Law School Prep for Undergraduate English Students

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

2011-11-29T14:26:00.001-08:00

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:

1. Stay warm and get lots of rest! Colds and the flu is prevalent during this time of the year. The last thing you need is to come down with something before the test. If you happen to get sick, consider postponing your test till February. You need to have all your mental strength and energy to do your very best on this test!

2. Between now and Saturday take at least 2 practice tests. Space them out. For example, do a few Logical Reasoning questions or Logic Games and then set aside a 4 hour time slot to focus on your practice test. If you feel like that's too much, do at least 1 timed practice test and grade it so you know approximately where you're scoring.

3. Read current news articles. The New York Times and TED are good places to read up on current news that the LSAT may address. Having background on the issues will make it easier to read and understand during the test. Especially when you're under pressure.

4. If you plan to study on Friday, study earlier in the day and then rest. You want to conserve your energy and avoid burning out. As crazy as it sounds, you should try to have fun and relax! Go watch a movie or hang out with some friends. Do a non-stressful activity that will leave you feeling reenergized!

5. Do a few questions Saturday morning while eating breakfast! This is a great way to warm up and get your brain going! It is better to do questions from the section you feel most comfortable so that you go into the test with confidence!

Good Luck to all of you taking the test!

Be sure you have your sharpened number 2 pencils

ready to score a 180!

What is the Credential Assembly Service (CAS)?

2011-11-15T23:59:00.001-08:00

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

LSAC says you can create your CAS file in any order but it must be done before law school reports are sent out and should be done at least four to six weeks before your first law school application deadline. This is something you should register for very early on in your application process so that you have it set up and ready.

You must pay a fee of $124 and your account will be active for 5 years.

Here are the steps:

Almost every law school you apply to will require you to sign up for both LSAC and CAS. LSAC provides that information here,

If you have trouble deciphering the LSAC website, here is a key to the code that is used by LSAC:

If you have any questions or suggestions please leave a comment below!

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

2011-11-09T21:24:00.000-08:00

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...

Here is the schedule of the day:

Here is the map:

Attending Open House events are extremely beneficial to prospective law students. I hope you take advantage of this opportunity and get your personal questions about law school answered!

Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this event, but if any of you do, please share it by posting your experience in the comment box below!

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

2011-11-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

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!

I arrived a few minutes before the event started. I was directed to check-in, which was quick and easy. Pamphlets, brochures, pens, and some pretty nice notebooks were given to us. A light breakfast was also provided upon arrival.

The day was outlined with a schedule that was followed very closely. Here's a photo:

The event started in one of the larger classrooms on campus with a welcome from Dean Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker. Followed by the welcome, the Assistant Dean, Adam Barrett went over all the components of the law school application and what he looks for when he reviews them. He made it very interactive and allowed the participants to chime into the presentation. After the admissions presentation, participants were split into groups and were led on a campus tour by the Student Ambassadors. We were able to go into classrooms, the newly built library, study rooms, and see where the faculty offices are. I really got a sense of what the campus was like and the Student Ambassador leading my group was very helpful in answering everyone's questions.

After the campus tour, we participated in a Mock Class. Mine was lead by Professor John Sprankling. He was very welcoming and made the mock class very engaging. We were given a sheet of paper with a hypothetical situation and encouraged to pair up with another person for discussion. I'd say this activity was the highlight of the event and actually made law school seem fun!

At noon, we were directed to the Student Center for lunch, which was delicious! They had a local restaurant cater it with boxed lunches that included a salad or sandwich and there were a variety to choose from! Lunch was a great time to mingle with the other participants and faculty.

I departed the event after lunch, but following lunch they had an Information Session and Q &A, Student Panel Discussion, and Meet the Experts Reception.

I had a great time and would definitely recommend attending Law Day at McGeorge if you ever get the chance. I got a lot of my personal questions answered and could definitely picture myself attending there in the future.

Here are some photos I took:

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below!

How to Ask For a Law School Letter of Recommendation

2011-11-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

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!

Prepare in advance!

Save your work that you've completed for your recommender. An English professor told me that having previous work to refer to is most helpful for her when writing letters of recommendations for students. This would be especially beneficial for students who attend large Universities.

Have all your information ready and organized! Give your recommender a copy of your resume, personal statement, and the list of law schools you want the letters to be sent. Since these letters must be submitted to the Law School Admissions Counsel (LSAC), it would be helpful to also submit a page of clear instructions on how to submit the letter. Make sure you ask the person who you want your letter of recommendation well in advance so that they have enough time to complete it. I would suggest asking two to three months in advance to give them enough time to write a good letter.

Ask Professors that know you and know your work

Make a list of professors who you may plan to ask. Then recall what grade you received in the class you took with them. Ask professors from whom you've received a grade of a B or higher. I would also recommend asking professors whom you've taken more than one class with!

Make sure the professor is willing to recommend you. I have heard many horror stories of students who have asked professors who could not present them in a positive light on paper and those letters were submitted to the law schools. A bad letter of rec is the last thing you want attached to your law school application!

Law schools are mostly interested in your academic work. If you have been out of school for a while and have acquired notable work experience, then it would be appropriate to ask your employer to write your letter. But for most of us, you're going to ask people who can comment on your academic abilities.

Talk to your recommender about why you want to go to law school

Your recommender should be able to comment on your academic abilities but it helps if they also know a little bit about your background and what drives you to go to law school. I'm not telling you to share your entire personal life with your recommender, but sharing your life outside of school also helps them understand the type of person you are from a broader perspective.

Put your self in your recommender's position and think about the kind of information you would want to write an adequate letter of recommendation. Show your recommender that you are professional by asking in advance and being prepared.

Halloween & LSAT

2011-10-31T00:59:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-10-31T00:42:00.000-07:00

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?

I'm planning to take the December test, but I may postpone again till February or even June. Since I'm going to be taking some time off before I head to law school, I'm not trying to rush anything right now. I'm going through my TestMasters books again and reviewing the lessons and practice problems. I may retake the course in the future if I feel it's necessary.

What's the best way to prepare? I've been told practice slow by going through the practice problems/tests and then when the test day approaches push yourself and do a few practice tests to see where you're scoring. It seems to be the best way to do it.

How are YOU preparing?! Or how have you prepared in the past? Please share your experiences, by leaving a comment below!

Also, remember that the deadline to register for the December LSAT before the late fee is added on is TOMORROW - October 31st! You can register at LSAC

What's an Addendum?

2011-10-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

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.
It is risky because it must include information addressing a weakness in your application. For example, explaining a bad grade in a class or why your LSAT score is low and should not be the determining factor for your acceptance.

If you choose to include an addendum, it should not be longer than one page and should be carefully thought out. Do not include an addendum just because you want extra space to write or add to your personal statement. Your addendum must include supplementary compelling information that would be important for admissions to note.

Remember that depending on the school, admissions may or may not read your addendum. The whole law school application process is really a gamble and there is no recipe for a guaranteed admittance.

Top-Law-Schools.com wrote a very helpful explanation for what exactly an addendum is and can be found here.

Before you submit your application, be sure to let another set of fresh eyes to review the writing portions of your application (personal statement/resume/addendum). You are applying to a professional institution! They expect you to write professionally and error free!

Good luck with your application process!

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

Attend Law Day at McGeorge School of Law!

2011-10-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

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.

The theme is "What Kind of Lawyer Will You Be?" The school invites applicants and those just thinking about a legal career. It is a great chance to learn about the admissions process, see the campus, sit in on "mock classes," and meet with students and faculty.

Here is the schedule for the event-

To attend this event, you must register and can do so here.

I am personally looking forward to this event and will report my experience after November 5th!

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

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

2011-10-17T01:38:00.000-07:00

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?

Law school is a commitment and will be extremely challenging. It is training you to enter a professional field. You will be overwhelmed with reading and homework and grades are usually based on the final. You must take it seriously if you want to succeed.

If you find your self feeling burnt out and in need of some time to yourself, taking a year off would be a smart decision. For example, if you want to travel or gain some work experience to reassure yourself of your career choice that would be a great time to do that.

If you plan to take a year off, be sure to do something productive during that time. Law schools will be interested in what you did and explaining it in your personal statement is highly recommended. Intern for a law office, join the Peace Corps, and work are some examples of things worth looking into. If you look at the statistics of entering classes on law school websites, law schools grant priority to students who take a year off. I assume this is because of a higher maturity level, more life experience, and that the student is sure that going to law school and will graduate. If you are striving to go to a top ranked school, taking a year off may be a wise choice if the school gives priority to those students who do.

There are many factors to consider when deciding if and when is the right time to go to law school. It really comes down to you. When do you want to go? Are you ready? Make the decision that will benefit you and your life! Really take the time to think about this. It is an important, life altering decision to make. Talk to your family, friends, and academic advisors to help you rationalize your decision.

Lastly, do NOT be afraid to change your plan! I always knew I wanted to go to law school right after college, but until recently, I realized that it is harder to say than do. Prepping for the LSAT and making sure that I'm ready to take that step is something I've struggled with. I hated the idea of changing my plan! I am the type of person who sets goals and does whatever it takes to achieve them, when they are intended to be achieved. So until recently I never thought about taking a year off. I recently started to give the idea of law school some more thought. I started to talk to more people (friends, family, advisors) and their feedback was extremely helpful. Ultimately, I made the decision that I would probably take a year off, but it was a hard decision to come to. I realized that there are a lot of things that I still want to do for myself before I fully dedicate myself to law school, so a year off will be beneficial.

Wishing you all the luck and guidance in your decision and path to law school!

How Do Law Schools Review Applications?

2011-10-15T00:46:00.000-07:00

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.

For example, an internship in a competitive law office or a unique experience that contributes to who you are as a person would definitely things to include in your personal statement and/or resume. Law schools are looking for strong, diverse students that would be valuable additions to the classroom and their alumni.

They also want to make sure that you will graduate law school. To help them measure this, they turn to the LSAT score. The LSAT is based on logical reasoning, which is a skill a law school students use and master while in law school. The better you score on the LSAT, the better your chances of being accepted. From my personal research, I've heard the the LSAT is >60% of your application!

Of course, no one actually knows what the deciding factor for admissions is. This is the general information that law school advisors tell prospective students, but what really happens inside the room when they sit down with your application is unknown. I'm sure GPA and LSAT are important, but how much consideration they give to the other components of the application are a toss up.

My personal advice is to apply when you are ready and apply to several schools! Remember taking a year off is highly encouraged and may make you a more competitive candidate for law school!

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please leave your message below!

Start Training Your Brain for Law School

2011-10-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

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!

You can download the app to your iPhone or iPod. Palm Pre and Andriod are also compatible!

I have yet to try it out myself because I am waiting to get the new iPhone 4s before I download the app, but there are several success stories that can be found on the site.

For example, one user reported, "Since joining Lumosity, I can understand difficult concepts more easily, concentrate longer, remember names more easily, and articulate better than before. The list goes on and on!”

-Sara, 20

I encourage you all to give it a try! Once I start using it myself I will follow up with a post about my personal experience!

If you use Lumosity, please share your experience in the comment box below!

Take Classes That Will Prepare You for Law School

2011-10-05T23:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-09-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-09-30T21:41:00.001-07:00

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.

I really liked the instructor and the techniques were very helpful! They offer online access to materials and an instructor hotline with enrollment. The class I took was in preparation for the October 2011 LSAT. It started in mid August and ran until the week before the test. The course was twice a week in the evening and had a duration of four hours (just like the time frame of the actual LSAT). Diagnostics were given at the beginning and throughout the course. What was especially neat about Testmasters was once you enrolled into a course, you are given audit passes to attend other TestMasters classes at a different location. So if you miss one, you can make it up by using an audit pass.

Enrolling into an in-classroom prep course can be very expensive and may conflict with schedules, but if your goal is to score well on the LSAT, it is definitely worth the cost.

I did not take the October 2011 LSAT because I felt I needed to put in more hours, so I am aiming for December 2011 and still practicing the TestMasters techniques. Hopefully I'll be ready by then!

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

UC Davis Law Day

2011-09-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-09-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-09-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-09-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

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

a select number of students who are selected to each program Assembly, Executive, Senate=18 Fellows. Judicial=10 Fellows.

Fellows work for 10-11 months, receive benefits and a monthly stipend of $1972. Graduate students enrolled at Sacramento State can receive credits for their participation!

The application deadline for 2012-2013 is February 12, 2012. The application should be come available fairly soon (Fall 2011).

If this is something that is of interest to you I would suggest looking at the website and contacting the fellows program to get more information. Also keep checking the website for the release of the application!

Welcome to Law School Preparation for Undergraduate English Students!

2011-09-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

It's great to have you!

The English major has become one of the most popular majors of students who apply to law school. The major requirements vary from school to school, but overall, the major fosters and strengthens the key skills law school students use.

If you are looking for information on the intensive law school application process, you have come to the right blog! No matter what your academic level may be, this blog will provide you with all the information you need to successfully prepare and apply!

Information that will be covered:

The Importance of Grade Point Average
LSAT Prep--How to prepare? When to take it?
What to consider when deciding what law school is best for you?
Why the English curriculum prepares you for law school
Understanding how to use LSAC.org
When is the best time to apply?
How you should ask for Letters of Recommendation
Tips on how to produce an effective and compelling Statement of Purpose
What is an addendum and when should I include one?
Landing an internship
Identifying what area of law you want to practice
& much, much more!

I hope you find this blog as a useful resource! Enjoy!