Catalyst is SEO Law’s free, yearlong virtual pre-law program. It guides aspiring law students through the whole admissions process, from the LSAT to law school applications, financial aid and enrollment.
Participants take a customized LSAT course built around the June LSAT, then sharpen their applications through workshops and individual reviews. They also meet admissions officers from law schools across the US and are mentored by practicing attorneys.
SEO was founded in 1963 and started SEO Law in 1984. Catalyst and the SEO Law Fellowship are SEO Law’s two program initiatives.
Benefits & funding
- Free to participants; no stipend is mentioned.
- A customized LSAT preparation course (the LSAT Clinic) aimed at the June LSAT, with course support continuing through the August LSAT for anyone who retakes.
- Workshops and individual reviews of law school application materials.
- Exclusive discussions with admissions officers from law schools nationwide, plus virtual law school tours and a virtual Catalyst Summit.
- Mentoring from practicing attorneys.
- A national community of future law students.
- SEO reports that 33% of participants scored at the 95th percentile or higher on the LSAT, and 95% of those who applied to law school at the end of the program were admitted.
- The program does not guarantee admission to any particular law school.
Eligibility
- College juniors, seniors or graduates. Sophomores applying to junior-deferral law school programs are not eligible.
- A GPA of at least 3.2; compelling candidates with a 3.0 are considered.
- No minimum LSAT score; past test-takers are welcome.
- Must commit to sitting the June LSAT of the program year and complete every program component, the LSAT Clinic included.
- Must plan to apply to ABA-accredited law schools by the end of December of the program year, for entry the following fall.
- Must reside in the United States for the whole program and be available for its time commitments.
- No legal background is required. No nationality or age limit is stated.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Residence required
USA
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor · Master Enrolled · Master
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Application process
- 1Complete the online application: personal and demographic details, a resume (SEO recommends its own template), unofficial transcripts from every institution attended, and a list of your top five target law schools.
- 2Write a short statement in response to SEO’s prompt, up to 300 words.
- 3Create a free LSAT Lab account, sit PrepTest 141 as a diagnostic and submit the score.
- 4If invited to the second round, complete a short asynchronous video interview within five days of the email.
- 5SEO notifies semi-finalists on a rolling basis; all other applicants are released.
- 6Finalists are selected by January, when the program starts.
Program timeline
Applications opened, 5 PM ET
Sep 1, 2025
Application deadline, 11:59 PM ET
Oct 18, 2025
Finalists selected
By January 2026
Kickoff and orientation
January 2026
June 2026
Participants sit the June LSAT
Virtual Catalyst Summit
July 2026
Virtual law school tours
September 2026
Mentorship Clinic begins
October 2026
Admissions Clinic ends; law school applications submitted
December 2026
Mentorship Clinic ends
February 2027
Participants start law school
Fall 2027