The JAG Corps with 3L Henry Carras (Ep. 287)
Ben and Nathan are joined by Henry Carras, a 3L at GW who is preparing to go into the JAG (Judge Advocate General’s) Corps. Harry discusses the ins and outs of what it means to be a Judge Advocate in different branches of the military, what responsibilities JAG Corps officers have outside of lawyer-ing, and what it takes to be accepted into the JAG Corps. The guys also hear from a student who’s wondering if creating a good network in law school is better than being a big fish with a scholarship, they skewer a money-grab email from Georgetown, take a look at an excuse of the week, and get into another LR question from prep test 65.
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Important Dates
04.10.2021 – The April LSAT Flex testing week begins!
06.12.2021 – Break out the short sleeves, registration for the June LSAT is open!
6:48 – Interview with JAG Corps Candidate, Henry Carras
Y’all—or…some of y’all—have asked, and the guys have listened. Just what is the military JAG Corps all about and is it a good path to consider for aspiring lawyers. Nathan and Ben sit down with George Washington 3L and JAG Corps candidate, Henry Carras. Henry’s spent his law school career building towards a position in the Army JAG Corps and things are looking good for him after he passes the Bar this fall. Henry discusses the many different roles a Judge Advocate can play in the military (note: it’s not all A Few Good Men stuff) and talks about his experiences so far completing internships and externships in the JAG Corps. Taking this path will place you in military service and may get you into a courtroom far sooner than other traditional law career pathways. If you’re interested in public policy and the military, the JAG Corps could be a consideration for some of y’all.
42:53 – Networking vs. The “Big Fish” Argument
G’s been listening for a minute. And they know that the guys often advise that folks should get a full-ride scholarship to law school where you are more likely to land at the top of your class. G wants to know just how surefire this advice is. If you get a scholarship, are you a shoe-in for a top spot in your class? What if you decide to go to a “better” school for full tuition, but spend your time there networking your ass off and building relationships instead of getting easy A’s? Nathan and Ben double down on their advice. Yes, if you get a scholarship to a law school, you’re very likely to be in the top half of that class. But you can’t take it for granted. No matter what school you go to, you’re going to have to work your ass off. This idea that you can network your way to the top is a plan with a lot of holes in it, and the guys discuss why.
56:48 – A “Surprising” Email From Georgetown
A listener recently received an email from Georgetown Law…kinda outta the blue. The email said “hey, friend! You look like you could be a candidate for our law school! People just like you get accepted here a lot. Why don’t you apply today for the fall?! All standard admission fees, etc. apply!” Our dear listener is wondering if this is a sign from Georgetown that they could be accepted to this prestigious institution. But Ben and Nathan think it sounds more like a cold call that only benefits Georgetown and has nothing in the cards for our Thinking LSAT fan.
1:02:42 – Excuse of the Week
It’s your (sometimes) weekly segment, “Excuse of the Week,” in which the guys respond to an excuse overheard in LSAT Demon classrooms—or from students anywhere—about why they “just can’t.” Today? The excuse is that a Logic Game was particularly difficult because it cited cardinal directions. The student pointed out that they don’t have a strong handle on “east” or “west” because they simply use a GPS all the time, and that screws with your sense of direction, amirite!?! But the guys aren’t taking any bullsh*t. Do you think a judge would be amenable to this excuse in a court of law? Last time we checked the “but GPS!” argument doesn’t fly that well in a legal proceeding. Next time, just imagine a map of the U.S. and think about which is the east coast and which is the west coast…yeah? In all seriousness, classrooms are a super safe place to make mistakes and express where you’re having trouble, but you also gotta dig deep and clear the hurdles in your way if you hope to improve on the LSAT and be a great lawyer.
1:11:01 – LR Question 22 from Section 4 of Prep Test 65
Nathan and Ben take a look at a late-in-the-section strengthen question from prep test 65 about two scientific communities. They walk you through their thinking as they read the argument line for line, and then rip right through the answer choices.