LSAC’s Fee Waiver program is designed for prospective U.S. and Canadian law students who are financially under-resourced, with the goal of increasing equity and access to legal education.
To increase the number of fee waiver applicants we can assist, the LSAC Fee Waiver Program recognizes different levels of financial need. We have developed a two-tiered benefit system to assist applicants of varying economic circumstances in receiving Fee Waiver benefits.
Eligibility for an LSAC Fee Waiver
This is important.
- To be considered for an LSAC Fee Waiver, you must meet all of the eligibility requirements.
- Applicants who have had an LSAC finding of misconduct or irregularity are not eligible for an LSAC Fee Waiver.
The Approval Process
Once you have submitted your online Fee Waiver application and all required supporting documentation, your Fee Waiver application will be either approved or denied. Decisions are usually made within two to five business days of LSAC receiving all the required supporting documentation.
If your application receives “Final Approval”
You will be notified via email whether you have received a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Fee Waiver. Your Fee Waiver will be valid for two years from the date of LSAC’s “Conditional Approval” of the waiver.
To receive your full benefit package, you must complete the following tasks in LawHub™ :
- 2 PrepTests using “Exam Mode”
- The “How Do I Apply to Law School?” course
If your application is Denied after “Conditional Approval”
You will be billed for any services redeemed while your Fee Waiver was “Conditionally Approved.” A “hold” will remain on your LSAC JD Account until the balance is paid in full.
If you have not already submitted an appeal, you may appeal the “Denied” decision once; appeal decisions are final. The review process is usually completed within two weeks after receipt of your appeal and any additional supporting documentation. More information about the appeals process will be provided to you via email.
Fee Waiver Benefits
The LSAC Fee Waiver program has been redesigned so that it helps aspiring students better understand how to apply to law school and helps improve their likelihood of securing admission and financial aid.
Starting September 3, 2024, Fee Waiver recipients will need to complete the tasks described below to redeem their full benefit package. These tasks are designed to help recipients maximize their Fee Waiver benefits.
Benefit 1 – LawHub Advantage | Benefit 2 – LSAT | Benefit 3 – CAS and CAS Reports | |
---|---|---|---|
When You Receive Each Benefit | As soon as your Fee Waiver application receives “Final Approval” | As soon as you’ve completed 2 LSAT PrepTests in LawHub using “Exam Mode” | As soon as you’ve completed the “How Do I Apply to Law School?” course in LawHub |
What You Receive (Tier 1 package) | One-year subscription to LawHub Advantage | Two LSATs (including LSAT Argumentative Writing and LSAT Score Preview) | Five-year Credential Assembly Service (CAS) subscription AND 6 CAS Reports |
What You Receive (Tier 2 package) | One-year subscription to LawHub Advantage | One LSAT (including LSAT Argumentative Writing and LSAT Score Preview) | Five-year Credential Assembly Service (CAS) subscription AND 3 CAS Reports |
End Date | One year after your “Final Approval” date | Two years after your “Conditionally Approved” date | Two years after your “Conditionally Approved” date * |
* You must redeem your CAS subscription within your two-year Fee Waiver period. After that, you have five years from your CAS subscription start date to use CAS and redeem your free CAS Reports.
What to Expect
- You can begin working toward Benefits 2 and 3 as soon as your Fee Waiver application is “Conditionally Approved.”
- To complete the required tasks, you’ll need to log into LawHub . Use the same username/password that you use to access your LSAC JD Account.
- Only PrepTests taken in LawHub’s “Exam Mode” will count toward the two PrepTests needed to receive Benefit 2. You can select “Exam Mode” when you start a new PrepTest. (By default, LawHub’s PrepTests are set to “Self-Paced Mode” — so make sure to switch to “Exam Mode.”)
- If you’ve already completed LawHub’s “How Do I Apply to Law School?” course, you will NOT need to retake it.
- If you complete the Benefit 2 requirement, you can redeem one free LSAT registration (including LSAT Argumentative Writing and Score Preview) while your Fee Waiver application is “Conditionally Approved.” Similarly, if you complete the Benefit 3 requirement, you can redeem your free CAS registration while your Fee Waiver application is “Conditionally Approved.” However, if your Fee Waiver application is later canceled or denied, you will be billed for any services redeemed, and a “hold” will remain on your LSAC JD Account until the balance is paid in full.
- Each of the benefit columns outlined above is independent of the others. For example, if you’ve already taken the LSAT and only plan to utilize the CAS and CAS Report benefits, you only need to complete the “How Do I Apply to Law School?” course.
- Your one-year LawHub Advantage subscription begins as soon as your Fee Waiver receives “Final Approval.”
This is important.
- Please note that fees previously paid cannot be waived retroactively, and no refunds will be issued.
- To submit a Fee Waiver application, you are required to accept LSAC’s terms and conditions for the Fee Waiver program.
Frequently Asked Questions
LawReady™ Fee Waivers
LSAC Fee Waivers are also available for financially under-resourced undergraduate students who are registered to participate in the LawReady program at their school.