Grantee Research
Exploring the Impact of Test-Flexible Admissions on Law School Diversity and Selectivity
Document Type
Issue/Research Brief/Blog
Publication Date
1-2021
Keywords
applicant demographics, law school diversity, incoming indicators, standardized test scores
Abstract
Reducing barriers to graduate and professional education offers one strategy to reduce racial inequalities in high-status professions. One-quarter of law schools have implemented test-flexible policies, allowing applicants to submit GRE scores in place of LSAT scores, reflecting an effort across educational domains to offer flexible score submission options. We use a generalized difference-in-differences design to investigate the impact of test-flexible policies on diversity and selectivity in legal education. We do not find evidence of changes in racial diversity but find increases in applications and decreases in acceptance rates. Findings indicate test-flexible policies alone may not expand access to high-status fields.
