Thinking LSAT

Who Pays Tuition at Campbell Law School? (Ep. 451)

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many law students pay nowhere near full tuition. Some pay no tuition at all. Law schools don’t offer reduced or waived tuition fees out of generosit...

Biden Cuts Debt, Tuition Keeps Soaring (Ep. 450)

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tuitions are soaring at U.S. colleges and universities, and short-sighted student loan policies may be partly to blame. This week, Ben and Nathan disc...

Advice for Test Week (Ep. 449)

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The April LSAT is almost here. How should test-takers approach the final days leading up to their official test? Nathan and Ben advise listeners to tr...

Admissions Cycle Takeaways (Ep. 448)

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Micah McCreary is an LSAT coach and law school admissions consultant through his company JurisPrep. He’s also a former LSAT Demon student and curren...

Without a Graeme of Evidence (Ep. 447)

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two weeks ago, Ben and Nathan revealed a shadow ban targeting LSAT Demon on Reddit. The sole moderator of the r/LSAT subreddit, Graeme Blake from LSAT...

Are LSAT Accommodations Unfair? (Ep. 446)

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Testing accommodations are meant to give students with documented disabilities a fair shot. But recent LSAT scoring data suggests that the current tim...

About that r/LSAT Shadow Ban (Ep. 445)

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Love it or hate it, the r/LSAT subreddit is a popular forum for LSAT news and advice. Unfortunately, LSAT Demon students have been unable to engage fu...

The LSAT Is Easy (Ep. 444)

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When Ben and Nathan say “the LSAT is easy,” it’s not to suggest that LSAT improvement comes effortlessly. This week, the guys elaborate on their...

What It Takes to Score 175 (Ep. 443)

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to score 170 on the LSAT? A mastery of the English language, sharply honed reasoning skills, and a strong work ethic. But with the i...

Don't Become a Lawyer for the Money (Ep. 442)

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many prospective lawyers dream of big law salaries. Far fewer achieve them. Ben and Nathan examine the disappointing reality of big law placement at n...

Why We Named It LSAT Demon (Ep. 441)

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan address a frequently asked question: “Why the name LSAT Demon?” The name’s origin aligns with their belief that every LSAT questi...

A Slower Cycle (Maya Russell) (Ep. 440)

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nathan is joined by Maya Russell, chair of the Pre-Law Advisor National Council, for an insightful discussion of the law school admissions process. Ma...

Too Late for Law School? (Ep. 439)

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Law school doesn’t have an age limit. But older applicants be warned: law isn’t a fallback career. This week, Nathan and Ben beseech listeners of ...

What's My LSAT Potential? (Ep. 438)

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The LSAT is a test of reasoning skills. But the best lawyers often go beyond reason—they set unreasonable goals and work unreasonable hours to attai...

From Law to Tech (Jonea Gordon) (Ep. 437)

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jonea Gordon left her job as a lawyer and quadrupled her salary. She’s now a data privacy expert who has worked with some of the biggest tech compan...

Retake and Reapply (Ep. 436)

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many applicants face a dilemma at this point in the admissions cycle: Do they settle for a mediocre LSAT score and uninspiring scholarship offers? Or ...

New Year's LSAT Resolutions (Ep. 435)

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Year! Nathan and Ben kick off 2024 with New Year’s resolutions for LSAT students. The guys also discuss whether nontraditional applicants ...

Breaking Out of a Score Plateau (Ep. 434)

25 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan address a listener’s concerns about his stagnant test scores, providing guidance for improvement. Also on the show, the guys share in...

Yield Protection: Fact or Fiction? (Ep. 433)

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Feared by some, loathed by others, “yield protection” remains a steadfast reality in law school admissions. This week, Nathan and Ben discuss why ...

One Less Law School (Ep. 432)

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Another one bites the dust. Ben and Nathan bid adieu to Golden Gate University School of Law, which will end its JD program in May. Unfortunately, eli...

Working While in Law School (Ep. 431)

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Law school is famously time-consuming. Many students consider quitting their jobs and relying on student loans for living expenses. In this week’s e...

Expand Your Vocabulary (Ep. 430)

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyers are gladiators of the English language. Words are their weapons. So if you’re entering the arena of legal practice, you’d better hone your...

Last Call for Logic Games (Ep. 429)

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LSAT students have a limited-time opportunity to conquer Logic Games before they’re gone for good. This week, Nathan and Ben share insights on strat...

Face Your LSAT Fears (Ep. 428)

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Test day doesn’t always go as planned. From tech problems to tricky logic games, unexpected challenges during an official LSAT attempt can be intimi...

The First-Gen Disadvantage (Ep. 427)

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Law school isn’t a level playing field. First-generation college students face significant disadvantages in law school, as reported by the Law Schoo...

Should I Keep Studying LG? (Ep. 426)

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Logic Games will soon be on their way out, and many LSAT students are now grappling with the decision of whether to study them. Should you invest time...

Goodbye, Logic Games (Ep. 425)

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The era of LSAT logic games is coming to a close. Beginning in August 2024, the exam’s Analytical Reasoning section will be removed, making room for...

The Biggest Myth about LSAT Improvement (Ep. 424)

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Law schools thirsty for applicants may tell you that people rarely improve their LSAT score by more than a few points. This week, Ben and Nathan unpac...

LSAT Work-Life Balance (Ep. 423)

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One high-quality hour of study per day is all you need to beat the LSAT. Still, many students struggle to commit. This week, Nathan and Ben prompt lis...

Law Schools Want You to Want Them (Ep. 422)

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Law school admissions is a competitive game, and schools are wary to admit applicants who are likely to enroll elsewhere. This week, Ben and Nathan ex...

Behind the Bench (Judge Nazarian) (Ep. 421)

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Judge Douglas R. M. Nazarian has served on the Appellate Court of Maryland since 2013. He joins Ben and Nathan to share his journey to the bench and t...

Legal Burnout (Ep. 420)

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Bridal and Josey Hoff, hosts of The Legal Burnouts podcast, join Ben and Nathan to discuss why burnout is such a common problem for legal profess...

Loan Forgiveness Traps (Ep. 419)

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs) are often touted as silver bullets of student loan debt relief for low-earning public interest lawyers. But...

Demystifying Judicial Clerkships (Aliza Shatzman) (Ep. 418)

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan are joined by Aliza Shatzman, founder of the Legal Accountability Project. Aliza describes the project’s mission to bring greater tra...

Are You Ready to Take the LSAT? (Ep. 417)

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the deadline to register for the October LSAT only days away, Nathan and Ben share some advice to students who are on the fence about registering...

Legal Writing and AI (Ross Guberman) (Ep. 416)

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ross Guberman is one of the world’s top legal writing experts. He’s the author of Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation’s Top Advocates, and ...

Diversity in Law School Admissions (Sydney Montgomery) (Ep. 415)

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sydney Montgomery is the Executive Director and Founder of Barrier Breakers, a nonprofit that aims to increase access to higher education for BIPOC an...

Big Bad Law (Cece Xie) (Ep. 414)

07 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cece Xie is a lawyer, writer, and content creator who became wildly popular on social media while working as an associate at a big law firm. She joins...

Building Confidence in Reading Comprehension (Ep. 413)

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Perfect accuracy on LSAT Reading Comprehension is within your reach. LSAT Demon teacher Chris Murphy joins Nathan to help listeners maximize their pot...

Why We Don't Diagram in LR (Ep. 412)

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Diagramming in Logical Reasoning is time-consuming, confusing, and error-prone. Ben and Nathan advocate an intuitive approach to Logical Reasoning tha...

LSAC's Kyle McEntee (Ep. 411)

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LSAC’s Kyle McEntee rejoins the pod to share info about LSAC’s resources for law school applicants. Kyle and the guys also discuss the recent Supr...

How to Answer "Except" Questions (Ep. 410)

10 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Beginning with the August LSAT, certain key words like “except” will be presented in lowercase bold rather than ALL CAPS. On this week’s episode...

Sufficient vs. Necessary (Ep. 409)

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Understanding the difference between necessary and sufficient is necessary—but not sufficient—for success on the LSAT. This week, Nathan and Ben i...

Special Episode: Supreme Court Ends Affirmative Action in College Admissions

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan weigh in on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which bans the consideration of race as a specific...

How to Find the Main Conclusion in LR (Ep. 408)

26 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To succeed in LSAT Logical Reasoning, you must learn to identify conclusions. On this week’s podcast, Ben and Nathan respond to Ask Button questions...

The Matthew Effect (Ep. 407)

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LSAT Demon teacher Matt DuMont takes a break from bar prep to join Ben and Nathan for a deep dive into his law school experience. Matt shares insight...

1L Prep (Angela Vorpahl) (Ep. 406)

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As the fall semester approaches, incoming 1Ls may wonder how to prepare themselves for law school. On this week’s episode, Nathan and Ben are joined...

Read Better, Not Faster (Ep. 405)

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Reading faster won’t solve your problems on LSAT Reading Comprehension. On this week’s pod, Ben and Nathan encourage a time-conscious student to s...

Worlds First, Worlds Always in Logic Games (Ep. 404)

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LSAT Demon teacher and Logic Games guru Matt DuMont joins Ben to share some LG wisdom. Matt and Ben discuss their approach to building worlds in Logic...

Breaking Down the New Rankings (Ep. 403)

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After months of delays, the new law school rankings have arrived. Will changes to U.S. News’s methodology mean fewer merit scholarships? Ben is join...

Why Are the Guys So Rude? (And Other FAQs) (Ep. 402)

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“Why are the LSAT Demon guys so rude?” LSAT Demon’s social media lead, Ashley joins Nathan and Ben to share this and other frequently asked ques...

How to Understand Abstract Answers (Ep. 401)

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the writing on the LSAT feels deliberately opaque—especially when it uses abstract language. On this week’s episode, Ben and Nathan brea...

Our Favorite Episodes (Ep. 400)

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From the “holy grail” of Logical Reasoning to roasting their own personal statements, Ben and Nathan celebrate 400 episodes by revisiting some of ...

Mindfulness: Your LSAT Superpower (Ep. 399)

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Your mind is awesome. Harness its power by training yourself to focus on what you choose. Today, Ben and Nathan extol the benefits of meditation as a ...

Big Law Expectations (Ep. 398)

17 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You are online 24-7. The client is always right. “I don’t know” is never an acceptable answer. These are a few of the “non-negotiable expectat...

New Test Center Option (Ep. 397)

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In-person testing is back. Beginning with the August 2023 LSAT, test takers will be able to choose between taking the LSAT at home or in person at a t...

Too Many Notes and Other Sins (Ep. 396)

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Too much note-taking stymies understanding. Today on the show, Ben and Nathan discuss how to study effectively for a skills-based test like the LSAT....

When Should I Take the LSAT? (Ep. 395)

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Novice LSAT students often sign up for test dates before they’ve even started studying. Today on the show, Ben and Nathan explain why it’s a mista...

Set Smaller Goals (Ep. 394)

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fixating on a goal score can be counterproductive. The only way to improve on the LSAT is to focus on understanding one question at a time. Today, Ben...

Law School Pricing Is Unfair (Ep. 393)

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The law school tuition system is broken and unlikely to change. Ben and Nathan discuss the why and the who behind the inequitable pricing and double d...

Slowing Down Is Not Enough (Ep. 392)

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LSAT Demon acolytes know that we slow down to speed up on the LSAT. But this mantra is not an invitation to focus on speed. Slowing down is not an end...

Regional School with National Reach? (Ep. 391)

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan assess whether attending a regional school may prevent you from finding work in a more competitive market. The guys double down on thei...

From Rejection to Full Ride (Ep. 390)

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nathan and Ben read the story of an applicant who improved his LSAT and received a full-ride scholarship offer from a school that had rejected him las...

LSAT Survives ABA Vote (Ep. 389)

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Reports of the LSAT’s impending demise have been greatly exaggerated. The ABA voted last week to uphold the required use of a standardized test, lik...

Start with One Question (Ep. 388)

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

New LSAT students often feel overwhelmed and don’t know how to begin studying. On this week’s pod, Ben and Nathan demystify the process: start wit...

Will AI Replace Lawyers? (Ep. 387)

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is ChatGPT coming for lawyers’ jobs? On this week’s episode, Nathan and Ben speculate on how AI chatbots will affect the legal industry. They imag...

When to Apply to Law School (Ep. 386)

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly 35,000 people have already applied to law school this cycle,  according to data from LSAC. And many top law schools have already begun  handi...

The LSAT Is Your Wrecking Ball (Ep. 385)

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A wall stands between you and law school. Would you rather swing at it with a hammer or a wrecking ball? On this week’s podcast, Ben and Nathan remi...

US News Revamps Rankings (Ep. 384)

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

US News & World Report is changing the way it ranks law schools. A recent letter to law school deans outlines updates to the ranking methodology, ...

Make Failure Impossible (Ep. 383)

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Students are often tempted to take the official LSAT before they’re ready or to apply to law school late in the cycle “just to see what happens.”...

Will Law Schools "Reset" Tuition? (Ep. 382)

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Law school prices aren’t real. Scholarship data from ABA 509 reports show that most students don’t pay anything close to sticker price. Are law sc...

When to Give Up on Law School (Ep. 381)

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two mice fell into a bucket of cream. One gave up quickly and drowned. The other refused to quit and struggled for so long that it churned the cream t...

Surrender to Win (Ep. 380)

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fears and false narratives often destroy our productivity. Only when we let go of such counterproductive thoughts can we achieve our full potential. T...

No Personal Statement? No Problem (Ep. 379)

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan review a law school’s streamlined application process that doesn’t require a personal statement or letters of recommendation. The e...

Top Five Mistakes on 1L Exams, with Angela Vorpahl (Ep. 378)

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ben interviews Angela Vorpahl, a consultant who guides law students through their 1L year. Angela shares the top five mistakes students make on law sc...

What's My Score Range? (Ep. 377)

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan discuss score ranges and why your confidence in your ability shouldn’t rise and fall with your practice test scores. The guys also re...

It Pays to Get Greedy (Ep. 376)

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan celebrate Demon students’ successes on the October LSAT—and encourage more students to retake the test. When every point matters, i...

Logic Games Aren’t Changing Soon (Ep. 375)

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan discuss LSAC’s upcoming Analytical Reasoning Field Study and assure listeners that the Logic Games aren’t changing anytime soon. Th...

Do LSAT Scores Correlate with IQ? (Ep. 374)

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nathan and Ben continue their discussion about IQ and the LSAT with some input from Thinking LSAT listener and amateur psychometrician Anthony. They d...

Scholarship Negotiation Insights (Ep. 373)

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show, Ben and Nathan take a glimpse behind the curtain at a law school’s approach to scholarship negotiations. The guys examine an emai...

Only Your Best Score Matters (Ep. 372)

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Should you retake the LSAT? The answer is almost always yes. Today on the show, Ben and Nathan advise a student who fears scoring lower on a second at...

Escaping Law, with Megan Smiley (Ep. 371)

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nathan and Ben are joined by special guest Megan Smiley, who coaches lawyers seeking to leave legal practice. They discuss why so many lawyers want to...

Making the Most of Law School, with Alison Monahan (Ep. 370)

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan are joined by special guest Alison Monahan, cofounder of Law School Toolbox. They discuss law school and bar exam prep, the law school–...

Dean Z Rejects “Don’t Pay for Law School” (Ep. 369)

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Admissions officers may say that you have to pay for law school. Nathan and Ben disagree. On today’s pod, the guys review financial aid advice from ...

Create Your Own Early Decision Program (Ep. 368)

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Savvy listeners who applied early this cycle continue to receive scholarship offers. Today, Ben and Nathan discuss an offer that promises all the bene...

Score Release Highs and Lows (Ep. 367)

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the pod, Ben and Nathan celebrate two LSAT Demon students who increased their scores by a whopping thirty-one points. They also offer advice ...

Let the Scholarship Games Begin (Ep. 366)

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Most law schools have begun accepting applications for fall 2023 admission. Nathan and Ben predict when the first scholarship offers of the cycle will...

A Year of Thinking LSAT (Ep. 365)

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 365 marks a milestone for the podcast. Listeners can now indulge in an episode of Thinking LSAT every day for a year. Nathan and Ben reflect o...

A More Competitive Cycle? (Ep. 364)

22 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Nathan address a myth that rising LSAT scores will make future application cycles more competitive. But first, they kick off a Pearls vs. Turd...

Score Preview Isn't Worth It (Ep. 363)

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

LSAC just made Score Preview available to all test takers. Ben and Nathan discuss the change and why it’s inconsequential. As long as law schools ca...

Law School Rankings Are BS (Ep. 362)

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The guys unveil LSAT Demon’s new Law School Rankings page, which charts U.S. News and Above the Law rankings over the years. Spoiler: Rankings are b...

The 2x Rule for Law School Rankings (Ep. 361)

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How much should rankings influence your decision about where to attend law school? On this week’s episode, Ben and Nathan rebrand their “100% rule...

Don’t Die with Your Debt (Ep. 360)

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Law school can leave you with a lifetime of debt if you aren’t careful. On today’s episode, Nathan and Ben discuss a cautionary tale of a recent l...

Secure Your Oxygen Mask First (Ep. 359)

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to help others, you need to take care of yourself first. On today’s episode, Ben and Nathan advise a listener to focus on helping hersel...

A Score Release Lovefest (Ep. 358)

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

June LSAT scores have been released, and lots of Demon students are riding high. Today on the show, Ben and Nathan share a bucketload of inspiring LSA...

Don't Let Your Obstacles Define You (Ep. 357)

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Admissions season is almost here, and listener questions are rolling in. On this week’s episode, Ben and Nathan advise a student on whether to make ...

The Demon Way (Ep. 356)

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to master the LSAT the easy way, ditch the dogma and let the Demon be your guide. On this week’s episode, the guys welcome questions fro...

Are the Logic Games Changing Forever? (Ep. 355)

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Love ’em or hate ’em, LSAT logic games—as we know them—are not long for this world. While the future of the games is uncertain, some June test...

Lawyers Are Professional Students (Ep. 354)

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before embarking on a career as an attorney, it’s important to understand what lawyers actually do. Lawyers work long hours hitting the books, doing...

The LSAT Will Tell You What You Suck At (Ep. 353)

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

To improve your LSAT score, you must learn from your mistakes. Take a practice test, and the LSAT will show you exactly what you need to work on—the...