Author: mpickens@illinois.edu

Below please find the recent announcement from LSAC regarding the October LSAT administration…

Given the continuing COVID-19 emergency, LSAC has made the decision to offer the online, remotely proctored LSAT-Flex in October, instead of the in-person LSAT scheduled for October 3 in the U.S. and Canada and instead of the in-person international LSAT scheduled for October 4 or October 10.

The October LSAT-Flex will be administered the week starting Saturday, October 3. Most test takers will test on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday, with a small number of tests occurring Wednesday based on specific remote proctoring requirements. We expect international test takers will test on Thursday, October 8 (US Time), and we will try to provide extended testing hours that day so candidates in every time zone can find times that work for their schedules. Due to the demands of the LSAT-Flex administration, this will be an undisclosed test.

Because the October LSAT-Flex is an online, remotely proctored test, we are able to offer a variety of test start times for test takers to choose from. We will open the scheduling sign-up process about two weeks before the first day of testing in October, so test takers can select the available time that works best for them. Test takers will receive more information and instructions prior to that time.

The October LSAT-Flex will count toward the annual, multi-year, and lifetime limits on taking the LSAT. We are targeting Friday, October 23, as the score release date.

• • Registration Information: Registration for the October LSAT-Flex is open through Friday, August 21.
    • • Candidates currently registered for the October LSAT may either take the October LSAT-Flex or opt out and receive a coupon that can be applied to any future test between November 2020 and April 2021. Candidates should visit their LSAC account and submit the online form with their choice.
      • If LSAC does not hear from candidates by August 21, they will be automatically registered for the October LSAT-Flex on or about August 24.
      • Withdraw: Candidates may withdraw from the October LSAT-Flex by September 25, 2020, and receive the coupon. After the September 25 deadline, coupons are not available.

 

Test Day Resources (Equipment and Testing Location): As with previous administrations of the LSAT-Flex, LSAC is working to help every test taker in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and Canada have the equipment and other resources they need to take the online, remotely proctored exam and do their best work. Any candidate who does not have the necessary equipment or an appropriate place to test should submit an online form in their LSAC account no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, September 13, 2020, so that we can work with them to address their needs. Through the first three administrations of the LSAT Flex, we have shipped more than 650 free loaner devices to candidates who did not have a computer to take the online test, and guaranteed hotel reimbursements to hundreds more who needed reliable internet or a quiet place to test. We are committed to ensuring that COVID-19 does not create new barriers for students who want to pursue legal education.

NEW!  First-Time Taker Score Preview Option: In response to requests from test takers, LSAC has created a new score preview option for first-time test takers who wish to see their score before deciding whether or not to keep it. For the October test, score preview will cost $45 before 11:59 p.m. ET on October 2, or $75 after testing has concluded. First-time test takers who have an approved LSAT fee waiver will receive score preview free of charge. You can learn more about the score preview option here.

For more information, please visit the LSAC website.

 

 

Please see the following recently announced updates to the August 2020 LSAT Administration…

August 2020 LSAT Administration Updates

Given the continuing COVID-19 emergency, the LSAT-Flex will be offered in August  instead of the in-person LSAT scheduled for August 29 (U.S. and Canada). The August LSAT-Flex will be administered starting Saturday, August 29. Most test takers will test on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, with a small number of tests occurring later in the week based on specific remote proctoring requirements. LSAC will continue to provide loaner devices and quiet, internet-equipped places to test for candidates that need assistance, to help maintain diversity, equity, and opportunity in the face of COVID-19. Due to the demands of the LSAT-Flex administration, this will be an undisclosed test. The targeted score release date is Friday, September 18.

• Any candidate who is already registered for the August 29 LSAT may either take the August LSAT-Flex or opt out and receive a coupon which can be applied to any future test between October 2020 and April 2021. Current August registrants should visit their LSAC account and submit the online form with their choice. If no election is made by July 15, candidates will be automatically registered for the August LSAT-Flex on or about July 16. Note: Candidates may withdraw from the August LSAT-Flex any time up to August 21, 2020 and receive the coupon. After the withdrawal deadline, no coupon will be provided.
• Any candidate who does not have the necessary equipment or an appropriate place to test should alert LSAC to their situation via the same online form in their LSAC account no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Sunday, August 9, 2020.
• Because the August LSAT-Flex is an online, remotely proctored test, LSAC will offer a variety of test start times for candidates to choose from. The scheduling sign-up process will open in mid-August.

 

Update to LSAT Writing Sample Requirements:

In response to feedback from member law schools, LSAC is reinstating the requirement that all test takers must have a completed LSAT Writing sample on file before they will receive their score for the August LSAT-Flex or future tests. The writing sample has been a required part of the LSAT for decades.  Law schools expect to see the LSAT writing sample when they review a candidate’s application and many schools have reported that they now find the writing sample even more valuable due to the improved readability of the online LSAT Writing format introduced in June 2019.

To help candidates complete the writing portion of their test, LSAC will now open LSAT Writing eight (8) days prior to every test administration. Candidates may complete their LSAT Writing at the time and date that is most convenient to them, but we will not release scores to candidates or schools until a candidate has a completed writing sample in their file. Candidates only need one writing sample. August (and future) test takers who already have a writing sample on file from a previous exam do not need to complete a new LSAT Writing sample.

 

For additional information about the LSAT-Flex visit the FAQ page.

For candidates who want to familiarize themselves with the format and content of the LSAT-Flex, free Official LSAT Prep practice tests are available on LSAC’s LawHub.

For more information about LSAT Writing, see https://www.lsac.org/lsat/taking-lsat/about-lsat-writing

 

A message from the Director of Pre-Law Advising Services…

Hello pre-law students and alumni!  My name is Megan Pickens and I am very excited to be taking over leadership of the Pre-Law Advising Office here at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Prior to joining Pre-Law Advising Services I worked at the University of Illinois College of Law in the Office of Student Affairs and Academic Administration.  I am a licensed attorney in Illinois and was a practicing attorney prior to joining the University.  

Thank you all for your patience during this period of transition.  I look forward to helping you explore your interest in law school and the legal profession. 

Appointments:

Virtual advising appointments will resume the week of June 15.  Appointments can be scheduled online at: https://go.oncehub.com/PreLawAdvisingatIllinois.  Please be sure to review the guidelines for appointments on the Pre-Law Advising website, prior to scheduling an appointment.

Questions may also be emailed to ccaas-prelaw@illinois.edu.

I look forward to sharing news about additional members of the Pre-Law Advising team in the upcoming months!