Live law school prep discussion next Tuesday

Hi there,

If you're done with the LSAT - especially if you rocked it in March, congrats! I've got something special coming up for you next week -- more on that below.

If not, join my 10-week Live Online LSAT Master Class - 

I'm closing the doors tomorrow at 11:59PM Pacific, and I'm limiting the class to only 10 students.

If you missed it, you can watch the first class session for free here ---->

The class structured for those planning to take the June/July LSATs, but everything's still relevant if you're taking it after that. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

And if you haven't already, go ahead and RSVP for tomorrow's Live LSAT Q&A at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern - I'll taking questions on anything LSAT / admissions + the Master Class.

***


Now, for those of you looking ahead for law school prep over this summer in the lead-up to the fall, I've got something different for you --


I've invited Don Macaulay - founder of BarBri's Law Preview - to share his thoughts on law school prep just for LSAT Unplugged students.



We're having a live unscripted discussion this coming Tuesday, April 9 at 5PM Pacific / 8PM Eastern - together, we'll discuss:

-the importance of 1L grades

-the 1L grading curve

-how undergrad differs from law school



And the biggest thing we'll focus on - law school exams themselves!


Here's the link to RSVP --->

At the end, we'll open it up to questions on anything at all related to law school exams, law school prep, etc.

Until next time,
Steve



P.S. The biggest advice I always hear about law school admissions and law school itself is Start Early. But most people don't hear that advice or pay attention until it's too late.

I hope you'll join us next Tuesday at 5PM Pacific / 8PM Eastern.



P.P.S. I won't be sending out any other general reminders to register - the only way to join is with this RSVP link.

Taking Your LSAT Questions This Friday

I love helping students master the LSAT. That's why I teach so many classes about it. And I heard from a lot of you after Monday night's event with questions about the 10-Week Live Online LSAT Master Class. The doors are closing this Friday at 11:59PM Pacific. And there are only a few slots remaining. (Maybe I priced it too low - won't make that mistake again!) But I wanted to give you one last chance to ask me your questions before deciding whether the class is right for you. So you're invited to join me for a free live LSAT Q&A session this Friday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern. I'll be taking your questions on: -the Digital LSAT -how to prep for the June/July LSATs and beyond -how to structure your LSAT study schedule Then I'll quickly run through what the 10-week Live Online LSAT Master Class involves, and I'll open it up to a general Q&A on anything LSAT / law school admissions and the Master Class itself. Hope to see you Friday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern. RSVP here ---> Steve P.S. If you're ready to join and grab one of the last few slots in the Live Online LSAT Master Class, you can do so here ---> I'm limiting the class to no more than 10 students. P.P.S. I recorded the first session of the Live Online LSAT Master Class here so you can see what it's like ----> And you can see the actual experiences students have had working with me here --->

Join us today for a live LSAT Pros podcast

As you know, I love teaching online LSAT classes - enough that I'm teaching a 10-week Live Online LSAT Class.  (I had a blast teaching teaching the first one last night - recording here ---->) And I also love podcasts - so much that I have two (two!) LSAT podcasts - LSAT Pros and LSAT Unplugged. So I thought - what if I did a live LSAT podcast in front of an audience where students could get their questions answered? What if I turned the live LSAT podcast into an event? My buddy Graeme Blake was down for the adventure. And just like that, the LSAT Pros podcast with Steve Schwartz and Graeme Blake will now be live-streamed - but it'll also be interactive. It's an experiment. And I don't know if we'll ever do this again -- so don't miss this one.  We'll be joining you TODAY and taking your questions in what will be a 2-hour LSAT extravaganza. Yeah, it's longer than most Judd Apatow films, but shorter than Lord of the Rings or an official LSAT administration. Today, the LSAT podcast revolution will be televised (or at least livestreamed). Again, you can RSVP and get details on how to join us here ---> And if you miss the event, that's ok. We'll be recording it and publishing the results on the LSAT Pros podcast. Hope to see you later today, -Steve P.S. I noticed you didn't join the 10-week Live Online LSAT Master Class - if you don't mind my asking, what's holding you back from joining? Would love to learn what's going on for you. Just hit reply to this email. P.P.S. If you missed last night's Live Online LSAT Master Class, you can watch the recording here ---> (I'm sharing it for free so you can get a taste of what it's like before joining.)

New LSAT podcast -- LSAT Pros

Exciting news - I launched a new LSAT podcast -- LSAT Pros -- with fellow instructor Graeme Blake of LSAT Hacks. The focus of the podcast is answering real questions from students. I'm very excited to be able to finally share the podcast with you. Subscribe to the podcast here on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lsat-pros/id1449767032

You can also listen through our website, LSATPros.com or through Subscribe on Android. If you find it helpful, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. It really makes a difference in supporting the podcast and helping new people find it. Finally, I've had a few great discussions on the LSAT Unplugged YouTube channel and posted them on YouTube. I talked with: Law School Expert Ann Levine on taking the LSAT and law school admissions in 2019:

Dr. Charles Parker on ADHD and Accommodated Testing:

LEEWS Founder Wentworth Miller on Law School Exam Prep:

Finally, I was interviewed by Learn Law Better Professor Beau Baez about LSAT Prep:

These conversations are all on my YouTube channel, but I can't send a new email every time I post a video. Please subscribe to my channel and click the bell (🔔) to be notified of new videos as I release them. Otherwise, you might miss something. -LSAT Steve P.S. Again, if you find my LSAT material helpful, please check out the LSAT Pros podcast, subscribe, and leave a rating and review on iTunes. It really does make a difference. P.P.S. Please reach out and let me know what you think of the podcast. I'd love to hear your feedback!

LSAT Pros Podcast Episode #1 -

The 5 LSAT questions we answered in the first LSAT Pros Podcast Episode:

1. How do you determine when an LSAT logical reasoning answer choice is outside the scope?


2. How do you know when to stop trying to make deductions on logic games?


3. Im plateauing at the mid 160s mainly due to huge score fluctuations (-1 on one section, -11 on another section) did you ever get stuck around a scoring range or experience wide score fluctuations?


4. I have currently been at 150 (barely) and would love to increase my score 15-20 points. I have been a straight A student throughout college and I would hate for my LSAT score to not reflect the level of work I am capable of.

Do you think I would be able to do this for the November LSAT? - Im worried that with many of the law schools having rolling admissions, sending an application in early December may jeopardize my chances or would having the best LSAT score possible trump any possible negatives of applying later in the admissions cycle? I am currently registered in Sep but I am simply not where I need to be to take it.


5. I am wondering if there is a fallacy in this thought process:

A school district is requiring all Substitute Teachers to have a 4 year university degree and be state certified. They pay them $100 a day or $50 for a 1/2 day. These jobs are randomly available, provide no benefits, and no amount of work hours are guaranteed. These teachers have to make themselves available on a moments notice, manage the classroom and teach a full lesson plan in whatever subject and grade that they are assigned to.

They are also offering work to those with only a h.s. / GED degree employment as reading assistant teachers and tutors at $15 per hour.

Their reasoning as to why they pay less to those with university degrees is that:

"It may be that the hours for one of the jobs are so small that a higher rate of pay is necessary to get people to apply. Being a tutor is likely only for an hour or two, so it is not easy to get people to be willing to work for such a short period of time. It is also hard to compare jobs that require you to be present daily, and substituting that is optional."

What can you make of this?

How to kill it in law school

Want to learn to kill it in law school?


Watch a free online class with my buddy Larry Law Law.

In short, Larry Law Law helps students at top law schools get top grades.


He's helped thousands of law students online over the last 9 years.


And Larry wants to share the secrets of law school success with you.

In the class, Larry will debunk law school myths and teach you what really matters to get top grades.



It may seem early to think about law school, but it's not.


If you liked my stuff, you'll probably like his.

Anyway, here's the link to watch the law school prep class ------>

Hope to see you tonight,

Steve



P.S. Larry was a top law student himself at NYU Law - magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, NYU Law Review, prestigious clerkships, all that. 

I asked him to teach this class NOW because people were always saying to me, "I wish there was an LSAT Blog for law school!" 

If there were, Larry would be the one to create it. And just as starting your prep early is important for the LSAT, it's important for law school. Proper preparation means you can make the most of the summer before law school, walk into class on Day 1, and kill it.

Join the LSAT Unplugged Facebook Community

Hope your studying is going smoothly. But I understand it can often feel lonely. Have you joined the LSAT Unplugged Facebook Community yet? I'm posting videos, advice, resources (and, yes, memes) on a daily basis. And so are many other students using my resources. It's a great place to connect with like-minded students going through the same process you are.

That post got 66 comments from other students (and counting) - so you can actually connect with other students interested in attending the same law schols you are. And you can also hear about their struggles, successes, and get advice from them:

Best of all, many current and former students have been extremely generous in donating their time to help others. So if you're looking for a way to get feedback from others, share and receive resources, and get others to read over your law school personal statement... Join the LSAT Unplugged Facebook Community ----> Hope to see you there! Steve P.S. If you're not on Facebook - I get that. I'm also sharing LSAT advice on Instagram and through the LSAT Unplugged podcast. Recommended Resources: 1. LSAT CoursesThe best of my LSAT material with exclusive access to attend my Live Online LSAT Master Classes + Q&As, and on-demand video lessons you can watch anytime. Plus, LSAT study plans to keep you on track. Save hundreds of dollars with an LSAT course package. 2. Logic Games Explanations The explanations that should have come with the LSAT. These tell you why the wrong answers are wrong, why the right answers are right, and the easiest way to get the correct answer. 3. Mastering LSAT Logic Games This guide to Logic Games is by a former writer of actual LSAT questions! Enough said.

Free Stuff | YouTube | Podcast | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Books | Courses

8 Common LSAT Prep Mistakes

#1: Only allowing 2-3 months to study. Instead, allow 5-6 months to achieve your fullest potential.

#2: Taking an LSAT diagnostic test without studying - it's discouraging and a waste of time.

Instead, build a strong foundation before taking PTs to get a sense of where you truly stand.

#3: Studying out of random books like LSAT for Dummies.

Instead, use real actual official LSAT PrepTests and well-reviewed quality resources - with the rise of low-cost online courses, they can be more affordable than you'd think.

#4: Doing all your studying out of books.

Instead, use LSAC's LawHub to practice doing practice LSATs online -- the exam is now online and it's important to get used to the format ASAP.

#5: Taking a practice test every single day.

Instead, take a practice test once or twice a week at most and review them in-depth.

#6: Taking the LSAT before you're ready just to see how you'll do.

Instead, only take it when you're feeling ready and likely to achieve your fullest potential.

#7: Getting stressed about / stuck on a previous question/section when you've already moved on. 

Instead, practice learning to let go and move on. No one particular question will make or break you, and all Qs are worth the same amount.

#8: Thinking it's all about this one test on Test Day.

Instead, remember there are future test dates also - the exam's offered nearly every month, and you can retake! Law schools don't average multiple scores -- they only take the highest!

What To Do When Your LSAT Score Isn't Improving

You’ve studied for months and your LSAT scores aren’t improving as much as you'd like.

Instead of spending valuable time with friends and family, you're up late each night reading the same LSAT question over and over.

And your scores don't reflect the work you're putting in.

All that time and energy makes you think if this is worth it.

Don’t lose focus on what your big goal is.

And that’s to attend law school.

So you can become a lawyer.

To make a difference in the world (and the money isn’t that bad either)

Look, nobody ever said it would be easy to get into law school.

The admissions process is hyper-competitive.

But I've got a little secret for you.

You don’t need to be the smartest person to ace the LSAT.

Proper preparation is all you need.

That’s where I come in.

I’ve been helping students ace the LSAT since 2005.

What I've discovered is that it’s really easy to get a top score when you study the right way and get the right help and support.  

You don’t need to sacrifice any more time away from your friends and family. You can finally get a good night's sleep. The LSAT doesn't need to take over your life.

Don’t you think it’s about time you put the LSAT behind you so you can attend law school and become a successful attorney?

I've helped thousands of students get top scores through LSAT Unplugged. I can help you too. Reach out and I'll share free resources to get you started on the path to success.

- LSAT Steve

Create an LSAT Study Plan of Attack

To get the most out of my LSAT resources, you have to actually follow the suggestions, especially when it comes to the day-by-day plan of attack. 

You might be tempted to just listen to some LSAT podcasts or take more practice tests, but if you do that, you’re not going to earn the high score you’re looking for, because you’re not actively learning.

If you’re serious about scoring 165, 170, or even 175, then you should really make a plan. Your plan only works if you’re actively engaged in studying:

-Block out time each week.

-Create your plan of attack a month at a time.

-Study the questions you miss.

When you take the time to actually study the prep material, that’s when you’re going to get the score you want.

And don’t worry — you don’t have to do that all at once.

In fact, right now I want you to take two minutes to do one thing: pick two days a week that you won’t study. Ever. As much as studying is non-negotiable, taking a mental break is also non-negotiable. Just remember that the other 5 days a week, it’s game on. 

The first time I got ready to take an LSAT practice test, I dumped tons of money into every LSAT ever released and every prep book I could get my hands on. I studied whenever I found the time until my brain felt like exploding. I kept pressing on, night after night, always pushing for just one. more. question.

I was ready. I’d done the work. I sat down for my first practice test and gave it all I had. 

Apparently, all I had was enough to score a 152. 

So, I did what any reasonable person would do. I studied more prep guides and took another practice test. 

I scored a 152, again.

Back to the drawing board. Another prep guide, another practice test, another low score. Rinse and repeat.

Albert Einstein is attributed with saying, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” He wasn’t wrong. The amount of time I wasted was insane. The amount of money I wasted was insane. And after 6 or 7 low-scoring practice tests, I was starting to feel insane myself.

It took me months to realize my plan of attack was wrong. Basically, because it was no plan at all. When I realized my LSAT prep wasn’t actually preparing me, I finally paused. I took a step back to look at the bigger picture. 

That step back allowed me to look at the whole picture of the test. When I did, I began to see the patterns and logic that the test makers were using. Once I recognized them, I could see how to apply those patterns to find the right answers. 

When I started studying for the LSAT knowing how to break down each question, those practice tests weren’t so intimidating. My scores kept climbing until I felt ready to take the LSAT For Real.

That For Real score? 

...175.

And that can be you. It all starts with creating your plan of attack. 

If you want a plan of attack from someone who’s been there, done that, check out the LSAT Unplugged course. It includes a day-by-day study plan to take the pressure off of planning it all yourself.

More coming your way soon,

LSAT Steve

The LSAT "Curve" Explained

A lot of test-takers believe that the LSAT is "curved", meaning that you should try to figure out which month's exam will have the greatest percentage of low-scorers and take it with them. It's not curved, It's equated: The equating process assures that a particular LSAT scaled score reflects the same level of ability regardless of the ability level of others who tested on the same day or any slight differences in difficulty between different forms of the test. Scores have to be meaningful and consistent. The LSAT is a standardized exam. This means that a 160 on the Feb 2020 LSAT should be equivalent to a 160 on the June 2020 LSAT, which should be equivalent to a 160 on the October 2020 LSAT, etc. LSAC creates different exams for each released test administration and makes them of relatively equal difficulty. A 160 on one LSAT (aka "test form") needs to be equivalent to a 160 on any other LSAT. While your LSAT score is supposed to be consistent, there is an element of randomness involved, which means it's often worth retaking. Law schools don't average multiple LSAT scores - they only consider the highest. So if you retake, by luck alone you could do a few points better, leading to more scholarship money and/or getting into a better law school - well worth it.