Iranian Students Barred From LSAT

Iranian students can’t take the law school admissions exam due to federal sanctions, Law.com and other media outlets have reported.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in late August that it suspended several general licenses for “certain educational activities by U.S. persons in third countries authorized” and “certain academic exchanges and the exportation or importation of certain educational services authorized,” effective Sept. 8. 

The Law School Admission Council told Law.com that it can no longer provide “any products or services to Iranian citizens or residents.”

“We understand the uncertainty this may cause and are strongly encouraging affected candidates who meet exemption criteria to contact us promptly,” LASC said in a statement.

The National Iranian American Council criticized the sanctions in a statement, noting reports that “Iranian-American dual nationals have been affected, along with individuals of Iranian heritage in Canada.”

“This is yet another example of the gratuitous and punitive nature of the new sanctions policy that punishes people who were previously shielded from Iran sanctions in recognition of humanitarian norms,” NIAC President Jamal Abdi said. “Even as sanctions have become broader and hurt more people, for years official U.S. policy has been to avoid targeting academic, cultural and sports exchanges that were widely viewed as advancing U.S. interests and an important symbol of goodwill towards the Iranian people.”

NIAC said, “LSAC is likely overcomplying with the new regulations,” and called on the organization to ensure it’s not enforcing the sanctions beyond what’s legally required. That includes “excluding individuals from taking the LSAT simply because of their Iranian origin or heritage.”