LSAC Fee waivers: UPDATE

I just received the following from LSAC regarding fee waiver applications for the LSAT and LSDAS:

Starting in June 2006 , LSAC will offer online fee waiver applications for the following services: one LSAT per testing year, registration for the LSDAS (including four free law school reports,) and a copy of the Official LSAT Super Prep. Applicants may complete the fee waiver application at the time they create an LSAC online account, or they can access the online application at any time on the LSAC Online Services main page, where there will be a new Fee Waivers tab.

Note: Fee waiver applicants registering for the June 2006 LSAT must submit a paper fee waiver application by mail along with a paper LSAT/LSDAS registration form. We encourage applicants to submit a fee waiver application by April 11, 2006, which is four weeks prior to the regular registration deadline for the June LSAT.

After the new fee waiver system is in place, online fee waiver applicants will receive immediate online notification of the conditional approval or denial of a fee waiver.

Approvals

• Applicants who are conditionally approved will be required to complete the Fee Waiver Approval Cover Sheet online, print it out, and submit it to LSAC with the appropriate tax forms.
• Final approval is contingent upon LSAC review of the tax forms; applicants will be notified by e-mail of final approval or denial.

Denials

• Online applicants who are denied may appeal the denial decision.
• Denied applicants will be required to complete the Fee Waiver Appeal Cover Sheet online, print it out, and submit it to LSAC with a written, signed explanation of the circumstances that they feel make them eligible for a fee waiver.
• They must include the appropriate tax forms and any additional documentation that would lend support to their fee waiver request. Examples of supplementary documentation include, but are not limited to, proof of job loss, an unemployment insurance eligibility form, documentation of a disability, and/or proof of extraordinary medical expenses.
• Applicants will be notified by e-mail of final approval or denial of their appeal.
• Appeal decisions are final.

Holds

• The LSAC files of conditionally approved fee waiver applicants or of applicants who appeal a denial decision will be placed on hold pending final approval of the waiver or consideration of the appeal.
• Applicants whose files are on hold will not receive LSAT scores, and law school reports will NOT be sent until review of their tax forms and any applicable documentation is complete.
• If the conditional approval or the appeal is subsequently denied, the applicants will be responsible for the fees associated with the service for which they registered.
• The hold on the file will be removed upon final approval of the fee waiver or receipt of payment.

Services

• Applicants may register for an LSAT or the LSDAS pending final approval of their fee waiver. If denied, the applicants will be responsible for the fees associated with the service for which they registered.
• Applicants may fill out and save LSDAS electronic law school applications. If registered for LSDAS, applicants can send the applications electronically to LSAC for processing and transmission to the law schools. Applicants are responsible for payment of the application fee required by each school.
• Some schools will waive their application fee for applicants who have received an LSAC fee waiver. If an application waiver is applicable, the applicant can
- delay sending the application to LSAC until receipt of final fee waiver approval or an appeal decision;
OR
- send the application electronically to LSAC and pay the required application fee. (Note: LSAC cannot issue admission application fee refunds.);
OR
- print out the application and mail it directly to the law school with a letter explaining that he or she has applied for an LSAC fee waiver. If the LSAC fee waiver is approved, the applicant must forward a copy of the approval letter to the school. If denied, the applicant must forward the admission application fee directly to the school.

Status

• Applicants may go to the Fee Waiver tab in their LSAC Online Services account to view the status of their fee waiver application (i.e., approved, denied, pending receipt of documents, appeal pending). Applicants with questions regarding their accounts should call 215.968.1001 or e-mail LSACinfo@LSAC.org.