Summary: The Law School Admission Council will have to put new disability accommodation rules into place before the December administration of the test.
According to the National Law Journal, the Law School Admission Council, which administers the Law School Admission Test, has until late October to revise its disability accommodation procedures. Registration closes at the end of that month for the December LSAT.
Some think LSAT scores are weighted too heavily at law schools.
The Metropolitan News-Enterprise adds that around 2,000 applications for accommodations are received each year, and about half of those are granted.
On August 7, U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero upheld a number of changes that will make it easier for disabled test takers to request accommodations for the test. Such changes include reducing the medical documentation hat must be provided by test takers; allowing evidence of prior accommodations; and having an independent expert automatically review applications that are denied.
The University of Hawaii Law School will admit some students without LSAT scores.
The U.S. Department of Justice noted that the new procedures will be in effect for the December 5 test. However, delays may result if the LSAC appeals the decision.
The LSAC posted a message to its website about the upcoming changes that read, “[The council] will be revising its test accommodation policies and procedures in accordance with the court’s ruling. In the meantime, candidates should continue to consult [the council’s] website for information on applicable policies and procedures for requesting accommodations on the LSAT.”
The deadline to file an appeal is October 6.
The Justice Department noted that $6.73 million has been provided to 2,695 individuals who applied for disability accommodations when taking the LSAT in the past few years. Under a May 2014 consent decree between the LSAC and the Justice Department and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the fund was created.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued on behalf of disabled test takers in 2012. It argued that the LSAT accommodation procedures were too burdensome and were violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Department of Justice joined the case shortly thereafter.
The consent decree also prohibited “flagging,” in which the LSAC informed law schools which test takers were allotted extra time during the LSAT.
The parties argued into this year over the recommended changes that were suggested by a five-member panel expert that was formed under the decree. The council challenged many of the recommendations and argued that the panel overstepped its mandate. It also argued that the changes would harm the integrity of the test. Regardless, Judge Spero upheld all key recommendations.
Source: National Law Journal
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