Which law schools accept the GRE?
As of the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, the vast majority of ABA-accredited law schools — including virtually all T14 programs — accept GRE scores in place of or alongside the LSAT. Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, Chicago, NYU, Georgetown, and others all accept the GRE. The American Bar Association formally approved GRE acceptance for accredited schools starting in 2021.
However, acceptance is not the same as preference. Schools that accept the GRE still typically have far more LSAT applicants than GRE applicants in their pools, which affects how they interpret and compare the scores.
What each test actually measures
The LSAT tests a narrow, specific set of skills: argument analysis, conditional reasoning, logical deduction, and close reading of dense text. It is purpose-built for the skills that correlate with law school performance — understanding arguments, identifying assumptions, and reading precisely under time pressure. The entire test is about reasoning with language.
The GRE tests a broader range of skills across three sections: Verbal Reasoning (reading comprehension, text completion, sentence equivalence), Quantitative Reasoning (math at roughly the high-school/early-college level), and Analytical Writing (two essays). The verbal section has some overlap with LSAT reasoning, but the GRE also expects math competency that the LSAT completely ignores.
If you are strong in math and weaker in purely verbal/logical reasoning, the GRE may be a more balanced test for you. If you are strong in reading and argumentation and weaker in math, the LSAT might be your better test.
Why GRE can be a disadvantage — and when it isn't
The core challenge with the GRE path is comparability. Law schools build their admissions processes around LSAT data. They know their 25th/75th LSAT percentile range from decades of applicant data. GRE applicant pools are smaller and newer, which makes it harder for admissions committees to benchmark your score with the same confidence.
Some schools convert GRE scores to LSAT-equivalent scores using tools like ETS's concordance tables. Others evaluate GRE applicants on a different internal rubric. Either way, you are generally easier to evaluate and easier to admit when your score is in the same metric as the majority of applicants.
That said, GRE can be a genuine advantage in specific situations. If you are a strong GRE test-taker who has already taken the GRE for business school or grad school and scored in the 95th+ percentile verbal, submitting that score might strengthen your application. If you are applying to dual-degree programs (JD/MBA, JD/MPP, JD/PhD) that require the GRE anyway, using one test for multiple applications is a practical benefit.
The LSAT's structural advantages for law school
Law school involves a lot of what the LSAT tests: reading dense arguments, identifying what an author assumes, recognizing flawed reasoning, and drawing precise conclusions from rules. The LSAT is not a random hoop — it's a reasonable proxy for skills you'll use in law school constantly.
Students who study well for the LSAT often report that their ability to read cases, identify issues in statutes, and spot logical holes in arguments improves noticeably. This doesn't happen as directly with GRE prep, which splits attention between math, vocabulary, and reading.
If law school is your only graduate program goal, the LSAT is almost always the better investment. You're studying for a test that will also prepare you for the work itself.
How to make the decision
Take one official practice test for each. LSAC offers free official LSAT practice tests; ETS offers two free official GRE practice tests. Take both under timed conditions and compare your results using the concordance tables available on the ETS website.
If your practice GRE verbal converts to a higher LSAT equivalent, and you're applying to programs that accept both, GRE might be the right choice. If the LSAT practice score is higher, that settles it — the LSAT also happens to be the better long-term investment for purely legal studies.
One caution: don't choose based on which test feels easier in the abstract. Choose based on actual diagnostic performance. The GRE often feels less intimidating to students who haven't studied either test, but the LSAT is highly coachable — students who study systematically can improve 10–15 points from their starting score.
Timeline considerations
The LSAT is offered roughly ten times per year (LSAC expands and adjusts the schedule regularly). It takes approximately 3–6 months of focused preparation to reach a competitive score, depending on starting point and target score.
The GRE is offered year-round at test centers and online. It can be retaken every 21 days, up to five times in a 12-month period. If your timeline is compressed — say, you're applying this cycle and can't do 4 months of LSAT prep — and you've already taken the GRE, this might be a relevant practical factor.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GRE or LSAT easier?
It depends entirely on the individual. The GRE has a math section the LSAT lacks; the LSAT's logical reasoning is more demanding than anything on the GRE verbal section. Take a practice test of each and compare your actual performance rather than relying on anecdotes.
Do T14 law schools prefer LSAT over GRE?
Most do, in practice. While all T14 schools officially accept both, LSAT applicants make up the vast majority of their pools, giving admissions committees a more familiar reference point. Submitting a very strong GRE score won't hurt you, but an average GRE score is harder to interpret favorably than an equivalent LSAT score.
Can I submit both LSAT and GRE scores?
Yes, at schools that accept both. Some applicants submit both if their scores are strong on each test. There's no downside to submitting an additional strong score.
Does taking the GRE look like I'm avoiding the LSAT?
Some admissions officers have said informally that they notice GRE-only applicants, but this is not a universal view and schools don't state it as policy. The more important signal is your score's strength, not which test you chose.
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