both the LSAT and GRE for law school. If your desired programs require only one test, you can just take one test. As I mentioned earlier, taking just one test will certainly cut down on your test prep time and testing fees, which could already be increased if you end up having to take your chosen test more than once.
However, in some cases, you may feel that submitting scores from both the LSAT and GRE will cast your law school applications in a better light. For instance, let’s say that your academic record is somewhat lacking for the JD programs you’re interested in, but you feel confident that you could knock both the GRE and LSAT out of the park. In that case, you may decide that submitting scores from both tests will give you an extra opportunity to show off your range of skills and convince admissions that you have what it takes to succeed despite a lackluster GPA.
Of course, good test scores — from however many tests — are never a guarantee of acceptance to any school. Additionally, the decision to take multiple tests should not be made lightly. After all, you don’t want to neglect other areas of your law school applications because you’re consumed with taking unnecessary tests.
Once again, don’t be afraid to reach out to admissions to get their perspective on how submitting scores from both tests may affect your candidacy. When in doubt, reach out!
TTP PRO TIP:
Don’t be afraid to reach out to admissions to get their perspective on how submitting scores from both tests may affect your candidacy. When in doubt, reach out!
What’s Next?
Now that there are so many law schools that accept GRE scores, you may decide that the GRE is the right option for you. Check out this helpful guide if you’re ready to get started with your GRE prep.
