Studying for the LSAT

Hi everyone,

One of my main objectives in writing my book is to give my readers what I wished I had known before I went to law school. Today's topic is studying for the LSAT, and what I found most helpful and not so helpful as I was studying for the LSAT.

Kaplan Courses

I chose to take a Kaplan course to give me the motivation to study for the test. However, the teacher wasn't very good, and the course material jumped around schizophrenically, which didn't allow for mastery of any particular part of the test. Unless the format has changed since when I took it in 2006, the LSAT is half logical reasoning, a fourth logic games, a fourth reading comp, and one wild card section. There is a writing portion, but it is not scored. Kaplan courses are expensive (mine was $1099 at the time I took it, but is more now). I recommend skipping the expensive course and buying access to the online resources Kaplan has. I found that Kaplan's test answer explanations were particularly helpful.

Previously Administered LSATS

You can buy sets of 10 previously administered LSATS, and this is well worth your money. I recommend taking as many practice tests as possible in a timed environment. Once you learn the basic types of questions on the test and the common mistakes, all you have to do is repeat. Score each test and review your answers. Then review your answers some more.

Find a Strategy

Each question on the test is worth the same amount, but some questions are more difficult than others. Don't be afraid to skip around and do the easy questions first to maximize your points. Also, you won't get penalized for guessing, so don't forget to fill in all the answers, even if you are close to running out of time.

Get a Study Buddy

Let's face it, the LSAT is just unfun. You will need someone who knows what you are going through to keep up your morale. Don't worry, the LSAT has nothing to do with your worth as a person or how smart you are. Although the LSAT is an important part of the admissions process, it is not the only factor. Don't beat yourself up. You can do it!

Have a wonderful day.

Namaste,

Gina

Tales of a Law School Dropout Book Reading of Chapter 1: Cultivating the...

Goodness of Fit

At church last week, the pastor gave a sermon about reality. One of the verses he pointed out stood out to me:

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
'This is the way, walk in it,'
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left."

- Isiah30:22, NKJ

Sometimes life throws you choices, and you don't know whether to turn left or right. Law school was one of those turns for me. There was a time that I thought God wanted me to go to law school. Maybe there was a reason why I was there even though I did not end up becoming a lawyer. After all, if I had not gone, I wouldn't have a book!

A few weeks before I withdrew from law school, my Sabbath school group leader presented us this quote by Arthur Miller, author of The Crucible:

"It is wrong, it is sin, to accept or remain
in a position that you know is a mismatch
for you. Perhaps that's a form of sin you've never even
considered--the sin of staying in the wrong job.
But God did not place you on this earth
to waste away your years in labor
that does not employ his design or purpose
for your life, no matter how much
you may be getting paid for it."

- Arthur Miller

Occasionally I revisit the quote, and it has always been helpful when I consider redirecting my path. We all have abundant possibilities. Sometimes they are just a turn away.

Namaste,
Gina

Ex parte and Lingerie

Last Wednesday, I went to my favorite Toastmasters group (Toastmasters is a nonprofit that teaches public speaking and leadership skills). During every meeting we have Table Topics, in which we have a Table Topics Master assign topics to speakers randomly, and then the speakers talk for a few minutes about the topic. If you know about the subject you can go for it, but if you don't, you can "dazzle with BS," as one of our veteran members likes to say.

The week's table topics came from Black's law dictionary. The Table Topics Master, a local attorney, thought (however sadistically) that we might enjoy talking about legal subjects.

The first topic: ex parte. The Table Topics Master called on one woman in our group. She started off, "Thank you Mr. Table Topics Master, Fellow Toastmasters, and most welcome guests...ex party." (She pronounced it party). A blank look crossed her face, but then she began to smile. We knew some dazzling BS was in store, and she didn't disappoint. The topic became a mini speech about lingerie parties, "ex party" style. I would tell you the rest, but I have been sworn to secrecy.

If you want to know the real definition, you can always follow the link: http://blackslawdictionary.org/ex-parte/. It basically means "on one side only," which I'm sure would be a lot less exciting to hear about during a Table Topic.

My point is, there are so many legal words that can't be discerned at first glance. Love it or hate it, the language of the law is a beast of its own. But hey, if you don't like legalese, you can always join the "ex party" crowd.

Cheers,
Gina :)

Arguing in the Alternative

When you go to law school, you learn to "think like a lawyer." But what does that mean?

It means you can spot a lawsuit wherever you go. When you walk through a parking lot of a grocery store, and you see a large pothole in the pavement, you think, "oh, that's a tort lawsuit waiting to happen." Someone could easily fall if they were to accidentally step into the pothole. Is the injury foreseeable? Yes. Is the grocery store responsible for maintaining a safe parking lot? Most likely yes.

But wait. There is another side to the story. What would the other side say? 

I was recently editing a legal memo for my sister for her paralegal class, and recommended that at the end of the memo, she add a brief paragraph to "argue the alternative". When I was in law school, my torts professor took great pride in getting us to think like a lawyer. Part of that process is learning to argue in the alternative. In other words, what would the opposing side say? What would they argue in response to your case?

For example, the hypothetical scenario from my sister's legal memo was about a guy who went to a bar and got drunk. He left the bar drunk and got into a terrible car accident. The issue was whether the bar was responsible for the damages caused by the drunken man's behavior. My sister argued the bar was indeed liable and cited several cases with similar circumstances in which the court found the bar responsible.

However, what would the other side argue? Perhaps they would say the guy was drunk before he got to the bar. Maybe they would say that nobody saw him leave the bar drunk, so the injury was not foreseeable. There is always another side...and another lawyer to argue it.

What does all of this mean for me now that I am not a lawyer? I can't enjoy myself when I walk across a parking lot.

Cheers,
Gina :)

Tip of the Day

Hi everyone,

I was recently contacted by someone needing admissions advice, and I wanted to share with you a few free tips about applying to law school.

1. Take some time to craft the reason you are applying to law school for your personal statement. Several months into the semester, the law school I attended held a workshop on how to deal with the stresses of law school. They advised us to remember the reasoning we had listed in our personal statements...yes, all of those rosy dreams you had before you started reading loads of cases and wondering why in the world you decided to go to law school in the first place!

2. The LSAT is not a magic 8 ball. If you do well on a practice test, that doesn't necessarily mean you will enjoy being a lawyer. On the other hand, if you perform poorly on your first practice test, don't throw away all of your law school hopes and dreams. A low score just means you have some work to do to improve your standardized test taking skills.

3. The social scene in "professional" school is different than regular undergrad. Here's a hint...there are lockers. You might be reminded of high school days, only you will have student loans instead of notes to pass around in zero period.

Send me a message if you find these tips helpful. I am always looking for good ideas for legal topics you are interested in.

Have a wonderful day,
Gina

Testimonial - Happy Clients

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share with you a recent testimonal of someone who benefited from my admissions counseling. If you are thinking of applying to a dream school, or even a "good fit" school, please do not hesitate to contact me. I have served on the Admissions Committee for the UNR Honor's Program, and from my background in Educational Administration, I can offer insider's knowledge into the sometimes elusive academic world. My track record with Admissions Counseling for personal statements, application assistance, and mock interviews is 100%.

Here's what one client had to say:

"I approached Gina to help me prepare for an MBA admissions interview. Despite my short notice, she was able to thoroughly research the school and provide a challenging and thought-provoking interview experience. Above all else, her assistance gave me the confidence and the positive state of mind to walk into that admissions office and ace my interview. Thanks in part to Gina’s help, I am now a MBA student at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business – one of the top ten business education institutions in the US."
--Hongda Jiang - March 14, 2011.


Have a wonderful day,
Gina Akao
gna2581@gmail.com