<p>I'm new to the idea of considering law school, but I want to have it as an option for the future. Where can I begin preparing the absolute basics for the LSAT (again, I know nothing...I mean BASIC), and where do I go from there?</p>
<p>Online would be preferred, but if I have to get a book or something then it can be arranged. The only place I've looked so far is "TestSherpa" - anyone know anything about that?</p>
<p>For LSAT:
Have you gone to the source? lsac.org
First read through there to see a free sample, understand how the test is administered, when, etc etc.<br>
After that, you can expand using a ton of pages online....although national test prep companies probably have the most factual versus anecdotal (Princeton Review, Kaplan). You can get "the skinny" by visiting pages like this, but as a n00b you prolly want to start at more "official" sources and over time you discern what to take and leave from unofficial type forums like this...</p>
<p>For overall law school admissions, I strongly suggest you visit the law guidance counselor at your school....they are free and can get you started....after that, look for law schools in your area and see if there is a recruiting event happening soon...if no event is coming up, just call and let them know that oyur interested in their school and they will prolly take you on a tour and answer questions you have about the application process...I know you want to stick to online, but in my experience, the feet on the street approach is where you get the most valuable and accurate information</p>
<p>Right, but there must be some sites online that just cover "the basics," right? I mean even when visiting the Princeton Review site, most of it is just links to find expensive online or classroom courses -- those will probably be great later on, but I'm mainly just looking for simple reading material right now to get some kind of background formed. I mean when people say they spend 3 years studying for the LSAt, they must be doing something than just looking over tests from years past, correct? You have to learn the basic ideas somewhere, and I guess that's what I'm looking for right now.</p>
<p>When you study for the LSAT that entails, for the most part, 2 things:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>LSAC.ORG
Read all they have to offer on the LSAT - which is a lot. The dates, the fees, the samples questions, the locations for testing, etc. They also host most the online applications for almost every ABA approved law schools - so ultimately when you apply, you will be visiting them. You will be sending your transcripts and letters of recommendation associated with the application process to them. You will complete the other parts of the application process on their website - by using their tool to complete and submit the applications online, as well as uploading your other associated writing samples (addendums, personal statements, etc). So the basics to the application process from LSAT all the way through to application completion, can be learned by extensively going through the LSAC site. You can also go to an specific schools webpage...they will have an "Admissions" section with detailed isntructions, FAQs, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Practice LSAT. Literally buy a pile of books and start working. Do exercises....read what you did wrong and why....read strategies to do better...do more exercises, this time under timed conditions, rinse-lather-repeat.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Just bumped up a thread- "Great self study guide". Hopefully this will give you some direction. The reading portion of the LSAT is changing for future tests starting February- so I would hold off getting "complete" LSAT study guides until the new test comes into play- but the logic games and reasoning portions are supposed to stay the same. Good luck!!
And definitely check out the LSAC.org website- They are the group that administers the test.</p>
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<p>Where can I begin preparing the absolute basics for the LSAT (again, I know nothing...I mean BASIC)</p>
<br>
<p>Go to your local Barnes & Noble or Borders and spend a couple of hours in the cafe reading one of the basic LSAT prep books (P'ton Review, Kaplan, etc.). This will give you an excellent introduction, and it's free.</p>
<p>Some posters say that they will be spending three years (or some great length of time) studying for the LSAT. If so, that's a serious mistake, because there are far more valuable and interesting things to do with that time, not to mention the fact of burnout. Take a few months at most to prepare seriously for it and spend the other two years and eight or nine months doing other things. (In fact, after you spend that time doing other things you may have decided to not take the LSAT at all).</p>