Fee Waivers for LSAC Programs and Services (2024)

Ver esta página en español

Our fee waiver program is designed for prospective law students who are financially under-resourced, with the goal of increasing equity and access to legal education.

In order to increase the number of fee waiver applicants we can assist, the 2023-2024 LSAC Fee Waiver Program is created to recognize different levels of financial need. We have developed a two-tiered benefit system to assist applicants of varying economic circ*mstances in receiving fee waiver benefits.

Quick Links

Eligibility

Fee Waiver Tiers

How to Apply

Approval Process

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you eligible?

To be eligible for an LSAC fee waiver, you must either:

Fee Waiver Tiers

Under the two-tiered LSAC Fee Waiver Program, assuming all the other eligibility criteria are met:

An independent applicant earning up to 250% of the federal poverty guidelines may be eligible for the Tier 1 fee waiver package.
An independent applicant earning 250-300% of the poverty guidelines may be eligible for the Tier 2 fee waiver package.
Adependent applicant may be eligible for the Tier 1 fee waiver package if their income does not exceed 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, and if their income combined with their parents’ income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty guidelines.
A dependent applicant may be eligible for the Tier 2 fee waiver package if their income does not exceed 200% of the poverty guidelines, and if their income combined with their parents’ income is between 300-350% of the poverty guidelines.

It is important to note that the fee waiver criteria also include maximum asset and cash balance levelsand other factors LSAC may consider in its sole discretion, and the income levels outlined above do not guarantee approval. All applicants are required to complete an online application and provide documentation supporting their financial information and eligibility. We also maintain an appeals process to consider unusual or exceptional situations on a case-by-case basis.

Tier 1 Fee Waiver Package

Each approved Tier 1 LSAC fee waiver will waive the following fees:

LSAC Service	Associated Fee (waived)
Two LSATs (test dates must fall within the two-year fee waiver period), including one LSAT Writing™	$444 value
One CAS registration, which includes the Letter of Recommendation Service and access to electronic applications for all LSAC-member law schools	$200 value
Six CAS Reports (available only after final approval of an LSAC fee waiver)	$270 value
One-year subscription to LawHub Advantage , which provides access to an extensive library of practice tests in the authentic LSAT test environment, as well as other exclusive content	$115 value
Score Previewfor two LSATs — this service enables test takers to see their score before deciding whetherto keep it as part of their LSAC record	$90 to $150 value
If you are eligible for LawReady™, one LawReady registration and one LawReady Certificate and Portfolio fee	$249 value
In addition, free Khan Academy Official LSAT^® Prep is available to all interested individuals at khanacademy.org/LSAT	Available for free to all test takers

No other LSAC fees will be waived. Fees previously paid cannot be waived retroactively, and no refunds will be issued.

Please note: Some law schools will waive their application fees for LSAC fee waiver recipients.

Tier 2 Fee Waiver Package

Each approved Tier 2 LSAC fee waiver will waive the following fees:

LSAC Service	Associated Fee (waived)
One LSAT (test date must fall within the two-year fee waiver period), including one LSAT Writing™	$222 value
One CAS registration, which includes the Letter of Recommendation Service and access to electronic applications for all LSAC-member law schools	$200 value
Three CAS Reports (available only after final approval of an LSAC fee waiver)	$135 value
One-year subscription to LawHub Advantage , which provides access to an extensive library of practice tests in the authentic LSAT test environment, as well as other exclusive content	$115 value
Score Previewfor one LSAT— this serviceenables test takers to see their score before deciding whetherto keep it as part of their LSAC record	$45 to $75 value
If you are eligible for LawReady™, one LawReady registration and one LawReady Certificate and Portfolio fee	$249 value
In addition, free Khan Academy Official LSAT^® Prep is available to all interested individuals at khanacademy.org/LSAT	Available for free to all test takers

How to Apply for a Fee Waiver

Apply for a fee waiver through yourLSAC JD account.

You will need to upload copies of all documentation supporting your fee waiver application to yourLSAC JD account. This documentation must be uploadedno later than 45 daysafter submitting your application online. If we do not receive the required supporting documentation within 45 days, your application will be canceled. (However, in most cases, your application can be reinstated after all required documentation is received.)

Documentation requirements vary based on your citizenship status. Please follow the guidelines below.

U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, and Permanent Resident Aliens of the U.S.

All tax documents supporting your fee waiver application, including all federal income tax schedules filed with the Form 1040. These include:
- Schedule 1 (Additional Income and Adjustments to Income)
- Schedule 2 (Additional Taxes)
- Schedule A (Itemized Deductions)
- Schedule B (Interest and Ordinary Dividends)
- Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Profit or Loss from Business | Sole Proprietorship)
- Schedule D (Capital Gains and Losses)
- Schedule E (Supplemental Income and Losses)
- Schedule F (Profit or Loss from Farming)
- Schedule J (Income Averaging for Farmers and Fishermen)

The Verification of Nonfiling Letter from the IRS— if you were not required to file a federal tax return. More information about this documentation is available at2023-2024 Verification of Nonfiling Instructions.

Applicants with Temporary Protected Status in the U.S.

Your Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821)

Applicants Who Have Been Granted (or Applied for) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Uploadoneof the following:

Your DACA Approval Notice (Form I-797, Notice of Action)
Your DACA Application Receipt (Form I-797C, Notice of Action)
Your U.S. Employment Authorization Card (showing category #C33 indicating your eligibility through DACA)

Applicants Seeking Asylum in the United States through the Affirmative Asylum Process

Verification that you are seeking or have been granted asylum in the U.S. — uploadeither:
- Your Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal form (Form I-589)andyour “Acknowledgment of Receipt” from USCIS.
- Your U.S. Employment Authorization Card (showing category #C08 indicating your eligibility through asylum)
Copies of your most recent paystubs (if applicable)

Residents of either the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RFI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), or the Republic of Palau

Upload oneof the following:

Your driver’s license
Your passport
Your state ID
Your U.S. Employment Authorization Card (showing category #A08 indicating you are a resident of either the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau)

Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, and Protected Persons/Convention Refugees in Canada

All tax documents supporting your fee waiver application (i.e., Notice of Assessment for the applicant, and for the spouse or parents of the applicant, if applicable)

This is important.

All supporting documentation must be uploaded directly through your LSAC JD account. We can no longer accept fee waiver documentation submitted via email or postal mail.

The Approval Process

Once submitted, your online fee waiver application will be either conditionally approved or denied.

If Your Online Fee Waiver Application Is Conditionally Approved

Your LSAC file will be placed on hold while LSAC reviews your application and supporting documentation. The review process is usually completed within two business days after receipt of your supporting documentation. Even if your file is on hold, you may proceed to take the LSAT. However, your LSAT score will not be released to you or any law schools until your application is fully approved or, if denied, applicable fees are paid.

This is important. Please note that fees previously paid cannot be waived retroactively, and no refunds will be issued. We encourage you NOT to submit payment while you’re waiting for LSAC’s decision.

Final Approval

If review of your supporting documentation results in final approval for your fee waiver application, we will remove the hold from your LSAC file, which will enable your LSAT score to be released. In addition, all applicable, outstanding fees will be waived. Your fee waiver will be valid for two years from the date of LSAC’s conditional approval of the waiver.

Fee Waiver Application Is Denied

If a review of your supporting documentation results in your fee waiver application being denied, the hold will remain on your file if you used the conditionally approved fee waiver for any services. We will bill you for those services for which you registered. You have two options:

Appeal the decision. You may appeal the decision once; appeal decisions are final. The hold will remain on your file while we review your appeal. The review process is usually completed within two weeks after receipt of your supporting documentation.
Pay all applicable, outstanding fees. Once we receive payment, the hold will be removed from your file.

If Your Online Fee Waiver Application Is Denied

You may appeal the decision once; appeal decisions are final. If you choose to appeal, a hold will be placed on your file while we review your supporting documentation. The review process is usually completed within two weeks after receipt of your supporting documentation. Even if your file is on hold, you may proceed to take the LSAT. However, your LSAT score will not be released to you or any law schools until your application is fully approved or, if denied, applicable fees are paid.

If your appeal is approved, we will remove the hold from your LSAC file, which will enable your LSAT score to be released. In addition, all applicable, outstanding fees will be waived. Your fee waiver will be valid for two years from the date of LSAC’s conditional approval of the waiver.

If your appeal is denied, you must pay all applicable, outstanding fees. Once we receive payment, the hold will be removed from your file.

This is important. To submit a fee waiver application, you are required to accept LSAC’s terms and conditions for the fee waiver program.