LSAC, LSAT, and CAS
Law School Admission Council
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is a nonprofit organization that provides products and services to standardize and simplify the application process for prospective law school students. Applicants must register with the LSAC in order to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), subscribe to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), and submit Southwestern's online application. Southwestern's school code for LSAC services is 4703.
Law School Admissions Test
The Exam
The Law School Admissions Test ( LSAT) is a standardized exam that serves as an integral part of the law school admission process. An applicant's LSAT score helps law schools make sound admission decisions by providing a standard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills that are essential for success in law school.
The LSAT is administered in a variety of locations around the United States and abroad, and applicants may register for the exam online. Applicants should register for their desired LSAT well in advance of the exam to ensure they obtain their desired test date and location (for in-person exams), and to avoid paying a late registration fee.
An applicant's LSAT score(s) will be provided to Southwestern via the CAS report (see below). The LSAC will provide scores, or cancellation and absence notations, for all LSAT administrations an applicant has registered for in the last five years. Southwestern considers the highest score an applicant receives but is also privy to other scores and notations as provided in the CAS report.
The Writing Sample
The LSAC also administers a writing sample exam as an auxiliary piece of the LSAT. Applicants are required by LSAC, and by Southwestern, to complete at least one LSAT writing sample. LSAC will not release an applicant's LSAT score(s) or CAS report if the applicant does not have at least one LSAT writing sample on file. The score, writing sample, and CAS report are required components of Southwestern's application, and we will not be able to review applications for or admit applicants who are missing any of these components.
Exam Administrations for Fall Entry
Southwestern Law School will accept LSAT scores through April 2025 for all of our J.D. programs (three-year, four-year, and accelerated two-year [SCALE]). LSAT scores will be accepted through the June 2025 exam for three- and four-year program applications. However, because scores from the June exam will be released after the start of our two-year accelerated program (SCALE), we cannot use those scores as consideration for that program.
Recommendation Regarding Multiple LSAT Scores
If you have taken the LSAT on more than one occasion, you may wish to submit an LSAT addendum to address changes in your method of LSAT preparation, conditions during your exam(s), or any other factors that may have affected your performance. While this addendum is optional, for those who have experienced a change in score of +/- 10 points, it is strongly recommended that you submit this addendum. If you have only taken the exam once but would still like to address your score, you may also submit an addendum.
Credential Assembly Service
The CAS is a reporting service administered by the LSAC. Applicants must subscribe to the CAS and request to have a CAS report sent to Southwestern. Through the CAS report, LSAC will provide Southwestern with the applicant's LSAT score(s), LSAT writing samples,* a summary of all undergraduate academic work and corresponding transcripts (and any graduate work the applicant opts to provide), and letters of recommendation.