Law School Application Time Line

This recommended Time Line for Fall 2026 admission assumes that you will complete and submit your applications by Thanksgiving-ish 2025. It’s an ideal time line — meaning you started thinking about the process at least a year and a half before you intend to start law school.  As you’ll see, there are a number of places where you can “catch up” to the time line, if you didn’t start thinking about things that early. You can view this same information as a checklist here or go here for all of our application resources. (If you’re thinking ahead to a Fall 2027 admission cycle, just add a year to the dates below — most will be unchanged except for the specific LSAT and Law School Forum dates.)

Step one: Apply for fee waivers! 

January – March 2025

• Decide when you’ll take the LSAT (June, August, September, October, or even November) and how you’ll prepare

March – July 2025

• Register for  LSAT and Credential Assembly Service
• Prepare for summer LSAT
• Identify your ideal recommenders
• Talk with recommenders
• Start researching law schools

June 4-7, 2025

• Take the LSAT*

Late June, 2025

• Deadline to register for August LSAT

June – September 2025

• Prepare for late summer or early fall LSAT
• Visit law school websites, become familiar with schools

Late July, 2025

• Deadline to register for September LSAT

August 6-9, 2025

• Take the LSAT*

August 21, 2025

• Deadline to register for October LSAT

September 3-6, 2025

• Take the LSAT*

September – October 2025

• Request transcripts from UMass registrar and from other colleges/universities you have attended
• Visit law schools, if possible
• Verify accuracy of Credential Assembly Service information
• Request LSAC email to recommenders with upload link (or print and give recommendation form to recommenders)
• Make final decisions about which schools to apply to
• Draft personal statement, other essays, and résumé
• Complete applications online
• Check in with recommenders
• Request Dean’s certification letters (if required)

September 25, 2025

• Deadline to register for November LSAT

October 3-7, 2025

• Take the LSAT*

October 17-18, 2025

• Attend LSAC Law School Forum in NYC

November 5-8, 2025

• Take the LSAT

Thanksgiving-ish 2025

• Finalize applications and transmit

December 2025

• Check on LSAC that files are complete; follow up if necessary

January – May 2026

• Wait.
• Wait some more.
• Are you willing to wait for it?

January 2026

• File FAFSA and financial aid applications

March – May 2026

• Notifications should arrive from law schools
• Weigh offers, scholarships
• Make a decision
• Pay seat deposit