4 Tips for Law School Preparation

4 Tips for Law School Preparation 

You’re interested in law school, but you’re nervous: how do you accomplish the LSAT, the essays, the admissions questions, then go on to succeed in 1L year? Fortunately, the skills are transferrable. Learn the right way of doing things during your application, and law school will be easier. Here are four steps I think are essential to crushing law school preparation: 

Plan 

This may sound like an obvious one, but most students we work with do not plan nearly enough. Before you begin studying for the LSAT, you should come up with a study strategy and timeline, as well as an application strategy and timeline. Figure out how many practice tests you want to take, and schedule them in your calendar. Holding yourself accountable every day becomes dramatically easier when you have a plan to hold yourself to. On the application side, set prospective deadlines for your applications and, working backwards, your essays. If you need to readjust, don’t be afraid to. It’s better to have a stronger application that takes a couple extra days. But having a plan will help you stay focused and on-track, even if it shifts from time to time.  

Do What Hurts 

Okay… not literally. But there is great value in focusing on your weakest points. When I was studying for the LSAT, I was able to narrow down my weakest area to science-based Reading Comprehension passages.  

Both in your LSAT and your applications, do what is most uncomfortable. Find your weak point, obsess over it, and learn to love it. The feeling of overcoming something you dread – LSAT or not – does numbers for your future confidence. 

Know Your Limits 

Now that you’ve graduated college, you know what works for you and what doesn’t. Continue to grow, change, and try new things, but feel confident in identifying what situations do not work for you. If, for instance, you feel you have hit your maximum ability on the LSAT, be happy and move to the next phase. Law school is about pushing you just over your limits to the point of growth – if you’re burning out, you’re doing too much. “Everything in moderation, including moderation” – Oliver Wilde. 

Tune Out the Noise 

I cannot stress this enough to the students I work with: get off Reddit. Online forums such as Reddit or Top-Law-Schools can be very helpful when finding the answer to a niche problem. But to become a scroller or constant reader, I think, does more harm than good. Too often we see students become obsessed with what others are doing in their law school applications. Focus on yourself, build your plan, and hone your craft.