LSAC Fee Waivers
Fee Waivers for the LSAT and Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) established the fee waiver program in 1968 to assure that no person is denied access to law school because of the absolute inability to pay for the LSAT and other essential applicant services.
Each approved LSAC fee waiver will entitle you to:
- two LSATs (test dates must fall within the two-year waiver period);
- one registration for LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which includes the Letter of Recommendation Service and access to electronic applications for all LSAC-member law schools;
- four law school reports
–included with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), available only after final approval of an LSAC fee waiver; - one copy of the Official LSAT SuperPrep®.
No other fees will be waived. The ability to pay for the LSAT and CAS is the only factor considered in the request for an LSAC waiver. Because of the rigorous financial standards applied in the LSAC fee waiver process, some law schools waive their application fees to those who receive it. The need for application fee waivers is not considered in the LSAC fee waiver process.
Fee waivers will be good for two years from the date of conditional approval of the waiver by LSAC.
All tax documents supporting fee waiver applications must be received by LSAC no later than 45 days after the application is received by LSAC. Your LSAC file will be placed on hold pending final approval of your fee waiver. A hold will not prevent you from taking the LSAT; however, you will not receive your LSAT score, and law school reports will not be sent until review of your tax forms confirms the data you supplied on your fee waiver application. Upon final approval of your fee waiver, the hold will be removed from your LSAC file. If, however, a review of your documentation determines that you are ineligible for a fee waiver, the hold will remain, and you will be billed for the service(s) for which you registered. Completing a fee waiver application acknowledges acceptance of these terms. If the documents are not received by the deadline, the fee waiver application will be canceled. The application may be reopened after a cancellation.
Because the cost of these services is only a fraction of the cost of a legal education, the need criterion is considerably more stringent than for other financial aid processes. Only those with extreme need should apply.
NOTE: If you receive a fee waiver and are unable to test on your scheduled date, you need to request a cancellation of your test registration by the refund deadline. Your fee waiver will then be available for a future test within your fee waiver period.
Eligibility to Be Considered for a Fee Waiver
You must be a US or Canadian citizen, a US national, or a permanent resident
alien of the United States with an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I–151 or
I–551) to be considered for a fee waiver. LSAC will not accept fee waiver
applications for any other candidates.
NOTE: Students already enrolled in law school are not eligible for an LSAC fee waiver.
The basic criterion for granting a waiver is the absolute inability to pay for the service. Your inability to pay will be validated via the LSAC Fee Waiver Application Form—US or Canadian version—supported by tax forms and other documentation as requested by LSAC or the law school.
US Citizens
In the United States, only LSAC or LSAC-member law schools can approve a fee waiver. Fee waivers cannot be granted by financial aid offices of undergraduate institutions, nonmember law schools, prelaw advisors, or any other individual or organization.
Canadian Citizens
Canadian citizens who need a fee waiver must submit a Canadian LSAC fee waiver application to a Canadian LSAC-member law school even if they plan to apply for admission to a US law school. Fee waivers for Canadian citizens cannot be granted by financial aid offices of undergraduate institutions, US LSAC-member law schools, nonmember law schools, prelaw advisors, or any other individual or organization. Canadian LSAC-member law schools will consider the fee waiver request for Canadian citizens only. Canadian fee waiver applications can be obtained through the link below or at any Canadian member law school.
Australian Citizens
Australian citizens must seek a waiver from Melbourne Law School (even if applying to US or Canadian law schools for admission).
Requesting a Fee Waiver
LSAC recommends that you submit your completed fee waiver application at least six weeks prior to the regular registration deadline for a particular LSAT.
There are three ways to request a fee waiver.
- Use the online fee waiver application. This is the fastest and easiest way to apply for an LSAC fee waiver. You must be a US resident, a US national, or a permanent resident alien of the United States and have an LSAC.org account or create an LSAC.org account to use this option.
- Download the fee waiver packet (US Fee Waiver Form
,
US Fee Waiver Checklist ,
US Fee Waiver Form Instructions ,
US Fee Waiver Nonfiler’s Statement Form ,
Canadian Fee Waiver Form & Instructions , Australian Fee Waiver Form & Instructions )
or obtain a paper fee waiver packet from LSAC by calling 215.968.1001 at least four to six weeks before the regular registration deadline for a particular LSAT. Please specify whether you are a US or Canadian citizen so that you receive the appropriate packet. - Obtain a paper fee waiver packet from a United States or Canadian law school admission office, or a prelaw advisor, at least six weeks prior to the regular registration deadline for a particular LSAT. US residents can complete the application and either send it to LSAC for consideration for a fee waiver or take the completed application to an LSAC-member law school for consideration. Canadian citizens must take the completed fee waiver application to a Canadian law school for consideration of an LSAC fee waiver.
NOTE: If you download the packet from the website or obtain one from a US or Canadian law school admission office, or a prelaw advisor—and you intend to register for our services by paper—you must contact LSAC at the phone number above to obtain a paper LSAC Registration Form.
