Taking LSAT Preparation Classes

The LSAT is a big part of your law school application, so preparing for the exam with the best resources available is critical.  Before signing up for an LSAT course or contracting with an exam tutor, you need to carefully evaluate the level of instruction you'll receive.

How to Choose an LSAT Prep Course

If you search for LSAT prep materials on the internet, you'll probably see a number of different advertisements from organizations offering LSAT prep courses.  Unfortunately, it's not easy to gauge the value of the information that you will receive from advertisements alone.  Among other things, it will be almost impossible to test out a number of their claims. 

For example, how can Company A prove that it's the top LSAT preparation company in the Midwest?  Consider that anyone that's done extremely well on the LSAT is likely very involved in their legal career, so how likely is it these individuals will be spending their time teaching classes?  That said, if the company provides profiles of each instructor, you may be able to ascertain some facts with a little additional research. 

You might also want to call law schools in your area of interest and ask which LSAT classes they recommend.  You can also visit their websites to see if they make this type of information available to the public.  Finally, you may also want to check with the American Bar Association and the official LSAT website to see if they recommend any specific company for this type of instruction.

Making the Decision to Hire a Tutor

If you feel that you would benefit from individual instruction, you may want to hire an LSAT tutor.  Just like with LSAT classes, you'll want to give some serious thought to who you hire as your tutor.  Among other things, you'll want to know how well this person did on their own LSAT, as well as the success they've had in their career.  If you don't feel comfortable trying to evaluate these things, ask your academic advisor to recommend a tutor for you.

Choosing Between a Tutor and an LSAT Prep Course

The cost of private tutoring and LSAT classes can be expensive, so you may have to choose one or the other.  What's best for you is largely a matter of personal preference.  When you take an LSAT course, you'll be able to meet with students who are also grappling with the same set of issues, which can be helpful if you want to study together, or work together to develop test taking strategies.  On the other hand, a tutor can give you more individualized attention, and may catch habits or ineffective strategies that a classroom instructor might miss.

If you're planning to be a lawyer, achieving a high score on the LSAT is crucial.  This exam plays a significant role in which universities you'll get into.  Therefore, it's important to choose the best method of preparation for your particular needs and to seek out individuals who are best able to help you achieve your goal.