Every few years, rumors start spreading about the ABA removing the LSAT from their requirements for all approved law schools. It starts as a whisper in a back alley, but it soon grows to a groundswell throughout the pre-law community.
The most recent rumor started when the ABA decided to revise its seven chapters of standards for law schools. That includes the chapter on the Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools, which includes the requirement that all applicants take an admissions test.
And now that the final vote has finally come down, we see the rumors quashed, yet again.
The committee voted overwhelmingly to keep the LSAT requirement for approved law schools. As always, the LSAT isn’t going anywhere.
There is a small catch to the vote, however: The committee is drafting a version of the standard that does not include a requirement for a standardized test. However, its recommendation is to adopt the version that includes the LSAT standard, and there’s no reason to think their recommendation won’t be implemented. Especially since the LSAT is the best indicator of 1L performance out there.
In the end, even if the requirement wasn’t included in the revised drafts, you would still likely see many law schools use the LSAT to gauge their incoming class. The ABA would have to actively ban its use in order to prevent law schools from using one of the best metrics they have.
So don’t put down those LSAT books just yet. Unless you’re willing to forgo your legal education for quite some time, the LSAT is still in your future.