External Resources

The Law School Admission Council is the primary resource for all law school applicants as it administers the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and facilitates the application process for nearly every law school in the United States.

"LSAC is a nonprofit organization devoted to furthering quality, access, and fairness in law school admission by providing the core products and services that candidates and law schools depend on in the United States and around the world. Annually, LSAC helps over 60,000 law school candidates navigate the admission process, administers the LSAT to 100,000 worldwide test takers, provides the essential admission software and data relied upon by over 220 member law schools, presents dozens of national forums to help candidates and law schools connect, and supports the nation’s prelaw network." - LSAC website

Formerly Access Group, AccessLex Institute works with students on personal finances and access to financial aid.

"Since 1983, AccessLex Institute has continually evolved to meet the ever-changing challenges and needs of the law students and institutions that we serve. We are steadfast in our commitment to inform students of the economic realities of law school without limiting their aspirations. We conduct and commission research to illuminate the latest data and evidence on the most critical issues facing legal education today. And we are resolute in our appeal to policymakers and influencers to take actions that make legal education work better for both students and society at large. As a nonprofit organization underpinned by nearly 200 American Bar Association-approved nonprofit and state-affiliated law schools, we are intently dedicated to the betterment of legal education." - AccessLex website

The Council on Legal Education Opportunity is a nonprofit entity of the American Bar Association whose mission is to diversify the legal profession.  

"CLEO is a national organization that was founded in 1968 to expand opportunities for minority and low-income students to attend law school. Since its inception, more than 10,000 students have participated in CLEO's programs and joined the legal profession.  CLEO’s mission is to increase the number of lawyers from diverse backgrounds that are actively contributing to the legal profession by continually expanding opportunities for persons from minority, low-income and disadvantaged communities to attend law school, graduate, and pass the bar examination." - CLEO website

The American Bar Association is the national organization for the legal profession and is identified by the U. S. Department of Education as the "nationally recognized accrediting agency for professional schools of law."  While its primary mission is to support practicing attorneys, there are several resources pre-law students will find useful including:

• The ABA "Preparing for Law School" page
• A searchable database of law school 509 Disclosures.  This is information all law schools are required to submit to the ABA including enrollment numbers, LSAT and undergraduate GPA ranges, graduation numbers, and more.  Each law school is required to post their "Standard 509 Disclosure" information on the school's website and the LSAC law school database includes links to this same information.

The National Association of Law Placement provides information and statistics on current legal careers and recent salaries of law school graduates.

"NALP is an association of over 2,500 legal career professionals who advise law students, lawyers, law offices, and law schools in North America and beyond.  What brings NALP members together is a common belief in three fundamental things. First, all law students and lawyers should benefit from a fair and ethical hiring process. Second, law students and lawyers are more successful when supported by professional development and legal career professionals. Third, a diverse and inclusive legal profession best serves clients and our communities. That’s why NALP members work together every day to collect and publish accurate legal employment data and information, and champion education and standards for recruiting, professional and career development, and diversity and inclusion. For more than forty years, NALP has played an essential role in the success of our members and the lawyers and law students they serve." - NALP website