Canadian law school hopefuls face obstacles due to U.S.-Iran tensions.
Shirin Basiri, a recent graduate from UBC, was shocked when her LSAT exam was abruptly cancelled because of her Iranian citizenship. The LSAT score plays a crucial role in her law school admission process.
Struggling to maintain her dream of becoming a lawyer, Basiri faced a frantic situation as she tried to resolve the cancellation issue. The LSAT, a pivotal assessment for law school applications in Canada, is administered by an American organization subject to U.S. sanctions against Iran.
Basiri, a Canadian citizen, managed to appeal the decision and secure her test date just in time. Another UBC senior, Tanya Behzadan, also faced a similar ordeal but was able to regain access to the exam after appealing. This incident raises concerns about the reliance of Canada’s post-secondary system on U.S. standardized tests like the LSAT.
Calls for alternative methods of law school application are emerging, as students like Behzadan suggest diversifying the admission process beyond the LSAT.
The impact of these cancellations on prospective applicants remains uncertain. Universities like UBC and the University of Victoria are actively addressing the issue by considering alternative solutions and accommodating affected students by waiving the LSAT requirement.
