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Apply for an LSAC Fee Waiver

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LSAC’s Fee Waiver program is designed for prospective U.S. and Canadian law students who are financially under-resourced, with the goal of increasing equity and access to legal education.

To increase the number of fee waiver applicants we can assist, the LSAC Fee Waiver Program recognizes different levels of financial need. We have developed a two-tiered benefit system to assist applicants of varying economic circumstances in receiving Fee Waiver benefits.

Eligibility for an LSAC Fee Waiver

Income Requirements — Fee Waiver Tiers

Under the two-tiered LSAC Fee Waiver Program, applicants are eligible for different benefit packages based on their tax-filing status and income levels. The table below summarizes these income requirements. 

Tax-Filing StatusIncome Eligibility
Tier 1Tier 2
IndependentUp to 235% of the federal poverty guidelines235 to 260% of the federal poverty guidelines
DependentApplicant’s Income:Up to 150% of the federal poverty guidelinesUp to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines
Applicant’s Income + Parents’ Income:Up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines200 to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines

Please note: The income levels outlined above do not guarantee approval. The Fee Waiver criteria also include maximum asset and cash balance levels, as well as other factors LSAC may consider in its sole discretion.

Citizenship Requirements

U.S. Residents

To be eligible for a U.S. LSAC fee waiver, you must either:

  • Be a U.S. citizen.
  • Be a U.S. national.
  • Be a resident of either the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RFI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), or the Republic of Palau.
  • Be a permanent resident alien of the U.S. with an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551).
  • Have temporary protected status in the U.S.
  • Have been granted deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
  • Have applied for deferred action under DACA.
  • Be seeking asylum in the United States through the affirmative asylum process and have filed Form I-589 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Note: If you have a status not listed above that is recognized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), you may also be eligible for a fee waiver. If you think you might be eligible for a fee waiver based on a recognized USCIS or DHS status, please apply and submit your basis for eligibility for LSAC’s review.

Canadian Residents

To be eligible for a Canadian LSAC fee waiver, you must either: 

  • Be a Canadian citizen.
  • Be a permanent resident of Canada.
  • Be classified as a “Protected Person” or “Convention Refugee” by the country of Canada.

Application Requirements

You must complete an online Fee Waiver application through your LSAC JD Account opens in new window. You will be required to input information about yourself, your spouse (if applicable), or your parents if your tax-filing status is “dependent.” A decision will be made based on the information you provide.

If your application is denied, you may appeal the decision once; appeal decisions are final.

If accepted, your Fee Waiver application will be “Conditionally Approved.” While your Fee Waiver application is “Conditionally Approved,” a “hold” is placed on your LSAC JD Account. This “hold” prevents LSAT scores and CAS Reports from being released to you or to the law schools to which you have applied until the “hold” is removed. This “hold” will be removed when a final decision is made on your Fee Waiver application.

Before your Fee Waiver application can receive “Final Approval,” you must submit all required supporting documentation through your LSAC JD Account no later than 45 days after submitting your application online. See Supporting Documentation Requirements (below) for more information.

Supporting Documentation Requirements

After submitting your online Fee Waiver application, you must upload copies of all documentation supporting your application to your LSAC JD Account opens in new window. This documentation must be submitted through your LSAC JD Account no later than 45 days after submitting your application online, or your Fee Waiver application will be canceled. (However, in most cases, your application can be reinstated after all required documentation is received.)

Documentation requirements vary based on your citizenship status. Please follow the guidelines below.

U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, and Permanent Resident Aliens of the U.S.

  • All tax documents supporting your fee waiver application, including all federal income tax schedules filed with the Form 1040. These include:
    • Schedule 1 (Additional Income and Adjustments to Income)
    • Schedule 2 (Additional Taxes)
    • Schedule A (Itemized Deductions)
    • Schedule B (Interest and Ordinary Dividends)
    • Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Profit or Loss from Business | Sole Proprietorship)
    • Schedule D (Capital Gains and Losses)
    • Schedule E (Supplemental Income and Losses)
    • Schedule F (Profit or Loss from Farming)
    • Schedule J (Income Averaging for Farmers and Fishermen)
  • The Verification of Nonfiling Letter from the IRS — if you were not required to file a federal tax return. More information about this documentation is available at 2024-2025 Verification of Nonfiling Instructions.

Applicants with Temporary Protected Status in the U.S.

  • Your Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821)

Applicants Who Have Been Granted (or Applied for) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Upload one of the following:

  • Your DACA Approval Notice (Form I-797, Notice of Action)
  • Your DACA Application Receipt (Form I-797C, Notice of Action)
  • Your U.S. Employment Authorization Card (showing category #C33 indicating your eligibility through DACA)

Applicants Seeking Asylum in the United States through the Affirmative Asylum Process

  • Verification that you are seeking or have been granted asylum in the U.S. — upload either:
    • Your Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal form (Form I-589) and your “Acknowledgment of Receipt” from USCIS. 
    • Your U.S. Employment Authorization Card (showing category #C08 indicating your eligibility through asylum)
  • Copies of your most recent paystubs (if applicable)

Residents of either the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RFI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), or the Republic of Palau

Upload one of the following:

  • Your driver’s license
  • Your passport
  • Your state ID
  • Your U.S. Employment Authorization Card (showing category #A08 indicating you are a resident of either the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau)

This is important. All supporting documentation must be uploaded directly through your LSAC JD Account opens in new window. We can no longer accept Fee Waiver documentation submitted via email or postal mail.

The Approval Process

Once you have submitted your online Fee Waiver application and all required supporting documentation, your Fee Waiver application will be either approved or denied. Decisions are usually made within two to five business days of LSAC receiving all the required supporting documentation.

Approved

If your application receives “Final Approval”

You will be notified via email whether you have received a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Fee Waiver. Your Fee Waiver will be valid for two years from the date of LSAC’s “Conditional Approval” of the waiver.

To receive your full benefit package, you must complete the following tasks in LawHub™ opens in new window:

  • 2 PrepTests using “Exam Mode”
  • The “How Do I Apply to Law School?” course

Denied

If your application is Denied after “Conditional Approval”

You will be billed for any services redeemed while your Fee Waiver was “Conditionally Approved.” A “hold” will remain on your LSAC JD Account until the balance is paid in full.

If you have not already submitted an appeal, you may appeal the “Denied” decision once; appeal decisions are final. The review process is usually completed within two weeks after receipt of your appeal and any additional supporting documentation. More information about the appeals process will be provided to you via email.

 

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Fee Waiver Benefits

The LSAC Fee Waiver program has been redesigned so that it helps aspiring students better understand how to apply to law school and helps improve their likelihood of securing admission and financial aid.

Starting September 3, 2024, Fee Waiver recipients will need to complete the tasks described below to redeem their full benefit package. These tasks are designed to help recipients maximize their Fee Waiver benefits.

 Benefit 1 – LawHub AdvantageBenefit 2 – LSATBenefit 3 – CAS and CAS Reports
When You Receive Each BenefitAs soon as your Fee Waiver application receives “Final Approval”As soon as you’ve completed 2 LSAT PrepTests in LawHub using “Exam Mode”As soon as you’ve completed the “How Do I Apply to Law School?” course in LawHub
What You Receive (Tier 1 package)One-year subscription to LawHub Advantage opens in new windowTwo LSATs (including LSAT Argumentative Writing and LSAT Score Preview)Five-year Credential Assembly Service (CAS) subscription AND 6 CAS Reports
What You Receive (Tier 2 package)One-year subscription to LawHub Advantage opens in new windowOne LSAT (including LSAT Argumentative Writing and LSAT Score Preview)Five-year Credential Assembly Service (CAS) subscription AND 3 CAS Reports
End DateOne year after your “Final Approval” dateTwo years after your “Conditionally Approved” dateTwo years after your “Conditionally Approved” date *

* You must redeem your CAS subscription within your two-year Fee Waiver period. After that, you have five years from your CAS subscription start date to use CAS and redeem your free CAS Reports.

What to Expect

  • You can begin working toward Benefits 2 and 3 as soon as your Fee Waiver application is “Conditionally Approved.”
  • To complete the required tasks, you’ll need to log into LawHub opens in new window. Use the same username/password that you use to access your LSAC JD Account. 
  • Only PrepTests taken in LawHub’s “Exam Mode” will count toward the two PrepTests needed to receive Benefit 2. You can select “Exam Mode” when you start a new PrepTest. (By default, LawHub’s PrepTests are set to “Self-Paced Mode” — so make sure to switch to “Exam Mode.”)
  • If you’ve already completed LawHub’s “How Do I Apply to Law School?” course, you will NOT need to retake it.
  • If you complete the Benefit 2 requirement, you can redeem one free LSAT registration (including LSAT Argumentative Writing and Score Preview) while your Fee Waiver application is “Conditionally Approved.” Similarly, if you complete the Benefit 3 requirement, you can redeem your free CAS registration while your Fee Waiver application is “Conditionally Approved.” However, if your Fee Waiver application is later canceled or denied, you will be billed for any services redeemed, and a “hold” will remain on your LSAC JD Account until the balance is paid in full.
  • Each of the benefit columns outlined above is independent of the others. For example, if you’ve already taken the LSAT and only plan to utilize the CAS and CAS Report benefits, you only need to complete the “How Do I Apply to Law School?” course.
  • Your one-year LawHub Advantage subscription begins as soon as your Fee Waiver receives “Final Approval.”

This is important.

  1. Please note that fees previously paid cannot be waived retroactively, and no refunds will be issued.
  2. To submit a Fee Waiver application, you are required to accept LSAC’s terms and conditions for the Fee Waiver program.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for an LSAC Fee Waiver?

LSAC’s Fee Waiver program is designed for prospective U.S. and Canadian law students who are financially under-resourced, with the goal of increasing equity and access to legal education. 

The LSAC Fee Waiver Program recognizes different levels of financial need. We have developed a two-tiered benefit program to assist applicants of varying economic circumstances in receiving Fee Waiver benefits. 

You can learn more about the LSAC Fee Waiver income-eligibility levels above. 

When should I apply for a Fee Waiver?

We recommend that you submit your completed Fee Waiver application to LSAC at least six months prior to the registration deadline for the LSAT administration you wish to take. Applying this early will enable you to have plenty of time to take the two “Exam Mode” PrepTests, which must be completed to receive the LSAT portion of the Fee Waiver package.

Even if there are fewer than six months before the LSAT registration deadline, don’t hesitate to apply. Please complete your Fee Waiver application as soon as you can. LSAC reviews completed Fee Waiver applications on a rolling basis and typically provides a decision within two to five business days. 

I applied for a Fee Waiver before September 3, 2024. What benefits will I receive if my application is approved?

Please review the 2023-2024 Fee Waiver program guidelines for information about eligibility and Fee Waiver benefits.

When I’m taking the required “Exam Mode” PrepTests, is it OK to adjust the “Minutes per section” time?

Yes, we encourage you to take the “Exam Mode” PrepTests under the same conditions that you expect to have on test day. You can adjust the “Minutes per section” when you begin a new practice test in LawHub. (By default, LawHub’s PrepTests are set to “Self-Paced Mode” — so make sure to switch to “Exam Mode” when completing the two required PrepTests.)

Under standard testing conditions, test takers receive 35 minutes per section. However, extended testing time may be approved as an accommodation for test takers with documented disabilities. To learn more about requesting LSAT accommodations, please review the LSAC Policy on Accommodations for Test Takers With Disabilities.

Will my law school application fees be waived?

Some law schools waive their application fee for applicants who have received a Fee Waiver under LSAC’s Fee Waiver program. For schools that waive application fees, this will be noted within your LSAC JD Account opens in new window when you select the school’s application and when you’re preparing to submit your completed application.

If your Fee Waiver application has received “Final Approval,” your law school application fee will be waived automatically for these schools.

If your Fee Waiver application has been “Conditionally Approved” and you are applying to a school that waives application fees for LSAC Fee Waiver recipients, you have three options:

  1. Option 1: Delay submitting your law school application until you receive "Final Approval” of your Fee Waiver application. (Your Fee Waiver application cannot receive “Final Approval” until you submit all the required supporting documentation.)
  2. Option 2: Send the law school application electronically to the applicable law school and pay the required fee. (NOTE: LSAC cannot refund the cost of a law school application that you paid for and submitted. If your LSAC Fee Waiver application receives “Final Approval” after you pay for and submit your law school application, you will need to contact the law school directly to request a refund. Whether the law school provides a refund for the cost of your law school application is within the law school’s sole discretion.)
  3. Option 3: Print the law school application and mail it directly to the law school with a letter explaining that you have applied to participate in LSAC’s Fee Waiver program. If LSAC issues “Final Approval” of your Fee Waiver application, you must forward a copy of the approval letter to the applicable law school. If LSAC denies your Fee Waiver application, you must pay any and all applicable law school application fees directly to the applicable law school.

What if my Fee Waiver application is denied?

LSAC wants to make sure all relevant evidence of need is considered in granting Fee Waivers. If your Fee Waiver application is denied, you can appeal that decision. However, all appeal decisions are final. You will be eligible to reapply during the next Fee Waiver season (July through June).

How does LSAC determine independent/dependent status?

Your dependency status is based on your answers in Step 1 of the Fee Waiver application. If you are deemed to be a dependent, you will be required to provide both your own and your parents’ tax documentation. LSAC’s determination of your dependency status may not be the same as the determination made by other organizations. 

Why do I need to fulfill certain requirements before I can use my LSAC Fee Waiver to take the LSAT for free or to get a free Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration?

LSAC’s Fee Waiver program is designed to help students who are financially under-resourced, with the goal of increasing equity and access to legal education. The Fee Waiver program has helped thousands of under-resourced students in their journeys to law school. At the same time, many more Fee Waiver recipients ultimately end up not applying to law school or not attending. We continuously evaluate our programs to find ways to improve them. In that spirit, we decided to add some milestones to the program, to help ensure that Fee Waiver recipients better understand how to apply to law school and to help improve their likelihood of securing admission and financial aid. For more information about the benefits of these requirements see this blog post.

Do practice tests taken prior to applying for an LSAC Fee Waiver count toward the Benefit 2 requirements?

No. After receiving “Conditional Approval” of their Fee Waiver application, Fee Waiver recipients need to complete two practice tests in LawHub opens in new window using “Exam Mode,” in order to access their Fee Waiver benefit for registering for the LSAT free of charge.

Fee Waiver recipients can check their practice test status by logging into LawHub and visiting the LSAT Prep library.

I participated in a different webinar about how to apply to law school. Can I use that to fulfill the Benefit 3 requirement?

No. Fee Waiver recipients need to complete the “How Do I Apply to Law School?” course in LawHub opens in new window to access the CAS and CAS Reports benefit. We anticipate the course will take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and it includes a wide range of helpful information and resources to assist prospective applicants.