Some University of Iowa students could now gain admission to the College of Law without taking the LSAT, a nationwide testing program.

The Daily Iowan learned this afternoon that eligible students have been notified of the college’s Kinnick Legal Scholars Program, which allows students to skip the nationwide standardized Law School Admissions Test.

The program is available only to UI undergraduate and graduate students. To qualify, students must be in the top 10 percent of their classes or have a 3.5 grade-point average after six semesters of course work.

They must also be in the 85h percentile or higher on one of the following standardized tests: ACT, SAT, GMAT, or GRE.

The move comes after a policy change by the American Bar Association specialty group on legal education and admissions to the bar. The ABA accredits law schools.

The law school has planned to roll out such an admissions program since last year.

— by Chris Higgins