Any lawyers out there?

[Indylady]

I''m taking the LSAT in September, and I was wondering if anyone out there is a lawyer, married/engaged to a lawyer, know a lawyer, etc.


Any tips for the LSAT/law school apps?

Where did you go to school?

Do you recommend it?


A little background: I''m taking a Kaplan class..its helping some, but I''m getting the most results out of brute force practice and trial and error. I''m a Sociology major and a Women''s Studies minor.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 6/1/2009 4:19:29 PM
Author:szh07
I''m taking the LSAT in September, and I was wondering if anyone out there is a lawyer, married/engaged to a lawyer, know a lawyer, etc.


Any tips for the LSAT/law school apps?

Where did you go to school?

Do you recommend it?


A little background: I''m taking a Kaplan class..its helping some, but I''m getting the most results out of brute force practice and trial and error. I''m a Sociology major and a Women''s Studies minor.

Research (sorry, don''t remember the source) seems to suggest that test takers who study on their own with one of those test prep books with practice tests perform better than students who take a course. One explanation is that it has to do with intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation.

 

[misskitty]

I''m actually a law school dropout (it really just wasn''t my thing, but I didn''t know that until I got there), but I do have a bit of advice for the app process.

Have at least 5 people read over your personal statement -- preferably people with whom you are acquainted but not close friends, or the tutoring staff at your school. They''ll give you honest opinions that your family/friends will be too biased to give. FWIW, the personal statement is huge at some schools -- I got into one school that was ranked 10+ slots higher than the other schools that admitted me, and I suspect that it was 100% due to the essay (my scores/GPA were smack in the middle of that school''s range).

As far as the LSAT goes, I also recco using the books over the classes, but since you''re already in a class, dive in and make the most of it. The people who run those classes are getting paid to do so, so ask as many questions as you can. Something else that I found helpful was taking practice exams with the timer set short by a few minutes for each section. That way, on actual test day, I didn''t feel rushed, and actually felt like I had extra time to look over my answers.

In terms of the waiting game after you''ve applied, the best way to not obsess over acceptance/rejection letters is to not talk about law school apps. Sounds simple enough, but I know that my first instinct was to seek out other people who were applying, and commiserate. That really just makes things more stressful.

Best of luck!

 

[lucyandroger]

Hi szh07,

I just wanted to offer one piece of advice - practice with REAL LSATs not just the Kaplan practice tests. The Kaplan tests are similar but don't seem to really nail what the actual LSAT questions are like. I knew plenty of people that rocked the Kaplan tests and then stunk at the real LSATs or vice versa.

Here's a link where you can get books that have actual previous LSATs from the law school admissions council.

Good luck!

ETA - not sure why the link isn't working. Here's the address https//os.lsac.org/Release/Shop/Publications.aspx

 

[lulu]

I am so old. I don''t think there were any prep classes when I took it.(1975) I just went in with a hangover and a #2 pencil. Just wing it!

 

[megumic]

Hi there, I just finished my 1L year and I took the LSAT in 2007, so I''ve got a bit of advice! First, congrats on deciding to love the law

As for the LSAT, I had a private tutor I met with weekly and I did every practice exam I could buy from Amazon or LSAT, timed. This is the best thing you can do for yourself as the exam is all about stamina and practice. Also, reading quickly is helpful. A reading specialist taught me that using your pencil as a guide marker, your eyes follow and you read faster.

In terms of applying to law school - apply to schools located where you anticipate practicing law. It''s helpful in terms of making local connections and learning the law of that state where you''ll take the bar. I also suggest visiting the schools you anticipate applying to and speaking with admissions. I made the mistake of not expressing enough interest in the schools I was interested in and I think that''s why I received more rejections, deferrals and part-time acceptances (both day and evening) - none of which I expected.

The school I decided to attend accepted me as a part-time evening student, but I hoped to be full-time day. With a couple of letters, emails and phone calls expressing my interest in being in the full-time day program, and they switched me! But I can imagine each school has its own policy on this.

I personally love law school. I worked for two years after undergrad, which I think is a benefit as you have a totally different perspective. But I won''t lie - law school is a lot of work! And that''s an understatement. You really have to be committed and you really have to want it.

Good luck on the LSAT and with apps - keep us posted!

 

[October2008bride]

Good luck!

I took a LSAT prep course and really only found it helpful because it forced me to study and do practice exams. I''m not disciplined enough to force myself to take the 8 hour test (or whatever it was) just to practice!!

My tip to you is talk to lawyers and see if the actual practice of law is what you want. I for one loved law school but the practice is completely different and definitely not for everyone (as proven by the number of lawyers who leave). It is a lot of time/debt to go to law school and I just suggest you make sure that you want what it gets you!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

I am starting law school in the fall so no advice on actual school part yet, but here's my app advice. Pump your numbers as much as possible. It isn't all about numbers, but for some schools I believe it really is these days..the pools are especially competitive right now. Also, your personal statement needs to be as strong as possible because that's the "final part of the app you control." As for LSAT, I didn't take the class, but I used both real LSATs and the Kaplan books (one of my friends took the class). I agree that the real LSATs were better than the Kaplan books overall (which in my opinion seemed to be just chopped up tests), but the Kaplan books are good for target practice on a certain area of the test. My favorite book other than real LSATs was the LSAT 180 book..it worked well for me. It also has the new comparative reading section in it and there's not a lot of practice for that yet. Finally, make sure to take your tests under as real as possible circumstances (timing, etc.).

 

[goldenstar]

"Do you recommend it?"

Here's a Q&A put out by the ABA that I think would help all people who are thinking about law school. My best piece of advice is to do your research on the legal profession and job market, and go in with your eyes wide open. If you know what you are getting into and still want to do it, you will love law school and the practice of law. You really need to know the good, the bad, and the ugly...

If you had a do over, would you choose law school?

 

[misskitty]

Also: during the app process, when you''re making school visits, try to actually sit in on a few law classes. This was the one thing I totally neglected to do (I just toured the buildings, chatted with admission reps), and I think it might have made a difference. If you can, have some conversations with new lawyers/recent grads who can give you a very fresh impression of the job market. Looking back, despite all the reading and prep work I had done, I had completely unrealistic expectations regarding both law school and the legal profession itself.

 

[DivaDiamond007]

I''m a paralegal and have worked for the same attorney for going on five years. I work in Toledo, Ohio and there are way too many lawyers here. My SIL graduated from law school 2.5 years ago, had one contract job, and ever since they failed to renew her contract she''s been out of work. Not good. She''s an intelligent woman and she''s (mostly) got the drive but the jobs just aren''t there and she''s not having luck out on her own since she really doesn''t have much experience.

My advice - make sure that you really want it. Obviously, I haven''t been to law school, but it is not easy and law school doesn''t really teach you anything practical - like how to file a complaint or motion practice. Remember though that those things come with experience and if you work hard enough you will be successful.

I wish you the best of luck

 

[Harriet]

Try to get your applications in early, as some schools have rolling admissions. Practice is what matters where it comes to the LSAT -- I think I missed most of the Kaplan classes.

 

[Indylady]

Thank you so much for all of your advice!

Brightlight- I think you are right; you really can''t get away with using Kaplan as a crutch. They assign a LOT of homework, but don''t really enforce that you finish it, so if you don''t do it it will bite you in the butt.

MissKitty, that is really great advice! I''ll also be able to ask if the personal statement really let them "get to know me"; family and friends already do know me and it would be hard for them to judge that factor. What made you want to leave law school? Was it a hard decision to make?

Hehe Lulu, with a hangover!

Lucyanddroger, that is an excellent idea. I have been using some real LSAT''s as practice tests, but I''ve been studying with Kaplan materials mostly. I''ve registered with the LSAC, I will be looking into their own prep books/practice LSAT''s tonight! It really makes a lot of sense; Kaplan frowns on using other prep materials, but I think that doing so will only give me an edge (as long as I''m not trying to follow two sets of test strategies,
etc.)

Megumic- Wow! That is fantastic, and congratulations! I will certainly put that on the list of things I still have to research; day programs/night programs are ideas I hadn''t even thought of yet! I have a summer checklist of about 20 different things I need to get done before the fall- asking for rec''s, requesting transcripts, making a master list of deadlines, and potentially applying for Teach for America or a Fulbright. I taught English last summer in Bangladesh with a non-profit called Nari Jibon; the professor is a former Fulbrighter and really thinks I should apply for it.

October2008bride- My roommate''s aunt feels the same way! She went to Duke Law, and LOVED it...but doesn''t really like practicing. She''s considering going back to school to become a professor or something else in the teaching line.

Do you think having a tutor made a difference? Would you recommend it?


And Harriet: Also great advice!! That is what I plan on doing. The sooner I finish everything and the sooner I start hearing from schools, the sooner I can relax!

Half of me can''t wait for September to come, and the other half doesn''t ever want it to come

Thank you so much everyone, I will certainly keep you posted on the LSAT''s and upcoming apps!

Shaina