Ben and Nate break down the measurable cost of applying late in the law school admissions cycle. Your LSAT score has the most value on the day that applications open. By rushing your LSAT or applying late in the cycle, you sacrifice points and leave money on the table. With AI poised to disrupt the legal market, it’s more important than ever to go to law school for free. 

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0:32 – AI Making Law School Obsolete?

Ben and Nate discuss an article from a former Google exec claiming AI will make law and medical degrees obsolete. The guys acknowledge that AI is improving, but it still makes mistakes. While they agree that a law degree isn’t a guaranteed gravy train, they also note that the law itself is a barrier to modernization, which will slow AI’s impact on legal education. The schools most at risk are bottom feeders churning out lawyers for grunt work. Their advice: don’t pay tuition at weak schools.

14:50 – LSAT Suspended in Mainland China

LSAC halts testing in China after evidence of cheating. A Reddit post earlier this year even advertised cheating services. While tough for honest test takers in China, applicants should appreciate LSAC’s effort to safeguard exam security.

24:03 – Cost of Delaying Apps

How late is too late? While early applications are stronger, it’s never worth rushing the LSAT. The best strategy is to get your best LSAT and then apply at the start of the next cycle. A University of Chicago Journal of Law and Economics article finds that delays weaken applications. Waiting 100 days is equivalent to dropping 2.1 LSAT points or 0.26 GPA points. Schools review applications in waves, and the earliest applicants are often the strongest. Missing the first wave, even by a day, can carry measurable costs.

Dynamic Decision-Making under Rolling Admissions: Evidence from US Law School Applications

47:43 – Main Point vs. Summary

A summary lists information, but a main point answers “why.” It’s what the author is trying to convince you of, not just what they said.

52:31 – Doing LR Backwards

Listener Blair wants to work backward in Logical Reasoning to combat fatigue. Ben and Nathan’s answer: If you’re scoring under 175, you shouldn’t be finishing sections anyway, so working backward means skipping easier questions to do harder ones. If you’re at 175 or above, then fatigue isn’t an issue.

59:28 – Score Plateaus

Listeners Trevor and Ireland feel stuck. The guys caution against chasing a single breakthrough. Progress comes from carefully reviewing and learning from every mistake, one question at a time.

1:04:42 – Personal Statement Gong Show

Listener Elena is the next Gong Show contestant. Ben and Nathan read her personal statement until they reach an unforgivable mistake—they then ring the gong. The record is 34 lines, set by listener Sophia.

Want in? Send in your statement by September 1, 2025, to be considered for the Gong Super Show. 

1:07:20 - Word of the Week - Truism

The standard advice about writing is mostly truisms, like “Make a plan,” “Don’t use the passive,” or “Think of your audience.” 

Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library.