ASU Law Talks
Can I apply to law school without an LSAT?
Amy Best
Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Amy Best is ASU Law’s Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid with a student-first approach. She has previously worked in admissions at Iowa Law and Northwestern Pritzker, and earned her JD at Iowa after working in book publishing in New York.
Yes, you can apply to ASU Law without the LSAT or JD-Next. Beginning with the fall 2026 application, our JD program will offer a test-optional pathway approved through a five-year American Bar Association Standard 503 variance.
What does test-optional mean at ASU Law?
Test-optional at ASU Law means that applicants may apply without a LSAT or JD-Next score. If you are applying without a test score, you will not be expected to submit one later. Our team will review test-optional applications holistically, focusing on your academic record, communication skills, work and life experience, leadership, extracurricular and community activities, and future career goals.
Who is eligible and when does it start?
The test-optional pathway is open to all JD applicants starting with the application for enrollment in fall 2026. ASU Law has an existing admissions pathway without the LSAT or JD-Next for qualified ASU undergraduate students through our ASU Achievement program. This new pathway expands access more widely to all potential applicants. This approach reflects our commitment to reducing barriers that can keep talented people from pursuing a law degree and, ultimately, to expand access to justice in communities that need it most.
How does this align with ABA accreditation and academic rigor?
ASU Law remains fully approved and accredited by the ABA. Our test-optional pathway operates under a Standard 503 variance, which permits data-informed innovation while maintaining high academic standards. We will continue to admit students who can thrive in a rigorous curriculum and succeed on the bar exam, using a holistic review designed to recognize potential that a single test score may not capture.
Should I submit a score if I have one?
The test-optional pathway is open to anyone without a valid LSAT or JD-Next score and who does not plan to take either test. Applicants who have a valid LSAT or JD-Next score must include it with their application. Our admissions team is happy to talk through your strategy as a potential test-optional candidate.
Are there other flexible, test-free options at ASU Law?
ASU Law is also launching a part-time online option for the JD, making us the top U.S. law school to offer this level of flexibility. The first online JD cohort begins in January 2026. In addition, our legal master’s degrees — the Master of Legal Studies (MLS), Master of Human Resources and Employment Law (MHREL) and Master of Sports Law and Business (MSLB) — are all test-free programs, with no GRE or GMAT required. Together, these flexible and accessible pathways make ASU Law a law school committed to reducing barriers to access. We are committed to the ASU Charter, under which we are measured not by whom we exclude, but on whom we include and how they succeed. ASU Law works to remove other barriers too, including application costs and process complexity, because students come first.
How do I get started?
Attend an info session, connect with our admissions team and explore all the options at ASU Law that fit your goals. If you are ready to lead and serve, we are ready to help you take the next step.