How to Get LSAT Accommodations: What You Need to Know
/Discover what conditions qualify and how to request accommodations on the LSAT exam
The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) which administers the LSAT is committed to providing accommodations To applicants who need them.
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Part 1: Introduction
If you dream of getting into a competitive law school, you have your work cut out for you. You have to maintain a high undergraduate GPA, write a compelling law school personal statement, and earn a good LSAT score. And if you happen to have a disability or condition that impacts your academic performance, the road to law school can be even more challenging.
Taking the LSAT is often intimidating to students with disabilities—even if they receive LSAT accommodations. The timed exam is designed to measure specific skills deemed necessary for students to succeed in law school and law careers. These skills include reading comprehension, information organization and management, critical thinking, and analytical reasoning.
The LSAT is a difficult test for anyone, even students without the functional limitations caused by disabilities, health conditions, or physical impairments. And since your LSAT score is one of the most important factors considered in law school admissions, it’s vital for you to earn a score that truly reflects your potential.
Fortunately, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) which administers the LSAT is committed to providing equal access to all law school applicants, including those with disabilities or conditions that affect their ability to test under standard exam conditions. For that reason, the LSAC makes LSAT accommodations available to those applicants who need them.
But like most things related to law school admissions, requesting LSAT accommodations isn’t an easy process. You have to meet strict deadlines, choose the right evaluators, and write statements that convincingly represent your need for LSAT testing accommodations. Even then, many applications for LSAT accommodations are denied each year. And you don’t want yours to be one of them.
Continue reading to discover if your condition qualifies for accommodations and how to request the LSAT accommodations you need to accurately represent your ability level.
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Part 2: What conditions qualify for LSAT accommodations?
Since 2019, the LSAT has been administered digitally. The main portion is a multiple-choice exam divided into several sections that contain questions to assess applicants’ reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning skills. The second portion of the exam is a written essay, known as LSAT Writing. This written portion is administered online using secure proctoring software.
The LSAC reviews each application for LSAT accommodations on a case-by-case basis, and students with a wide range of conditions and impairments qualify for accommodations each year. Here are a few of the common conditions for which test-takers receive LSAT accommodations:
Visual impairment
Neurological condition
Learning disability
Physical or medical condition
Psychological condition
Hearing impairment
If your specific condition or disability isn’t on this list, you might still be able to qualify for LSAT accommodations, particularly if you submit a convincing application that thoroughly documents your functional limitations.
What kinds of LSAT accommodations are available?
Many available LSAT accommodations relate to the nature of the exam’s delivery method, which is via computer. If you have a visual impairment or other condition which affects your ability to read questions on a screen or type your essay for the LSAT Writing portion, you might qualify for some of the following LSAT accommodations:
Braille version of the LSAT
Paper and pencil test format
Use of electronic screen-reader software
Use of a reader (provided by the LSAC)
Use of a scribe (provided by the LSAC)
Use of magnification devices
Use of adaptive writing instruments
Private testing room
For students with physical or medical conditions that impair their ability to access the testing environment or adhere to the standard testing procedures without significant discomfort, here are a few of the LSAT accommodations that might be offered to them:
Extended break time
Additional breaks between sections
Stop-the-clock breaks during sections
Wheelchair-accessible desk or table
Permission to bring and eat food
Permission to bring insulin and check blood sugar
Permission to bring and take medications
Permission to walk around
Separate, small-group testing
Neither of these lists are exhaustive, but they represent some of the standard LSAT accommodations many students receive according to the specifics of their disability or condition.
In addition, many test-takers apply for the LSAT accommodation of extended testing time. This specific accommodation is less-readily given because one of the intended difficulties of the LSAT is the short amount of time students have to answer the challenging questions. However, applicants who submit thorough and qualified evidence of their disability that proves the necessity of extended testing time are frequently approved to receive the accommodation.
What if I have anxiety?
One reason to request LSAT accommodations is to address the functional limitations caused by anxiety. Test-takers with anxiety might apply for accommodations of extended time, additional breaks, or a private testing room, to name just a few.
A student who applies for LSAT accommodations related to their anxiety has a better chance of approval if they possess an anxiety order diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional. In addition, it will strengthen their application to have an educational record of receiving accommodations for anxiety in the past—more on this later.
If the student has previously earned high scores on standardized tests without receiving any accommodations for anxiety, it increases the likelihood their request will be denied. However, gathering thorough documentation and convincing statements regarding their limitations due to anxiety may persuade the LSAC to approve their application. Each request is reviewed individually and holistically, so it’s difficult to predict any outcome with absolute certainty.
What if I have ADHD?
Another reason some test-takers apply for LSAT accommodations is because they have been diagnosed with ADHD. As mentioned previously, if a student requests extended testing time due to ADHD, the LSAC will be particularly strict when reviewing their application.
If the student has received accommodations of extended time in the past, it will work in their favor. In addition, their ADHD diagnosis will carry more weight if they were diagnosed as a child rather than recently.
On the other hand, if the student is currently taking ADHD medication, their request for LSAT accommodations might be denied. Generally, the LSAC assumes taking medication for ADHD reduces the impact of the disorder and invalidates the need for testing accommodations. If you take ADHD medication and still believe you need LSAT accommodations, you will have to prove your functional limitations extend beyond the effect of your medication.
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Part 3: How do I request LSAT accommodations?
If you’ve requested accommodations for your condition in other settings, you’re well aware that it takes time to review, process, and reach a decision on these applications. Applying for LSAT accommodations is no exception. The LSAC requires test-takers to submit their requests for testing accommodations over a month prior to their scheduled exam dates.
As you prepare to apply for LSAT accommodations, make sure you’re well aware of the applicable request deadlines. You should aim to submit your application several weeks early. Most requests are reviewed and decided within fourteen business days, but you’ll want the extra time in case your application is denied or you’re asked to provide additional documentation.
Now that you’re aware of the timeline considerations, let’s look at each step of the application process for LSAT accommodations.
1. Familiarize yourself with the required application forms
Your application for LSAT accommodations will involve three primary forms, each with specific questions and instructions. If you want to ensure you submit a complete application with all the necessary documents and information, start by reviewing each of the required forms.
You’ll find .pdf versions of each of the required application forms on the LSAT website. After downloading your copies, you’ll have to fill out the forms on your computer before printing and signing them. Once everything is complete, you can mail, fax, or email the forms and the required documentation to the LSAC office in Newton, Pennsylvania.
The Candidate Form
This is the most straightforward of the three different forms. First, you’re asked to share basic identifying information about yourself. Next, you’ll disclose the category of your condition and give your specific diagnosis. You must choose from the following disorder categories:
Visual
Physical or medical
Neurological
Psychological
Hearing
Other
The Candidate Form asks if you’ve received prior testing accommodations, which may shorten your application requirements—more on this next. And in the final section, you’ll specify which accommodations you’re requesting. Several of the most common LSAT accommodations are listed for you to choose from, but you can also write in additional requests.
The Evidence of Disability Form
This next form asks whether or not you have previous documentation of your disability or conditions. Here are some of the documents which would qualify as evidence:
An Individualized Education Program (IEP)
A 504 plan
A Summary of Performance
A Private School Formal Written Plan
An outside, private evaluation from a Qualified Professional
A Medical Doctor Evaluation or Letter from a Qualified Professional
These documents or reports must have been completed within the last five years if you’re requesting an LSAT accommodation based on a mental or cognitive disability. If you’re seeking accommodations related to any other disability, the documentation must originate after you turned thirteen years old.
At this point, it’s important to explain who counts as a qualified professional when it comes to proving your need for LSAT accommodations. According to the LSAC, a qualified professional is someone who is “licensed or otherwise properly credentialed and possesses expertise in the disability for which modifications or accommodations are sought.”
One common reason why applicants’ documentation is denied or deemed insufficient is because it hasn’t been completed by the right qualified professional. For instance, just because someone is a doctor, doesn’t mean they should provide documentation for you. A podiatrist won’t qualify as someone to give evidence of your learning disability. On the other hand, they would be a good choice to verify your need for a wheelchair.
If you don’t possess or can’t obtain previous documentation meeting the currency and professional requirements, you’ll need a qualified professional to provide current evidence of your disability. Some of the types of evidence they can submit include:
Psychoeducational test results
A comprehensive evaluation
Medical or psychological history
A personal statement describing your condition and impairment
A report documenting a temporary disability
To complete their portion of this form—which you’ll be responsible to provide them—the qualified professional must also recommend the specific LSAT accommodations they think you should receive based on your diagnosis or condition.
The Statement of Need for Accommodation Form
This final form separates your request for LSAT accommodations into three distinct categories, each with unique documentation requirements.
You’ll fall into the first category if you request LSAT accommodations that don’t include extended time. If so, the only additional documents you need to supply are written statements by you and a qualified professional. These statements should give a reasonable explanation for why you need testing accommodations in order for your LSAT score to represent your true achievement level.
You’ll fall into the second category if you don’t have a visual impairment and request LSAT accommodations of up to 50% extended time, or if you do have a severe visual impairment and you’re requesting up to 100% of extended time, plus an alternate test format. If you belong to this second category, you’ll need the two written statements mentioned above, plus supporting documents to prove you qualify for the LSAT accommodation of extended time.
These documents could be records of similar K-12 or postsecondary extended time accommodations, records of extended time on previous standardized exams, or a qualified professional’s report supporting your disability diagnosis and need for extended time. Remember, the LSAC is cautious to grant test-takers extended time, so they’ll require thorough documentation to determine you qualify for it.
You’ll fall into the third “Exceptional Needs” category if you don’t have a visual impairment and request more than 50% extended time, or if you do have a severe visual impairment and request more than 100% extended time, plus an alternate test format. You’ll have to submit the two written statements and the extra supporting documents listed previously.
Your statements and supporting documents must specifically justify your need for the large amount of extended time you’re requesting on the LSAT by clarifying the severity of your condition and functional limitations. It will help your case if you received more than 50% (or 100%) extended time on college exams or previous standardized tests.
2. Determine if you qualify for an abbreviated application for LSAT accommodations
If you’ve already been approved for accommodations on previous standardized exams such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, or MCAT, here’s some good news—your application for LSAT accommodations will be a little easier.
Instead of submitting all three of the forms we’ve just explained, you’ll only have to complete the Candidate Form and provide your letter of approval from the previous exam administrator verifying the accommodations you received. Based on your prior approval, you should be granted your request to receive the same accommodations you had in the past.
However, if you’re requesting additional LSAT accommodations beyond what you received on other exams—whether it’s more extended time or new accommodations altogether—you’ll also have to submit the Statement of Need for Accommodation Form. Even so, you get to skip the Evidence of Disability Form, which saves you a good amount of time and effort.
If you haven’t received accommodations on previous standardized exams, you won’t qualify to submit an abbreviated application for LSAT accommodations, and you will need to complete all three forms described above.
3. Register for the LSAT
Now that you understand the application process and requirements, you’re ready to truly begin your request for LSAT accommodations. The first thing you should do is register to take the LSAT. You’ll need your LSAC account number to put on each of the forms you complete for your application.
Pick your preferred test date while keeping in mind the relevant deadlines and considering how long it will take you to gather the necessary documentation. To give yourself a comfortable timeline, you should choose an exam date a couple of months into the future.
5. Complete the required LSAT accommodation forms
At this point, you’re deeply familiar with the forms you have to complete in your request for LSAT accommodations. You’ll have to share portions of each form with your chosen qualified professional, allowing them enough time to write their statement and gather the appropriate documentation.
In the meantime, you’ll also write your statement of need and gather any records you have documenting your condition or the previous accommodations you’ve received to address it. Once you’ve assembled all the completed forms and necessary documents or reports, you’re ready to submit your application for LSAT accommodations—either via mail, fax, or email.
6. Await the decision on your application
After submitting your request for LSAT accommodations, you should check your online LSAC portal regularly. If your request is approved, the LSAC will notify you through your online portal, as well as inform the testing center of the LSAT accommodations you’re receiving.
In the rare case that your preferred testing center isn’t able to provide the accommodations you’re approved for, you’ll have to test at a different location. If you start this process early enough, you’ll have plenty of time to make alternate arrangements and relocate testing centers.
If your request for LSAT accommodations is denied, you have the option to submit an appeal within four calendar days of the decision date. Since appeals take one week to review, your appeal must also fall at least twelve days before your scheduled test date. If you miss this twelve-day deadline, you can reschedule your exam date or take the LSAT in the standard format.
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Part 4: Will law schools know that I received LSAT accommodations?
Due to the lingering stigma that surrounds individuals with disabilities, many pre-law students are nervous to request LSAT accommodations. They fear that if law schools discover they received LSAT accommodations, their law school applications will be viewed as less strong than those of their peers.
We can assure you the LSAC does not in any way mark or distinguish which LSAT scores are earned with testing accommodations and which are not. If you receive LSAT accommodations, your score will be reported in the exact same manner as scores earned through the standard testing format. Law schools won’t know the difference.
Of course, you can always make the choice to disclose your condition, impairment, or disability to law schools through your personal statement. However, if you decide not to volunteer this information on your law school applications, you can still request LSAT accommodations with confidence, knowing your LSAT score report won’t give anything away.
Final thoughts
Now you have all the information and guidance you need in order to successfully request LSAT accommodations. While the application process may not be simple or quick, the LSAC is committed to making accommodations available to applicants who qualify for them. Preparing in advance and following the step-by-step process we’ve outlined will give you the best chance of receiving the LSAT accommodations you need to perform to your true ability level and make your law school dreams come true.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on law school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into law school using his exclusive approach.
