LSAT Survival Guide Blog

When it comes down to it, the LSAT, and the field of law, are all about language. Language is the manifestation of our thoughts. Consequently, when people don’t think of a word the same way, thoughts will be incorrectly transmitted (which in the case of the LSAT means that you’re likely going to answer the questions incorrectly).

This effect can be seen in the LSAT which is administered in the English language, or so one would think. Many words used in the questions are highly nuanced, having specific meanings that are quite different from their everyday usage.

Why is this? Well, the rumor on the interwebs (LSATconspiracies.net) is that the LSAC employs legions of men (and a woman) that eat, sleep, and write problems in a dark nondescript building, somewhere in Virginia. These distant cousins of the Oumpaloumpas speak their own language, which results in the aforementioned roadblocks in answering their convoluted arguments, reading comprehension, and analytical reasoning questions. Here’s a short list of handy translations should you need to communicate with a member of this species:

Some = Any number from one to all

Most = More than half

Few = Zero or more

A few = One or more

None = Zero

All = All

Keep your eyes peeled next time you are practicing and hopefully you’ll fully be able to gracefully leap over this crater of a trap.

A question often posited by both those scarred by a previous sitting of the LSAT and the wide-eyed go-getters is “Should I attend a commercial test preparation course?”. The short answer, is maybe. Rather than giving a long answer, allow me to guide you along the path of enlightenment. So without further ado, I present you the Yoda within:

Stinking rich you are: Go nuts. Take the course as supplementation to your self-study, AKA doing every test ever released. Just don’t rely fully upon these courses.

Much time you have: Commercial courses take up a LOT of time. Of course there are variations that allow working folk and students to attend, however these are usually labeled as a deplorable waste of time (anecdotal experience).

The study ethic is strong in this one: If you have a proper study ethic, then you are better off doing actual LSATs and reading the Powerscore trilogy (I am in no way compensated for this endorsement. That being said, I wouldn’t mind some dough for doing it anyway). If you’re a bit of a procrastinator, firstly, welcome to the club, and secondly, think of taking the course, solely for the structure it provides. There are few things worse than arriving at the test center and being filled with the dread/disappointment/humiliation/fear/depression that goes hand in hand with knowing that you aren’t adequately prepared, and will thus have no option but to reside in a van, down by the river.

Quick mind you have: If you absorb concepts (not to be confused with information) and can apply them with ease, then a prep course might not be for you. Prep courses teach you to think in a very specific manner: logically. If you are ultra-logical, or have Asperger syndrome, don’t waste your time/money. Study up, and save your hard earned cash for that pony you’ve always wanted (anecdotal experience).

That being said, the long answer is do not enroll in a commercial prep course. Just buy a motherload of good prepbooks (preferably unmarked ones off of craigslist), and study/write LSATs/REVIEW LSATs for a solid 2-4 months prior to your test. If your desire for law school is great enough, you’ll be able to scrounge up the dedication to study a couple hours a day.

People’s reasons for becoming lawyers vary as greatly as the innumerable colors that can be purchased in a paint store. Be it to help the needy, enact legislation to save the world, or simply be a source of funding for a penthouse and Ferrari, one thing is common to all ABA approved lawyers: they have all taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

What is the LSAT you may ask? Officially, the LSAT is a standardized test consisting of five marked 35 minute sections. Its purpose is to be an indicator as to whether one will be successful in law school.

A common question is “Is the LSAT easy?”. Truthfully, those in the know will tell you that the LSAT is a grueling task requiring months of preparation, all to develop stamina and the ability to vanquish questions whose complexity suggests that they were crafted in the bowels of hell.

Keep up with lsatsurvivalguide.com, because who knows, you may just pick up that magical little method that would get you into your #1 school.