The LSAT score is crucial for getting accepted into a Canadian law school. Almost all law school in Canada require their applicants to submit their LSAT scores with their application packages. Some don’t, but those are far few! In this guide, you will learn what LSAT score you need to get into Canadian law schools.

LSAT Score for Canadian Law Schools

To get into Canadian law schools, you will need an LSAT score of at least 155. Although it is possible to get accepted with a lower score, the number of law schools that will accept your application will be very few. Thus, you should enhance your score by concentrating on the most effective way to prepare for the LSAT. Below, you will find a complete table outlining LSAT score requirements for each law school in the country.

How to Get Accepted Despite a Low LSAT Score

Look, your LSAT score is crucial – there is no way around it, as it is one of the key metrics that law schools in Canada assess tens of thousands of applications every year. However, it is not the only metric that they use.

If you have a subpar LSAT score, or if you did not do well on one of the LSAT sections, you need to ensure that other elements of your law school application are outshining. In particular:

  • Higher GPA – your grade point average should be well above the average of 3.7 or A-. If you can achieve an outstanding GPA, it is arguably one of the most effective ways to offset a lower LSAT score.
  • Outstanding Personal Statement – ensure that your statement is captivating, well-structured, and lets the admissions officers clearly follow your motivations and logic for studying law specifically at their law school. Here, you can directly or indirectly explain your life story, work experience, and achievements, which may offset your low LSAT score.
  • Exceptional Letters of Recommendations – in some cases, extraordinary letters of recommendation from outstanding experts in their fields would weigh in nicely in your favour. Although this doesn’t mean that law schools will overlook your low LSAT score, strong references that can vouch for you as a student or as a professional would allow the admissions committee to view you from a different angle. 
  • Strong Resume/CV – depending on how much work experience you have, you can let it shine here and showcase your professionalism, skills, and experience. A strong resume is very unlikely to completely offset a low LSAT score but it can show the admissions committee that you bring a well-developed skillset that could help you succeed in law school. Additionally, having legal work experience on your resume will solidify your motivation for studying law.

You can only increase your score by having a solid LSAT study schedule.

Average LSAT Score for Canadian Law Schools is 155 Infographic

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Chances of Getting into Law School with These LSAT Scores

Here are your chances of getting into law school based on your LSAT score, anywhere from 120 to 180.

  • If you score between 120 – 124, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 0 – 5%
  • If you score between 125 – 130, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 5 – 10%
  • If you score between 131 – 135, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 10 – 15%
  • If you score between 136 – 140, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 15 – 20%
  • If you score between 141 – 145, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 20 – 30%
  • If you score between 146 – 150, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 30 – 40%
  • If you score between 151 – 155, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 40 – 50%
  • If you score between 156 – 160, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 50 – 70%
  • If you score between 161 – 165, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 70 – 85%
  • If you score between 166 – 170, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 85 – 95%
  • If you score between 171 – 175, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 95 – 99%
  • If you score between 176 – 180, your chances of getting accepted into law school are between 99 – 100%

Scoring below 150 on the LSAT will present a challenge for you if you are applying to law school in Canada and is likely a sign of someone who took the LSAT without studying. These scores fall well below the average accepted range, making your admission highly unlikely. Most top law schools in Canada require you to have median LSAT scores significantly higher than 150. Although some schools use a holistic admissions process and offer special admissions categories, your LSAT score of below 150 will be extremely difficult to outweigh with other admissions criteria. We strongly encourage you to consider retaking the LSAT to improve your chances.

A 150-155 LSAT score will present a significant challenge to your admission to most Canadian law schools. This score range falls below the average for nearly all programs. While nearly impossible, gaining admission with this score will require exceptional grades and compelling extracurricular activities or work experience to offset the lower LSAT. Some schools that you may consider applying to include:

  • University of New Brunswick Law School
  • University of Saskatchewan Law School
  • Windsor Law School

However, a 150-155 score would be below average even at these schools. We would strongly encourage you to consider retaking the LSAT to improve your chances. Even a few points of improvement can significantly boost admission prospects.

A 160-165 LSAT score significantly enhances your chances of admission to many Canadian law schools, placing you in a competitive position for several programs. However, you could still have difficulty getting accepted to the University of Toronto Law School and McGill Law School. In the end, the competitiveness of your application will also depend on your GPA, personal statement, and other soft factors.

A 166-170 LSAT score places you in a highly competitive position for admission to Canadian law schools. This score range is above the median for most programs, significantly improving your chances of acceptance. Combined with a good GPA and strong application package, it is very unlikely that any law school will reject your application. You are also placed really well for securing scholarships, which could reduce your law school tuition and the overall cost of becoming a lawyer in Canada.

A 170+ LSAT score places you in an elite category, nearly securing your chances of admission to any Canadian law school. This score range, combined with a strong GPA and well-rounded application package, could also allow you to secure numerous scholarships, in some cases resulting in a tuition-free law school education.

Law Schools with No LSAT Requirements

What if we told you that you could get accepted to law school in Canada without needing to complete the LSAT? Yes, there are some law school options available to you that don’t require the LSAT or have a more lenient approach to lower scores, which would still allow you to become a lawyer in Canada.

Civic Law Programs

Generally, civic law programs in Canada will not require the LSAT, which is great for some applicants. Keep in mind that if you plan on studying civic law, you are almost guaranteed to have good proficiency in the French language. Here are some law schools where you can study law without the LSAT requirement:

  • University of Montreal Law School
  • University of Sherbrooke Law School
  • McGill Univerity Law School
  • University of Ottawa Law School
  • University of Laval Law School

Law Schools with Lower LSAT Requirements

There aren’t any law schools that offer common law programs that do not require the LSAT. However, there are somewhere the LSAT requirement is either flexible, not so prominent, or has more achievable thresholds.

  • Windsor Law School: While the LSAT is required, Windsor has an Alternative Admissions Category for applicants from equity-seeking groups, which may waive the LSAT requirement. This category considers a much broader range of experiences and achievements.
  • Bora Laskin Faculty of Law: Lakehead Law School is known for having a lower LSAT threshold than other Ontario law schools. Therefore, it provides opportunities for applicants with lower LSAT scores but strong overall applications.
  • Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Law School: Although TRU requires the LSAT, it has been known to accept applicants with lower LSAT scores if they have strong academic records and compelling personal statements.

Top Tip: Use LSAT Score Preview

If you are concerned about your LSAT score, you may want to check out this new service by LSAC, where you can see your LSAT score before deciding whether to keep it and have it reported to law schools. This can be extremely beneficial for you if you are trying to meet certain LSAT requirements and goals. LSAC’s LSAT score preview provides flexibility for test takers who are unsure about their performance and want to maintain control over which scores are reported to law schools. While it doesn’t eliminate the LSAT requirement, it offers a way to manage the impact of potentially lower scores on law school applications.

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