LSAT Prep

[CheshireVal]

I am the queen of standardized tests. Well, not really, but I did make Star Student for scoring the highest in my class on the SAT. I also took the GED and the LSAT and the Praxis. (I had troubles figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, obviously! Finally decided I didn't want to be a lawyer-- too much work).

I found the Princeton Review books to be the most helpful. I kind of liked that they were a little bit tongue-in-cheek so that it wasn't too boring to get through. I never took a prep class or anything, just lots and lots of practice!

 

[twoprincesses]

You know, it wasn't until now that I started doubting myself. All through high school and the beginning of college, law school has always been my goal. It's not the actual law school classes and such that makes me nervous, however, the LSAT is what scares me. I'm not so great at standardize testing, in fact, I was stunned at how well I did on my SAT. I think what is holding me back his how fast it came. I feel like I'm not ready, but my law advisor says I'll do fine. I've done a few problems out of the LSAT information book and I think the only thing I'll need improvement on is timing. I probably would do excellent if it wasn't timed. As for work, would it be okay to work at my family's practice? or does that sound like I'm still relying on a crutch? The only reason I'm asking is because I have two kids and finding a place that will accomodate my hours will be difficult. My husband's uncle has his own firm and he said that it would be fine to work with him whenever I pleased.

 

[ecr110]

I prepared for the LSAT by doing as many practice tests as I could possibly do the months before I took the test. I would spend at least a portion of every day working on the questions. I also took a course offered at a discount at my university- it helped me a lot since I knew where my weaknesses were and I could ignore the portions that I didn't need help with. I would also recommend a class in some sort of logic- such as symbolic logic. It really does help when you're doing the logic games section.

The only time I studied for 10-12 hours a day was for the Bar. And I NEVER want to repeat that experience again. I also agree with the previous posters who say that you should clerk/intern over the summers. I also clerked my third year for a local judge. I know that my work experience made me more desirable than someone who had better grades but less experience.

 

[dennis99ss]

Re working.....You can work whereever you want to. Larger firms have staff positions which are less stress, not on a partnership track, etc. if you want.

But, in the first year, some people have to work due to money reasons, but, if at all possible, eat vienna sausages or whatever, but don't work. Your first year in law school is very important for many reasons. It places you in your rank, and it is very hard to move up substantially, because you only have 6 semesters to work with.

I basically lived at the library during my first year. I had classes in the morning, then, went to the library after lunch to 4 or so. went home, and chilled for an hour or so. back to the library to 9 or 10. I would take Fri nights off and usually saturdays as well. Then on Sunday, back to the library. Around exam time, My now dw would either meet me for dinner, or I would just grab something on campus.

I did work at a local firm after year one, and kept working through two and three. But, I would not have bneen able to if I had not put all the time in during year one. I did do some summer clerkships, etc., and then went to a court of appeals, then came down to Houston.

The moral of the story, however, is if I had not put in the time in year one, I would never have been able to keep the rank/GPA I did, nor would I have been able to get the jobs I did, nor, would I have been able to figure out what the key to law school classes was. I never did get evidence though, until after I graduated, although I could recite all of the rules, and tell you what they were for. It took some real world experience for that to click in.

I asume you are heading to UH, with the gpa requirements you mentioned. Why don't you talk to some of the 1st year professers over there.

 

[twoprincesses]

Re working.....You can work whereever you want to. Larger firms have staff positions which are less stress, not on a partnership track, etc. if you want.

But, in the first year, some people have to work due to money reasons, but, if at all possible, eat vienna sausages or whatever, but don't work. Your first year in law school is very important for many reasons. It places you in your rank, and it is very hard to move up substantially, because you only have 6 semesters to work with.

I basically lived at the library during my first year. I had classes in the morning, then, went to the library after lunch to 4 or so. went home, and chilled for an hour or so. back to the library to 9 or 10. I would take Fri nights off and usually saturdays as well. Then on Sunday, back to the library. Around exam time, My now dw would either meet me for dinner, or I would just grab something on campus.

I did work at a local firm after year one, and kept working through two and three. But, I would not have bneen able to if I had not put all the time in during year one. I did do some summer clerkships, etc., and then went to a court of appeals, then came down to Houston.

The moral of the story, however, is if I had not put in the time in year one, I would never have been able to keep the rank/GPA I did, nor would I have been able to get the jobs I did, nor, would I have been able to figure out what the key to law school classes was. I never did get evidence though, until after I graduated, although I could recite all of the rules, and tell you what they were for. It took some real world experience for that to click in.

I asume you are heading to UH, with the gpa requirements you mentioned. Why don't you talk to some of the 1st year professers over there.

Yes, your right, it's UH. It's not my first choice. South Texas College of Law is my first choice. I just know more about UH because I go there and I often visit the Law Center. Thanks for all the tips everyone. I think I just need to face reality and stop procrastinating.

 

[dennis99ss]

For what its worth, I prefer UH over South Texas

 

[AllyandJack]

I also didn't work my first year. However, I worked all through college at a law firm. I started working for free as a file clerk for a small firm and 4 years later, by the time law school rolled around, I was a paralegal. I went back and worked there during the summer between my 1L and 2L years. There were many benefits. First, during recruiting, I wasn't intimidated by the big firm lawyers. I had a lot of classmates who had never actually interacted one on one with lawyers and their interviews were very uncomfortable. Second, it gave them something to talk to me about during the interview. Asking how classes are going gets old fast and having the experience was a talking point. Third, the experience alone was a benefit - I could throw out legal terminology with the best of them. I could make distinctions between law school and the real world - boy, are they different!

Everyone always says "grades aren't everything" - that's a load of crap. They are. Especially your first year. Law Review is key. I had a friend with a 3.79 GPA who turned down Law Review - 4 years later and he's still doing contract work for $25./hour. The firms just can't get past it. Getting hired as a summer associate is usually the only way you'll get into a big firm right out of law school. Other than that, you'll have to build up a practice with portables to be considered.

It is a field that is hugely over-saturated and the turn-over rate (not to mention the burn out rate) is really high.

I loved law school. I got up every morning thrilled to see my friends and professors and excited to learn new things. I experienced it all and loved every minute of it. I even like being a lawyer every now and then. I'm not a traditional lawyer - in fact, very few people I went to law school with or worked with are practicing in the traditional sense. I know some people who became recruiters, some people who work for Lexis and Westlaw.....so, there are many things you can do with a law degree. I keep saying I'm done being a lawyer and that's fine because not many people can say being a lawyer is their "back up".

 

[twoprincesses]

What do you prefer about UH? I've been dying to talk to someone who knows the pros and cons about the two. All I've really heard is that UH teaches a philosphical view of law and South Texas is more about the practice. I just chose South Texas because I know more people who attended there. I've never spoken to someone from UH Law except for my professors.

 

[ChibiJones]

All I did was buy a book of past tests and one of the books. I also wouldn't extend college by a year. But, it took me about 7 years to get my undergrad degree because I was going to school nights while working full-time. I also took a year off to save up some money. I'm glad I did that since I never had to take out any private student loans and I have no credit card debt.

My undergrad degree is in Paralegal Studies. If you want to take more classes, then see about taking a few paralegal courses. It will give you a little bit of a lead on learning things like how to cite properly, basic legal research, and some basic legal terminology.

 

[dennis99ss]

We have just had better luck with the UH crowd than the STx. crowd, from a clerk and associate standpoint. I really can't pinpoint why. Maybe hungrier. A very limited number of students though, so no real scientific or logical reason there.

 

[AtlantaSue]

I did what many posters did - bought the books/tests and practiced alot. I remember coming up w/ certain "formulas" that worked for certain type problems - so, once you recognized the type of problem it was, you essentially just used a formula - that helped cut down on my time. And it also relieved some pressure. As for the reading comprehension part of the test - I really don't believe you can "practice" much for that - you either have gotten that down at this point in your life, or you haven't!
Anyway - JMHO. Good luck to you!