Updated at: 10-04-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

Here, we’ve taken the time to compile a list of the 15 law schools with the least competitive admissions processes. The schools we’ve included here are also the most accessible for any student interested in pursuing a legal education.

The legal field is one of the most competitive and selective occupations because of its high demand and low supply.

But then, some institutions are not as rigid as some of their counterparts, so studying to become a legal practitioner has been made moderately easy. Therefore, one of the most important things you can do to ensure your success in this process is to make a strategic school list.

In fact, not putting together a well-balanced school list is a leading cause of initial law school application rejection.

You will also find out how competitive each school is, how much it costs to attend, what sort of grades are required for entry, and much more. Although it may be challenging to complete, this program is well worth the effort.

If you want answers to all of your questions and more, keep reading!

Law Schools With The Easiest Admission Requirements

Law schools with the easiest admission requirements

Southern University Law Center

Baton Rouge, Louisiana is home to Southern University Law Center, which offers comprehensive legal education.

The Clinical Education Program at Southern University’s School of Law places upper-year law students in charge of real cases while participating in intensive externships, seminars, and clinics.

If you’re interested in human rights law, you might want to consider Southern University, where the emphasis in the legal clinics is on helping the poor and the marginalized.

It may sound too good to be true that one of the most accessible law schools also has an excellent program committed to giving students the experience they need to succeed. Of course not! Here are some enrollment figures to back that up!

With a relatively low score requirement of GPA 3.0, Southern Law has a high acceptance rate of 53.9%. Although its median LSAT score is 146, it accepts a number of students with scores as low as 144, which is significantly below the national average. Comparatively, while the median GPA at this school is 3.03, 25% of students only manage a 2.72.

The annual cost of attending this institution full-time is $17,514 USD. Students with demanding schedules will appreciate Southern Law’s flexible part-time legal studies. Their part-time JD program ranges in annual tuition cost from $14,218 to $15,266.

Widener University – Pennsylvania (Commonwealth) 

Widener University - Pennsylvania (Commonwealth) 

Although it is more difficult to get into Widener’s Pennsylvania campus than the Delaware one, it is still one of the most accessible law schools in the country. Widener University in Pennsylvania has an acceptance rate that is slightly lower than average at 58.9 percent.

However, it makes up for this decline in acceptance by requiring less of its applicants in terms of LSAT score and grade point average. The median requirements for admission to this institution are an LSAT score of 148 and a GPA of 3.2.

Part-time law school at the Pennsylvania campus costs $33,440 per year, while the full-time law program at the Delaware campus costs $50,100 per year.

This institution offers all the same hallmark courses as its counterpart in Delaware, and its convenient location is an added bonus. Since it is the only law school in the state capital, students have convenient access to a wide variety of legal resources and opportunities.

Appalachian School of Law

This school in Virginia is committed to producing lawyers who are innovative thinkers with a strong sense of duty to uphold the law.

Students in their first year at ASL are required to complete an externship or field placement during the summer, unlike at many other top-tier law schools. Over the course of this externship, they will have completed over 200 hours of supervised legal work!

In their first year of law school, students can begin gaining valuable work experience through these externships, expanding their professional networks and adding to their resumes.

Aspiring lawyers have a great opportunity to join ASL and take part in creative externships. There is a 42.2% adoption rate for ASL. Students with GPAs and LSAT scores between 2.93 and 3.57 have a competitive chance of being accepted.

Appalachian School of Law has one of the highest annual tuitions on this list, at $41,000.

Vermont Law School

Vermont Law School

The South Royalton Legal Clinic is housed within the Vermont Law School, a private institution in the town of South Royalton. This university’s J.D. programs range from accelerated to extended to reduced residency options, making it one of the most flexible in the country.

The school also offers a Master of Laws degree for those whose aspirations and interests go beyond those of a typical undergraduate student.

This is the only dual-degree program of its kind offered by a law school. In the same amount of time it takes to earn a Bachelor’s degree, you can earn a Juris Doctor. Motivated students can complete both degrees in a shorter amount of time and at a reduced cost at the University.

The University of Vermont Law School has a very high acceptance rate, making it one of the most competitive options for aspiring lawyers.

Salmon P. Chase College of Law

Salmon P. Chase College of Law, NKU is located in Northern Kentucky and is a school of law.

Legal theory and practice are brought together in the classroom to give students a well-rounded education at this law school.

At Salmon P. Chase College of Law, you can earn a J.D. in three years, as well as a Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S. ), or a Master of Laws (LLM) in American law.

This law school is one of the easiest to get into on our list because of its high acceptance rate.

Willamette University College of Law

Students at Willamette University’s College of Law learn to be community- and justice-focused leaders who can think critically and solve complex problems.

When it opened, it was the region’s first and only school of law.

We take great pride in passing on our legacy of excellence to the next generation of lawyers and civic leaders by drawing on our rich history.

Furthermore, the College of Law is responsible for producing the most innovative region of the country’s finest problem-solvers, community leaders, legal dealmakers, and changemakers.

Southern Illinois University School of Law

Southern Illinois University School of Law

Southern Illinois University has a relatively low acceptance rate of around 50%, but an impressive bar pass rate of almost 65%. This is not as impressive as the bar pass rate of the top law schools in the country, but it is still significant. Naturally, the bar passage rate will be lower at a law school that requires an LSAT score of 147 and a GPA of 3.00 to admit students.

Southern Illinois University is inexpensive in addition to being accessible and providing a high quality education. In-state students can expect to pay around $22,000 per year in tuition and fees for a full-time J.D. program, while out-of-state students will pay around $44,000.

Thomas M. Cooley Law School

The Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University is frequently mentioned as one of the easiest law schools to get into. Its acceptance rate of 86% is unprecedented, but only 43% of its graduates pass the bar exam.

This law school has some of the lowest admissions standards in the country, requiring only an LSAT score of 142 and a grade point average of 2.90. Full-time J.D. programs cost around $51,000 in tuition and fees, which is pricey but not unreasonable considering the caliber of education you will receive.

North Carolina Central University School of Law

Your admissions prospects are very good with a minimum LSAT score of 140 and a GPA of 2.90. Tuition is affordable at around $19,000 per year for in-state students, but a full-time J.D. program will set you back around $41,000 if you’re not a resident of the state.

The school’s bar pass rate of 67.2% is higher than the statewide average of 65.4%, which is another positive indicator of the quality of this institution’s legal education.

Concordia University School of Law, Idaho

While the 60% acceptance rate at Concordia is lower than at some of the other law schools on this list, the 83% bar passage rate is impressive given the minimum GPA and LSAT score requirements. Tuition and fees totaling $30,000 make it an attractive option for those seeking an accessible, high-quality law school.

Yale Law School

Yale Law School

Private Yale Law School can be found in New Haven, Connecticut. The 2023 edition of US News & World Report’s rankings of the best law schools in the United States placed it at the top of the list.

In 2021, 5194 people applied to be a part of the class of 2024. There were 5194 applications total, and 214 (4.12%) were offered spots in the incoming 1L class, for a total of 201 students. The acceptance rate at Yale Law is only 4.12%, making it the most competitive law school in the United States.

The class of 2024 had a median LSAT score of 149 and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.94. Since 75% of the class had LSAT scores at or above 171 and GPAs at or above 3.88, if your numbers are in that range, you have a much better chance of being admitted.

Loyola University of New Orleans College of Law

The acceptance rate at Loyola is high and it’s not hard to get in. Loyola’s bar pass rate of 85% is impressive given its 60% acceptance rate. The chances of success for both teams are high.

You should be able to pass the bar exam soon after graduating from this law school provided you put in the time and effort required and don’t take your acceptance for granted. However, the price of admission is expected to be around $44,000. Having a minimum LSAT score of 148 and a 3.10 GPA will improve your chances of admission even if your test scores aren’t perfect.

Appalachian School of Law, Virginia

With an acceptance rate of 63%, this school is slightly more competitive than some of the easier on our list, but with an LSAT score of 143 and a GPA of 2.80, your chances of admission are good.

Full-time tuition is $31,700, which is on the lower end of the spectrum, but what really sets this school apart is the wide variety of scholarship and grant opportunities it offers. The school’s success rate of 84% is even better than the state average of 75%.

Samford University Cumberland School of Law

Location in Birmingham, Alabama, a regional center for the legal industry with many opportunities for externships, is a boon to Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law students. Commonly pursued specializations include business law, health law, public interest law, and environmental law. According to U.S. News & World Report, the trial advocacy program at this school is ranked #15 in the country.

FAQs

Are law schools requiring the LSAT?

There is a shift away from requiring the LSAT for admission to law school, but many programs still do require it. Several top-tier law schools have dropped the LSAT in recent years, and the trend is spreading.

Does law school require math?

Math is typically a required subject for admission to law school. Math and the law have something in common: laws. In mathematics and the law, there are rules that cannot be broken and others that can. If you want to be successful as a lawyer, you need the problem-solving skills and logic that a solid mathematical background can provide.

Do You Need to Take the LSAT to Get Into Law School?

The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is the primary obstacle for most prospective law students. Many American law schools now accept applicants who have not taken the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), but is it a good idea to pursue a J.D. without first taking the LSAT? Not likely at all.

The LSAT is designed to see if you have what it takes to succeed in a rigorous law school program. You can pass the test without any prior legal training, but you will need strong skills in reading comprehension, analysis, and logic.

If you don’t have the right skills, you won’t do well on the LSAT, and if you go to law school without them, you might have a hard time. If you aren’t ready to take the LSAT, you’re probably not ready for law school.

What is the easiest law school to get into in USA?

Southern Illinois University has one of the most accessible law programs. Southern Illinois University has an acceptance rate of around 50% but an impressive bar pass rate of over 65%. Although not as impressive as the bar pass rate of the top law schools in the country, this is still noteworthy. The bar pass rate will be slightly lower than average because of the admission requirements at this law school (LSAT score of 147 and GPA of 3.00). The tuition at Southern Illinois University is very affordable, and the university is also easy to get into. Tuition and fees for a full-time J.D. program average around $22,000 per year for in-state students and around $44,000 per year for out-of-state students.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to decide which law school to apply to. There are a lot of things to think about, and it can be very nerve-wracking to wait to find out if you got into your top choice law school.

However, by applying to some of the most accessible law schools in the country, you can alleviate some of the burden of the application process. Doing so can also provide you with a reliable backup plan and increase the likelihood of your application being accepted.

To your success!