The Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) was introduced in 2004 in a joint operation between law schools at eight UK universities, with a further three now part of the cohort. The primary reason for its usage was to help facilitate an admissions process that could determine as fairly as possible those applicants most suited to the study of law. Traditionally, high GCSE and A level grades had been the key determinants in assuring offers to read law. In common with other high demand disciplines such as medicine, more recent thinking amongst educators veered towards the introduction of a further dimension, an aptitude test, a relatively new idea in the UK

The test would not focus on a particular subject or level of knowledge, but act as an effective indicator of what lies ahead in terms of potential, rather than what had already been achieved. The imperative was to formulate a test that could gauge potential in terms of intellectual aptitude rather than indicate specialist subject awareness. This process helps to cultivate a more all-rounded approach, engendering opportunities for both the law schools and those desirous of studying it. The former has added breadth to make a more holistic assessment, whilst the latter may be able to venture forward and view realistically the achievement of this goal.

LNAT seeks to address verbal reasoning skills that underpin legal education, and this is reflected through the content and style of passages and multiple-choice questions that constitute the first part of the test. The way in which it has been constructed aims to quantify propensity for the combined skills of analysis and the ability to deduce information and make reasoned judgments in the textual context available.

LNAT is currently part of the admissions criteria at:

  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Bristol
  • University of Cambridge
  • Durham University
  • NUI Maynooth
  • University of Exeter
  • University of Glasgow
  • King’s College London
  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Oxford
  • University College London

LNAT is a two-hour test divided into two distinct components:

  • Section A: Multiple Choice
    30 Multiple Choice Questions in 80 minutes
    (Divided into 10 sub sections with 2 – 4 questions per section)
     
  • Section B: Essay
    1 Essay to be produced in 40 minutes