Law School Application Check List

The Check List for Fall 2026 Admission is organized topically. Click here to get the same list organized chronologically. Go here for all our application resources.

This Check List assumes you have already made the firm decision to apply to law school after a thorough investigation of the law, legal careers and the financial implications/consequences. 

Step one: Apply for fee waivers!

The LSAT*

  • Decide how you will prepare for the LSAT (Jan – Mar 2025)
  • Prepare, study, practice! (Spring or Summer 2025)
  • Register for LSAT (by late April for June LSAT, late June for August LSAT, late July for September LSAT, late August for October LSAT, late September for November LSAT)
  • Take the test (June, August, September, October, or November 2025)

*NOTE: Over half of ABA-approved law schools accept the GRE for admission and about a third of all law schools accept the JD-Next option. Please check the relevant law school websites for more information and visit our page on deciding among the three admissions tests. Still, the overwhelming majority of applicants take the LSAT. 

Letters of Recommendation

  • Identify possible recommenders (Spring 2025)
  • Talk with recommenders to confirm (Spring 2025)
  • Confirm recommenders’ Fall 2025 location/contact info (Spring 2025)
  • Provide LSAC links and any other requested materials to recommenders (September 2025)

Transcripts

Applications

Dean’s Letters

  • Request Dean’s certification letters for all schools that require them—note that very few schools do still require these, and most often this is a post-admission task (October 2025 – Summer 2026)

Financial Aid

  • Fill out each school’s financial aid application (Spring 2026, depending on each school’s procedures)
  • Complete the FAFSA online (January 2026)

Final Steps