Law Schools

The Digital LSAT Is Finally Here

The future is here for prospective law students.

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See ya, Scantron.

Rejoice, prospective law students, for the long wait is finally over. After the Law School Admission Council wondered for 20 years how they could possibly offer such a high-tech testing innovation, a computerized LSAT is here. As noted by LSAC President Kellye Testy, “Legal education and the legal profession need to keep pace with technological advancements.” Starting in July, college students will be able to take the law school entry exam on Microsoft Surface Go tablets. For a profession that is usually vehemently against change, this is a major step forward — and it’s a huge one.

Karen Sloan of Law.com has more information on just a few of the ways the new digital system will benefit aspiring lawyers who will be taking the LSAT in the future:

  • Scores will be available in a matter of days, rather than weeks.
  • Accessibility and user features will be standard, such as the ability to increase type size, control brightness, highlight and underline text.
  • The 35-minute writing portion of the exam will be separated from the rest of the exam, allowing test takers to complete it on their own computers at their convenience.
  • Custom security technology will protect the integrity of the exam.

LSAC will be purchasing about 30,000 tablets — a “substantial investment” — but thankfully Microsoft is discounting them. In an effort to give the Scantron exam one last chance, half of test-takers will take a paper version of the LSAT this summer, and the other half will use the Surface Go tablets. During the next LSAT administration, you’re out of luck if you liked your pencil, because only tablets will be used.

Congratulations to everyone who will take the LSAT on a tablet. The future is here for prospective law students. Now the rest of the legal profession needs to catch up…

Here Comes the Digital LSAT [Law.com]

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Earlier: Toss Those Pencils, A Computerized LSAT Is Coming!

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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