It All Starts With The LSAT

As is quickly discovered, one's law career is merely a series of challenges that need to be conquered. The LSAT, graduation, acceptance, first year exams, internships, the bar exam and employment are all a series of obstacles that stand in the way of our ultimate fulfillment. One challenge after another, separated only by tense moments of anxious waiting.

What's interesting is that success in one area will make it much easier to succeed in the challenges to come. Let me explain:

Should you graduate from your undergraduate institution with a healthy GPA and with a solid LSAT score, you'll have a much easier time with challenge number two: getting accepted to a "good" law school. If you're accepted to a good law school, your first year grades won't be as critical to your internship search - thus knocking out another potential challenge. With that great experience under your belt, your post-graduation job hunt will be a breeze (if you even need to conduct one). If you did well enough on the LSAT to avoid incurring any student loans, then in 3 years time, you might be looking at pocketing close to $160,000 a year with nothing hanging over your head.

Sounds nice, doesn't it? It's every first year's dream. Even if your ambitions lie in more noble pursuits, you'd be kidding yourself if you didn't at least recognize that it would feel good to have the option to realize such a destiny.

But as you can see from the progression of events that I described above, it all starts with your LSAT and GPA. It's unfortunate, since there is so much more depth to an individual's character than these two simple numbers - but it's the reality of the situation.

As you'll eventually come to understand - this progression isn't the sole means to success in our ruthless field. There are many ways to the top - and some are longer than others. Some are more difficult. But the route that I described is certainly the fastest and most traditional.

If you're in a position now where you haven't enrolled in law school - then I encourage you to begin your legal career by mastering this exam. Tear it to pieces. Anyone can do it. The test isn't anything remarkably difficult and with regular practice, any idiot could destroy it. But you need to put in the work.

If you take it and you wind up with a 150, then study and take it again. Put law school on hold for a year or more if you need to. But do NOT apply to law schools until that number is above a 165. It takes work - but if you can do it now, then it will make the rest of your LIFE substantially easier.

People have different methods of studying for exams like the LSAT. Some people prefer one course over another, some people are attached to certain books.

In my experience, there is one brand that has consistently emerged as a superior LSAT study company: Powerscore. Look at the different materials and decide for yourself - but it is my understanding that the Powerscore products were the weapon of choice for test takers who did well.

If you've already given the exam a shot - feel free to let everyone know what worked best for you.