How to Succeed in Law School without really Trying

I read this half amused and half petrified (see here). In short, a law student at Arizona University is having undergraduates do his work for him by masking the ordeal as an invaluable externship opportunity for the undergrads. WOW!

One the one hand, I think this student is a genius. A partner in the making.

On the other hand, I have my doubts about him because at the end of the day, only one person can walk into the classroom on test date (him).

Personally, I think he's the former. He's a smart kid. He's going to do well. His classmates can cry fowl. But unless the school stops him, I think he'll go on this path and succeed.

Once upon a time, "moral" students avoided hornbooks (i.e., cliff note versions of case books). Only the "lazy" and "failure bound" students used hornbooks. Fast forward to modern day, now, EVERYONE uses hornbooks. Am I suggesting that using undergrads as note-taking slaves will soon become the norm? No way. Of course not. But what I am implying is that we shouldn't be too quick about pointing fingers at him.

February 2012 LSAT Score Release

Thumb twiddling. The waiting game is getting hard to bear. Soon (probably next week) your LSAT score will be released. The wait will soon be over.

Hang in there.

Use Your Paper and Pencil; Not Your Head

Today, I met a prospective client in California. Super smart guy. I noticed, however, him doing everything in his head. The Analytical Reasoning (a.k.a. Logic Games) question was asking for a min/max list. He clearly knew what the question was asking for and he also knew exactly how to derive at the correct answer. However, he didn't get the correct answer. All because he didn't keep track of which variables he already used (and which ones he had not yet used).

He could have avoided this careless and silly mistake by simply remembering to write out his work. 

There's nothing wrong with writing things out. It doesn't mean you're any less smarter than the person who can do it all in his head. The LSAT isn't measuring how fast you can deduce and calculate something in your head per se. It's a multiple choice test that measures your accuracy + speed. Avoid silly mistakes. Take the 2 nano-seconds to write out your work. 

Cheating the LSAT | by Fox Test Prep

I received this book (Cheating the LSAT by Nathan Fox) a while back. But I finally got to review it last night, for the first time. My verdict - EXCELLENT book!

It's the newest addition to my small list of must have LSAT study books. 

Outline and summary of the book

The book is simple. The first half is an actual hard-copy of Prep Test 61 (just like the kind you can purchase from LSAC) and the second half is a question-by-question explanation of Prep Test 61. 

But don't let the simplicity of the book lead you to think that it's "not worth the money." This book efficiently (in a no BS manner) delivers the sort of substance that Kaplan Test Prep books take 2000+ pages to execute. I'm so serious. Mr. Fox takes you on a step-by-step journey in outfoxing the LSAT. 

Positive

What differentiates this book from all the other "how to LSAT" guides out there are 1) it's well written (reads smoothly and surprisingly quickly); 2) it's practical (cuts straight to the point and jumps right into actual LSAT questions); and 3) it doesn't glorify the LSAT. I especially like this third aspect of Mr. Fox's book. 

I have been teaching the LSAT for years to thousands of students - and one of the most important debilitating factors that prevent a student from scoring high is his/her mind-set. If you build up the beast into something bigger and scarier than it actually is, then you've failed before you even started. 

Negative

It's not comprehensive. So students wishing for a thorough, A-Z prep, would be wise to purchase other books along with this one OR enroll in with a test prep company. 

Having said this, I believe Mr. Fox is going to publish more books along this book's format. He calls this book "Volume 1". 

Before and After - LSAT score 143 to 171

There are many LSAT prep options out there (see here and here). One of the most common advertising ploys/tactics that companies love to use is the "before and after" testimonials.

Below is a similar example from one of the test prep company out there:

"The T********** course does a marvelous job at rigorously exercising your brain and preparing you for the real thing."

Jin Choi

Before: 156

After: 168

But don't believe in everything you read or hear. You don't know if Jin Choi actually exists. Despite laws against false advertising - it's really difficult to check and monitor against companies that will make up fake testimonials and numbers.

Don't abandon common sense. If you think something is too good to be true, perhaps it is. If you have your doubts, you ought to do your due diligence and ask the right questions - find out whether the claims are actually true (or not). You're going to be LAWYERS - it behooves you to be an excellent critical thinker and investigator. 

LSAT Sensei | Journey to Law School

1. What is your company's name and where is it located?
LSAT Sensei, Chicago, IL

2. What is your web address?

www.LSATsensei.com – company site

3. What makes you such an awesome LSAT instructor?

Besides my stunning aura?

I love my job – absolutely love teaching and empowering. I have a  firm conviction that my student(s)’ success equals my success. I take the time to figure out anything and everything, both LSAT and law school related, about each and every one of my students. This entails figuring out his/her study habits, strengths/weaknesses, and motivation(s). Once I have a good baseline idea of where the student is coming from (and where he/she wants to go), I know exactly how to help him/her.

High Energy. I make it a point to keep my classes upbeat. I’m an extreme extrovert, so I’m naturally very high energy in front of a crowd. The idea is to be contagious – and enable my students be equally enthusiastic about the LSAT. For example, the LSAT can be really FUN. Between all the flawed arguments and ridiculous hypos, how can you not laugh and take jabs at it? If a student walks into my class nervous, wary, and/or uncertain, they usually walk out relaxed, focused, and confident.

Teaching Experience. I’ve been teaching the LSAT (as well as other school subjects) for a very long time (for over a decade). And I taught it everywhere (including California, Vermont, Arizona, Seattle, Illinois, New Jersey, China, Japan, Korea, etc.). When anyone does anything for as long as I have (see Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 Hour Rule), you sort of become a “genius” at it. Very few people possess my teaching experience, and even fewer people possess a deep understanding of the LSAT the way I do. I strongly believe that I offer the best LSAT prep service in the Chicago area and most likely one of the best (if not THE best) in the nation.

4. Why do you think most students choose you over behemoth test prep companies? 

Besides my stunning aura?

In all seriousness, I think they choose me mainly because the instruction quality is just so much higher than at the large behemoth companies. I give everyone a chance to compare my class/lessons with other class/lessons. Thus far, when given the chance to compare and contrast, 100% of the students chose me.

Another key attraction is that everything about the LSAT Sensei training is personalized and tailored to meet students’ needs. I partner with other LSAT tutors and instructors who help me ensure that all students are getting their questions answered and staying on schedule. Great LSAT prep isn’t simply about what books or curriculum you use; it’s also about how good of a coach your teacher can be. This means constantly keeping a pulse check on student progress – knowing when to be tough and pushy, and when to enforce rest and fun.

It also helps that my classes and workshops are a better bargain. 

5. How did you first get into this gig?

I took the LSAT, while I was in China, as a Peace Corps volunteer. I did very well, so some of my fellow volunteers and a few of the expats in the area asked me to tutor them. What began as a small group tutoring session quickly grew into a full size class. Soon, Chinese natives began attending my class. Now that I think back at it, it was kind of crazy and amazing.

When I returned to the States, I got hired by and worked for a national test prep company.

6. Did you go to law school? If so, where?

Yes. The University of Chicago Law School

7. What do you love most about your job?

I love that I get to teach and inspire. I did not enjoy corporate law practice because of my limited human interactions and because there was no tangible difference I was making to improve anyone’s life. I’m a huge people person, and I love that my job enables me to always interact with people.

8. Could you please share with the world one of your most memorable LSAT (horror/fun/heart-breaking) stories?

Jimmy comes to mind.

So Jimmy is one of those plugger types – he’ll plug and plug away until he gets it. When he and I first met, he told me one of the most tragic LSAT stories: while he was taking the test, a crazed and panicked student ran into his examination room, waving a gun in one hand. There were two types of students/reactions – the ones that immediately hid under their desks for cover, and the ones that feverishly continued on with their exams. When I first heard Jimmy recount his story to me – I asked him, “Which one were you?” He sheepishly smiled in response. I knew he was the latter.

I taught and coached Jimmy for six months. By exam day he had gone through each and every published exam at least eight times. This was enough for him to have every single LSAT question nearly memorized. It was amazing. I would ask, “Jimmy, June 1999, the second LR section, question #21?” And he would recite the entire question (not quite verbatim, but close enough) along with the correct answer to the question.

I vividly remember his phone call after the test, “Dave, I might need to cancel. I screwed up.” He was crying.

I remember thinking that, “He’s overreacting.” After all, Logic is logic is logic, and this guy had practically memorized all iterations of LSAT logic from past exams.

Jimmy ended up scoring a perfect 180.

10. (Just for fun) if you could be anything in the world (besides an LSAT guru), what would you be? Why?

Kpop star! I would be a Korean Pop singer. I love to dance, sing and perform. I actually sing and dance for my students all the time (in class). If I weren’t an LSAT instructor, I’d definitely be a Kpop star.