You often hear about the dichotomy in the law between substantive law and procedural law. To know the substantive law concerning an issue, one must know what laws and rules govern in certain situations. You also need to know when to apply those laws. The procedural side of law focuses on the method or process of moving through the judicial system. A good lawyer needs to know both of these aspects of the law well. The Two Sides of LSAT Prep Let’s think about LSAT preparation as having both a substantive and procedural side. On the substantive side, you need to learn the various types of … [Read more...]
10 Steps to Taking LSAT Practice Tests
Many test-takers mistakenly believe that taking a large number of LSAT practice tests is the best way to guarantee a high score on test day. Some LSAT “gurus” suggest taking 30, even 40 practice tests in the course of several months; others recommend taking one or two tests a day in the weeks leading up to the exam. Cranking out test after test is a grueling regimen and not necessarily a productive one. Without a concerted effort to improve their conceptual understanding of the test, most students quickly hit a “plateau” in their scores. Others see their performance languish due to mental … [Read more...]
How Do Law Schools View Multiple LSAT Scores?
One of the questions a lot of test-takers ask regards taking the LSAT more than once. "How will the law school I want to go to react to more than on LSAT score? Will it hurt my chances?" Having more than once score show up on your Score Report is a source of stress for many applicants. So, let's shed some light on the subject. First, Some Backstory In the past, when applicants had more than one score, schools used to average all of the scores when making admissions decisions. This also effected the report of admitted applicant scores that goes to the American Bar Association. Since the LSAT … [Read more...]
Using Rankings to Decide Where to Apply to Law School
Rankings are everywhere. Whether it's law school, business school, college, or even high school, chances are there’s someone out there who’s come up with a ranking system. Their sheer ubiquity means that rankings are the one aspect nearly every applicant consults when making application decisions. These numbers certainly have their use, particularly at the start of the selection process when you need solid indicators to help you narrow down your choices. However, it's useful to know a few things regarding rankings and their usage. Rank Does Not Equal Quality Although the schools in the “top” … [Read more...]
How to Get the Most out of Private Tutoring
As you head down the home stretch for your LSAT administration, you may be thinking investing in private tutoring. It's a common question. For many students, it’s a perfect solution to achieve that final score push just before test day. From the prospective of our tutors, it's incredibly fulfilling. You have the opportunity to connect with someone entirely dedicated to helping make your unique goal attainable.You may be asking yourself: “What can I expect from my PowerScore tutor?” The short answer is "a lot." You're paying for a top-notch, premium service. At PowerScore our tutors embody … [Read more...]
How Does LSAT Private Tutoring Work?
One question that we often receive concerns how LSAT tutoring works. It's a hard one to answer simply since it varies from person to person! Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. What we can do is give you a sense of how the process typically works. Let's consider a hypothetical student. This student is a great reader, so Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning are their strengths. Their weaknesses lie in Logic Games. After studying on their own for a while, they decide they need additional help via tutoring to break through the score plateau. So, how would we help this … [Read more...]
Should I Take the LSAT Before Deciding Where to Apply to Law School?
When applying to law school, timing is everything. You need to know which LSATs you should take and when to submit your applications. Getting your letters of recommendation on time is completely dependent on when you ask for them. Same with getting your transcripts. As you can see, timing is a big factor in the admissions process! Below is an ideal timeline for getting into law school. Before & During the Admissions Process Before we get into the timeline, there are a couple of things that need to be in the works and happening while you're going through this process. Let's go over … [Read more...]
4 Things to Do Before Starting Your Law School Applications
Most would-be law school applicants focus on what they'll have to do once they start the law school application process. But what they don't realize is that there is plenty they need to do before they even start the engine on the law-school-mobile.Here are four things that any law school applicant absolutely should do before they embark on their professional school journey: Determine Your "Why" Why do you want to go to law school? What about law are you passionate about? Do you know where you want your career to go after you graduate? It's not enough to apply just because your parents … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Pick Up Your Pace on the LSAT
When preparing for the LSAT, a very common question you might ask yourself is “How do I increase my speed?” Test takers often note that if time was not a factor, they could do better on the test. But of course, that is deliberate. The makers of the LSAT design the test to be both difficult and time-consuming. For most students, speed is a major concern. Here are some tips to help you pick up the pace by taking control of the LSAT. Prioritize the Questions You Attack First Each section has a barrage of questions that you're expected to answer in a short amount of time. Don’t get bogged down … [Read more...]
Timing Your LSAT Course: Now or Later?
When choosing the right LSAT course for you, you may face this dilemma. Should you take the course that starts early and ends well before your LSAT administration? Or should you wait so that it ends closer to the test date? There are pros and cons to each decision, let's look into them. Starts Well Before the Test Date PROs If your target score range is way above where you're currently scoring, taking an earlier course might be your best bet. Early courses are particularly advantageous if you don't think you can complete all your homework while also taking additional practice tests in the … [Read more...]
Upgrade Your Brain: LSAT Test Mentality and You
Stressing about the LSAT? Dreading practice tests? Everyone suffers from some degree of test anxiety. It's completely natural and having a healthy recognition of the gravity of the test can be a helpful motivator. But, did you know you have an LSAT prep superpower? Your Hidden Superpower There's an excellent TEDx Talk by Dr. Rock Hanson titled Hardwiring Happiness. Dr. Hanson is a neuroscientist who focuses on issues relating to neuroplasticity. Unfortunately, there's not pseudo-science elixir for instant intelligence and memory boosts. But, you can hack your brain and use the practice of … [Read more...]
LSAT Podcast Episode 36: The November 2019 LSAT Makeup Tests
Jon and Dave explore the continuing saga that is the November 2019 LSAT. Specifically they outline how the multiple make up exams have played out, from the initial reschedules to this past weekend’s retakes. They also offer some words of encouragement for those whose November didn’t go to plan, whether that means a December make up or a test date pushed to next year (spoiler: don’t fret; you’re going to be okay, and Dave and Jon explain precisely why). … [Read more...]
10 Gifts to Get Your Law-Bound Loved One
Everyone loves a good pick-me-up, especially while in the throes of stressful college life and finals. For Law School bound students, the looming inevitability of taking the LSAT is likely heavy on their minds. An occasional reminder that they’ve "got this" is always appreciated! With the right tools and mindset, they’ll crush the LSAT and get into a great Law School.We’ve put together the Ultimate LSAT Care Package List to help you give the future lawyer in your life a boost to help them succeed. Check it out!1. Tea or Coffee A cup always seems to warm you to the core and give you … [Read more...]
Why is My LSAC GPA Different from My Transcript GPA?
One of the steps to getting your law school applications ready is sending LSAC your college transcript(s) for processing. They take your transcripts, convert your grades to a 4.0 scale, and calculate an overall GPA for you. This is your “LSAC GPA”. To the surprise of some students, their LSAC GPA is different from their transcript GPA. Not necessarily in a good way, either. But, why is that the case? Let's Talk BasicsYou have to submit transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you have attended. No exceptions. It doesn't matter if you didn't graduate from one of them or if one is … [Read more...]