Category: Applying to Law School

Spring 2021 LSAT Resources and News

Spring semester is here and that means another round of upcoming LSAT exams.  Spring LSAT exams are a busy time for test takers who are wrapping up their application efforts, and for test-takers looking to obtain scores for future application cycles.  Below is some helpful information for those planning on sitting for an upcoming LSAT this spring or summer.

The State of the Exam:

Due to the restrictions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, LSAC created a remote, online version of the LSAT  – the LSAT-Flex.  The LSAT-Flex is a three-section multi-choice question exam. The three 35-minute sections are comprised of one section each of the Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning questions. The exam is offered on a remote basis, on multiple dates and times.  In addition to the multiple choice section, students are also required to separately complete the LSAT Writing.   To learn more about the LSAT-Flex visit our prior blog postings, or visit the LSAC website.

Currently, the only available format for the LSAT is the LSAT-Flex.  The LSAT-Flex will be offered for both the February 2021 and April 2021 administrations.  LSAC has not yet released details regarding future test dates or future test formats, however, we have compiled a list of a few key things you should know:

      • Preparation efforts for the exam should remain fundamentally the same in terms of content, time, and effort.
      • While sitting for a remote, online exam can present challenges, initial analysis suggests that individuals are scoring at the same, or higher, levels as compared to performance levels on the traditional five-section, in-person format.
      • Although test dates and registration is not yet open for 2021 administrations later than April, LSAC has confirmed their intention to offer exams at the approximately same time and at the same frequency as the current testing cycle.  For those hoping to sit for a summer exam, we fully anticipate multiple test dates during the summer 2021 months, and additional dates in the fall semester.
      • We are here to help!  As additional information about the upcoming 2021 administrations is made available we will keep you informed.  If you are considering sitting for an upcoming LSAT exam in the next testing cycle, we highly encourage you to attend our upcoming LSAT Bootcamp on Monday, February 8.  See additional details below!

LSAT Resources

There are many exceptional LSAT resources available to students free of charge!  Below is a highlight of resources available this semester through LSAC and the PLAS office!

LSAT Bootcamp

Join Illinois pre-law students and alumni to learn more about the LSAT exam, LSAC resources, and LSAT study methods and plans at the annual LSAT Bootcamp on February 8th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. This year’s Bootcamp will feature presentations by LSAC and KAPLAN.  This event is for any Illini considering attending law school or sitting for the LSAT exam in the upcoming months.

To learn more about the Bootcamp and to register, please visit the PLAS website.  Be sure to also complete the Kaplan event form for complimentary resources and to submit questions in advance!

Sign-up by midnight. Friday, February 5:  https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/47155402

 

LSAT Test Space

Having difficulty identifying a quiet place to take the LSAT?  Pre-Law Advising Services has arranged for a limited number of testing rooms on campus for the upcoming February LSAT-Flex administration. We will do our best accommodate as many students as possible, however, these rooms are available on a first come, first served basis and are limited to current UIUC students due to on-campus COVID-19 testing requirements.

If you are interested in reserving a test space, please fill out this survey by Sunday February 14th at 5:00 pm.   To review helpful tips about the LSAT flex, including identifying test space, please visit our “Where to take the LSAT-Flex” blog post from this fall.

LSAT Study Groups

Pre-Law Advising Services is once again helping students form study groups for the April (and summer) LSAT. If you are interested in connecting with a group for April and possible future exams, please complete this survey by 5:00 pm on Sunday February 14th . We will provide guidance and tips for your study group, after which the group may be self-managed. These study groups can begin as early as February 22nd.

 

Any questions regarding the rooms or groups can be directed to PLAS Graduate Assistant Courtney Koenig at ckoenig3@illinois.edu.

 

LSAC Test Prep Resources 

LSAC provides a wide-variety of free and affordable study prep resources.  Below are links to currently available opportunities:

      • LSAT Prep: There is a free and $99 version.  The free version provides four online practice tests!
      • Kahn Academy:  Free interactive lessons, timed practice tests, strategies, tips, and more…
      • LSAT Test Books: These are self-study books available at low cost.  Some books may also be purchased used!
      • Official LSAT Content Licensees:  A collection of test prep companies that have licensed official LSAT content.  There is a wide-variety of programs offered by these companies.  We do not recommend any particular company, but do encourage you to work with an option from this list if you do decide to purchase a study program/course.

Financial Concerns?  Applying to law school requires a significant financial investment.  To assist students who have financial needs, LSAC offers the Fee Waiver program.  This program includes the cost of two LSAT exam registrations,  free prep resources, and much more!  To learn more about the LSAC Fee Waiver program click here.

LSAT Update!

January, February, and April 2021 LSAT Exams will now be LSAT-Flex format…

Below, please see the details released today from LSAC regarding the January, February, and April 2021 LSAT Exams.

Given the continuing COVID-19 emergency, LSAC has made the decision to offer the online, remotely proctored LSAT-Flex for the last three test administrations in the current testing cycle, instead of the in-person tests previously scheduled. 

This means the January LSAT (U.S./Canada/International), the February LSAT (U.S./Canada only), and the April LSAT (U.S./Canada/International) will now be delivered in the LSAT-Flex format only. 

The LSAT-Flex gives candidates the opportunity to earn an LSAT score and continue their law school journeys despite COVID-19 restrictions on travel or public gatherings. Over the past six months, LSAC has taken an incremental approach to canceling the in-person LSATs one by one and replacing them with LSAT-Flex administrations, based on public health guidance. Given the ongoing disruption and uncertainty over how the COVID-19 situation will evolve, and feedback from candidates, the decision was made to provide clarity for the next six months, so that everyone can plan accordingly.

The January, February, and April LSAT-Flex administrations will begin on the same date as the previously announced in-person tests. Most test takers will test on Saturday or Sunday of that week, with some tests occurring later in the week based on test taker volumes or specific remote proctoring requirements. These LSAT-Flex administrations will count toward the annual, multi-year, and lifetime limits on taking the LSAT, and due to the demands of the LSAT-Flex administration, these will be undisclosed tests.

Learn more about the LSAT-Flex and see answers to frequently asked questions on the LSAC website. You can also learn more about deadlines for requesting formal accommodations, how to request assistance with a loaner device or a quiet place in which to test, deadlines for changing a test date, and score release dates for each of the LSAT-Flex administrations on our “Test Dates, Deadlines, and Score Release Dates” page.

What do test takers need to do?
        • Candidates currently registered for any of the January, February, or April 2021 in-person LSAT administrations may take the corresponding LSAT-Flex, or opt out by Friday, November 13, 2020, and receive a full refund. They should visit their LSAC account and submit the online form with their choice. If we do not hear from a test taker by November 13, they will be registered automatically for the LSAT-Flex corresponding to their current LSAT registration(s).  
        • LSAC is working to help every test taker in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and Canada have the equipment and other resources they need to take the online, remotely proctored exam and do their best work. Any candidate who does not have the necessary equipment or an appropriate place to test should submit an online form in their LSAC account by the deadline for each administration (generally about 3-4 weeks before the onset of testing). For the first five administrations of the LSAT-Flex, LSAC shipped more than 1,500 free loaner devices to candidates who did not have a computer to take the online test, and guaranteed hotel reimbursements to hundreds more who needed reliable internet or a quiet place to test.
        • Because the LSAT-Flex is an online, remotely proctored test, LSAC is able to offer a variety of test start times for test takers to choose from. LSAC will continue to open the scheduling sign-up process about 10 days before the first day of testing for each of the LSAT-Flex administrations, so test takers can select the available time that works best for them. Test takers will receive more information and instructions prior to that time.
        • LSAC has created a new score preview option for first-time test takers who wish to see their score before deciding whether or not to keep it. The score preview option costs $45 for test takers who sign up by 11:59 p.m. ET on the day before the first day of testing for each LSAT-Flex administration, or $75 if test takers sign up after testing has concluded. You can see the exact score preview sign-up periods for the January and April 2021 test administrations at the “Test Dates, Deadlines, and Score Release Dates” page for each administration. First-time test takers who have an approved LSAT fee waiver will receive score preview free of charge. You can learn more about the score preview option here.
        • As a reminder, all test takers must have a completed LSAT Writing sample on file in order to see their score or have their score released to law schools. To help candidates complete the writing portion of their test, LSAC now opens LSAT Writing eight (8) days prior to every test administration. If a candidate already has a writing sample on file from a previous exam, they do not need to complete a new LSAT Writing sample. For more information about LSAT Writing, visit our website.

For more information, please visit LSAC.org

Important Updates! Summer 2020 and Future LSAT Administration

Below please find important updates from LSAC regarding future and Summer 2020 LSAT offerings including adjustments to planned test dates, deadlines, administration format, and fees.

Summer 2020 Updates

Given the continued uncertainties and health risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the decision to replace the in-person LSAT scheduled for July 13 in the U.S. and Canada with an LSAT-Flex administration, which would occur the week of July 12 with scores available on July 30. We have also extended the July test registration deadline to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, June 1, to allow additional time for candidates to register given the new testing dates and format.

In addition, the in-person paper-and-pencil International LSAT scheduled for June 27-28 will also be cancelled, and those international test takers will have the option of taking the LSAT-Flex during the week of July 12 as well.

As you may know, we recently delivered the first LSAT-Flex administration in the U.S. and Canada, which was generally quite successful. Nearly 10,000 candidates took the LSAT-Flex between May 18 and 22. While some test takers experienced technical difficulties with their computers, internet connection, or the proctoring process, 99% of test takers who started the test successfully completed it. We are using the experience of delivering the May exam to make future LSAT-Flex administrations even better.

Our next LSAT-Flex administration is scheduled for the week of June 14, so we will continue to learn and apply any lessons to the July LSAT-Flex administration.

2020-2021 Test Administration and Fees

LSAC has today opened up registration for all of the remaining tests in the 2020-2021 testing cycle. While it is too soon to predict how the ongoing COVID-19 emergency will affect the format or dates of these tests, we will continue doing everything we can to support our law school candidates and provide testing opportunities, while following public health guidance to help protect the safety of test takers and the broader community.

We also announced today that the prices for all LSAC services – testing, CAS, school reports, cancellation fees, and other services – will remain at their 2019-2020 levels. While the cost of providing many of these services continues to rise, LSAC is committed to closing the gap through greater efficiency in order to keep candidate costs as low as possible.

 

You can find more information about the LSAT-Flex at LSAT-Flex Frequently-Asked-Questions page, and more information about 2020-2021 registration and pricing at LSAC.org. If you want to familiarize yourself with the format and content of the LSAT-Flex, we recommend using the free Official LSAT Prep practice tests available on LSAC’s LawHub.

 

 

Pre-Law Advising Services – Important Updates for Spring and Summer

Hello Pre-Law Students!

As most of you know, there are big changes coming for the PLAS Office.  Alex Gil, our Graduate Assistant, who is a 3L at the UIUC College of Law, will be graduating in May.  Jamie Thomas-Ward, our long-time Director of Pre-Law Advising Services, took a new position in the LAS Department of Economics in January.  Judy Argentieri, Pre-Law Advisor, is retiring on April 30.  There is a search underway for a new Director of Pre-Law Services, but that person will not be “here” on May 1, when we are all gone. So what are you going to do?

Appointments – Alex will be accepting appointments through this Thursday, April 23, then will be focusing on his law school final exams.  Judy will be taking student appointments through next Wednesday, April 29.  Please go to our online scheduling portal to make appointments.

New Team – As mentioned above, the search for a new Director of Pre-Law Services is ongoing.  The hope/plan is to have that person on board soon, possibly by June 1.  In any event, there will be a new director in place before classes resume in the fall.

In the meantime, when you have pre-law questions….

  1. SEARCH THE PLAS BLOG!! Do not forget to search this blog for any topic related to pre-law.  For example, as you all begin Fall 2020 course registration, you can use our March 30 blog post “Suggestions for Fall 2020 Courses” to assist you. Even some of our older posts, covering a wide variety of topics, can be helpful!
  2. USE THE PRE-LAW HANDBOOK!!  As we have mentioned many, many times, the PLAS Handbook, accessible on our webpage, has answers to a lot of your questions with embedded links to help with your research on a host of issues.  Spend some time reading through it.
  3. USE THE PLAS COMPASS PAGE!!  Our Compass page contains a lot of good information, such as: info on UIUC law school applicants; Pre-Law 101 and Personal Statement short videos; the Jobs/Internship Newsletter; and more!  Not sure how to access it?  Go to the Resources tab on our PLAS webpage, and then scroll all the way to the bottom for instructions on how to add the PLAS Compass page.
  4. KEEP CHECKING THE PLAS FACEBOOK PAGE!!  As updates are available concerning the new PLAS team, this will be the best place for up-to-the-minute information.  Haven’t joined our Facebook page yet?  Ask to join Pre-Law Advising Services at Illinois ASAP!
  5. KEEP CHECKING LSAC.ORG!! LSAT registrants and law school applicants – make sure you check www.lsac.org for announcements about LSAT cancellations, LSAT Flex (registration OPENS THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 – TEST TO BE ADMINISTERED MONDAY, MAY 18 OR TUESDAY, MAY 19), law school application changes, etc.  And do not forget that you can access the LSAC’s FREE LSAT Test Prep Class, developed in partnership with Khan Academy, on LSAC’s website.
  6. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!! Now is not the time to be passive.  You must be proactive to stay on top of the constant changes happening here and elsewhere.  Put reminders in your mobile phones to check each of the above resources for important updates and changes!!  Here are a few other areas of interest that most pre-law students want/need to learn more about:
    1. Financing Law School: AccessLex (https://www.accesslex.org/) Law School Transparency (https://www.lawschooltransparency.com/ Our PLAS resources, including our Handbook, list these and other good sources for information on how to manage the cost of a law school education.
    2. Employment Information: ABA’s website http://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/MainHome.aspx. You can also check each individual law school website – this data MUST be published on their websites by ALL ABA-accredited law schools. Articles featured in the Law.com and NationalJurist.com publications, as well as data compiled by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) are also helpful. https://www.nalp.org/
    3. LSAT and GPA Medians ABA 509 Report data – ABA’s website here http://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/MainHome.aspx. You can also check each individual law school website – this data MUST be published on their websites by ALL ABA-accredited law schools.

Refer back to this post or the PLAS Handbook as questions arise during this transition period.  And stay tuned for announcements and updates related to the new Director of Pre-Law Advising Services!

 

Wait listed or just waiting? Some tips about what law school applicants can do.

We’re hearing from a lot of law school applicants who have submitted their applications and now find themselves either wait listed or still waiting to hear back. Here are some helpful tips and pointers to help you position yourself in the best manner for admission and aid!

If you’re still waiting for an admission decision…
You are NOT alone! Many applicants tell us they have been waiting weeks or months. What is going on? It could mean:

  • The school is essentially “wait listing” you, but not calling it that, by waiting to respond to you until they see the rest of the applicant pool.
  • The admissions office is understaffed or inundated with applications.
  • You applied later in the cycle and a backlog of applications must be reviewed before yours.

What can you do if you are still waiting on an answer?

  • IF it has been at least 4-6 weeks or whatever time frame the school has indicated for your file to be reviewed, reach out and politely inquire about anticipated time frames for a decision. Reiterate your interest in the school.
  • Review your status checker in your CAS/LSAC account.
  • Follow the law school on Twitter – many deans have taken to updating applicants about expected decisions there.
  • Don’t:
    • Complain about their slowness or criticize the school’s process
    • Tell them you’ve already heard back from everywhere else or from “better” schools
    • Give the school a deadline.

Sometimes patience is key!

If you’ve been wait listed…Understand what this means: that you are an admittable candidate but the school needs to hit its institutional goals before they can admit you. Institutional goals could be LSAT/GPA related but could also be related to balancing the class with regard to gender, diversity, in state/out of state, age, etc. Very few schools can accurately predict how many applicants–and with what qualities–they will be pulling from a wait list. When the school tells you they don’t know your odds, it is very likely true.

What can you do if you are wait listed?

  • Follow the school’s directions carefully. Do not email to ask them what to do after the school sends very specific instructions. Some law schools will ask you to confirm that you want to be on their wait list–if you don’t do so, you will not be considered. Pay attention to these details and instructions and follow them carefully.
  • Visit the school if you haven’t already. Making a strong impression on an admissions professional can go a long way toward being selected when it’s time for them to pull from the wait list. Just make sure that your visit is welcome or appropriate as a wait list candidate.
  • Update your application by sending an updated resume, a new recommendation, or a letter or email expressing continued interest in that school (sometimes called a LOCI, or letter of continued interest).
  • Stay in touch–no more than once every couple of weeks–to demonstrate your interest in the school. Keep them updated on your plans. IF the school is your top choice, then say so.
  • Continue to make other plans. No one should proceed by “expecting” to be pulled from a wait list…even if this does happen, it can be anytime up to the day classes begin. You need to start making concrete plans in early April. Decide which law school you will attend out of those who accepted you. Make plans for putting down your deposit(s).
  • Don’t demand a decision right now…you may get one but it will not be the one you want.

Be “pleasantly persistent” as we move through March and into April and May, which are prime decision-making times for schools as their deposit deadlines pass. And always remember that professionalism and good manners go a long way in this business!

Build that Law School Resume – Look for Internships and RSO Opportunities NOW!

Law schools are especially interested in applicants who have some experience in legal related positions.  The sooner you get that experience, the better!  Your campus involvement and leadership are also important factors considered in the review of your applications.  Here are some ideas and opportunities to help you build a strong law school resume.

Local Opportunities. Internships can be really helpful to you and are valued by the law schools as part of your overall applicant profile.  As we posted earlier this week, there are events and opportunities on campus for law-related internships, even some paid ones! Go here and scroll down for more information about current openings on campus in the University Counsel’s Office and Environmental Humanities, as well as one in a local law firm.

Summer Internships. If you would rather look into summer internships, the time for action is now.  We published our PLAS Jobs and Internship Newsletter on Compass in December.  Go here to access it.  Note – many summer internships have deadlines in the next few weeks.

Resume Help. Interested in finding a job or internship but not sure how to craft a strong resume and make yourself competitive?  Then mark your calendars for next week’s PLAS workshop, Get That Law-Related Internship or Job — Wednesday, January 29, 5:00pm, 514 IUB.

Whether you are a sophomore applying for summer internships or a senior applying to post-graduation jobs, this workshop is for you! We will help you draft a resume and learn important skills for effectively finding and landing law-related internships and jobs!

We will cover:

  • Resume tips for applying to law-related jobs/internships, including what to avoid, what to include, how to structure it, and more. Bring your resume!
  • How to find law-related internships and jobs, including what to look for, where to look, and how to enhance your application
  • How to create effective cover letters that lawyers will read
  • What kinds of transferrable skills to highlight

Join us as we provide inside insight into how exactly to land a meaningful internship or job in the legal world.

Student Organizations. Maybe you already have an internship and are looking for a student group to join.  You are in luck!  The RSO Involvement Fair is TOMORROW, Thursday, January 23, 11am-3pm, Illini Union (I-Rooms, South Lounge, Courtyard Cafe).  This is a great opportunity to learn about the hundreds of registered student organizations on campus and possibly find one to join.  You should think in terms of getting involved with 2-3 meaningful extracurriculars while a student at UIUC. Clubs, volunteering, working on campus, mentoring, tutoring, etc., are all great options.

Remember – it is never too early to start building that law school resume so don’t miss out on these great opportunities!