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

  • Public Interest Law 101

    Do you want to make the world a better place without selling your soul (and 90 billable hours a week of your free time)?

    Then you might want to consider public interest law. Branden & Jelena break down everything you need to know about this common elite law school graduate alternative to the big firm life.

    Listen and learn . . .

    1. What kind of work does “public interest” encompass?
    2. How much do public interest lawyers make?
    3. Why are 99% of applicants for public service loan forgiveness being denied?
    4. Do future public interest lawyers need to attend a T14 law school?
    5. Can you get a public interest job right out of law school?
    6. What should law students do during law school to stand out to public interest employers?

      7. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


      Public Service Law Job Board


      Directory of Law Schools’ Public Interest Career Support Offerings


      Loan Forgiveness Programs for Law School


      ABA’s PSLF Lawsuit


      99% of PSLF Applicants Rejected


      Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


      Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


      LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


      33 Common LSAT Flaws


      Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

      57 min
    7. BIGLAW 101

      Do you like money and dislike free time? Then biglaw might be for you. Branden & Jelena go beyond starting salary to break down all the basics of biglaw.

      If you’re planning to pay off your law school debt by getting a lucrative job at an Am-Law 100 firm, don’t send in that seat deposit before listening to this episode. (And, ideally, doing a lot more homework, too.)

      Listen and learn . . .

      1. How big does a firm have to be to qualify as “biglaw,” anyway?
      2. How much can you actually expect to make in biglaw?
      3. What’s “up or out,” and does it really mean you’ll get fired a few years in?
      4. Why, exactly, do biglaw firms care so much about your grades?
      5. Is it possible to do biglaw without selling your soul?
      6. Why do so many new lawyers plan on “three-and-out,” but end up either stuck in biglaw for longer than three years or broke and unemployed?
      7. Which law schools should you apply to for a shot at biglaw?

        8. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


        BIGLAW 101 Links & Further Resources


        Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


        Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


        Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


        LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


        33 Common LSAT Flaws


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


        Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

        59 min
      8. 2021’s Biggest LSAT & Law School News, Recapped

        Believe it or not, stuff actually happened this year, despite all of the 2020 Part 2 vibes.

        As 2021 ends and 2022 begins, Branden & Jelena look back at the past 13 months of LSAT and law school news, discussing one big story from each month.

        Listen and learn . . .

        1. Why is a Toronto student suing his law school for human rights violations?
        2. How the LSAT-Flex adding a fourth section affected students’ scores
        3. Which T14 law school dealt with a law student rebellion after their pandemic policies spiked anxiety and depression in the student body
        4. How the Bar Exam might change soon . . . and why the proposed new version would be way better for lawyers
        5. Which T14 law school damaged its own reputation over a satirical flyer
        6. What happened when the LSAT-Flex platform crashed during the test

          7. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


          Read Our 2021 LSAT & Law School Top Stories for Yourself


          Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


          Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


          Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


          LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


          33 Common LSAT Flaws


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


          Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

          1 hr 6 min
        7. The Twelve Argument Forms of Christmas

          In this Legal Level holiday special, Jelena and Branden each bring six LSAT-style arguments to debate the existence of a particular red-suited gift bearer.

          Each argument exemplifies a must-know argument type for test day, so grab something warm to sip, and turn on the most enjoyable LSAT argument review session on the internet.

          Listen and learn . . .

          1. Where and when you will likely see these argument forms?
          2. A lot of Latin terms.
          3. Can a valid argument form be a fallacy, too?
          4. How recognizing common argument forms will help you with LR and RC.
          5. Is St. Nicolas eating Branden’s cookies?

            6. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


            Santa Claus: Jolly Old Man or Calculating Criminal?


            Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


            Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


            Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


            LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


            33 Common LSAT Flaws


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


            Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

            43 min
          6. 2022 Law School Admissions Season Update

            Whether you’ve already applied to law school this year, are debating applying this cycle, or are just curious about how law school admissions, we’ve got news you can use.

            Jelena and Branden discuss applicant trends for the 2022 admissions cycle thus far and make predictions about the remainder of the admissions cycle.

            Give us forty-five minutes, and you’ll know everything there is to know about:

            1. How to stand out without a super high score?
            2. Does a 180 guarantee T-14 admission?
            3. How do admissions officers feel about increased applications?
            4. Why are more high LSAT scorers getting rejected by top law schools?
            5. Will 2022 see more or less applicants than the previous cycle?
            6. How will an increase in applicants affect first year associate jobs?
            7. Can remote-work and innovation make legal resources more affordable?

              8. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


              LSAC’s Current Volume Summary


              More High Scorers Rejected in 2020-2021 Cycle


              Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program


              Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


              Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


              LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


              33 Common LSAT Flaws


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


              Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now

              46 min
            8. What’s 3 Years Got To Do With It?

              If you were a fan of verbing nouns, you could say, “There are more ways to law school than ever before.” While we are always horrified by that kind of linguistic vandalism here at The Legal Level, there is a kernel of truth in the grammatical wreckage: You no longer have to stare at professors in-person for three years during business hours to be a lawyer.

              But that doesn’t mean that all the alternatives are created equal, and even traditional law school has changed recently, which is why Jelena & Branden are using this episode to explore different law school structures as well as the shift to online learning.

              Give us forty-five minutes, and you’ll know everything there is to know about:

              1. Part-time law school programs, which usually take 4 years to complete
              2. Accelerated 2-year programs
              3. 3+3 Bachelors/JD Pipeline Programs
              4. Law schools’ shift to online learning
              5. Fully-online JD programs (spoiler alert, these are bad!)

                6. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                What You Need to Know About Part-Time Law School


                Is Graduating One Year Early Really Worth It?


                The Cal State Northridge/Southwestern Law 3+3 Program Is a Success


                Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


                33 Common LSAT Flaws


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


                Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now


                Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program

                48 min
              6. Turkey Hangover Mailbag

                This week, Branden & Jelena recover from their Thanksgiving feasts while answering listeners’ questions and critiquing a listener-submitted personal statement.

                Send in your own questions for the next mailbag episode at [email protected] or via the LSATMax student Discord.

                Listen and learn . . .

                1. Should older law school applicants write an addendum addressing their age?
                2. Who can write a law school diversity statement?
                3. Why do real judicial opinions sometimes read exactly like the LSAT?
                4. Is having a big gap in your work history a law school dealbreaker?
                5. How can you write a personal statement that makes you look good . . . about something from your past that might make you look bad?
                6. What’s the difference between writing a personal statement for law school and an essay for publication?

                  7. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                  Read Along with Our Listener-Submitted Judicial Opinion Excerpt


                  Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                  Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                  LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


                  33 Common LSAT Flaws


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


                  Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now


                  Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program

                  42 min
                7. New Trends in Logical Reasoning & Reading Comp

                  This week’s episode decodes the Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections of newly released practice tests PT91 and PT92. Branden and Jelena share their thoughts on difficult questions and insights for future test takers.

                  This episode contains (or, is entirely composed of) spoilers for PT 91 and 92, so listeners who intend to take these PTs under realistic exam day conditions are advised to test before listening.

                  Listen and learn . . .

                  1. Where have the Must Be Trues gone?
                  2. Why are we seeing more Strengthen and Weaken questions in a single section?
                  3. Why are Parallel Reasoning questions slowly disappearing?
                  4. What can we expect for these sections on future tests?

                    5. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                    Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                    Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                    LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


                    33 Common LSAT Flaws


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


                    Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now


                    Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program

                    55 min
                  5. New Logic Games Bonanza Part Two: PT 92

                    Jelena tries and fails to curb her Logic Games enthusiasm as she and Branden work through the eight new logic games in Prep Test 92, which Branden & Jelena go through one-by-one, analyzing trends and sharing their approaches to each game.

                    This episode contains (or, is entirely composed of) spoilers for PT 92, so listeners who intend to take this PT under realistic exam day conditions are advised to test before listening.

                    Listen and learn . . .

                    1. How does PT 92 compare to 91?
                    2. How to prepare for multilinear and hybrid games on future tests?
                    3. Why isn’t the LSAT using unusual game types lately?
                    4. How many scenarios is too many?
                    5. Are current logic game sections becoming less predictable?
                    6. What insights can be learned and applied to future games?

                      7. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                      Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                      Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                      LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


                      33 Common LSAT Flaws


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


                      Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now


                      Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program

                      1 hr 4 min
                    7. 2021L: Rosalyn Leban, Yale Law School

                      Fulbright U.S. Student Research Awardee, LSATMax Tutor and Yale 1L Rosalyn Leban joins The Legal Level to discuss her first year law school experience and journey to the nation's top rated law school.

                      Listen and learn . . .

                      1. How to handle legal reasoning you don’t agree with in law school
                      2. What extracurricular activities you can participate in as a Yale 1L
                      3. How to decide if law is the right path for you, if you don’t agree with everything about the legal system
                      4. What Rosalyn plans to do with her Yale law degree
                      5. Should you apply to Yale too?

                        6. Links and Further Resources from this Episode:


                        Yale Law School


                        Start Your LSATMax Free Trial


                        Enroll in LSATMax's #1-Ranked LSAT Course


                        LSATMax's Private LSAT Tutoring


                        33 Common LSAT Flaws


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


                        Start Your BarMax Free Trial Now


                        Apply Now for TestMax’s Justice in Action Program

                        31 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.