My Tips To Prepare for the December 3rd LSAT in 4 days!

The December LSAT is this Saturday, December 3, 2011! For those of you preparing for this test, I hope that you have taken multiple practice tests to get a sense of where you are scoring.  However, it is important not to over do it and burn yourself out.  Pace yourself and try to stay as calm as possible.

Here are a few tips I have for those of you planning to take the test:

What is the Credential Assembly Service (CAS)?

According the LSAC, the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) "simplifies" the law school admission process.  It is required to apply for law school.  It is the place where you send all your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and evaluations.  LSAC and CAS work together and combine all your documents, LSAT score, and writing sample to create a report for you.  When your completed application is received by law schools, the law school requests your report from LSAC.  It simplifies the application process in the sense that you submit all your information to one place instead of you sending individual applications to each school. It is to your benefit that you become familiar with the LSAC and CAS so that when you apply you know exactly what to do and where to send things.  It will ease your process. 

I will highlight the most important information you should know when you apply

Attend UC Davis School of Law Open House This Saturday, November 12th!

Here's one of those opportunities you don't want to miss if you're interested in UC Davis School of Law!  

This Saturday, November 12th, the school is holding their Open House for perspective law school students.  Representatives from the school will be answering your questions about admissions, financial aid, career services, and extracurricular activities.  You will also be able to hear from a panel of faculty and students.  

You must register online to attend this event.  You can do so by clicking here!

After you have registered, UC Davis School of Law will send you a copy of the schedule and map.  

To view these documents...

My Review of Law Day at University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

If you haven't had a chance to visit the law schools you plan to apply to, I would highly encourage you to do so. Most law schools are hosting open house events around this time and the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (Sacramento, CA) had theirs today! I attended and as promised, I will share my experience with all of you!

How to Ask For a Law School Letter of Recommendation

If you plan to attend law school next fall, you are probably working on your application.  It's a highly stressful time.  This is do or die.  This is everything you've been working for!

Aside from your fabulous GPA and LSAT score, admissions officers will consider your letter of recommendation.  They usually ask for 2/3 letters. To maximize the likelihood that your letters are accurate reflections of you, I have a few tips for you!



Halloween & LSAT

Happy Halloween Everyone! 

I found these photos on the LSAT Blog Facebook and wanted to share them with you! 

Have a safe and happy one! 

Preparing for the December LSAT?

If you plan to apply to law school for Fall 2012 and you have yet to take the LSAT, you are probably preparing for the December LSAT.  Or, you took the October LSAT and didn't score as well as you'd hoped and are planning on taking it again. 

I have a question for those of you preparing for the LSAT: How are you preparing? 

What's an Addendum?

In one of my previous post's I mentioned including an addendum in your law school application.  You are probably asking, "what's an addendum?"  An addendum is an optional supplementary document you can include in your application.  According to a law school advisor I have consulted, it is a bit risky to include. 

Attend Law Day at McGeorge School of Law!

Applying to law school is just like applying to undergrad all over again.  You need to take a standardized test, submit an application, write a personal statement, etc.  With that comes figuring out what school is the best fit for you.  To find this out, it is highly encouraged that you visit the school and talk to current students and professors.  Remember that this decision is an investment and you want to make sure you actually like the school you are looking to attend. 

University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law is hosting a Law Day at their campus in Sacramento on November 5, 2011.  

Should You Take a Year Off Between Undergrad and Law School?

The idea of taking a year off between getting your undergrad degree and going to law school has recently become the more popular route students have chosen to take.  Why?  Because students, who plan to go to law school, work tirelessly for four years and then find themselves burnt out.  This is the last state you want to be in going into your first year of law school--the most difficult! You want to go in ready to think critically, write, brief, argue, and work yourself like you have never worked before! You want to be a lawyer, right?

How Do Law Schools Review Applications?

There are 5 parts to a law school application:

1. LSAT Score
2. Grade Point Average (GPA)
3. Personal Statement
4. Resume
5. Letters of Recommendation (From Professors/Employers
*Optional: Addendum

When law schools review applications it really comes down to numbers.  GPA and LSAT score.  Your acceptance really depends on if you meet the school's GPA and LSAT range.  If you do, great! That's usually all a law school needs to make a decision. If your numbers are a few points away from the school's range, they will probably look at your personal statement, resume, and letters of rec.  In those sections, the review board is looking for explanations for why your numbers are short or a compelling reason to accept you.

Start Training Your Brain for Law School

A good friend and colleague of mine recently had lunch and we were discussing my frustrations with preparing for the LSAT and law school.  She sugggested that I look into Lumosity! It is a brain training resource that has recently grown in popularity! It offers daily training games that have reported to strengthen one's ability to think critically!

The great thing about Lumosity is that you can play the brain training games from your mobile phone!

Take Classes That Will Prepare You for Law School

Although you can apply to law school under any major it is a good idea to take a few law classes during your undergraduate years to get a sense of what law school will be like.  From personal experience, I can tell you that law courses require a different type of thinking and studying.  They are unlike any other college course I have taken.  It required me to critically read, brief, highlight, and adjust to the socratic method of teaching.  Knowing and memorizing cases and laws were critical and hypotheticals arguments took some getting used to. If your university offers law courses I would highly recommend fitting them into your schedule!  It will help you in the long run, especially at law school!

Other helpful classes to take would be of course, English courses, but philosophy, specifically, logic, will be of utmost help to you! Logic will prepare you for the LSAT.  And English and philosophy courses will strengthen your reading skills, critical thinking abilities, and writing skills!

If your course schedule is pretty limited, try to at least get one law course in before you graduate and if possible, logic.

You will thank me later!

What NOT to do the day before the LSAT

Just came across the blog:  Most Strongly Supported: all things LSAT

They just published a great article about what NOT to do the day before the LSAT. 

Though the day is almost over and those of you taking the test tomorrow should be thinking about going to bed soon, it is something worth checking out!

Here is the link: http://blueprintprep.com/lsatblog/lsat-preparation/what-not-to-do-the-day-before-the-lsat/

October 1st is here!

I am wishing the best of luck to those students taking the LSAT tomorrow morning!

What's the best way to prep for the LSAT?

There are several different methods of study for the LSAT.  Self study, an online course, or an in-classroom prep course are only a few. The best one really depends on an individual's preferences, but from research, I have found that an in-classroom prep course is reported to have the best results. 


The three most commonly used LSAT prep companies are Kaplan, Princeton Review, and TestMasters.

I recently finished my LSAT prep course with TestMasters.

UC Davis Law Day

The other day I was on the Davis campus for my LSAT prep course and I ran into several of these Law Day flyers so I thought I should share it with you all!

When: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 10:00 a.m-2:00 p.m.
Where: UC Davis, Freeborn Hall

A copy of the flyer can also be found at their website: http://lsid.ucdavis.edu/

Suggestions:  Davis is the largest UC campus and if you plan to attend this event, make sure you print a map and know where you are going ahead of time!  Also, keep in mind that UC Davis Undergrad started September 22nd so the campus is going to busy and filled with bikes!

Sit in on a First Year Law Course!

Sitting in on a first year law school course is probably the best way to get a feel for the school and teaching method law professors use. 

I have had the opportunity to sit in on a class at Pacific's McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California.  It was a really neat experience to sit next to an actual first year student and observe what they do and how the professor teaches.  The Socratic Method is known to be very intimidating, but students in the class seemed to handle it well.

It's also a good chance to see the classrooms and class sizes.  These things vary from school to school so it is a good idea to visit as many as you can.

If you're interested in sitting in on a class, contact the school you desire to visit and set up a day and time.  Most schools would be more than happy to have you! McGeorge was very welcoming and accommodating!

Meet With Top Law School Reps! Don't Miss it!

Individualized attention from law school representatives and staff members of the Law School Admission's Council (LSAC) is one you do not want to miss!

This Saturday, September 24, 2011, there will be a FREE Law School Recruitment Forum hosted by the LSAC.

This event will take place from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
at the Millieum Baltimore Hotel located on 506 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California.

This is a great opportunity to meet representatives from different law schools across the country and get all your questions about the application process answered!

There are several workshops that will be offered throughout the day. If you have yet to take the LSAT, it would be especially beneficial to attend the LSAT workshop to learn about the new Comparative Reading items from actual writers of the LSAT. Attendees would receive the best advice about their own personal concerns.

If you are in the area and plan to apply to law school this year or sometime in the future, this is an event that would be very beneficial in your search for the right law school for you!

If you are interested in attending this event, you can register at LSAC.org.  Register for an account as a future J.D. Student and login. Go to the "Forums" tab.  From there you enter your contact information and LSAC will produce a ticket that you will print and present at the registration desk at the day of the event. 

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below!

Want an internship? Become a Fellow!

California State University of Sacramento's Capital Fellows Program is a great opportunity for recent college graduates of any major or field of interest! I encourage students to consider applying to this program, especially those who are thinking about taking some time off before they go to law school or any other graduate school program!

It is nationally recognized and very prestigious.  There are 4 different fellowships one can apply to:

• Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship
• Executive Fellowship
• Judicial Administration Fellowship 
• California Senate Fellows