No test, no problem! Traditionally, aspiring law students have had to navigate the challenging Law School Admission Test (LSAT) to secure a place in law schools. However, the American Bar Association (ABA) is signaling a significant shift in admission standards. The ABA has extended an invitation to law schools, encouraging them to relax application requirements by permitting more time for students to apply without LSAT scores.

Recently, the ABA voted to extend the deadline for law schools to submit applications requesting to admit students without using an admission test until next spring. This decision follows a November vote by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, which approved variances to Standard 503. This change allows educational institutions to admit up to 100% of their students without an admissions test, a stark contrast to the previous cap of 10%.

Since this groundbreaking decision, over a dozen law schools have applied for the newly created 503 Variance form. This move by the ABA could potentially reshape the landscape of legal education, making it more accessible.

Does this mean prospective law students should skip preparing for the LSAT? Not necessarily. It's still crucial to build a strong application. For those who might not perform well on the LSAT or whose strengths lie in other aspects of their resume, this new variance offers a valuable alternative pathway into law school. However, applicants should verify whether their preferred law schools require the test, as policies may vary between institutions.

For more detailed coverage on this topic, visit [Law.com's article](https://www.law.com/2025/08/25/aba-invites-more-law-schools-to-seek-variance-to-admit-students-without-a-test-score/?slreturn=20250825141628) on the ABA's recent decision.

The shift towards more flexible admissions criteria marks a significant moment in legal education, potentially broadening access to the legal profession for diverse candidates and reshaping how legal talents are evaluated and nurtured in the future.