CAS; when do I need to pay? Forum

[willyj]

At what point do I need to pay for the Credit Assembly Service (CAS)? Is this the same thing as the Credit Referral Service (CRS)? And, if not, is the CRS free/ already giving my numbers out to law schools? Or does that not happen until I actually pay for CAS on the LSAC website? I'm so confused by all of this.

[ArchRoark]

The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) creates your law school report by combining

* an academic summary report;
* LSAT score(s) and writing sample(s);
* copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and law/professional school transcripts; and
* copies of letters of recommendation, if applicable.

The Credential Assembly Service fee covers

* transcript summarization (and authentication and evaluation if applicable),
* creation of your law school report,
* letter of recommendation processing, and
* electronic application processing for all ABA-approved law schools.

The Candidate Referral Service (CRS) is a free service that makes information about law school candidates available to law schools. Law schools may recruit potential applicants on the basis of specific characteristics; for example, LSAT score, undergraduate grade-point average (UGPA), age, citizenship, race or ethnicity, and geographic background. If you establish an LSAC.org account for any purpose, you may authorize release of your credentials to law schools participating in the CRS. LSAC recommends that you authorize release. CRS is an opportunity to be found by law schools you might not otherwise have considered.

[willyj]

Yes, but do I need to pay for CAS in order for CRS to have access to my GPA/ college transcript? And if I pay for CAS now, it's good for the entire cycle, correct? Or do I only pay for it once I have all my materials (transcript, recs, etc.) compiled and ready to be sent to the schools I wish to apply to?

[ArchRoark]

CAS lasts 5 years IIRC... you can pay for before and just send the materials as you acquire them. That is what I did.

I believe CRS just reports the data in your LSAC profile to prospective law schools. I could be wrong.