Law School Discussion

Most schools are now taking the highest score, and most schools will tell you this on their web sites.  check out a couple of schools you want to go to. My advice is to take the test now, the practice will always do you good, and if you feel good after the test see what your score is. If you feel you bombed it, then cancel your score and take it again in the fall.

It is not surprising that none of the above defenders of CBA law schools can provide employment statistics.

Hopefully anyone considering a CBA school will understand that if these schools had employment statistics to confirm their worth then they would release those statistics.

I just finished a Kaplan course (not much help) , my diagnostic was a 153 and after 3 months of study I have peaked at a score of 155. I have 3 weeks until my June administration and I'm devastated.  Despite my hard work all of my practice tests have fallen within this range. I'm currently signed up for the June LSAT but am considering moving my test date to October. My goal score is a 165. Should I buckle down and hope for the best come test day or pay the fee and move the test to october? how will this effect my app? do most schools average their test scores?

Thanks a bunch everyone

Thanks for the reply! I actually really don't have a typical question type that stumps me... I've been getting 180 untimed for a while now.

What I have realized is I have been warming up far too much prior to a full test. I would usually do 5 or 6 full sections before starting the test ( usually reviewing a previous test). I stopped that this week (as I'm obviously not going to do that test day) and have had better results (much more stable around 170). Only annoying part is every now and then ill get a 160 - but what can I do...

I'd just keep it simpler. If you want to negate something put a big NOT in front of it and be done. I.e. If that thing is green then it must be a frog turns into: it is NOT true that if that thing is green then it must be a frog.

Just my thoughts...

How are you doing untimed?

The best way to "speed" up is to get your untimed score up. Ideally you would want your untimed score to be 175+, however, this may not be that practical if you are taking the test in June. At the very least you should be able to get about 10-15 points above where you want to score. So if you want a 150, you are basically looking at a 165ish untimed.  After all, if you cant answer the questions untimed you really won't be able to answer them timed. Note: When you are doing untimed practice make sure you are following a proven method (ie Kaplan, Powerscore, etc). Also - jot down specific reasons why each correct answer is 100% correct and, more importantly, why each incorrect answer is 100% incorrect.

Once you are in your target untimed range then you can start worrying about timing yourself.

Come test day you really don't want to have to "speed" up though, rather you want move at a heightened and focused pace. In many instances this may actually involve slowing down.

Finally, don't feel stressed over struggling with time. I've been studying for this thing for months and every now and then have to randomly guess on a handful of questions due to time constraints (and am scoring around the 98th percentile). The test is specifically designed so that the average taker will not come close to finishing on time.

So in sum - practice practice practice and more practice (smart practice that is).

So I graduated from an extremely competitive state university in 2001 at the age of 20. I was 16 when I started college, partied way too much, changed my major a few too many times and finished with a 2.3 overall gpa. I double majored in History and English Literature. My History major gpa was a 2.7 and my English major gpa was a 3.6. I worked several years in the film industry and in management positions. I ended up going back to school and receiving 2 Masters Degrees from an Ivy league institution, one in English Literature (gpa 3.7) and the other in Film/Visual Arts (gpa 3.9). My overall graduate gpa is a 3.8 and I graduated with honors. My lsat score is 170. I have no clue whether or not I would get into law school anywhere. When I applied to law school my senior year of college, the dean of Northwestern law urged me to get a masters degree, retake the lsat and basically do something that shows I am not the same foolish 20 year old who lacked focus. I've done all of those things and I'm aware that LSAC only factors in your ugpa but the law schools themselves still require transcripts from graduate institutions attended for a reason. However, when I talk to other law school applicants the consensus is who cares if you have 2 Masters from an Ivy league school and graduated with honors in 2013? Who cares if you scored a 170 on the lsat this year? Twelve years ago you barely graduated with a 2.3 and that's all that matters now. I find it hard to believe that 12 years of hard work and accomplishments count for zip. I'm 32 now and will be 33 when I hopefully start law school so I'm not concerned as much about going to a T1 school. I just want to go to law school. Does anyone think I might have a shot at getting in to law school?

Hello,
I’m Marcela. I’m a Brazilian graduate student of the International Cognitive Visualization Program at California State University, Chico working on my Master’s thesis with Dr. Neil Schwartz (CSU, Chico).

Our study is concerned with the use of different modes of evidence presentation and derived judgment on a legal case.
For our study, we are looking for law students with a minimum study of two years or more or professionals in the field of law who would like to participate in a short, 20 minute online study. Your professional experience and knowledge regarding law is invaluable to us and your help would be greatly appreciated.

We also believe that our study will provide you with a unique opportunity to view a very interesting simulated case specifically for students of law.   

Again, this study does not take longer than 20 minutes and all it requires is speakers or headphones.

Please click on this link: http://edu.surveygizmo.com/s3/1255329/International-Cognitive-Visualization-study

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me: mwolf10@mail.csuchico.edu
Thank you for your help.
Marcela

Hello,
I’m Marcela. I’m a Brazilian graduate student of the International Cognitive Visualization Program at California State University, Chico working on my Master’s thesis with Dr. Neil Schwartz (CSU, Chico).

Our study is concerned with the use of different modes of evidence presentation and derived judgment on a legal case.
For our study, we are looking for law students with a minimum study of two years or more or professionals in the field of law who would like to participate in a short, 20 minute online study. Your professional experience and knowledge regarding law is invaluable to us and your help would be greatly appreciated.

We also believe that our study will provide you with a unique opportunity to view a very interesting simulated case specifically for students of law.   

Again, this study does not take longer than 20 minutes and all it requires is speakers or headphones.

Please click on this link: http://edu.surveygizmo.com/s3/1255329/International-Cognitive-Visualization-study

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me: mwolf10@mail.csuchico.edu
Thank you for your help.
Marcela

Hi. I believe that you're thinking about this all wrong. Law school is very unlike college. There are many bloggers that will probably disagree with what I am about to write, and that's okay, but it will be the truth. There is no such thing as being confined to the midwest when it comes to the practice of law. Also, by the end of law school, you're going to follow your dreams because you'll be broke and single, everyone will want a piece of you because you're a new lawyer, and you'll have nothing really to loose. If it is international law you want, then it is international law you'll find. A lawyer is kind of like a preacher and law school a seminary. A preacher can go preach anywhere and the preacher will usually go where he or she can preach to the most people. The same is true with law albeit that you must get barred in the state you practice. If you want to emphasize litigation or real-estate, then you'll be doing that no matter where you went to law school. The truth is, and this is the cheesy part, law professors cannot teach you to be a good litigator or a real estate attorney, because if that's what you want to do, then it will come naturally. Yes, you're still going to have to learn the black letter law. Thus, it really doesn't matter where you go to law school. There are probably those typing away right now saying, "Yes it does because you eventually get a job in the region or state or city that you went to law school!" That's not true. You can go to any state and if you are passionate and competent then it really won't matter where you went to law school. My advice to you is relax and take a few deep breathes. Then carefully study each of your choices web sites looking for what you interests you. By the end of law school, you'll find that key to not abrogating from your destiny is to be happy with where life takes you.