So I'm taking the LSAT in a couple weeks...

[Big Mac]

I know we have quite a few lawyers on here, and probably numerous others who have taken this test as well. I've been preparing fora few months and feel pretty ready overall, I am just wondering if there's anyone with any specific advice for me or would like to share their personal LSAT experience. Any information/advice is greatly appreciated, thanks.

[crissfan172]

Most of the questions aren't trying to trick you, so don't over think them too much.

Then again, I'm basing this completely off Suits, and I have no idea whatsoever.


Good luck, though.

[Danielos38]

I'm taking it in February... good luck!

What law schools are you looking at?

[allstar1579]

This is crazy...I remember when you guys were sweating what college you were about to get into, now you guys are about to take the LSATs. Man I'm getting old...

[Big Mac]

I'm looking at a lot of schools right now. Alabama, William and Mary, George Mason, Maryland, Boston College to name a few. I'll have a much better idea after I get my LSAT score.

[nevadaO]

Good luck!

[CrimsonTribe]

Just do as many practice tests as humanly possible and learn to read faster.

If you're having to pay for law school yourself, you really can't beat Alabama, especially if you already have or can start working on in-state tuition. It's a bit harder to find a job outside the Southeast, though it can be done. I went to W&M for undergrad and I love the place, but I can't speak to the law school experience.

[NickPopagiorgio]

All you can do is practice; the practice questions I did were very similar to what was actually on the exam. You don't want to take it more than once, becuase most schools will average your score. I did extremely well on the logic games, and pretty well on the other portions. The reading comp parts suck, just becuase you have to sit there and read for what seems like forever. Bar exam questions were shorter then LSAT reading comp questions. I always thought it was good idea to look at the question, prior to reading the long fact pattern, that way you know what to look for while reading.

All that said, are you familiar with the legal job market as it stands today? Maybe its better in Alabama, but I know attorneys with several years experience in Maryland that can't find work. I also know many, many attorneys that are leaving the field all together. I will admit, I have looked at leaving the practice of law, it isn't the noble profession I expected. Just something to think about before going $100k into debt. I was fortunate that by time I graduated, I already had 7 years experience. Law school doesnt really prepare you to practice law, so new grads (outside of the top of the class) can have a hard time finding work.

[CrimsonTribe]

All you can do is practice; the practice questions I did were very similar to what was actually on the exam. You don't want to take it more than once, becuase most schools will average your score. I did extremely well on the logic games, and pretty well on the other portions. The reading comp parts suck, just becuase you have to sit there and read for what seems like forever. Bar exam questions were shorter then LSAT reading comp questions. I always thought it was good idea to look at the question, prior to reading the long fact pattern, that way you know what to look for while reading.

All that said, are you familiar with the legal job market as it stands today? Maybe its better in Alabama, but I know attorneys with several years experience in Maryland that can't find work. I also know many, many attorneys that are leaving the field all together. I will admit, I have looked at leaving the practice of law, it isn't the noble profession I expected. Just something to think about before going $100k into debt. I was fortunate that by time I graduated, I already had 7 years experience. Law school doesnt really prepare you to practice law, so new grads (outside of the top of the class) can have a hard time finding work.

It's not awful, but probably not much better in Alabama. Gotta agree with Nick that being a lawyer isn't all that great so I'd get the best legal education you can for you dollar in case you want to get out. I did pretty well on that front at Alabama until I went to NYU for my LL.M. D'oh!

[JDubs]

Practice under timed conditions and then trust your abilities. You'll do fine.

[Danielos38]

I'm looking at a lot of schools right now. Alabama, William and Mary, George Mason, Maryland, Boston College to name a few. I'll have a much better idea after I get my LSAT score.

That sounds like a great list of schools. I'm having the same problem looking at schools before I get my LSAT scores as well. I know what my GPA is, but that's only half the equation.

I''m looking a pretty broad range of schools: Georgetown, George Washington, Maryland, Texas, UCLA, Northwestern, Illinois, American, Penn State, etc.

Not sure that I can justify passing up the UMD in-state tuition though (should I get in).

[Lucky Jim]

All you can do is practice; the practice questions I did were very similar to what was actually on the exam. You don't want to take it more than once, becuase most schools will average your score. I did extremely well on the logic games, and pretty well on the other portions. The reading comp parts suck, just becuase you have to sit there and read for what seems like forever. Bar exam questions were shorter then LSAT reading comp questions. I always thought it was good idea to look at the question, prior to reading the long fact pattern, that way you know what to look for while reading.

All that said, are you familiar with the legal job market as it stands today? Maybe its better in Alabama, but I know attorneys with several years experience in Maryland that can't find work. I also know many, many attorneys that are leaving the field all together. I will admit, I have looked at leaving the practice of law, it isn't the noble profession I expected. Just something to think about before going $100k into debt. I was fortunate that by time I graduated, I already had 7 years experience. Law school doesnt really prepare you to practice law, so new grads (outside of the top of the class) can have a hard time finding work.

It's not awful, but probably not much better in Alabama. Gotta agree with Nick that being a lawyer isn't all that great so I'd get the best legal education you can for you dollar in case you want to get out. I did pretty well on that front at Alabama until I went to NYU for my LL.M. D'oh!

This and this.

I concur on the practice test front. I took every one I could get my hands on and then doubled back when it had been a while to re-take. I pretty much took one a day leading up to the test. Then again, I found the test kind-of fun.

As for the profession, the market is definitely poor. And it's not just about the employment market in general - if you're looking to do corporate/Big Law-type work, the clients for those firms took advantage of the downturn to re-structure their fee structures with the firms. The extravagance that rode along with the expensive hourly rate is fading. Fast. This isn't true everywhere, but I work at a very prominent NYC firm and we're feeling it here, so I imagine it's pretty prevalent.

As for the work, it's not bad. It's pretty boring, though lawyers often do a bang-up job of inflating the intellectual demands of their profession (carry over from the guild-like days that created the exorbitant hourly rates). That said, you can do a lot worse. But there is a serious decision to be made about what you're going to do - in this market, I agree w/ CT, that state value schools are a good bet. I went to law school at a time when a top-10 school pretty much guaranteed you a good job, and that was security I wanted (wisely, as my first year didn't go that well). That's no longer the case. I'm not a bad lawyer, I don't think, but I wouldn't even be hired by my own firm today. And I'd still have $150,000 in debt.

[NickPopagiorgio]

As for the profession, the market is definitely poor. And it's not just about the employment market in general - if you're looking to do corporate/Big Law-type work, the clients for those firms took advantage of the downturn to re-structure their fee structures with the firms. The extravagance that rode along with the expensive hourly rate is fading. Fast. This isn't true everywhere, but I work at a very prominent NYC firm and we're feeling it here, so I imagine it's pretty prevalent.

As for the work, it's not bad. It's pretty boring, though lawyers often do a bang-up job of inflating the intellectual demands of their profession (carry over from the guild-like days that created the exorbitant hourly rates). That said, you can do a lot worse. But there is a serious decision to be made about what you're going to do - in this market, I agree w/ CT, that state value schools are a good bet. I went to law school at a time when a top-10 school pretty much guaranteed you a good job, and that was security I wanted (wisely, as my first year didn't go that well). That's no longer the case. I'm not a bad lawyer, I don't think, but I wouldn't even be hired by my own firm today. And I'd still have $150,000 in debt.

I really think this is my biggest problem with the profession, and likely what will lead to its downfall. 90% of what I do isn't that hard, and the lay person could certainly handle it on their own. The profession thrives on convincing people that they need lawyers, when they often don't. Also, can you think of another profession where inefficency is rewarded? If I finish something too quickly, it is given back to me and I'm told to keep working on it. The billable hour is king and the entire legal fee structure is broken, no wonder people hate us. I don't work in a big law firm and I won't be making $150k when I get my bar results, but what clients pay for our services in my firm is obscene.

I don't regret going to law school, but I advise anyone that is intent on doing so to think long and hard about it. You really need to see the practice of law for what it is and look at what it takes and costs to get that degree. Its not even close to what is on TV, but its not all bad. I guess the silver lining is that a law degree is rather versitile, but you need to convince a non-legal employer that you aren't just looking for a job until big law comes calling. Most employers outside of law still believe that we all makes $150k and drive porsches. Just not the way of the legal job market anymore.

[Pedro Cerrano]

This and this.

I concur on the practice test front. I took every one I could get my hands on and then doubled back when it had been a while to re-take. I pretty much took one a day leading up to the test. Then again, I found the test kind-of fun.

As for the profession, the market is definitely poor. And it's not just about the employment market in general - if you're looking to do corporate/Big Law-type work, the clients for those firms took advantage of the downturn to re-structure their fee structures with the firms. The extravagance that rode along with the expensive hourly rate is fading. Fast. This isn't true everywhere, but I work at a very prominent NYC firm and we're feeling it here, so I imagine it's pretty prevalent.

As for the work, it's not bad. It's pretty boring, though lawyers often do a bang-up job of inflating the intellectual demands of their profession (carry over from the guild-like days that created the exorbitant hourly rates). That said, you can do a lot worse. But there is a serious decision to be made about what you're going to do - in this market, I agree w/ CT, that state value schools are a good bet. I went to law school at a time when a top-10 school pretty much guaranteed you a good job, and that was security I wanted (wisely, as my first year didn't go that well). That's no longer the case. I'm not a bad lawyer, I don't think, but I wouldn't even be hired by my own firm today. And I'd still have $150,000 in debt.

No more Lincoln Town Cars taking you home?

[Pedro Cerrano]

Just for reference, the average starting salary of my graduating class was, I believe, 55K. I make a decent enough salary to earn a living, and I don't necessarily regret my decision, but I can think of 15-20 other jobs I could feasibly (read: NOT center-fielder for the Orioles) be doing that I'd rather be doing than what I'm doing now.

I've often thought about stopping practicing law all together, picking up what I have, and heading out west to see what awaits me out there, I think I even started a thread on it, sort of a modern-day manifest destiny, but then I consider my bills and it terrifies me.