Prospective law school applicants with learning disabilities or attention disorders may be eligible to receive testing accommodations for the LSAT. Accommodations range from use of earplugs to private testing rooms to extended time and more.
The Law School Admission Council details on its website how to initiate requests for testing accommodations. Make sure to register for the exam before initiating your request. LSAC should notify you of its decision within 14 business days. Submit the required documentation well ahead of the test date in the event your request is denied.
[Discover four things to know about accommodated LSAT testing.]
If your accommodation request is denied, here are three steps to take to make the best case for your appeal.
1. Review the decision letter: LSAC will not simply deny all or part of your accommodation request without reason. Review its decision letter carefully. What explanations did LSAC offer as to why it cannot accommodate your request in full? Can you address those concerns?
Requests may be denied because you failed to provide the required documentation to establish evidence of your disability. On its website, LSAC lists the common reasons for deeming documentation insufficient.
For mental or cognitive disabilities, your documentation must be current — not more than five years old — and must be from a qualified professional. Records of testing accommodations tend to be the most persuasive. A documented diagnosis itself may be insufficient.
For example, I worked with a client whose LSAT accommodation request was denied. Although he had a formal diagnosis from a medical professional that stated he was eligible to receive extended time, he had not needed to make use of those accommodations as an undergraduate. Most of his grades were based on research and writing, not multiple-choice timed tests.
Moreover, he had not received accommodations on the SAT. Based on his grades and his demonstrated aptitude on the SAT, LSAC denied his request for extended time on the LSAT.
Note that if there is a problem with your documentation, LSAC will not notify you directly. It is your responsibility to reach out to the qualified professional to rectify any deficiencies.
[Learn how to navigate learning disabilities in law school.]
2. Notify LSAC of intent to appeal and follow through: To appeal an accommodation request denial, you must notify LSAC of your intent to appeal within 24 hours of receiving the decision in your online account.
You then have only four calendar days to submit your appeal. That is not a lot of time to address any evidentiary issues, particularly if you did your best to comply with the requirements when making your initial request.
Be aware of deadlines. You must submit your appeal and new documentation at least 12 calendar days before the scheduled exam you intend to take. Once you have submitted your appeal, LSAC will notify you of its final decision within one week.
In your appeal, it is important to specifically address the reasons LSAC has articulated in the decision letter. Be prepared to have your appeal denied again unless you provide additional documentation of new substantive information.
[Get insight into how law schools view LSAT scores.]
3. Consider postponing exam: If your request for appeal is denied, consider postponing the exam. If you prepared under the assumption that you would receive additional time, attempting to sit for the LSAT without accommodations could be disastrous to your score.
Postponing may allow you to secure the required documentation necessary to make a subsequent accommodation request.
Alternatively, if your ineligibility for the requested accommodation is unlikely to change, postponing will give you time to adjust your study techniques. I advise my clients to take real practice tests under the time they will be allotted on exam day to simulate testing conditions as accurately as possible.
With adequate preparation, you can hopefully mitigate the disadvantages of not receiving your requested accommodation. While you may not be able to achieve the same score as if your request was granted, remember that the LSAT is only one component of your overall law school application. Concentrate your efforts on doing your best and potentially include an LSAT addendum to explain why your score is not fully representative of your abilities to excel in law school.
Have questions about LSAT accommodations? You can reach me at lawadmissionslowdown@usnews.com.
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3 Steps to Take if LSAT Accommodations Are Denied originally appeared on usnews.com
