Am I out of my mind? (preparing for the LSAT)

thinkfloyd14 · 09-01-2009, 09:47 PM

This is kind of an embarrassing question for me, which is why I feel more comfortable asking strangers.

The basic question is... is there any way I can tell if I would be able to handle Law School, or for that matter, even being a Lawyer, taking the LSAT + BAR?

I am not the most naturally "smart" person out there, but when I work hard, I can succeed. It takes me longer than others to understand math problems and things of that nature. I am quite convinced I have at least a mild case of ADHD, but I would never get tested for that or take amphetamines to 'fix' the problem. I scored around an 1090 on my SAT's, which is no where near as good as my girlfriend's, brother's or father's score.

Do you think I can still pull it off, or is the whole lawyer deal out of my league. (and please be honest).

p.s. I am 21, I go to USC, with a 3.3 GPA. I am majoring in Music Industry (music business) and would like to pursue a career in Entertainment Law. I took a Music Law class last year and for some reason it just made me feel good, like I may have come across something; however, I wasn't the best at it.

Thanks,

Sammy

Bill Douglas · 09-01-2009, 09:55 PM

Some friends who, said themselves, they were not really law school types, got through law school but they said they really did need to work harder than the others as it wasn't "natural" for them. If you know what sort of law you want to do it's a big plus.

McLovin · 09-01-2009, 10:25 PM

Why not study for the LSAT, take it, and see what happens?

With a 3.3 from USC you certainly are not going to get admitted to a top tier law school, but that doesn't stop you from becoming a lawyer. 95%+ of law students don't go to a top tier law school.

With a 3.3, and based on your past academic performance and SAT performance, what you are likely to get on the LSAT, you won't get into a second tier law school, either. You'll have to settle for one quite a few tiers down, but your average lawyer went to some average law school.

It depends on what your expectations are. If you expect to get a high paying job at a top, white shoe Big Firm, that isn't going to happen.

But maybe that's not your aspiration, so that doesn't matter.

The first step is to take the LSAT, that and your GPA will give you a pretty good indication of what your options are.

HardDrive · 09-01-2009, 10:43 PM

Of course you can do it. You think all lawyers are geniuses? Trust me, their not.

The LSAT is like anything else, you simply need to prepare. Get a book by Kaplan or Princeton review(maybe both), and work your way through it. I actually worked for Kaplan for about 5 years. I think their classes would only be worthwhile if you have been away from school for a while. Since you are currently in school, the books/software would probably be enough.

Try and find others at your school who are preparing for the LSAT. If your school has some sort of online forums post there. Hell, maybe even craigslist. Find out about how the test scores are reported to schools. Do they report all scores, or just the one you tell them to send?

I used to teach LSAT/GRE classes (long ago). I'm quite good at standardized tests. PM me if you like.

mikester · 09-01-2009, 10:57 PM

Anyone can do anything if they really put their mind and heart to it. Even you.

dd74 · 09-02-2009, 12:15 AM

Damn, Sammy. I wish you had posted this earlier before I threw out all my LSAT textbooks. I'll look around and see if they're any left. If so, I'll send 'em down to SC.

Are you in the music dept? USC has one of the best music studies dept. in the country. I'm friends with one of the profs. there. A jazz guy.

Anyway, take the LSAT, and try to get into USC's law program. All the graduate schools prefer returning Trojans, and USC's law school is very highly regarded. It's all there for you.

Eric 951 · 09-02-2009, 03:58 AM

Took the LSAT and the GRE and found the LSAT the easier of the two. Just study up--nothing too complex about it. My college advisor and several attorney friends told me (at the time) having a background in the arts--writing, lit., history etc. was the best prep for law school as alot of the coursework is reading comprehension and research.

LWJ · 09-02-2009, 06:07 AM

Here is my advice. This is important so I want you to pay attention.

1) Test scores are not relevant.
2) ADHD can very much be an asset.
3) Quick thinking is no big deal.

Case in point. I am "smarter" than probably 95 to 98% of the public. I test very well. While I do fine in my career, I can show you a LARGE number of significantly "less smart" people who do better.

ADHD, yes, I probably am somewhere with low levels ADHD as well. It has been useful for me as it keeps my mind moving quickly. I do need to work on focusing and not wandering. Meetings are particularly difficult.

Also, I would characterize myself as a somewhat slow thinker on several topics. For technical industry specific issues, I usually need to get back to people, as I have to think things over a little bit.

The important things to remember are focus and motivation. Test scores are BS. A 3.3 at USC is nothing to feel poorly about. You should be proud. Yes, you CAN get into a pretty good law school. I got into a graduate program that admitted 7 total people. I had absolutely zero business being there but the arguments of my professor opened the doors. The subjective part of graduate / law school admission are absolutely not to be discounted. Find an advocate and tell them your passion.

You will do fine. PM me if you want me to pump you up even more. I have zero doubts as to your ability to thrive.

Larry

thinkfloyd14 · 09-02-2009, 09:51 AM

WOW! Thank you to everyone for being so positive and up front.

I do not expect to get into a top tier school, but that doesn't bother me, I am looking at schools like Loyola, Southwestern, Brooklyn, USC etc.. (USC being sort of a stretch)

HardDrive, yes I bought a Princeton Review book and have just began looking over it, and I do plan to take a course a month or two before the LSAT I plan to take.

DD74, bring the books on if you got em! Just PM me if you find any lying around, but its no big deal I already have plenty of resources. Yes I am in the Thorton School of music, in the Music Industry dept, its a fairly new faction of Thorton which divulges into a Technical or Business track.

LWJ, I'd like to hear more about how you see ADHD has helped you, because for me I feel it hurts me in infinite ways. I wander, I get impatient, I lose motivation to work, and try to easy my way out of things. I have a ridiculous amount of friends that take amphetamines to 'cure' their ADHD but I am too scared of the side effects.

thanks again

Dueller · 10:43 AM

Read the book "One L" by Scott Turrow. Watch the movie "Paper Chase." Get a summer job at a law firm that does entertainment law to see what you're really dealing with...practicing law ain't nearly as sexy as it is portrayed.

Law school ain't rocket surgery but you will be around a lot of smart and/or motivated folks. Go for it if you think it floats your boat. You'll do fine.

Keep inmind: People who make A's in Law school become law professors.
People who make B's become judges.
People who make C's become rich.

LWJ · 09-02-2009, 02:51 PM

ADHD.

First, I know close and personal other folks with a medical diagnosis of ADHD and can not claim to be any sort of expert. That said, I have read a number of books and screening tools and would say that other than the "disability" part, I have it.

Biggest advantage. I was in a networking group and a guy there was from the Bay Area and had worked extensively in the tech industry. He was floored by the mental connections and associations I was able to make. I am extremely "out of the box." Creativity is a strong suit with me. I have boundless energy. I get more done in the day than three average people. I have the ability to find solutions that are completely invisible to most people.

On the flip side, I need to tame my personality or I would be fairly unemployable. When I talk to others, I need to slow down and fill in the details because if I don't they get lost and think I am a raving lunatic. (unless of course they have ADHD and then we get along famously at a high rate of speed)
There are pluses and minuses to everything.

I would say from personal knowledge in my family (not me) that looking at a diagnosis and medical prescription can work absolute wonders and I would COMPLETELY RECOMMEND EXPLORING THIS OPTION. Yes, there are side effects like not eating and insomnia. I have seen an amazing transformation in the last year due to medication. It is not to be discounted. I won't go into this over the web due to privacy issues. PM me again and I can give you more details.

Glad you listened. The folks here are pretty experienced and accomplished for the most part. A great knowledge base.

Go for your dreams.

Larry

Looking_for_911 · 09-02-2009, 04:16 PM

Sammy,

Listen, all this talk about top tier schools, etc... well, forget that.

Do you know what they call the top 25-percent of people that graduate from law school?
No? They're called "Judge."

Do you know what they call the second 25-percent of people that graduate from law school? No? They're called "Prosecutor."

Now, do you know what they call the other 50-percent that graduate from from law school?
They're called "Attorney!"

My finace' is a brilliant girl, much smarter than me, and she said she became a lawyer because she sucks at math, so don't worry about that, either.

Go for it! One of the top Med-Malpractice attorneys in the Southeast is a graduate of a "night" law school. You can do it if you want to!

tabs · 09-02-2009, 04:39 PM

Excuse me for being pessimistic..But by the time you get outa school there will be nothing left of America for you to go to work in.

Looking_for_911 · 09-02-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabs

Excuse me for being pessimistic..But by the time you get outa school there will be nothing left of America for you to go to work in.

And surely by then we will have taken Shakespeare's advise and killed all the lawyers!

Scooter · 09-02-2009, 06:45 PM

The LSAT will give you absolutely no indication of whether law school is right for you or not. You have to want it... period. If you don't want it, then you either won't make it, or you will not get much out of it. "It" being law or law school. Good luck with your decision.