Every law school application costs money, usually between $50 and $90 per school, plus the LSAC report fee. If you’re applying to 10-15 schools, that’s a lot of cash.
Luckily, you can request law school application fee waivers.
And you don’t have to wait for a school to offer. You can just ask.
This guide walks you through exactly how to do it, and why you should.
Before You Start: Do This First
Before sending any emails, do two quick things:
- Sign up for CRS (Candidate Referral Service) through LSAC.
That’s how schools automatically find and target you for waivers. Ideally, opt in by July, since some schools send batches in waves over the summer. But even if it’s later, do it. It still helps. - Check each law school’s website before you email.
Some schools have a formal process (e.g. a request form). If they say “we don’t grant merit-based waivers” or require a specific form, follow their instructions. Don’t send an email blindly if it’s already answered on their site.
Why You Should Ask (Even If You’re a Strong Applicant)
There’s a misconception that merit-based waivers are only for people on the edge of a school’s medians. Not true.
Even if you have a 180 and a 4.0, some schools just won’t auto-send you a waiver.
Sometimes your profile doesn’t match their filters. Sometimes the school just… doesn’t get around to it. Or the cycle’s early. Or your undergrad uses narrative grades. Or you’re international. Or you opted out of data sharing. There are dozens of reasons your profile might not have triggered anything.
That doesn’t mean you can’t ask.
This takes 5 minutes per school. Low effort, high reward.
Best time to ask? Late August to September, after you’ve signed up for CRS and seen which schools didn’t reach out.
What Makes a Request Worth Reading
You don’t need a sob story. You’re just making a professional, respectful request. That said, it helps to include:
- Your LSAT score
- Your GPA
- Your undergrad institution
- Your LSAC number
Optional bonuses:
- Military, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or similar affiliations
- Participation in a pipeline program or pre-law initiative
- Strong local ties or state residency
Keep it clean, short, and non-pushy. You’re asking a favor, not demanding a refund.
Sample Email Template
Subject line: Request for Application Fee Waiver
Dear [Law School] Admissions Team,
I’m preparing to apply to [Law School] and wanted to ask whether you offer merit-based fee waivers.
Just in case it’s helpful context:
- LSAC number: [12345678]
- LSAT: [Your Score]
- GPA: [Your GPA]
- Undergraduate school: [Your School]
[Optional: Any additional info, e.g., I’m a U.S. military veteran / AmeriCorps alum / state resident (for public law school) / participant in XYZ pipeline / other significant program.]
Thanks so much for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Info]
What to Expect
- Sometimes they say yes. You get a fee waiver code or an exemption form.
- Sometimes they say no. Maybe they only do need-based waivers or don’t grant any at all.
- Sometimes they redirect you to a separate waiver form.
- Sometimes they don’t reply. That’s fine. Move on.
The worst-case scenario is they say no. That’s it. You’ve lost nothing.
Final Tips
- Don’t send these after applying. Ask first.
- Don’t batch-send a generic email to 30 schools. Change the name in each subject line. At minimum.
- Don’t pretend to be struggling financially if you’re not. This is about merit-based asks.
- Don’t ignore the school’s actual process. Always check the website before reaching out.
But if your stats are solid, your writing is clear, and your tone is respectful, you have every reason to try.
One Last Thing
Even if this only works for 3 or 4 schools, that’s still $300+ saved. For most applicants, it works for more.
So yes, you should be asking. No matter what your numbers are.
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