Thinking Lsat

Ben and Nathan warn listeners about tactics that some law schools use to make mediocre scholarships appear better than they really are. The guys also discuss a new ABA regulation meant to standardize 1L learning outcomes. They double down on their advice to apply broadly. And they model their approach to Logical Reasoning on a Weaken question from PrepTest 123. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 469 on YouTube 2:27 - Fee Waiver Changes - LSAC now requires students with fee waivers to test twice in LawHub before registering for an official LSAT. Fee waiver recipients must also take the interactive course “How Do I Apply to Law School?” 7:44 - New Rules for Law Schools - A new ABA regulation aims to make law school courses more uniform and give law students more feedback about their academic progress. Nathan and Ben doubt that the new rules will have their intended effects. 15:51 - Better School or Better Price? - Is it better to attend a great law school for an OK price or an OK law

Nathan and Ben examine the root cause of underperformance on the LSAT: too much concern for the clock and not enough focus on understanding. The guys also poke fun at Nathan’s alma mater, share tips for staying focused on timed sections, and praise a listener’s decision to step away from a T20 law school. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 468 on YouTube 1:04 - Alumni Donations - The guys laugh at an “exciting opportunity” to donate money to UC Law San Francisco. 15:31 - Timed Sections - Listener Mike is avoiding timed sections until he improves at the test. Nathan and Ben explain why this approach is misguided—all LSAT students should make timed sections a cornerstone of their study. 18:43 - Staying Focused - An anonymous listener struggles to stay focused during timed sections. Ben and Nathan instruct Anonymous to zoom in on one question at a time. 27:44 - Score Drop - Listener Annabelle is flustered by a sudden score drop. Nathan and Ben blame Annabelle’s preoccupation with speed

Ben and Nathan discuss the new format for LSAT Writing and critique a practice essay submitted by an LSAT Demon student. Later, the guys delve into an LSAC report on test-taker statistics, and they question whether accommodations truly level the playing field. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 467 on YouTube 1:11 - New LSAT Writing - Nathan and Ben review listener Valerie’s response to the new LSAT Argumentative Writing sample prompt, offering guidance on how to construct a compelling essay. 44:35 - Accommodations Concerns - Ben and Nathan address listeners’ concerns about LSAT accommodations. They encourage test takers who qualify for accommodations to request the support they need. 54:09 - Accommodations Statistics - Nathan and Ben examine statistics from LSAC that call into question the fairness of the current system for LSAT accommodations. LSAT Accommodations Consent Decree Final Report of the Best Practices Panel Accommodations Trends from 2017 2024 LSAT Performance

Recent law school graduates have benefited from a hot hiring market, but there are signs that the market might be cooling off. Nathan and Ben consider the implications for future law students. Later, the guys affirm the importance of applying early. They discuss prediction strategy for Must Be True questions. And they advise students not to flag questions on timed sections. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 466 on YouTube 1:02 - Legal Hiring Slows - Law firm recruiting just hit an 11-year low. But a slowdown in legal hiring shouldn’t affect your decision to attend law school. 9:38 - Application Timing - How late is too late to apply? Ben and Nathan invite listener Sammy to ask a better question: When is the best time to apply? 18:24 - Creative Predictions - Must Be True questions are no place to flex your creativity. Nathan and Ben instruct listener Cleo to pick the boring, obvious answer on these and other closed question types. 28:59 - Don’t Flag Questions - The guys explain why

Score variance isn’t a problem—it’s an opportunity. Nathan and Ben encourage LSAT students to pursue the upside of their score range by taking the test multiple times. The guys also share a key to getting faster at Reading Comprehension. They assure a conflicted student that it’s OK to pivot away from law school. And they lay out an approach to Logical Reasoning that balances caution and confidence. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 465 on YouTube 3:23 - Score Variance - Don’t aim to eliminate score variance in your practice tests. Score variance is your friend if you commit to taking the LSAT multiple times. 10:04 - What’s an Assumption? - Ben and Nathan explain the difference between necessary assumptions and sufficient assumptions. 20:17 - Rereading RC Passages - Skimming your reading assignments might have worked for you in college, but it won’t cut it in LSAT Reading Comprehension. 28:31 - Improving RC Timing - Want to get faster at RC? Spend less time debating wrong answers. 34

The LSAT is a rigorous test of reading comprehension and critical reasoning. Do you understand the information on the page? And do you know what must be true on the basis of that information? Also on the show, Nathan and Ben discuss GPA addendums, supplemental essays, and law school price discrimination. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 464 on YouTube 3:24 - When Am I Ready? - Don’t register for the LSAT until you’re happy with your practice test scores. 15:43 - Logical Opposites - Are success and failure logical opposites? Does “unlikely” simply mean “not likely”? It depends. 25:01 - Two Fundamental Skills - Ben and Nathan break down two critical skills that form the foundation of LSAT mastery. 40:26 - Master’s Degree - Nathan and Ben question an anonymous listener’s decision to pursue a master’s degree. 44:41 - GPA Addendum - Nobody wants to hear excuses for your bad grades. 50:47 - Supplemental Essays - If a supplemental essay allows you to write something positive about yourse

Your LSAT and GPA are the most important parts of your law school application, but a strong personal statement can set you apart from other applicants with similar numbers. What makes for a well-crafted personal statement? This week, Nathan and Ben pull no punches as they critique a listener’s essay through the eyes of harried admissions officers. The guys also delve into Logical Reasoning prediction methods, urge a listener to fire their awful tutor, and unpack a new report that casts doubt on the golden-ticket reputation of a law degree. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 463 on YouTube 2:15 - Prediction and Review - The guys instruct LSAT Demon student Brian on how to review his mistakes. They emphasize prediction as crucial to success in Logical Reasoning. 13:09 - Awful Tutor - Nathan and Ben counsel an anonymous listener to fire their terrible LSAT tutor and to cut back on their full-time study. One to three quality hours of study per day is plenty. 23:26 - Comparative Passages

Every LSAT score release day leaves some frustrated test takers wondering: “Why did I score so much lower than on my practice tests?” This week, Nathan and Ben discuss the number one reason why some people underperform on test day. The guys also celebrate listeners’ success on the June LSAT. They question the viability of applying to law school with a GRE score but no LSAT. And they express a wish for American law schools to adopt the more equitable tuition practices of their Canadian counterparts. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 462 on YouTube 3:21 - Keep Studying? - Listener John fell short of his goal score on the June LSAT—his last shot at a test that included Logic Games, his best section. Should he keep studying for the August test, or is it time for John to declare victory over the LSAT? 8:29 - Reapply - Listener Carlos applied to law school earlier this cycle, but he improved his LSAT score substantially in June. Ben and Nathan encourage Carlos to withdraw his applications

There is no second best on the LSAT. On every question, one answer is definitely right, and four answers are definitely wrong. This week, Nathan and Ben discuss why a no-nonsense mindset is vital to LSAT success. Later, the guys compare lawyers to professional students. They question the value of law school consultants. And they explain why nothing on your law school application will make up for a low LSAT score. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 461 on YouTube 5:17 - No BS - An anonymous listener jokes that the LSAT is a “BS test.” 17:00 - Chasing Perfection - The guys warn listener Jonah that his quest for a perfect score might be hurting his accuracy. They instruct Jonah to slow down and focus on one question at a time. 21:33 - Free Yourself - Ben and Nathan share their most powerful advice for overcoming LSAT anxiety: forget your timeline. 29:43 - Professional Students - Listener Daniel asks how to improve on science passages in Reading Comprehension. Nathan and Ben challenge Dan

Jacqueline Schafer is the founder and CEO of Clearbrief, an AI-powered legal writing tool that helps lawyers search their discovery for relevant facts and cite them in legal documents. Jackie joins Ben for a conversation about what aspiring lawyers should know about the future of AI in legal tech. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 460 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 1:35 - Clearbrief - Jackie introduces Clearbrief and explains how it helps lawyers gather facts and create hyperlinked citations in their legal writing. 15:26 - AI in Legal Tech - Will AI replace lawyers? Jackie challenges this notion by asking: Did Excel replace accountants? She and Ben explore how AI is likely to augment, rather than replace, the roles of lawyers. 28:33 - From Big Law to Tech Entrepreneur - Jackie shares how her experience as a litigation associate in big law has remained invaluable throughout her career, from serving as an Assistant State Attorney General to starting a tech company. 38:49 - A

Some LSAT students think that more time studying equals faster improvement. But the equation isn’t that simple. This week, Nathan and Ben advocate a less-is-more approach to LSAT study, centered on carefully reviewing one mistake at a time. The guys also discuss lawyers’ work-life balance, highlighting in Reading Comprehension, and the importance of an applicant’s undergraduate major in law school admissions. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 459 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 1:41 - Quality Over Quantity - Ben and Nathan encourage an anonymous listener not to give up on LSAT study. They emphasize the importance of thoroughly reviewing mistakes over drilling a high volume of questions. 9:44 - Work-Life Balance - The legal profession is notorious for its lopsided work-life balance. Are there any lawyer jobs that offer a more reasonable quality of life? 15:27 - Highlighting in RC - Listener Alex proposes a strategy for highlighting key words in Reading Comprehension. Nathan

How important is it to apply early? According to a recent study published in the University of Chicago Journal of Law and Economics, “an application delay of 100 days is associated with a drop in the probability of admission of around 8.5 percentage points—a disadvantage comparable to lowering the applicant’s undergraduate GPA by .26 or LSAT score by 2.1 points.” Ben and Nathan crunch the numbers and double down on their advice: apply early, but steer clear of “early decision” programs. The guys also say goodbye to the logic games, preview the new format for LSAT Writing, and provide an update on the curious case of Campbell Law. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 458 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 0:37 - So Long, LG - The June LSAT is done, and so is LSAT Analytical Reasoning. Nathan and Ben bid farewell to the logic games and reflect on why they loved them. 4:56 - New LSAT Writing - LSAC will debut the new format for LSAT Writing on July 30, 2024. Ben and Nathan preview

Why do you want to become a lawyer? If you’re chasing prestige, then you might want to reconsider. This week, Ben and Nathan critique several common but misguided reasons people give for wanting to become lawyers. Later, the guys reveal the key to getting faster on the LSAT. They counsel a waitlist-bound applicant to reapply next cycle. And they discuss whether the loss of LG will change the way the LSAT is scored. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 457 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 4:03 - Arguments Against Law School - An anonymous listener seeks reasons not to go to law school. Nathan and Ben ask Anonymous: What’s wrong with your current job? 10:28 - Why Become a Lawyer? - The guys discuss several bad reasons—and one good reason—to become a lawyer. 22:06 - Score Plateau - Listener Cole has embraced the Demon’s accuracy-first approach. Now how does he improve his speed? Nathan and Ben instruct Cole to start eliminating wrong answers more quickly. 35:04 - Score Decrease

Ben and Nathan are joined again by Rachel Gezerseh, trial attorney and the author of The Law Career Playbook. Rachel previews the new edition of her book, which will include updated recommendations for Zoom interviews and online networking. Later, the guys describe a typical LSAT study schedule, and they explore the multiple benefits of taking a gap year before applying to law school. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 456 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 0:57 - New LSAT Dates - LSAC announced new registration deadlines and opened registration for the 2024–2025 testing cycle. Find all the important dates at lsat.link/dates. 2:16 - Rachel Gezerseh - Rachel urges future law students to start building their professional network today. She also discusses her teaching role at USC Law. She shares her experience of finding a job in big law after graduating from a regional law school. And she explains how her former career as a documentary filmmaker has benefitted her in her curren

LSAT scores are on the rise. The total number of applicants scoring 170 or higher has more than doubled since 2015. This week, Ben and Nathan weigh in on what’s driving this trend and whether LSAC might make the test more difficult in response. Later, the guys discuss how much time they spend reading RC passages. They advise listeners not to apply early decision. And they help a student move on from a disappointing April LSAT. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 455 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 3:30 - June or August? - An anonymous listener who’s strong in Logic Games asks if they should take the test in June or wait until they’ve improved in LR and RC. Nathan and Ben caution listeners not to rush into law school with a mediocre LSAT score. 8:35 - Is the LSAT Getting Harder? - Will LSAC make the LSAT more difficult because of the increasing number of high scores? Ben and Nathan advise students to focus on fixing their current mistakes before worrying about hypotheticals.

1L strategy coach Angela Vorpahl returns to Thinking LSAT to discuss five common but misguided pieces of advice for incoming law students. She explains why these conventional 1L strategies fall short and suggests more effective alternatives. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 454 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 3:08 - Class Prep vs. Exam Prep - Law professors insist that students should thoroughly read each assigned case. But reading every line of every case takes a huge amount of time. Angela advises students to invest their time in study methods that have a greater impact on their final grade. 20:15 - Note-Taking Strategies - Research suggests that students who take notes by hand might retain more information than students who type their notes. But for Angela’s preferred method of note-taking, handwriting notes simply isn’t fast enough. 33:05 - Study Supplements - Some law school traditionalists vilify study supplements like hornbooks, and they label students who use them

Ben and producer Erik team up to offer guidance on overcoming a score plateau. One key tip: Don’t fixate on your practice test scores. Later, Ben and Erik debunk the rumor that applicants hurt their admissions chances when they withdraw and reapply. They examine law schools’ employment outcome disclosures. And they discuss what it means to overthink the correct answer—and how to stop. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 453 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 5:52 - Score Plateau - How do you break out of a score plateau? Stop worrying about your score, and focus on fixing individual mistakes. 16:20 - Downside to Reapplying? - An anonymous listener applied late in the cycle and received disappointing scholarship offers. Will law schools treat Anonymous unfavorably for declining these offers and reapplying next cycle? 22:07 - Judicial Clerkships - Must listener Alex attend a highly ranked law school to obtain a judicial clerkship? Erik and Ben investigate schools’ employment out

Ben and Nathan chat with Nick Hafen, the Head of Legal Technology Education at BYU Law. They discuss what law students should know about leveraging generative AI tools like ChatGPT in law school and beyond. The guys also review a tip for managing test anxiety, and they explain why they don’t diagram in Logical Reasoning. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 452 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 0:43 - Generative AI - Nick explains some generative AI basics that law students should know. The guys discuss how the technology might impact lawyers’ jobs. 8:57 - AI and Law School - Law schools are still deciding how to incorporate AI into their curriculums. Students shouldn’t rely on their professors to teach them everything they need to know. 17:39 - Getting Started with AI - Nick suggests a simple Google search to start learning about generative AI. Ben and Nathan encourage listeners to experiment with new use cases. 24:49 - Nick’s Career - Nick outlines his career path from big l

Many law students pay nowhere near full tuition. Some pay no tuition at all. Law schools don’t offer reduced or waived tuition fees out of generosity—it’s a calculated business strategy. But this week, Nathan and Ben discover a law school whose outlandish scholarship numbers seem to defy business sense. The guys also discuss the new US News law school rankings, help listeners choose between law schools, and advise students to keep their study schedules simple. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 451 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 4:14 - Law School Rankings - US News just released its 2024 law school rankings. While the rankings have changed, their practical value hasn’t. They still provide poor justification for choosing one law school over another. 10:27 - Picking a Law School - Ben and Nathan help two listeners decide between offers of admission. The choice largely depends on answering a single question: “What do you want to do?” 33:48 - Bouncing Back - Listener Tyler stu

Tuitions are soaring at U.S. colleges and universities, and short-sighted student loan policies may be partly to blame. This week, Ben and Nathan discuss the latest round of student loan forgiveness, which treats the symptoms of high education costs but won’t fix the problem. The guys also correct a common misconception about “test-optional” admissions. They consider the scholarship chances of applicants with low GPAs. And they advise a listener to pick a new personal statement topic. LSAT Demon LSAT Demon iOS App LSAT Demon Daily Watch Episode 450 Thinking LSAT YouTube LSAT Demon YouTube 3:48 - LSAT Optional - No, the LSAT is not “going away” in 2025. Law schools will continue to value the LSAT even if they aren’t required to use it. 15:32 - Low GPA - Applicants with low GPAs aren’t locked out of law school. Grade forgiveness may help some. But a high LSAT score is the real key to getting scholarships. 23:24 - GPA and Law School Rankings - An anonymous listener considers taking a course pass-fail to avoid