Law Schools Continue To Drop The LSAT

The LSAT is simply offensive. First, it is just a barrier to get into law school. It is not an accurate predictor of how a student will perform in law school. Second, it is costly in terms of both time and money if you want to do well on the exam. That is a further barrier for many students. Third, whether because of the money involved, lack of educational opportunities, or something more sinister, the LSAT results in a lack of diversity in law schools. Law schools are increasingly white and upper class. This lack of diversity is detrimental to our legal system. And fourth, LSAT related discrimination is rampant in our law schools, despite other good indicators such as grades, for the reason it is so relied upon in determining U.S. News rankings.

Whether reliance on the LSAT is the only thing that needs to change is unlikely, but it is, in my mind, a good start. It one fell swoop the law school both thumbs its nose at the U.S. News rankings and informs the world that it is actively trying to change the inequities that law schools bring to the study of law.

According to the ABA Journal and other sources, The University of St. Thomas Law School just got a waiver to offer admission to some students without the need of the LSAT. 

This follows on the heals of the University of Michigan, the University of Alabama and the University of Illinois announcing similar programs.

Comments

[Larry]

I agree Chuck. The LSAT is not a very good indicator of actual student performance.

[Chris Ratte]

Chuck, you can add the bar exam to offensive and meaningless barriers as well. Standardized tests only test how well you take standardized tests. My alma mater, Pierce Law in NH, recently started a program called the Daniel Webster Scholars. It's a 2 year practical skills and clinics course designed to teach law students how to be actual lawyers. If the student passes the course, then it is the same as passing the regular NH bar exam...with the added bonus of actually knowing something about practicing law. I wish they had it when I was a young law student.