When I first started my law school admissions journey, I went to the internet researching any and everything I could find on law school. In so doing, I learned another language. Here are some law school admission terms you’ll see when you consume pre-law content and start down the rabbit hole of discovering the world of law school admissions.

What does “0L” Mean?

0L typically refers to someone who is accepted to law school but hasn’t actually started law school yet. On FIRE Esquire, I refer to pre-law students and anyone planning to go to law school as 0L.

What does “1L/2L/3L” Mean?

The number represent the year of the person in law school and L stands for law school. Accordingly, a 1L is in their 1st year of law school, a 2L is in their 2nd year of law school, a 3L is in their 3rd year of law school, and a 4L is in their fourth year of law school. 4Ls occur in part-time law school programs.

What does $, $$, $$$, $$$$+ represent ?

These dollar signs represent scholarship amounts in law school admissions speak. Each symbol is usually roughly 1/4 or 1/3 of the tuition of whatever school is the subject of conversation. The + symbol can represent that the award exceeds the cost of attendance.

What is a “splitter” ?

“Splitter” refers to someone who has a relatively-low GPA (<3.3) and high LSAT score (167+). The term sometimes refers to someone with a slightly higher GPA (~3.4-3.5) and a LSAT score that is 170+. An extreme splitter is someone who has a GPA under 3.0 and an LSAT score above 170.

What is a reverse splitter?

Reverse splitter refers to someone who has the opposite LSAT/GPA relationship than a splitter. A reserve splitter is someone who has a high GPA (>3.7) and low LSAT score (155>)

What is EA/ED?

EA is Earl Action and ED is Early Decision. EA is the non-binding application option in which you apply by a specific date (usually by October/November of the cycle) and in turn you will receive your admission decision by an earlier date. ED is the same mechanism except that if you are accepted, you are committed to that school and you must withdraw application to any other schools you may have applied to.

What is K-JD?

A K-JD applicant is one who has continued school from kindergarten to the JD degree aka someone who did not take a break from schooling and therefore doesn’t have any long-term, full-time work experience.

What is Non-Trad?

A Non-Trad is a nontraditional law school applicant. Applicants who have significant work experience, are older (mid 30s+), and/or who have families are considered nontraditional.

What is LOR?

LOR = Letters of Recommendation, a requirement to apply to most law schools. Most law schools recommend that applicant submit at least one academic LOR and one professional LOR.

What is LOCI?

LOCI is a Letter of Continued Interest. An applicant can send a LOCI to a desired law school that has wait-listed them.

What is LSN/LST/TLS?

LSN stands for lawschoolnumbers.com, which is a website where law school applicants submit admissions data and results

LST stands for lawschooltransparency.com, which a website that collects and organizes law school data

TLS stands for top-law-schools.com, which is a website that hosts forums regarding law school admissions, law school, legal jobs, and other related topics.

Law School Admission LSAC Terms

What is the LSAT?

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is the most prevalent standardized test for law school admissions.

What is the LSAC?

The Law School Admission Counsel. The organization administers the LSAT and enables you to apply to ABA-accredited law schools online.

What is the CAS?

LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service. This service consolidates your materials and information to submit your law school application electronically.

What is the Writing Sample?

Wikipedia: “The writing sample is presented in the form of a decision prompt, which provides the examinee with a problem and two criteria for making a decision. The examinee must then write an essay arguing for one of the two options over the other.”

What are Logic Games?

Logic Games, aka LG, is the casual term for analytical reasoning. Logic Games is one of four sections that appear on the LSAT. According to Wikipedia, “A logic games section contains four 5-8 question ‘games,’ totaling 22-25 questions. Each game contains a scenario and a set of rules that govern the scenario, followed by questions that test the test-taker’s ability to understand and apply the rules, to draw inferences based on them.”

What is Logical Reasoning?

Logical Reasoning, aka LR, is one of four sections that appear on the LSAT. According to Wikipedia (Yes I’m going to keep citing Wikipedia), Logical Reasoning is “designed to test the taker’s ability to dissect and analyze arguments. LR sections each contain 24–26 questions. Each question begins with a short argument or set of facts. Then a prompt asks the test taker to find the argument’s assumption, to select an alternate conclusion to the argument, to identify errors or logical omissions in the argument, to find another argument with parallel reasoning, or to choose a statement that would weaken/strengthen the argument”

What is Reading Comprehension?

Reading Comprehension, aka RC, is one of four sections that appear on the LSAT. Wikipedia so eloquently states that RC consists “of four passages of 400–500 words, and 5–8 questions relating to each passage. Complete sections contain 26–28 questions. Though no real rules govern the content of this section, the passages generally relate to law, arts and humanities, physical sciences, or social sciences. The questions usually ask the examinee to determine the author’s main idea, find specific information in the passage, draw inferences from the text, and/or describe the structure of the passage.”

Law School Admission Ranking Terms

What does HYS stand for?

Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, and Yale Law School which are the top 3 law schools in the USA according to USA News.

What does CCN stand for?

Columbia Law School, Chicago Law School, and New York University School of Law., which usually are tied for the 4-6 slots in USA News rankings.

What are T1, T2, T3, and T4 law schools?

T stands for tiers of 50 schools within the USA News rankings. Accordingly, T1 refers to the top 50 ranked law schools, T2 refers to the top 51-100 ranked law schools, and T3 refers to 101-150 ranked law schools. T4 law schools are unranked.

Wait! What does T6, T10, and T14 stand for?

This is where it can get confusing! T again stands for tiers and the numbers represent the top 6, 10, and 14 respectively. The reason people distinguish the top 6, 10, and 14 is because their employment outcomes are so different than the rest of the ranked law schools.

Law School Admission Diversity Terms

What are Softs?

Softs are “soft” factors – any factor other than UGPA and LSAT score – of your law school admissions application.

What is a “URM” ?

A URM is an underrepresented minority. A URM for the purposes of law school admissions is NOT the same as a minority in society-at-large.

Which groups are considered URMs?

According to the open-source Holy Bible of law school admissions, URMs are typically “American Indians/Alaskan Natives, African Americans/Blacks, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Ricans… Please note that there is a difference between Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and other types of Hispanics in the admissions process.”