The Legal Level - LSAT, law school admissions, 1L, bar exam & more!

The Legal Level - LSAT, law school admissions, 1L, bar exam & more!

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The Legal Level - LSAT, law school admissions, 1L, bar exam & more! episodes

  • The Case of LSAT v. GRE with Clyde Engle

    For several years now, some ABA accredited schools have accepted applications from students with a GRE score instead of an LSAT score. Although it hasn’t replaced the LSAT, more change is afoot because the ABA is considering allowing schools to ditch standardized tests altogether for admission.

    Given the uncertain landscape, Branden and Jelena sat down with TestMax’s in-house expert on both exams, Clyde Engle, who will be attending Harvard Law this fall.

    Listen and learn . . .

    1. What led Clyde to Harvard Law and how he plans to use his law degree
    2. How the subject matter on the GRE is different from the LSAT and how to know which you’re best suited for
    3. Similarities and differences in the right approach to studying for each of these tests
    4. What the best Elton John song of all time is
    5. And more!

      6. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


      Harvard Law's LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic


      Try LSATMax Tutoring for Only $49


      LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


      33 Common LSAT Flaws


      Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


      Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


      Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


      Start Your 1L Free Trial Now (The Greatest Law School Supplement)


      Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

      32 min
    6. The LSAT is Dead, Long Live the LSAT?

      Twitter exploded with news of the “end of the LSAT” after a recent ABA Strategic Review Committee memo was released, detailing proposed changes to ABA rules that would make the use of standardized testing in admissions optional for accredited law schools.

      So, is the LSAT really going the way of the buggy whip? Can you stop studying? Or is this, just maybe, a little bit of standard-issue social media hyperbole?

      Listen and learn . . .

      1. Is the LSAT really going to become optional under ABA rules?
      2. Will law schools actually stop requiring the LSAT, if the proposed rule passes?
      3. What alternative forms of assessment exist, for any law schools that do want to reduce the weight they place on the LSAT?
      4. Would getting rid of the LSAT help or hurt diversity in law schools?
      5. What’s the difference between the role of the LSAT and that of other standardized tests like the SAT/ACT that have recently become less important in admissions?
      6. What, if anything, should current law school hopefuls change about their application strategy in response to this news?
      7. And more!

        8. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


        ABA Proposed Changes to Rule 503


        Supreme Court Case Requiring Holistic Evaluation of Applicants to Law School


        LSAC Study of “GPA First” Admissions & Diversity


        2018 Proposed Changes to Rule 503 Withdrawn


        Minority Network Letter in Support of the LSAT, circa 2018


        Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


        Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


        LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


        Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

        41 min
      8. 2021L with Duke Law 1L Thomas Fogarty

        In Branden’s absence, Jelena interviews Duke Law 1L and former LSATMax tutor Thomas Fogarty about his first year at Duke, a surprisingly laid-back T14 in beautiful Durham, North Carolina.

        Listen and learn . . .

        1. How Duke supports students interested in public interest and government jobs
        2. What kind of culture you can expect as a Duke Law student
        3. Why side effects of mock trial might include wanting to become a federal prosecutor
        4. How Duke 1Ls connect with faculty, administration, and fellow students
        5. What kind of grading curve you can expect as a Duke 1L
        6. And more!

          7. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


          Christian Legal Society


          Duke University School of Law


          Try LSATMax Tutoring for Only $49


          LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


          33 Common LSAT Flaws


          Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


          Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


          Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


          Start Your 1L Free Trial Now (The Greatest Law School Supplement)


          Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

          33 min
        7. How to Study Reproductive Rights & Justice in Law School

          The events of the past week may have some Levelheads thinking about dedicating their legal careers to reproductive rights & justice.

          Branden and Jelena dig into the options available for law students to study and work on reproductive issues.

          Listen and learn . . .

          1. Which law schools have the most courses dedicated to reproductive rights & justice
          2. How to get practical experience on reproductive rights & justice issues through clinics
          3. What to do if you’re already in law school and there are no course offerings in reproductive rights & justice
          4. Why you might want to join or start an If/When/How chapter on campus
          5. How to land a fellowship after law school to work on reproductive rights & justice

            6. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


            List of All RR&J Law School Courses, Circa 2019


            Women’s Studies, Gender, and Sexuality Law Programs


            Berkeley-Written Casebook on Reproductive Rights & Justice


            NYU Reproductive Rights & Justice Fellowship


            Yale’s Reproductive Rights & Justice Project


            Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


            LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


            33 Common LSAT Flaws


            Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


            Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


            Start Your 1L Free Trial Now (The Greatest Law School Supplement)


            Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

            36 min
          6. Writing Sample Example

            Did you know there’s an essay portion of the LSAT? Did you know you can’t get your score until you complete one? Yikes!

            The good news is that the writing sample isn’t scored, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t turn in your best performance. So, listen as Jelena & Branden break down the format of the Writing Sample and work through an example.

            Listen and learn . . .

            1. What the purpose of the writing sample is
            2. How law school admissions officers use them (or sometimes don’t?)
            3. How your writing sample can affect the way your personal statement is received
            4. How to organize your essay in order to impress the admissions committee
            5. And more!

              6. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


              Official LSAC Writing Sample Page


              LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


              33 Common LSAT Flaws


              Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


              Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


              Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


              Start Your 1L Free Trial Now (The Greatest Law School Supplement)


              Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

              29 min
            6. Ask a Tutor: Jacob Kennedy (174)

              Meet LSATMax tutor Jacob Kennedy, who interned with the JAG Corps to prepare for law school, and now spends his time traveling through Europe and playing chess.

              While living his best mid-20th century life, Jacob stopped by the podcast to tell the Levelheads all about his LSAT journey, future plans, and top tips for students.

              Listen and learn . . .

              1. What the JAG Corps is (and what their interns do)
              2. How chess is, and isn’t like the LSAT
              3. If computer programming is a good foundation for a legal career
              4. The biggest mistakes Jacob sees his LSAT students make
              5. How to tell it might be time to go to law school, even if you’ve already got a “good job”

                6. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                Try LSATMax Tutoring for Only $49


                LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


                33 Common LSAT Flaws


                Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


                Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                Start Your 1L Free Trial Now (The Greatest Law School Supplement)


                Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

                31 min
              6. Optional Essays: Do They Help Your Law School Application?

                Jelena & Branden dive into the parts of your law school application that you don’t actually have to do (but maybe you should).

                From diversity statements to addenda to those weird Georgetown 250-word mini-essay prompts, it’s all here.

                Listen and learn . . .

                1. Why not all diverse applicants should write a diversity statement
                2. When an addendum can help, and when it would do more harm than good
                3. How admissions departments may be using extra essay prompts to trap you into revealing poor judgment or deficient writing skills
                4. How your diversity statement should differ from your personal statement
                5. Why you shouldn’t write any essay you don’t feel strongly about (except the mandatory ones!)
                6. . . . and more!

                  7. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                  Free EBook About Law School Addenda


                  Law School Admissions Consulting Services


                  LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


                  33 Common LSAT Flaws


                  Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


                  Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                  Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                  Start Your 1L Free Trial Now (The Greatest Law School Supplement)


                  Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

                  35 min
                7. Rankings Aren’t Important . . . Now Let’s Talk Rankings!

                  That’s right! There’s a new round of that thing you should pretty much ignore as you’re deciding on where and how to apply: The 2023 U.S. News & World Law School Rankings.

                  Because we are looking out for our listeners, we’ll process the findings and deliver them to you so you don’t have to sully yourself with rankings analysis.

                  Listen and learn . . .

                  1. What factors USNWR uses to rank schools, and how those factors are weighted
                  2. Which factors really do get at the value a school presents to its students, and which are fluff
                  3. Why the library ranking is slightly less obnoxious in its current iteration
                  4. What other ranking systems are out there that do a better job of communicating value
                  5. . . . and more!

                    6. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                    The Full 2023 U.S. News & World Report Rankings


                    The 2023 USNWR Ranking Methodology


                    Chicago Kicks Harvard Out of the Top 3


                    The 2021 ATL Top 50 Law School Rankings


                    LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


                    33 Common LSAT Flaws


                    Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


                    Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                    Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                    Start Your 1L Free Trial Now (The Greatest Law School Supplement)


                    Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

                    45 min
                  6. 2021L with Max Blumenthal (Washington & Lee University School of Law)

                    Our 2021L series continues with Washington & Lee University of School of Law 1L Max Blumenthal, who shares his experiences at a law school known for its small class size and a unique, completely experiential 3L program.

                    Listen and learn . . .

                    1. What it’s like to compete in Moot Court in front of real judges after less than a year of law school
                    2. How those 1L doctrinal classes work at a school so small that everyone knows each other (no massive lecture halls!)
                    3. Why you might not have heard about Washington & Lee, even though it’s ranked in the top 50 law schools by USNWR
                    4. What to focus on in law school if you’re interested in antitrust & consumer law
                    5. Whether you really get more personal attention from law profs at a smaller law school
                    6. . . . and more!

                      7. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                      Washington and Lee University School of Law


                      LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


                      33 Common LSAT Flaws


                      Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


                      Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                      Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                      Start Your 1L Free Trial Now (The Greatest Law School Supplement)


                      Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

                      39 min
                    7. Your LSAT Prescription for . . . Methods of Reasoning & Argument Structure

                      There’s a method of reasoning to our madness this week, as Branden & Jelena take you through a step-by-step prescription for improving your performance on Methods of Reasoning and Argument Structure questions.

                      These may not be the flashiest questions on the LSAT, but they’re a consistent source of points if you approach them with the right strategy.

                      Listen and learn . . .

                      1. How to identify the most common argumentative techniques on the LSAT
                      2. Why arguments don’t have to be flawless—or even good—to appear in the stimulus for these LR question types
                      3. The difference between premises and background information
                      4. How to tell a main conclusion from a subsidiary
                      5. When it’s okay to appeal to authority (even though “appeal to authority” is also a fallacy)
                      6. How to handle two-perspective questions
                      7. Why the main conclusion is often “the other guy is wrong!”

                        8. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                        LSATMax's Private 1-on-1 LSAT Tutoring


                        33 Common LSAT Flaws


                        Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


                        Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                        Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                        Start Your 1L Free Trial Now (The Greatest Law School Supplement)


                        Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

                        46 min

                      About The Legal Level - LSAT, law school admissions, 1L, bar exam & more!

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                      From the LSAT to the bar exam, we are leveling the legal education playing field by providing the tools and information every future lawyer needs to ace the LSAT, rock law school admissions, pass the bar exam and land their dream job.