A perfect score on the LSAT exam is 180, therefore Elle's score of 179 puts her in the top 0.1 percent.
While at Stanford, source book author Amanda Brown wrote letters back home, regarding her inability to fit in with her classmates. Later she made a manuscript based on those letters and sent it to an agent, who was drawn to it because it was the only manuscript submitted written on pink paper - referenced in this movie through Elle Woods' scented pink résumés.
Elle Woods was named after Elle Magazine. Amanda Brown, author of "Legally Blonde", the novel on which this movie was based, spent her time at Stanford Law School reading copies of Elle Magazine.