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LSAT Advice from Lawyers Who Know the Test<\/h2>\n
When approaching your LSAT prep, there’s no need to go it alone. Many have gone before you. They’ve tried different strategies, made mistakes, and ultimately gotten the LSAT scores they needed to get into law school. <\/p>\n
So, to help provide you with some guidance, I reached out to LSAT (and Bar Exam!) survivors and asked the following questions:<\/p>\n
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- What is the best LSAT prep advice you can offer?<\/li>\n
- What are your top tips for raising your LSAT score?<\/li>\n
- What is one thing you wish you’d done differently during your own LSAT prep?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The advice I received was as varied as the lawyers themselves. But some themes were clear: study early, take practice tests, and don’t go it alone. Read on for the best LSAT advice successful lawyers have to offer.<\/p>\n
(To learn more about the wonderful people who offered their advice, click the name under their quote or visit the end of the post<\/a>.)<\/p>\n
Know the LSAT Inside and Out<\/h2>\n
Don’t wing it<\/h3>\n
Many people believe that good grades and college success will translate directly into a high LSAT score. Not true. Just because you were a college basketball star doesn\u2019t mean you can hop on the tennis court and play like Roger Federer; different sports require different skills. The LSAT is no different. Like an athlete, LSAT takers need to familiarize themselves with the test\u2019s landscape. What are commonly asked questions? What are the pitfalls? How do you manage pacing?<\/strong> Understanding the nature of the LSAT and potential landmines will take you a long way toward a better score. The worst thing you can do is flip through an LSAT book and show up. Like anything in life, preparation is the foundation for success.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—James Goodnow<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Learn strategies<\/h3>\n
The best advice I can offer for LSAT prep is… learn strategies for the various parts of the test<\/strong> and use those strategies when studying.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Cody C. Branham<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Take a Prep Course<\/h2>\n
Stick to the schedule<\/h3>\n
My advice is that you absolutely have to do a prep course! Trust their schedule and do everything that is required.<\/strong> I would recommend not to get too down on yourself if you start low and don\u2019t get the scores you thought you would be getting. Believe that if you put the work in, you will get the results. I am not sure I would change anything I did. I actually kind of enjoyed it!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—John Mennie<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Ask for guidance<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t go it alone. If you wanted to be a good golfer, would you read a book on it? Of course not. You would probably enlist the help of a friend or coach who knows how to play golf well. The LSAT works the same way. If you can get input, guidance and assistance from people who\u2019ve had success, then you will be in a better position to have success yourself.<\/strong> Invariably, there may be a concept or technique that just doesn\u2019t register the first time through; having someone who can help you get over the \u201chump\u201d if and when those issues arise can be invaluable.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—James Goodnow<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Know that it’s worth the cost<\/h3>\n
The number one piece of advise I give to people considering law school is taking a prep course and actually following their plan. I never took a prep class primarily because I wasn\u2019t able to afford it but I know people who increased their score dramatically. However, in hindsight I probably could have afforded the costs had I known that they would have been so beneficial.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Omar Jaleel<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Go all in<\/h3>\n
My honest advise is to create a self imposed bubble and move inside of it. Cut yourself off from the rest of the world and devote yourself to the prep course and practice tests.<\/strong> Do not get to comfortable in the real world as once the LSAT is done as you will have to reenter the bubble both for 1L exams and the bar exam.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Todd A. Spodek<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Create a Study Plan and Stick To It<\/h2>\n
Study regularly<\/h3>\n
Set a schedule. Don\u2019t cram.<\/strong> It\u2019s a recipe for performing below your best. It\u2019s critical that you give yourself enough time to prepare for the test and that you allocate time for preparation on a regular basis. There will undoubtedly be some areas that may take a bit more time for you to grasp, so leave yourself time to work through those areas before test day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—James Goodnow<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Start studying early<\/h3>\n
I honestly wish I would have started studying earlier. I didn\u2019t know I wanted to go to law school until a few months before applications were due so I was running around trying to study as much as I could. If I could go back in time, I would\u2019ve taken a practice test a whole year before so that I could identify where I needed improvement, with enough time to make those improvements. LSATs are all about brain power and stamina, so if I\u2019d had more time, I think I would have done better. This is what I did for the Bar Exam, and I think that the same tips can be applied to the LSAT. The earlier you start studying, the more time you have to figure out where you can improve.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Yesenia Perez<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Take Timed Practice Tests<\/h2>\n
Review all your answers<\/h3>\n
The best advice I would give someone is to take as many practice tests as you can. You can review all the prep materials you want, but nothing will prepare you like a simulated test. Make sure to time yourself and review all your answers, both the correct and incorrect ones.<\/strong> And for the logic games, try to identify the hardest game at the outset and save that for last. Better to focus on the \u201ceasier\u201d games first.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—David Rosenfield<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Improve your stamina<\/h3>\n
The LSAT is a big deal! Many times college students think of the LSAT as the ACT or SAT and they believe it is not a test they need to study for, or study as much for. This is the wrong approach. Be sure to take plenty of practice tests to get a feel for what the test is actually going to be like. The actual test itself is long, so by taking multiple practice tests it will help not only with learning the content, but with time control.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Nikole Messerschmidt<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Be realistic about your practice scores<\/h3>\n
NEVER put 100% trust in your practice test scores. 99.9% of the time, they are NOT representative of your final score. Use them as guide posts to provide direction on which areas to work on.<\/strong> As an admissions professional, we don\u2019t put much stock in your practice scores.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Tony Cardenas<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h2>\n
Stop losing easy points<\/h3>\n
I took a few practice tests before diving into my \u201creal\u201d studying, to determine where I was lacking. It turns out that the logic games section was my strongest point but reading comprehension I was losing a lot of silly points… I think figuring out what your weak point [is] huge.<\/strong> I took the LSAT twice and the second time my score shot up in one of the sections because that was all I focused on before taking the LSAT a second time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Yesenia Perez<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Best LSAT Advice: Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Take the LSAT twice<\/h3>\n
I personally took the LSAT twice and did significantly better the second time. I attribute that to the fact that when I studied for my first attempt, I simply read the books and did practice questions. I had no specific strategies for certain types of questions and my progress remained stagnant. However, the second time I worked with a tutor briefly and learned several strategies, which helped immensely. Changing how I studied the second time and having been familiar with the mental stamina required enabled me to be accepted to multiple schools.<\/p>\n
Also, contrary to what people may say, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking the LSAT twice, assuming the registration fee isn\u2019t a hurdle. In fact, most law schools will take your highest score into consideration rather than an average of the two<\/strong>, so there is no punishment for taking it multiple times.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Cody C. Branham<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Keep things in perspective<\/h3>\n
Attending a less prestigious law school is not the end of the world. When I used to be a prosecutor I knew several successful prosecutors, judges, and private attorneys that attended law schools that were not fully accredited or ones that had just become accredited. Really, what matters are the connections you make in law school, how good your grades are, and the extra curricular activities that you participate in during law school that affect your first job out of law school. After that it is the reputation that you earn as a lawyer that will make or break your legal career not the law school you attended<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Omar Jaleel<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Take a logic course<\/h3>\n
The college course I found most valuable\/applicable to the LSAT: Symbolic Logic.<\/p>\n
This is after having a really solid background in mathematics—especially algebra—and a solid background in philosophy—specifically, basic logic. Put the two together, and you have the LSAT. Truly, it tests an applicant\u2019s ability to analyze syllogistic reasoning<\/strong>, and Symbolic Logic trains people to illustrate that reasoning on paper like an algebra problem. When you apply that to the LSAT, you waste very little time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—Aaron Lukken<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
Get sleep before the test<\/h3>\n
As for what I\u2019d do differently, rent a hotel in a quiet area but near the test site<\/strong>. I made the mistake of sleeping at home and my neighbors decided to throw a huge party the night before. I ended up sleeping on the floor in my closet because the noise was so loud.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- \n—David Rosenfield<\/a>\n<\/ul>\n
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There you have it! The best LSAT advice from successful lawyers. If you have any further questions, comments, or advice you’d like to share, please leave a comment at the bottom of this post. We’d love to hear from you and keep the conversation going!<\/p>\n
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Meet Your Advisors<\/h2>\n
I’d like to offer my gratitude to the wonderful people who offered their advice and experience to help our Magoosh LSAT community. I’d encourage Magooshers reading this post to click the links below to learn more about your LSAT prep advisors.<\/p>\n
Cody C. Branham<\/strong>
\nAttorney at Morris, Laing, Evans, Brock & Kennedy, Chtd.<\/a>
\nAttended University of Kansas School of Law<\/p>\nTony Cardenas<\/strong>
\nDean of Admissions at Florida Coastal School of Law<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\nJames Goodnow<\/strong>
\nAttorney at Fennemore Craig P.C.<\/a>
\nAttended Harvard Law School<\/p>\nOmar Jaleel<\/strong>
\nAttorney at Jaleel Law P.C.<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\nAaron Lukken<\/strong>
\nAttorney at Viking Advocates, LLC<\/a>
\nAttended University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law <\/p>\nJohn Mennie<\/strong>
\nAttorney at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.<\/a>
\nAttended Western Michigan University\u2019s Thomas M. Cooley Law School<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n
Nikole Messerschmidt<\/strong>
\nAttorney at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.<\/a>
\nAttended Valparaiso University School of Law<\/p>\nYesenia Perez<\/strong>
\nIn-House Compliance Counsel at Innovative Benefit Planning, LLC<\/a>
\nAttended DePaul University College of Law in Chicago<\/p>\nDavid Rosenfield<\/strong>
\nLaw and English Lecturer at Assumption University<\/a> and Of Counsel at Gordon & Rees<\/a><\/p>\n