Every once in a while, the powers-that-be at LSAC come out and do things that actually benefit us LSAT plebes. More recently, they took heed of the CDC’s advice to social distance and created the remote, at-home LSAT-Flex and even started allowing first-time LSAT testers to preview their scores and decide if they want to cancel it. Last year, they enacted a new policy for the LSAT Writing Sample Section, giving test takers up to one year from their test date to complete the section. It was glorious; no longer did you have to summon whatever’s left of your energy to write down an argument that will be sent to law schools.
However, all good things come to an end—kind of. In August, LSAC took one step back and revised the LSAT Writing Sample policy. After you take your LSAT, you still technically have one year to complete the LSAT Writing Section but LSAC will not release your scores for the LSAT you took until you have a writing sample on file. Catch-22, much? This means that if you have never taken the LSAT before, you will have to complete the LSAT Writing Section before the LSAT score release date. If you already took the LSAT and you have a writing sample on file from a previous attempt, you don’t have to complete the writing section again and you will get your scores back as scheduled. If you’re taking the LSAT for the first time, you shouldn’t wait to complete LSAT Writing. You might think the score release date is an eternity away, but your sample and video of you doing the section will still need to be verified by LSAC. Essentially, they just need to make sure you didn’t pay someone to write your essay for you.
August LSAT-Flex test takers found this out the hard way, with many students trying to submit their writing sample days leading up to Grey Day and some forgetting to do it at all! Unfortunately, many did not get verified in time, which led to many students not receiving their scores today! It might be worth noting that various Reddit users had some luck actually harassing calling LSAC HQ directly and demanding they review their writing sample footage. If you woke up to no score this morning, don’t fret; simply submit your essay and you’ll get your score once it’s been approved by the powers-that-be.
If you haven’t taken your LSAT yet, consider potential tech hiccups and slowdowns when scheduling a time for you writing sample. You can complete LSAT Writing up to eight days before your LSAT date. Don’t stress too much about it though—your LSAT Writing Sample doesn’t contribute to your overall LSAT score. Still, it’s best to know how to do the LSAT Writing Section at home and the purpose of it before you start. If all else fails, I guess you could call/email/Tweet/Snap/DM/tag LSAC until they finally review your LSAT Writing!
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