Applying to Law School: The LSAT, LSAC, and the CAS Report

Why the LSAT Matters

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is the standardized test almost every ABA-accredited law school uses to compare applicants from different undergraduate backgrounds and grading systems. Along with your GPA, it is the single number admissions committees weigh most heavily, and most schools publish the median LSAT of their admitted class so you can gauge your competitiveness before applying.

What Changed in the LSAT Format

Starting with the August 2024 test, the Law School Admission Council removed the analytical reasoning section, known informally as logic games, following a settlement tied to accessibility concerns raised by blind test takers. The current LSAT has three scored sections: two Logical Reasoning sections and one Reading Comprehension section, plus an unscored experimental section that can be either type, according to reporting from Inside Higher Ed .

• Logical Reasoning (2 sections). Short arguments followed by a question asking you to identify assumptions, flaws, or valid inferences.

• Reading Comprehension (1 section). Dense passages, often from law, science, or humanities, followed by questions testing comprehension and inference.

• Unscored experimental section. Used by LSAC to test new questions for future exams. You will not know which section is unscored while taking the test.

The overall score scale did not change. LSAT scores still run from 120 to 180, with a median score around 151 among test takers.

Registering for the LSAT

LSAT registration for the August 2026 through June 2027 testing year costs $253, according to LSAC's LSAT and CAS fees page . LSAC offers several test dates per year, and you can take the LSAT multiple times, though most schools will see all your scores even if they focus on your highest one.

LSAC also runs a fee waiver program for applicants who demonstrate financial need, which can cover LSAT registration and CAS costs. Check current eligibility requirements directly on LSAC's site, since income thresholds are updated periodically.

What the CAS Report Does

The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is how LSAC centralizes your application materials so you do not have to send separate transcripts and letters to every school individually. You send LSAC your undergraduate (and any graduate) transcripts, and letters of recommendation get uploaded through LSAC's letter of recommendation service. LSAC compiles everything into a standardized CAS report, along with your LSAT score and score percentile, and sends that single report to each school you apply to.

Most schools require the CAS report as part of a complete application, so budget time to request transcripts and collect letters well before your application deadlines, since transcript processing and CAS report generation both take time.

Putting the Application Together

Once your CAS account is set up, most schools accept applications through LSAC's own platform or a school-specific portal that pulls your CAS report automatically. A typical application includes your CAS report, a personal statement, a resume, and often an optional essay addressing diversity of background or a specific school's program.

Your CAS account, once created, stays valid for 5 years according to LSAC, which matters if you take a gap year or reapply after being waitlisted, since you will not need to resubmit transcripts from scratch. Start your CAS account and request transcripts early in your application year. Transcript delays from your undergraduate registrar are one of the most common reasons applications end up submitted later than planned.