Every Word Matters (Ep. 485)
Good lawyers aren’t afraid to pause when they don’t understand something. They read and reread until they figure it out. This week, Ben and Nathan discuss why this lawyerly trait is crucial to mastering the LSAT. Later, the guys reject a purported downside to retaking the LSAT. They speculate about AI’s impact on the legal profession. And they consider the value of paying for the prestige of a top law school.
1:46 - Every Word Matters
LSAT beginners and veterans alike make most of their mistakes because of sloppy reading. Ben and Nathan urge listeners to read like lawyers: every word matters.
23:32 - Pearls vs. Turds
Will law school admissions officers brand you as a “perfectionist” if you retake the LSAT? Would that label hurt your admissions chances?
34:41 - AI and Law
Listener Charlie worries about AI’s impact on the legal profession. Nathan and Ben argue that AI will empower attorneys, not replace them.
44:47 - Pay for Prestige?
Listener Trip wants to practice family law in a small city. The guys advise Trip to attend a regional law school on a full-ride scholarship rather than pay for the prestige of a higher-ranked school.
50:55 - LSAT and ADHD
Listener Victoria feels overwhelmed by the length of the passages in Reading Comprehension. Ben and Nathan encourage Victoria to focus on one sentence at a time.
57:26 - Tutoring
The guys discuss when students should pursue one-on-one LSAT tutoring and how to make the most of it.
1:03:21 - Low GPA
Soft factors don’t make up for—or excuse—a low GPA. Nathan and Ben urge listener Elis to prioritize grades over extracurriculars.
1:07:67 - Word of the Week
The University of Texas at Austin School of Law prefers “Texas Law” to the more pithy sobriquet “UT.”