Waiving Your Right to Review Letters of Recommendation

The below excerpt on waiving your right to review law school recommendation letters (and letters of recommendation in a nutshell) is from A Guide to Law School Recommendations.

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Blind Man Sues ABA over LSAT Discrimination

Imagine that you had to take the LSAT without being able to diagram Logic Games. Not because LSAC prevented you from drawing in the margins of your test booklet, but because you were blind.

Logic Games are hard enough as it is. I can't solve them without diagrams, and I spend all my time helping people improve their LSAT scores. I have no doubt that I'd bomb the section.

LSAC itself even admits at the beginning of each Logic Games section:

In answering some of the questions, it may be useful to draw a rough diagram.

If I were a law school applicant who found myself at a disadvantage because I couldn't benefit from diagramming like everyone else, I'd probably sue.

According to a local news station in Detroit, that's exactly what Angelo Binno, a blind law school applicant, has done:

The suit says it [the ABA] has told law schools that in order to maintain accreditation they need to only accept students with a 140 or higher LSAT score. 

Binno says this is a problem because much of the test requires that test takers answer questions using pictures or diagrams. 

This is not reasonable for a blind person. There is no alternative test or waiver to give them opportunity. 

“You prepare for it as best you can, but you walk in knowing you are going to fail,” said Binno. 

“I can tell you, as a lawyer, that I have never had to draw a diagram to win a case,” said Jason Turkish, his attorney.

Until 1997, LSAC had blind test-takers being assisted by readers who hadn't ever worked with a blind person before. It took a lawsuit to force LSAC to allow blind test-takers to bring their own readers.

One plaintiff in that lawsuit wrote:

"It's a high-pressure test, so trying to train somebody to read for the first time was a horrible distraction." 

It took another lawsuit a few years ago to get LSAC to make its website accessible to blind people (this is possible using screen reader software).

I'm sure LSAC doesn't have any special bias against those with disabilities. However, as an organization that serves as a gatekeeper to the legal profession, LSAC should think about whether its own policies are equitable and just, or whether they discriminate against a group that faces enough obstacles already.

LSAT Blog Interview: Mastering Logic Games

LSAT Blog reader Jacob conducted a lengthy interview with me about the strategies of top-scoring LSAT takers.

Here's an excerpt from the interview:

The logic games are probably the most feared subject on the LSAT. Yet many students are able to achieve a perfect score on the logic games. So, why are they the most feared and how does this transformation occur?

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7 LSAT Test Day Tips for the Final Week

I've written a ton of posts on preparing for LSAT Test Day. These are just some key points to remember for the final week.

1. Visit your LSAT test center.

2. Decide what you'll wear and bring before the morning of.

3. Relax the day before your exam.

4. Get to bed early the night before and set multiple alarms.

5. Wake up early the day of.

6. Leave for the test center early.

7. Complete a logic game or some LR problems as a warm-up immediately before the exam.


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Details on what to bring:

Pack a clear plastic bag with your admission ticket, #2 pencils, energy bars, bananas, a bottle of water, photo ID, and admission photo, a logic game or LR problems, and an analog watch. (Make sure you bring a watch because it's possible that the room won't have a clock.)

Consider bringing a magazine or something to read on your way to the test center if you're not driving. See LSAC's test day rules since they're updated frequently. Remember that the rules do not allow you to bring a cell phone, so plan how you'll manage without one.

LSAT PrepTest 75 Explanations Available for Instant PDF Download

Complete explanations for all 4 sections of LSAT PrepTest 75 (June 2015 LSAT) are now available for instant PDF download. Both Logical Reasoning sections, the Logic Games section, and the Reading Comprehension section have been fully explained.

One of the most common requests I get from my students and blog readers is for explanations of particular LSAT questions.

Although I'll explain any question in my LSAT tutoring, there's a limit to the amount I have time to write down.

Fortunately, I just learned that fellow LSAT tutor Graeme has written complete explanations for every question in all sections of LSAT PrepTest 75 (June 2015 LSAT). Not only do these explain why the right answer is right, but they also discuss why each wrong answer is wrong.

Get explanations for all 4 sections, or just get explanations for specific sections by clicking the relevant links below:

- Complete Logic Games Explanations for LSAT PrepTest 75 (only $3.97)

- Complete Logical Reasoning Explanations for LSAT PrepTest 75 (only $4.97)

(explains both Logical Reasoning sections)

- Complete Reading Comprehension Explanations for LSAT PrepTest 75 (only $3.97)

Want to know more? Get further details on these Logic Games, Logical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension explanations.

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PrepTest 75 is the most recently released LSAT, so it's the best reflection of the LSAT's current state. It's especially crucial for anyone preparing for the June 2015 LSAT and beyond to thoroughly study this exam. The LSAT evolves over time.

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Day-By-Day LSAT Study Plans with Donation

From now through the end of the weekend, I'm giving away day-by-day LSAT study schedules (normally $20-$25) to anyone who makes a donation for the equivalent amount (or more!) to Watsi.org

For those of you who don't know, Watsi is an awesome, reputable, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that directly funds people who need medical care in developing nations around the world. You can read more about them on Wikipedia and their FAQ page.

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Quick Law School Recommendation Letter Tips

The below quick tips on law school recommendation letters are from A Guide to Law School Recommendations.

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Targeted Law School Recommendation Letters

The below post on targeted law school recommendation letters is an excerpt from A Guide to Law School Recommendations.

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LSAT PrepTest 75 (June 2015 LSAT) Available

Just wanted to let you all know that LSAT PrepTest 75 (the June 2015 LSAT) is now available on Amazon.com

PrepTest 75 is the most recently released LSAT, so it's the best reflection of the LSAT's current state. It's especially crucial for anyone preparing for the October 2015 LSAT and beyond to thoroughly study this exam. The LSAT evolves over time.

Law School Personal Statement Outside Help

The below excerpt on getting outside help for your law school personal statements is from A Guide to Optional Essays and Addenda.

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LSAT Fee Waiver? Free LSAT Prep Book from LSAC

If you're able to demonstrate financial need to LSAC's satisfaction, you can get an LSAT fee waiver (in other words, you get to take the LSAT for free, and you get some other free law school admissions services from LSAC's Credential Assembly Service.

However, LSAC doesn't make it obvious to everyone that if you get an LSAT fee waiver, you're also entitled to a free copy of LSAT SuperPrep. All you have to do is ask. 

If you got an LSAT fee waiver, email or call LSAC and ask for your free copy of LSAT SuperPrep.

However, make sure you get LSAT SuperPrep II (the newest edition of LSAT Superprep).

Details on this book in the May 2015 issue of the LSAC Report Newsletter (PDF p10):

New SuperPrep to Be Published
 A new LSAT preparation book, The Official LSAT SuperPrep II, is being prepared for publication and should be available by mid-June. Like its predecessor—the original SuperPrep— published more than 10 years ago, the book will include three previously administered tests with an explanation for each question. This amounts to 303 mini-lessons. This practice book will help users learn how to approach LSAT questions as they prepare to take the test.
 SuperPrep ll will replace SuperPrep as the test prep book provided to LSAC fee waiver recipients upon request (emphasis added).