While an increasing number of attorneys are taking clerkships after a few years in practice, the traditional model has been for law students to apply for clerkships beginning at various points in their law school careers. The last decade has seen considerable flux in this area. Many federal judges banded together to establish a unified law clerk hiring plan and then abandoned the system. The turbulence in the clerkship application process is … [Read more...]
Taking the LSAT in New Zealand
Are you taking the LSAT in New Zealand? Students take the LSAT if they plan to attend law schools in the US and Canada. However, the test administers across the globe. Check out this post about taking the LSAT abroad.In New Zealand, two locations offer the LSAT: the University of Auckland and the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. Both locations administer it four times per year: February, June, September/October, and December. You can … [Read more...]
Taking the LSAT in Korea?
Are you taking the LSAT in Korea? Students take the LSAT if they plan to attend law schools in the US and Canada. However, the test administers across the globe. Check out this post about taking the LSAT abroad.In Korea, two locations offer the LSAT: Seoul, the Duksung Women's University and Yonsei University. The Duksung Women's University administers the test in June and the Yonsei University administers the test in … [Read more...]
The LSAT is Unfair
The LSAT is a great test in many ways, but some students complain that the test is not entirely fair, and they do have some valid points: The LSAT is Not Like Other Tests There are a lot of test takers who are very smart who nonetheless find the LSAT quite a bit more challenging than expected. It can be a very frustrating experience, even for good students (who also often tend to be particularly self-critical). The LSAT tests a set of skills … [Read more...]
Cognitive Biases in Test Reviews: When Smart People Can Be Stupid
One of the most daunting tasks in any test preparation program, whether undertaken on your own or with an instructor, is the practice test review. For many, it's an experience that is at once humbling and tedious, likely to repeat itself more than a dozen times over the course of their preparation. To make matters worse, the ideal test review requires more than simply going over the questions you got wrong. Ideally, you should review any … [Read more...]
Timing is (Almost) Everything When it Comes to Logical Reasoning
Keeping a good pace on the Logical Reasoning section is primarily a function of one’s conceptual understanding of the test. By “conceptual understanding,” we mean that simply knowing how to approach the most frequently appearing question types won’t suffice. Rather, you should practice solving each question type with over and over until your approach becomes more intuitive than deliberate. Conceptual Understanding in Practice For instance, you … [Read more...]
Is it Okay to Embellish My Law School Application Personal Statement?
Short answer: No. The long answer? Law school prepares you to serve as an advocate and representative of the legal system. You will be expected to abide extremely high ethical standards throughout your career. Misrepresenting yourself on your application sets an awfully poor precedent. If an appeal to ethics doesn't convince you enough, let me demonstrate how embellishment is strictly against your own self-interest. When considering a risky … [Read more...]
Taking the LSAT in England
Are you taking the LSAT in England? Students take the LSAT if they plan to attend law schools in the US and Canada. However, the test administers across the globe. Check out this post about taking the LSAT abroad.In England, two locations offer the LSAT: the University of London Union and Ironmongers' Hall. The Unversity of Lond Union administers the test in June and Ironmongers' Hall administers the test in September/October, December, and … [Read more...]
The Importance of Cutting Through the Bullsh*t on the LSAT
With the notable exception of Logic Games, the LSAT is full of confusing, redundant information. Unfortunately, every single Reading Comprehension passage will contain needlessly complex details. These details often combine with unfamiliar jargon and forays into minutiae that detract from the main point of the passage and obscure the purpose. Reading Comprehension boils down to two primary objectives: read and comprehend (duh!). The thing is, … [Read more...]
World Domination, LSAT-Style
For many years, the LSAT was used only in the United States and Canada. Then, a number of years ago, LSAC struck a deal with Melbourne University in Australia to have the LSAT used for admission to the JD program. Several other schools and countries that have also adopted the LSAT in some form, including schools in India, China, and Puerto Rico. But, why is LSAC doing this? The answer is market expansion and financial stability. College … [Read more...]
Taking the LSAT in Georgia
Are you taking the LSAT in Georgia? Students take the LSAT if they plan to attend law schools in the US and Canada. However, the test administers across the globe. Check out this post about taking the LSAT abroad.In Georgia, only one location offers the LSAT: Tblisi, American Councils (ACCELS). While there is just one location option, it occurs three times per year: June, September/October, and December. You can find a complete list of test … [Read more...]
A Causal Reasoning Smackdown
I recently had the great pleasure of teaching our free Causal Reasoning Secrets seminar, which is always a lot of fun. Getting into the spirit of things, I searched federal case law for opinions focusing on causal reasoning and found a doozy in Claar v. Burlington Northern R. Co., 29 F.3d 499 (C.A.9 (Mont.), 1994). Claar v. Burlington Northern R. Co. Twenty-seven employees brought a suit against the Burlington Northern Railroad Company. They … [Read more...]
Taking the LSAT in Australia
Are you taking the LSAT in Australia? Students take the LSAT if they plan to apply to Melbourne Law School and the University of Western Australia or any law schools in the US and Canada. However, the test administers across the globe. Check out this post about taking the LSAT abroad.In Australia, 10 separate locations offer the LSAT.Adelaide, SA, LTC Testing Brisbane, QLD, Queensland University of Technology Canberra, ACT, … [Read more...]
6 Key Tips to Help You Score Better Than Your Classmates
There is little doubt that prep courses give you the most bang for your buck, and it's no surprise that they are an extremely popular way of preparing to take the LSAT. According to LSAC's own research report, students who use official LSAC test-preparation materials (i.e. PrepTests), non-LSAC books (such as the Bible Trilogy) and commercial test-prep courses tend to have higher scores than those who did not use such methods. Most students, LSAC … [Read more...]