Can I get into Harvard law with a 171 LSAT?

Yes, a 171 LSAT score is competitive for Harvard Law School (HLS) as it meets the 25th percentile for admitted students, but it's below the 174 median, meaning a strong GPA (around 3.9+) and exceptional application materials (personal statement, resume, life experiences) are crucial to stand out, as HLS uses holistic review and a 171 score alone isn't a guarantee. Aiming higher (174+) improves your chances significantly, but a strong profile can compensate for a score at the 25th percentile.

Can I get into Harvard with a 171?

To give yourself a realistic chance of acceptance into Harvard Law School, students should aim to score 171 or above on the LSAT, with the most competitive applicants scoring 174 or higher. The median LSAT score for admitted students is 174.

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
 

Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?

No, Kim Kardashian did not take the LSAT because she pursued a law apprenticeship (like the California Law Office Study Program) instead of traditional law school, but she has faced setbacks passing the actual California Bar Exam, failing her first attempt in July 2025, though she remains determined to pass. She previously passed the "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination) on her fourth attempt in 2021 after multiple failures. 

How many times did Michelle Obama take the bar exam?

Michelle Obama took the Illinois bar exam twice, failing the first time before passing on her second attempt, a detail she's mentioned in her book Becoming as a personal setback that ultimately didn't hinder her successful legal and public career.
 

Former Harvard Law School Admission Officer on Low LSAT + GPA

Does passing the baby bar make you a lawyer?

No, passing the California baby bar (First-Year Law Students' Examination or FYLSE) does not make you a lawyer; it's a prerequisite for non-traditional students (like apprentices or those in unaccredited schools) to continue their legal studies, allowing them to proceed to the "real," comprehensive California Bar Exam, which, along with other requirements, leads to licensure. Passing the baby bar only confirms you've passed the first-year equivalent; you must still pass the full bar exam and fulfill character/fitness reviews to become a licensed attorney.
 

How good is a 171 on the LSAT?

The 75th percentile LSAT score for a top 10 school ranges from 170 (Duke University) to 174 (Yale). The 25th percentile LSAT scoring range is from 166 to 172. These are the top-ranked schools for a reason—they are tough to get into.

How did Elle Woods get a 179 on the LSAT?

Elle surrounded herself with numerous LSAT prep books, emphasizing the importance of using real LSAT questions for practice. This approach is essential for understanding complex concepts and patterns unique to the LSAT.

What is the lowest LSAT score Harvard accepts?

Your application can do the same.

• The lowest LSAT score accepted at Harvard is around 166.
• The average LSAT score is 174, but some accepted students had scores slightly below the average.
• A strong GPA, compelling story, and high-impact application can outweigh a low LSAT.

Did Michelle Obama finish law school?

Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side of the city, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her future husband.

What is the #1 ranked law school in the world?

There isn't one single "number one," as rankings vary, but Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University consistently appear at the very top globally, often trading #1 spots depending on the ranking system, with Harvard often leading in overall QS rankings and Yale/Stanford in U.S. News & World Report's domestic rankings for U.S. schools. Other top contenders include Oxford, Cambridge, Chicago, and NYU.
 

What is most people's first LSAT score?

The average LSAT score is around 152, though many top-100 schools will require more than the average for admissions. Schools will compare you to other applicants from the same cycle.

Is it harder to get into Yale law or Harvard Law?

Yale Law is generally considered harder to get into than Harvard Law, primarily due to its extremely small class size and higher selectivity, meaning it accepts a smaller percentage of applicants and admits students with slightly higher median LSAT/GPA scores, though both are among the most difficult law schools to enter, with Harvard admitting more students overall but also receiving far more applications, making the relative chance at Yale lower. 

Should I retake the LSAT to improve my score?

Don't retake unless you expect a better score

If your first score was below your practice test average, retaking is a no-brainer. But you shouldn't sit for another test unless you have a reasonable chance of improving based on your practice tests. Let's run through a few hypos, as they say in law school.

What LSAT do I need for Stanford Law?

For Stanford Law School, you generally need a very high LSAT score, with recent median scores around 173, and competitive applicants often fall in the 171-176 range, aiming for the higher end to be strong candidates. While scores below 170 are possible for admission, they significantly decrease your chances, and a score of 173 or higher places you in a strong position with other top applicants. 

Has Kim Kardashian taken the LSAT?

Kim takes the California Bar Exam's “baby bar” without completing a bachelor's degree or taking the LSAT. Kim continues to balance her legal pursuits with media and business ventures, using her platform for criminal justice reform advocacy.

How unrealistic is Legally Blonde?

IN THE COURTROOM (NOT real!)

First of all, a 1L representing a client in a criminal trial is not real. The rule that Elle uses to justify her role is real, but it only applies to students in their final year of law school. As a 1L, the most you're doing for a real lawyer is research and drafting memos.

What schools can I get into with a 170 LSAT?

170 score: All your studying efforts have paid off! This difficult yet achievable score is widely considered to be the best LSAT score for college admission. With this score, you can apply to some of the nation's top 10 law schools like Stanford or Yale with ease.

What is the hardest section of the LSAT?

The hardest LSAT sections vary, but Reading Comprehension (RC) is often cited as the most difficult to improve due to ingrained reading habits, while Logical Reasoning (LR) becomes challenging with abstract language and specific hard question types like Parallel Reasoning. Logic Games (LG) are initially daunting but considered the most learnable/perfectible, with tricky "hybrid" or new-rule questions posing the biggest hurdles.
 

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially partners in large firms, top corporate attorneys, and successful specialists in high-value areas like M&A or IP, while elite personal injury and criminal defense lawyers also reach these levels; however, this is not typical for all lawyers, as the median salary is significantly lower, with the top earners achieving this through experience, specialization, location, and strong business development. 

What kind of lawyer does Kim Kardashian want to be?

Kim Kardashian wants to be a trial lawyer, focusing on criminal justice reform, prison reform, and advocating for those in need, inspired by her late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., and aiming to help people who are wrongly convicted or have unfair sentences, even after failing the California bar exam multiple times and continuing her non-traditional path. 

Who tops the bar exam in 2025?

UP has topped the 2025 Bar Examinations. The Supreme Court released the good news on Jan. 7, citing Jhenroniel Rhey T. Sanchez of the UP College of Law (UP Law), placing first of all Bar passers, with a 92.7% rating.