Live in NYC (Ep. 148)

Live from New York! It’s Thinking LSAT Live. Jump into the classroom with Ben and Nathan as they field 20 questions from their joint prep class in the big apple. The guys talk everything from test technicalities, test strategies and pre-test regimens to law school and Ben’s brief career as a “practicing” lawyer.

As always, if you dig the podcast, make sure to check all of the great LSAT prep materials from Nathan and Ben on their respective websites. You can also have the guys help you with your personal statement when applying to law school.

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5:14 – Question 1—Just how important is formal logic? In some LSAT prep materials, there are sections devoted to LOGIC, but what’s really necessary when it comes to understanding logic for the LSAT? The guys discuss what they think are the most important principles.

7:22 – Question 2—One of our audience members wants to know what effective section review looks like. Ben and Nathan discuss best practices for review after you smash out those 35 minute sections.

13:40 – Question 3—It’s inevitable. On test day you’re likely to get hella stumped on a question or two. This wondering audience member wants to know if you should just go ahead and skip those questions that are really giving you trouble. Nathan and Ben weigh in with their thoughts. But the pro tip is this: if you skip, chances are you’re moving into more challenging territory on the test, so think wisely when you’re moving past a question.

17:35 – Question 4—The guys do a quick dive into evaluate-the-argument questions and share how they each think about tackling this question type.

20:36 – Question 5—When you’re practicing (timed, of course), should you always go on to answer the questions in the section you didn’t get to after the time runs out? That’s what one audience member wants to know. The answer? Most of the time, yes. But tune in to hear what Nathan and Ben have to say about it.

22:00 – Question 6—An audience member asks the guys what mistakes they made early on in law school and what would they change if they could go back and do it again. Aside from “going to law school in the first place,” the guys jump in and offer some advice for L1 students. Some pro tips? Sit in the front row. Engage in a big way. Prepare for class…a lot. And more.

31:32 – Question 7—A few episodes ago, the guys recommended that you dear listeners take a listen to a Revisionist History episode that explored the nuances of language and law. Now the live class wants to know if there are other podcasts or “smart shit” the guys recommend for listening, watching, or reading. Ben and Nathan offer up a few suggestions.

36:33 – Question 8—So you’re planning to go to law school, huh? Well. Application cycles begin late summer and early autumn. You’ll apply, sure. But when is it smart to go and visit the school? IS it smart to go visit the school? The guys discuss, and the pro tip seems to be—wait and see where you are admitted. Then go visit.

39:06 – Question 9—An audience member asks how you go about negotiating a better acceptance offer by using multiple other acceptances as leverage. The golden ticket? Just ask.

41:36 – Question 10—At the audience’s behest Nathan shares success stories of former students who didn’t go to law school, and Ben offers his thoughts as well.  

44:14 – Question 11—It’s no secret that Ben and Nathan turn a bunch of folks away from going to law school. And for good reason. It’s expensive. It’s boring. And for most people, they’re not going to end up in a lucrative career as a lawyer. In fact, they may not practice law at all. But damnit, someone in the audience wants to know why is it these guys discourage folks from going to law school!? For some people is it that the LSAT just isn’t for them? They didn’t want to go through the process of studying for the test? Did law simply not appeal to them any longer? What’s the deal? Ben shares his thoughts.  

46:21 – Question 12—Even though neither of the guys practice law, and they both kind of hate the idea of law school, a member of the audience wants to know if either Nathan or Ben have given thought to teaching at a law school. While Nathan exempts himself as unqualified, Ben waxes poetic about what classes would be fun to teach. 

51:47 – Question 13—The audience wants to know if the guys have learned very much from their students over the years. The answer? A resounding yes. The guys describe some of the ways in which they’ve learned from their own classes.

53:11 – Question 14—Ever wonder what type of law Ben practiced? So did this rowdy crowd in NYC. Tune in to hear about Ben’s lawyerly past.

54:41 – Question 15—If Nathan and Ben ruled all of law-school-dom, how would they change the existing system? Well. Y’all would be shuffled through that shit WAY faster, and you’d end up better writers on the other side. Plus you’d probably be able to actually sit for the fucking bar. Nathan and Ben share what they think needs to change about modern law education.

1:03:45 – Question 16—An audience member asks—“but hey”—what if you don’t have to pay for law school at all and you can go part time and still have an income. Is it still worth it just to go to law school to change the way that you think? To sharpen your mind? The guys opine.

1:07:56 – Question 17—How much memorization do you need to do when studying for the LSAT? Is it like a flash-card thing? Nathan and Ben discuss what they think are useful concepts and words to memorize in preparing for the LSAT.

1:11:36 – Question 18—The guys get asked: aside from 35-minute sections, what else can cultivate a mindful and productive LSAT prep? The audience member cites exercise, nutrition, and meditation as some ideas. The guys add SLEEP and a few other important items to your prep list—one of which is not putting too many items on your prep list.

1:15:07 – Question 19—Nathan and Ben give the audience some ideas about what to do and what not to do 24-hours before you sit for the LSAT. And guess what. It’s all about that chill factor. Get some exercise. Go to the movies. Go out to eat. Treat yo’ self and declare victory over the test so you can march into the exam room the following day focused and ready to crush it.

1:18:10 – Question 20—Let’s say you’re signed up for the July and the September tests. And then after your July test you get exactly what you expect. How do you keep prepping toward September? The guys make a few recommendations before calling it a day.