LSAC CAS Guide: How the Credential Assembly Service Works and Why It Matters

What Is the LSAC Credential Assembly Service?

The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is LSAC's centralized system for collecting, organizing, and distributing your law school application materials. Think of it as a clearinghouse: you send your transcripts, recommendation letters, and other documents to LSAC once, and they compile everything into a standardized CAS Report that gets sent to every law school you apply to.

Nearly every ABA-approved law school in the United States and Canada requires CAS registration as part of the application process. It is not optional - if you are applying to law school, you need CAS.

What CAS Costs

CAS registration is included with your LSAC account, but the service itself costs $195 for a one-year subscription. This covers:

• Processing of all your transcripts
• Compilation of your CAS Report
• Distribution of your report to law schools (each school report costs an additional $45)
• Storage of your recommendation letters

If you are applying to 10 schools, your total CAS-related costs will be approximately $195 + (10 x $45) = $645, plus individual school application fees. Fee waivers are available for candidates who demonstrate financial need through LSAC's fee waiver program.

The CAS Report: What Schools Receive

Your CAS Report is a standardized document that includes:

Academic Summary

LSAC recalculates your GPA using its own methodology, which may differ from what your university reported. The LSAC GPA uses a standardized 4.0 scale and includes:

• Cumulative GPA across all undergraduate institutions
• GPA broken down by year
• Grade distribution showing the number of A's, B's, C's, etc.

Important: LSAC counts every undergraduate course, including community college credits, study abroad, and courses you withdrew from. Plus/minus grades are converted to LSAC's standardized scale, which can raise or lower your GPA compared to your transcript.

Repeated courses are handled differently by LSAC than by most universities. Both the original and repeated grades are included in your LSAC GPA calculation, meaning a failed course that you retook and aced still shows the F in your LSAC record.

LSAT Score History

Your CAS Report includes every LSAT score you have received. While most schools focus on your highest score, all scores are visible to admissions committees. LSAC also includes your score percentile and the average score band.

Recommendation Letters

Letters submitted through CAS are included in your report. You can assign specific letters to specific schools, which is useful if you have recommenders who are alumni of particular programs or who can speak to your fit for a specific school's focus area.

Transcript Copies

Copies of all transcripts you submitted to LSAC are included in the report.

How to Set Up CAS: Step by Step

Step 1: Create Your LSAC Account

If you have not already, create an account at lsac.org. This is the same account you use to register for the LSAT.

Step 2: Register for CAS

From your LSAC dashboard, register for the Credential Assembly Service. You will need to pay the $195 fee (or apply for a fee waiver first).

Step 3: Request Transcripts

This is the most time-sensitive step. You must have an official transcript sent directly from every post-secondary institution you have attended to LSAC. This includes:

• Your primary undergraduate institution
• Community colleges where you took courses
• Study abroad programs (if they issued their own transcripts)
• Graduate programs (if applicable)

Order transcripts early. Processing times vary by institution, and LSAC can take 2-3 weeks to process received transcripts during peak season (August-October).

Transcript tips:

• Use your institution's electronic transcript service if available - it is faster than mail
• Include your LSAC account number on all transcript requests
• Follow up with your registrar if LSAC has not confirmed receipt within 2 weeks
• International transcripts require evaluation through LSAC's international transcript authentication process

Step 4: Set Up Recommendation Letters

You can manage recommendation letters through your LSAC account. For each recommender:

1. Add their name and email to your LSAC account
2. LSAC sends them instructions for submitting their letter
3. Choose whether to waive your right to view the letter (schools prefer waived letters as they are considered more candid)

You can assign specific letters to specific schools, or send all letters to all schools. Most applicants submit 2-4 letters.

Recommender tips:

• Give recommenders at least 6 weeks of lead time
• Provide them with your resume, personal statement draft, and a brief note about why you are applying to law school
• Follow up politely if their letter has not been submitted 2 weeks before your application deadline

Step 5: Review Your CAS Report

Once your transcripts are processed, review your Academic Summary carefully. Check that:

• All courses are listed correctly
• Your LSAC GPA matches your expectations (remember, it may differ from your university GPA)
• There are no missing transcripts or courses
• Your name and identifying information are correct

If you find errors, contact LSAC immediately. Corrections can take time, and you do not want transcript issues delaying your applications.

CAS Timeline and Processing Times

The CAS timeline is one of the most common sources of stress for law school applicants. Here is what to expect:

Transcript processing: 2-3 weeks after LSAC receives your transcript (longer during peak season in September-October)

CAS Report generation: Your report is generated after at least one transcript has been processed

Report updates: When new transcripts or letters arrive, your CAS Report is updated and re-sent to schools that have already received it

Peak season delays: In September and October, processing times can extend to 4+ weeks. Plan accordingly.

Common CAS Problems and Solutions

"My LSAC GPA is lower than my university GPA"

This is common and usually happens because LSAC counts plus/minus grades differently, includes all repeated courses, or weights community college courses that your university excluded from your GPA. There is no way to change your LSAC GPA - it is what it is. If the difference is significant, consider writing a brief GPA addendum explaining the discrepancy.

"My transcript has not been processed after 3 weeks"

Contact LSAC's candidate services. Sometimes transcripts are received but stuck in a processing queue. Having your registrar confirm the send date can help LSAC locate your transcript.

"My recommender has not submitted their letter"

Send a polite follow-up email. If they are unresponsive, you may need to find an alternative recommender. Do not let one delayed letter hold up your entire application.

"I attended a school outside the US"

International transcripts require additional authentication through LSAC. This process takes longer - start it at least 8 weeks before you plan to submit applications.

CAS and Canadian Law Schools

If you are applying to Canadian law schools, note that most participate in LSAC's CAS system, but some have their own application processes. Check each school's requirements individually. The LSAT is accepted by all Canadian common law programs, and CAS reports are used by most.

Final Advice

Start your CAS setup early - ideally 3-4 months before you plan to submit your first application. The most common application delays are caused by transcript processing, not by the writing or LSAT. Order your transcripts in June or July, set up your recommenders by August, and your CAS Report will be ready well before the optimal September-October application window.

Check out our LSAT prep course rankings to find the right study program for your target score.

Also see: Law School Application Timeline 2026 | How to Write a Law School Personal Statement | LSAT Score Percentiles Explained