The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is the organization responsible for administering the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and collecting transcripts from undergraduate institutions on behalf of law schools.
While the LSAT is required for admission to all ABA-accredited law schools, high school transcripts are not required by LSAC. However, some law schools may require applicants to submit their high school transcripts as part of their application materials.
Why Do Some Law Schools Require High School Transcripts?
There are a few reasons why some law schools may require applicants to submit their high school transcripts.
- To evaluate your academic potential. Your high school transcript can provide law schools with information about your academic performance in a variety of subjects, including English, math, science, and social studies. This information can help law schools assess your academic potential and determine whether you are likely to succeed in law school.
- To identify areas of weakness. Your high school transcript can also help law schools identify any areas of academic weakness that you may have. This information can help law schools develop a plan to support you during your law school studies.
- To verify your identity. Your high school transcript can also be used to verify your identity. This is important because law schools need to make sure that the person applying to law school is the same person who earned the high school diploma.
How to Submit Your High School Transcripts
If you are applying to a law school that requires high school transcripts, you will need to submit them through LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). CAS is a secure online service that allows you to submit your transcripts and other required documents to law schools.
To submit your high school transcripts through CAS, you will need to:
- Create an LSAC account.
- Order your high school transcripts from your high school.
- Send your transcripts to LSAC’s CAS address.
- Pay the CAS processing fee.
What Happens After You Submit Your High School Transcripts
Once you have submitted your high school transcripts to LSAC, they will be reviewed by the CAS staff. The CAS staff will verify the authenticity of your transcripts and create a digital copy of them. Once your transcripts have been processed, they will be sent to the law schools that you have applied to.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When submitting your high school transcripts to LSAC, it is important to avoid making the following mistakes:
- Submitting the wrong transcripts. Make sure that you submit your high school transcripts, not your college transcripts.
- Submitting incomplete transcripts. All of your high school transcripts must be submitted to LSAC. If you have attended more than one high school, you will need to submit transcripts from all of them.
- Submitting transcripts that are not in English. If your high school transcripts are not in English, you will need to have them translated into English by a certified translator.
FAQs
- Do all law schools require high school transcripts?
No, not all law schools require high school transcripts. However, some law schools may require applicants to submit their high school transcripts as part of their application materials.
- How do I submit my high school transcripts to LSAC?
To submit your high school transcripts to LSAC, you will need to create an LSAC account and order your transcripts from your high school. You will then need to send your transcripts to LSAC’s CAS address and pay the CAS processing fee.
- What happens after I submit my high school transcripts to LSAC?
Once you have submitted your high school transcripts to LSAC, they will be reviewed by the CAS staff. The CAS staff will verify the authenticity of your transcripts and create a digital copy of them. Once your transcripts have been processed, they will be sent to the law schools that you have applied to.
- What are the consequences of submitting false or misleading information on my high school transcripts?
Submitting false or misleading information on your high school transcripts is a serious offense. If you are caught submitting false or misleading information, you may be denied admission to law school or have your admission revoked.
