A Few Questions to Ask After You’ve Been Accepted to Law School

By on March 1, 2012 in Law School & Legal Life, Law School Admissions

Congratulations!  You did it.  You’ve been accepted to law school.  Now that all your hard work has paid off, it’s time to celebrate … tonight anyway.   Keep in mind though that when you wake up tomorrow (or perhaps in a couple of days) you’ll still have some important work to do.  Fortunately, much of this will only require that you ask some simple questions and do a little legwork.  Let’s consider just a few of the basic questions that you’ll need to cover with school representatives:

  • When is a good time to visit?  And can I sit in on classes? 

Okay, I trust that you’ve researched the school, but it’s probably been quite a while.  If like most applicants, you haven’t yet visited the school, you should definitely do so now (unless serious financial constraints dictate otherwise).  In fact, even if you have visited in the past, it wouldn’t hurt if you were to check out the program one more time before making your final decision and signing on the dotted line.  Also, be aware that aside from the standard orientation that all law schools have in the days prior to the start of classes, most programs now also have an “Admitted Students Day,” to help introduce you to your new law school.  If your school has such a day, like University of Florida’s Admitted Students Day or University of Chicago’s Admitted Students Weekend, then it would probably make sense if you could arrange a visit during that time period.  Keep in mind that while walking the school grounds, sitting in on classes, and talking to students will be at the forefront of your mind, you should also start thinking about other basic needs, particularly housing.… Read full post

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Assumptions: Bridging & the Art of Negation

By on February 29, 2012 in LSAT Test Prep

Assumption questions are a huge part of the Logical Reasoning portion of the LSAT, which makes up two, out of the four, graded sections.  So (keyword, indicating conclusion), it is something every LSAT taker must master.  The good news, or bad news depending on how you look at it, is that the same skill used in assumption questions is also used in both strengthening and weakening questions.

Now that we know they are important, lets define what an assumption question is and a couple of ways to approach them.

Assumption questions ask us to identify the assumption that the author (or in the case of the LSAT, the test writer(s)) is relying on in order for the conclusion to logically follow.  For example:

What is the assumption the author is relying on?  (what am I taking for granted)

Doughnuts are fattening.… Read full post

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Suffice it to say, this stuff is necessary – Part I.

By on February 27, 2012 in LSAT Test Prep

Sufficiency and necessity are the most consistently tested concepts on the LSAT.  Mastering these two skills will vastly improve and stabilize your LSAT score.  In the Kaplan LSAT class, we introduce the concepts of sufficiency and necessity during the first class session.  Not only must LSAT students understand these concepts, but the ability to manipulate these abstract terms is the hallmark of a student poised to achieve a top LSAT score.  When an LSAT student begins to grasp the essence of how sufficiency and necessity relate and affect each other, LSAT scores begin to make dramatic leaps.  So, let me explain what sufficiency and necessity are and why they are such important LSAT skills.… Read full post

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Law School – Apply Now or Wait Until the Fall?

By on February 23, 2012 in Law School Admissions, Law School Admissions, LSAT Test Prep

Now that the February LSAT is over and you have had a chance to catch your breathe, you may be trying to decide whether you should apply now or wait until the fall.  The true reality is that you are probably better off waiting until the fall but only you can make the decision of what is best for you.  My goal is to give you as much information as I can to make an informed decision.

You may have your heart set on starting law school in the fall to a point where you are willing to give up on a dream school.  If this is the case then applying now makes more sense.  Get ready to dedicate some serious time to your applications though because some school deadlines have already passed and many are quickly approaching.… Read full post

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Quality or Quantity: The Best Approach to Getting Points on the LSAT

By on February 22, 2012 in LSAT Test Prep

A question I hear ALL the time is, when it comes to points on the LSAT, is it is better to rush and get to as many questions as possible or to slow down and just try really hard on the ones you attempt?  My honest, though unpopular response is that it depends.  Several factors come into play.  How long do you have to study before Test Day?  How far along in a section do you typically get when time is called?  Is this for all sections, or only certain ones?  These questions play a part in helping to make a decision on what the better course of action is.… Read full post

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February: Perfect for Groundhogs, Leaping & LSAT Prep?

By on February 21, 2012 in Law School Admissions, LSAT Test Prep

February is a funny month: it’s the shortest, yet it’s stuffed with holidays.  From Groundhog’s Day on February 2 to this Leap Year’s addition of a bonus February 29th, this little month is big into celebrating. February is also a perfect time to consider preparing for the June LSAT: students who plan their prep now are sure to feel stronger walking into the test four months from now.

Just like our fuzzy friend Punxsutawney Phil, in February, cold weather haters may be thinking winter will last forever (or at least another six weeks- come to think of it, has Phil ever not seen his shadow?) But instead of dreading every snowflake, prospective attorneys might recognize the long road to spring as a chance to achieve maximum effect with minimal stress.… Read full post

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Seeking a Law Degree to Serve the Public Interest

By on February 16, 2012 in Law School & Legal Life, Law School Admissions, Legal News

Have you ever been so influenced by an experience that you became inspired to pursue a legal career aimed at serving the public interest?  Maybe you witnessed a friend, a relative, or an acquaintance who was harmed due to lack of proper legal representation during a serious crisis, such as a brush with the law or a situation in which he or she was taken advantage of.  Or perhaps, you yourself suffered an injustice and were aided by an attorney.  Alternatively, you may have been motivated toward a career in public interest law after learning about people facing tragedies or unfair outcomes through your undergraduate studies, the Internet or your community service experience.  Regardless of what has influenced you, the bottom line is that you now want to have a career path that is focused on helping others.  As you consider your future law school applications and legal career, be sure to heed the following pointers to ensure that you’re headed in the right direction.… Read full post

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Don’t Delay: Finding Time to Prep for Your LSAT Now!

By on February 14, 2012 in Law School Admissions, Law School Admissions, LSAT Test Prep

If you’re reading this, you probably know that LSAT prep is a must.  I mean, it’s only the rest of your life that’s impacted by the law school you’ll attend and how much it will cost you to go there.  And it’s well established that your LSAT score is a huge factor in law school admissions decisions.

I’ve known many folks who were serious about their LSAT score neglect or postpone their prep even after setting aside time and money for it.  Something always manages to come up.  For those still in college, midterms are looming ahead or a ten page course paper is due, and they just need to take a few weeks off from LSAT studying in order to get past this.  Or maybe Spring Break was intended for LSAT studying, but a beachside vacation sounds more appealing and will supposedly provide a necessary refresher for them to come back more devoted to their studying than ever.  For those in the workforce, their boss has given them an important deadline, and if they can just get this project done, then they’ll have time to devote to studying for the LSAT.… Read full post

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Deciding on a Law School? Ask Your Fellow Alumni

By on February 9, 2012 in Law School Admissions

You are starting to hear from the law schools to which you applied and hopefully you have some choices in front of you.  Obviously there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration but one avenue to pursue is asking your fellow undergraduate alumni their thoughts.

Most colleges and universities have alumni networks available to both their current undergrads and alumni.  This network is usually accessed through either the alumni office or the career center.  Often you can search the alumni network by professions and/or law school attended.  Try finding at least two or three alumni who are attending or recently graduated from the law schools from which you are trying to choose.… Read full post

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Expecting the Unexpected: Final Tips Before the LSAT

By on February 8, 2012 in LSAT Test Prep

Here we are again!  It’s only a few more days before the LSAT.  As Test Day approaches it’s time to finalize your preparations.  It’s time to start wrapping up your studying and gathering all the essentials you’ll need for a successful test taking experience.  No doubt by this point you’ve devoted considerable energy into learning what exactly is on the LSAT and how to go about wading through it.  But in addition to all of your toils and repeated practice, you have to be extra careful not to trip at the finish line.  There are a few last minute steps you can take to ensure a great test day doesn’t spiral into a cauldron of misery and despair (overdramatic for effect).… Read full post

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