How to Get Accommodations on the LSAT, MPRE, and Bar Exam: What Future Lawyers Need to Know
If you're preparing to take the LSAT, MPRE, or Bar Exam and have a diagnosis of ADHD, autism, a learning disability, or a mental health condition, you may qualify for testing accommodations. A psychological evaluation is often the first step. For aspiring lawyers, these exams are high-stakes, high-pressure, and highly structured. Without the right supports, even the most capable students can struggle to demonstrate their true potential. Fortunately, accommodations are available and getting a comprehensive evaluation can help you secure the support you need to succeed.
Why Law Exams Require Psychological Testing for Accommodations
Organizations like the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) have established guidelines that allow individuals with documented disabilities to request accommodations for the LSAT, MPRE, and Bar Exam. These supports may include extended time, extra breaks, distraction-reduced environments, assistive technology, or permission to bring medical supplies into the testing room.
To access these accommodations, test-takers must submit detailed documentation that explains why the requested support is necessary. A recent psychological or neuropsychological evaluation is often required, especially if your diagnosis involves ADHD, a learning disorder, autism spectrum disorder, or a mood or anxiety condition. Testing must clearly show how your condition affects your ability to take exams under standard conditions.
Common Conditions That May Qualify You for Legal Exam Accommodations
ADHD or ADD: Difficulty with sustained attention, organization, and impulse control can interfere with test performance, especially under time pressure.
Autism: Sensory sensitivities, anxiety, or challenges with flexible thinking can make standard testing environments overwhelming.
Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD): Dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia may impact reading fluency, written expression, or processing speed.
Anxiety, Depression, or Other Mental Health Diagnoses: Generalized anxiety, panic attacks, or depressive symptoms can interfere with focus, stamina, and cognitive clarity.
Trauma or PTSD: Past experiences can influence emotional regulation and attention, particularly in high-stress test environments.
What the Psychological Evaluation for Accommodations Includes
A psychological or neuropsychological evaluation for testing accommodations is designed to determine whether you meet diagnostic criteria for a disability and how that condition affects your ability to take standardized tests like the LSAT, MPRE, or Bar Exam. Your evaluation will include:
Clinical interview to explore your developmental, academic, and emotional history.
Cognitive testing, including assessments of working memory, processing speed, reasoning, and attention.
Academic testing for reading, writing, and math skills
Symptom inventories for ADHD, anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions.
Collateral input, such as prior school records, IEPs, 504 plans, or statements from professors or past evaluators.
This process results in a comprehensive report with specific diagnostic findings and clear recommendations for accommodations, all tailored to the legal exam you’re preparing to take.
What Accommodations Can You Request on the LSAT, MPRE, or Bar Exam?
The specific accommodations approved vary based on your documented needs and the policies of the exam board, but common supports include:
Extended time (typically 25% - 50% or occasionally 100%)
Extra or stop-the-clock breaks
Quiet or private testing rooms
Use of a computer for essay sections
Use of assistive technology, such as screen readers or speech-to-text programs
Each testing agency - LSAC for the LSAT, and NCBE/state bar authorities for the MPRE and Bar Exam, has its own documentation guidelines, forms, and submission deadlines. It's essential to follow their instructions closely and allow enough time for processing and potential appeals.
Why It's Important to Plan Ahead for Law Exam Accommodations
Testing agencies can take several weeks to review documentation and sometimes request additional information. If you're planning to take the LSAT, MPRE, or Bar Exam in the next year, now is the time to begin the evaluation process.
Starting early gives you time to:
Gather previous records (if applicable)
Complete testing with a qualified evaluator
Submit documentation before the registration deadline
Appeal or revise requests if needed
Tennessee Bar Exam Testing Requirements for ADHD, Learning Disorders, and Psychological Conditions
If you are requesting extended time on the Tennessee Bar Exam due to ADHD, a learning disability, or a psychological, emotional, or behavioral health disorder, your psychological evaluation must meet very specific testing standards set by the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners (TBLE).
According to current TBLE policy, your evaluation must include standardized measures of intelligence, academic achievement, and scholastic abilities. These assessments must be administered by a licensed psychologist or mental health professional trained in adult psychological, neuropsychological, or psychoeducational assessment.
Required Testing Components Include:
Cognitive (IQ) Testing
A measure of general intellectual functioning, such as the WAIS-IV or WAIS-5 (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) or similar, is required to assess reasoning, memory, processing speed, and working memory.Academic Achievement Testing
Current levels of functioning in reading, writing, and math must be evaluated. This includes reading comprehension and decoding, especially for individuals requesting accommodations for ADHD or learning disorders.Timed Adult Reading Measure
For ADHD and learning disability accommodation requests involving extra time, a timed reading test normed on adults is mandatory. The Scholastic Abilities Test for Adults (SATA) is a commonly accepted tool because it provides both standard and extended time conditions, allowing direct comparison of performance under each.Emotional/Behavioral Inventories
If your accommodations request is based on a mental health diagnosis (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD), the evaluation must include valid and reliable measures of emotional and behavioral functioning that demonstrate how symptoms impact exam performance.
At Zephyr Care, we meet all of these criteria and are one of the few practices in Middle Tennessee equipped to provide Bar exam accommodations evaluations that fully align with TBLE’s diagnostic requirements. We ensure your report includes the appropriate standardized tests, professional analysis, and required documentation so your petition stands the best chance of approval.
In person testing is available at our offices in Nashville, TN and Murfreesboro, TN.
Virtual Legal Exam Accommodations Testing for Out-of-State Clients
At Zephyr Care, we provide virtual psychological evaluations for individuals across the U.S. who are preparing for the LSAT, MPRE, or Bar Exam and need documentation for testing accommodations. Whether you're pursuing accommodations for ADHD, autism, a learning disability, or a mental health condition, our virtual assessments are customized to meet the unique documentation requirements of your state’s Bar or testing authority.
We are one of the few practices experienced in tailoring virtual evaluations to the specific standards outlined by state Bar associations and testing boards like the LSAC and NCBE. We ensure your report is not only diagnostically sound, but also aligned with the legal and technical requirements for your exam - whether that’s extended time, stop-the-clock breaks, assistive technology, or other supports.
Zephyr Care is able to provide virtual psychological testing in PSYPACT-participating states, offering flexible, high-quality evaluations without requiring travel. If you're unable to find a local provider familiar with your state's Bar requirements, we can help.
We currently serve clients located in:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
*We are also able to see a limited number of clients per year in California and Massachusetts.
If you're preparing for the Bar Exam and need a professional evaluation for accommodations, contact us to get started with a virtual appointment - no matter where you're located.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve a Fair Testing Experience for Law Exam Accommodations
Preparing for a career in law is challenging enough. Your testing environment shouldn't be another barrier. If you suspect that ADHD, autism, a learning disability, or a mental health condition is affecting your test performance, a psychological evaluation for legal exam accommodations could be the key to showing what you’re truly capable of.
Contact Zephyr Care today to schedule your evaluation and take the next step toward securing the accommodations you need for success on the LSAT, MPRE, or Bar Exam.
Author: Heather Joppich, PhD
Dr. Joppich is a Licensed Psychologist and owner of Zephyr Care Mental Health. She specializes in neurodiversity-affirming assessments for autism, ADHD, and mental health concerns.
