A federal judge in Pennsylvania has denied the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit alleging antitrust violations related to law school application fees. The lawsuit, initiated by a Georgia resident in August 2025, accuses LSAC of conspiring with law schools to fix application prices, thereby violating the Sherman Act.
The plaintiff contends that LSAC, in collaboration with various law schools, established a standardized fee structure that restricts competition and inflates costs for prospective students. This alleged arrangement is said to constitute a horizontal restraint of trade and monopolization, both prohibited under antitrust laws.
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge John F. Murphy found that the plaintiff’s allegations were sufficient to proceed with the case. He noted that the complaint plausibly suggests concerted action between LSAC and the law schools, which could potentially violate Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Judge Murphy emphasized that the creation of an entity by a group of competitors to coordinate their activities in a manner materially related to their businesses is subject to scrutiny under antitrust laws.
LSAC had argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed due to a lack of standing and insufficient evidence of antitrust harm. However, the court determined that the plaintiff had adequately demonstrated standing and presented plausible claims of antitrust injury, allowing the case to move forward.
This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of standardized application processes and fees within higher education. The outcome of this case could have broader implications for how application fees are structured and regulated across various educational institutions.
As the litigation progresses, both LSAC and the plaintiff will engage in further legal proceedings to address the substantive issues raised in the complaint. The case continues to draw attention from legal professionals and prospective law students alike, given its potential impact on the law school admissions landscape.