Reviews (4)

Nothing Particularly New or Exciting . . .
The reviewer from NY summed up this book pretty well.Overall, the book does not offer significant tips to the average law school applicant. I was going at this ALL ALONE...until I bought this book.
I began on my endeavor of applying to law school after having spent 2 years working in human services and social work.No one I had ever known before had ever gone to law school, my parents knew no one, and I had lost all of my acquaintances and advisors at my University after the time I had graduated.This gave me an inside look towards strategies in applying to schools.This also gave equal attention to recommendations, essays and personal statements as well as GPAs and LSAT scores (for those of you, like I, who would like to draw attention FROM the latter mentioned items!) If you want to understand...
If you want to understand exactly how the admissions decisions are made (in terms of committee, admissions deans, etc.) than this book is for you. I agree with the previous reviewer that for filling out specific parts ofthe application other books are better, but the author really shines whenit comes to how admissions works and what qualities will be sought out(intellectual muscle, moral character, diversity - whatever that means). Good book for insight, poor on specifics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Admission    2. Education    3. General    4. Graduate Preparation - General    5. Graduate School Guides - General    6. Graduate School Guides - Law    7. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)    8. Law (General)    9. Law schools    10. Legal Education    11. Professional Education    12. Reference    13. Study Aids    14. Test Prep    15. United States    16. Advice on education    17. Higher & further education    18. Legal profession   

Subjects:  1. Law    2. Law examinations    3. Legal Education    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Legal Writing    6. Legal composition    7. Research    8. United States   

Reviews (5)

Was very useful at the time...
...but that time was two years ago.Buy the updated version.

Great Statistical Guide
This book doesn't tell you the whole story behind each law school, but it gives valuable statistics to help you figure out where to apply.The preliminary chapters and the appendices also have some useful information.

The Absolute Law School Bible
If you want objective reviews of law schools (but only the ABA-approved law schools), this book is the ultimate Bible to them.In my opinion, in your search for a law school, you need to have this book as a reference. It describes the specialties of different schools, and the grid comparingyour chances of admission against your LSAT and GPA is priceless.However,many top-ranked schools do not provide that information, so if you'rehoping to determine your chances at Harvard or Columbia, guess again. You'll just have to apply to find out!It's also useful in that itprovides e-mail addresses, snail mail addresses, phone numbers and websitesfor all of the schools.That is a handy way to request catalogs and otherinformation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Directories    2. Educational    3. General    4. Graduate School Guides - Law    5. Law    6. Law (General)    7. Law schools    8. Legal Education    9. Reference    10. United States    11. Education / Higher   

Subjects:  1. Business & Financial    2. Business Aspects    3. Handbooks & Manuals    4. Intellectual Property - General    5. Law    6. Law and art    7. Legal Education    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Patent, Trademark, Copyright    10. United States    11. Business law    12. Industrial or vocational training    13. Legal skills & practice    14. Reference works   

Subjects:  1. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)    2. Legal Education    3. Study Guides   

Reviews (18)

Unlike any real question
I've used this book for a week, and I've found numerous weak points in this so-called book for advanced students.
Questions not really the flavor of those on the real LSAT.
The book gets an E for effort, but the questions are lacking in flavor from what you'll see on an actual LSAT.
Very Helpful!
I took Kaplan's LSAT course, and the instructor actually recommended this book to the class, which really got my attention because I was bored in the class (I was ahead of most of the students there as far as understanding the basic material the course teaches). But because of many of the negative reviews written here on the book, I decided not to buy it. I kept practicing on real LSAT questions and tests and eventually reached a point, particularly on Logical Reasoning, where I felt stuck. I knew I didn't want a 180 (mainly because I probably wouldn't get one anyway), but I knew the purpose of this book was really not necessarily literally to get a 180 from it but to help push your score as high as it could go! After having some people continue to recommend the book to me to help me out of my rut, I decided to order it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)    3. Study & Teaching    4. Study Aids    5. Study Guides    6. Test Prep    7. Study Aids / LSAT (Law School Admission Test)   

Reviews (5)

Good questions, terrible explanations
I also used Nova's LSAT prep book.I loved it!The problems were explained in depth whereas with LSAT 180 you are left in the dark. LSAT 180 is good for practicing hard questions but if the book doesn't tell you how to work through them what good is it?

Recycle your cans, not your questions
I originally purchased the Kaplan 2003 LSAT Prep Book to prepare for the test, but due to circumstances beyond my control I needed to push my test date back a year.I was completely disheartened to see the amount of questions which were recycled in the 2004 LSAT 180 book from the 2003 book I studied from previously.Basically they took at least 1/3 of the questions in this book from their previous publications and simply relabeled them "difficult" to go along with the title of the new book and expectations of the reader.While the format of the book is quite nice, each sub-type of question has its own section, this in no way makes up for the sheet Kaplan tries to pull over the readers eyes by labeling the questions "tough".

A Good Resource to Have
This is not a good place to start with your LSAT studies unless you have a Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Computer Science or Philosophy (or both).
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Subjects:  1. Admission    2. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)    3. Law    4. Law School Admission Test    5. Law schools    6. Legal Education    7. Study Guides    8. United States    9. Study Aids / General   

Subjects:  1. Drug abuse    2. Drug control    3. Drug traffic    4. Forensic Science    5. Investigation    6. Law    7. Legal Education    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Narcotics, Control of    10. United States   

Reviews (3)

not a good predictor of actual score
I used this book mainly for the sample tests--but I found that I was scoring about 10 points worse on them than I was on actual, previously used LSATs or ones in other books.I don't think they use practice questions from LSAC, instead making them up (which does lower the price, but still...)

Decent studying tips
Pass Key to the LSAT provides good/basic study tips and guidelines for the LSAT. This book is recommended for its information, affordability, and user-friendly layout.

Great Deal
This book is much cheaper than any of the others out there. It is also smaller and lighter, making that much easier to carry around. There are three tests with answers explained. I would recommend getting 10 Actual LSAT Tests first, but if you really want more practice, or to use this as a warm up to 10 Actual LSAT Tests or something like that, then this is a a fantastic bargin. The tests are slightly easier, in my oppinion, than 10 Actual LSAT Tests, so just keep that in mind. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Entrance examinations    3. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)    4. Law School Admission Test    5. Law schools    6. Study Aids    7. Study Guides    8. Test Prep    9. United States    10. Examinations & assessment    11. Laws of Other Jurisdictions & General Law    12. Study Aids / LSAT (Law School Admission Test)    13. USA   

Reviews (5)

An effective priming tool, but don't use it by itself
Kaplan's LSAT prep book is an effective priming tool to those interested in taking the exam, but it shouldn't be relied upon by itself. Being a horrible standardized test taker, I appreciated the full package of the book -- Kaplan devotes a quarter of the pages to test-taking strategies, another quarter on exam-day details and the law school application/admissions process, and the final half to practice tests. The book is written in a very clear and informative style that contains quite a few effective strategies for the "completely ignorant" LSAT student. Anyone who has no idea what the LSAT is all about will surely find this to be a great primer when starting a study plan. Yet, as another reviewer suggested, I also have the feeling that their Kaplan prep course reserves most of the best tricks for those willing to fork over the cash. Practice Makes Perfect
The LSATs don't test your memory of facts learned in the past. They test your skill at answering questions based on information presented on the test. Practice Makes Perfect
The LSATs don't test your memory of facts learned in the past. They test your skill at answering questions based on information presented on the test.Read more

Subjects:  1. Admission    2. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)    3. Law School Admission Test    4. Law schools    5. Study Aids    6. Study Guides    7. Test Prep    8. United States   

Subjects:  1. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)    2. Law    3. Legal Education    4. Study Guides    5. Advice on education    6. Legal skills & practice    7. Study & learning skills    8. Study guides, home study & revision notes   

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Law    3. Legal Education    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Reference    6. Study and teaching    7. United States   

Reviews (1)

Don't bother
Most of this information is given to you at orientation (IRAC method, etc.). This is basically an advertisement for their Law In A Flash Flashcard series, and other Emanuel products, which they basically try to convince you that you cannot live without. For instance, in the chapter on Studying and Class Preparation, they mentioned Law in a Flash flashcard series or other Emanuel products 17 times. It got to be a bit much. Go to the Emanual website for free if you want to look at their ads and save your money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Law    2. Law examinations    3. Law students    4. Legal Education    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Professional - General    7. Study Aids    8. Study and teaching    9. Test Prep    10. United States   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Law    4. Legal Education    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Legal assistants    7. Paralegals & Paralegalism    8. Study and teaching    9. United States   

Reviews (2)

Basic But Good Coverage
The book may be a bit basic for anyone with a business background.But it is a good overview for a lot of topics and business basics that most law students will cover at some point or another during law school.

Useful for lawyers who need to learn about business
BUSINESS BASICS is a very comprehensive overview of business issues designed for law students and lawyers. Students taking a basic course in corporations or business associations will find it useful, especially ifthey lack a business background. It covers not only corporate law, but alsosuch broader topics as insurance, retirement planning, real estatepurchases, and the like. Relatively little traditional doctrinal analysis;more an explanation of how business works. Don't think of it as a study aidfor your corporations class-think of it as a one volume equivalent of anundergraduate business administration program. On that basis, I highlyrecommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Financial    2. Business enterprises    3. Business law    4. General    5. Law    6. Law and legislation    7. Legal Education    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. United States   

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Law    3. Legal Education    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession   

Reviews (15)

He Should Have Dropped Out
This book is, well, strange. The author is obviously bright, and possesses at least some degree of self-awareness. Despite this, it seems to have taken him three years to figure out what should have been obvious in three weeks: namely, that he had no desire to study law or to become a lawyer. Interesting Point, But Poorly Written
This book has some strong points, but they are outweighed, in my opinion, by the negatives. Inspiring and thought-provoking!
Broken Contract is the chronicle of Richard Kahlenberg's struggle to justify his classical liberal ideals with the harsh reality of law school: most entering law students have a desire to use the privilege of an education in the law to help the poor and downtrodden of society, "but upon graduating, the vast majority [scramble] to fill the ranks of the nation's top corporate law firms" (from the front flap).Through the framework of his struggle with these powerful opposing forces, Kahlenberg presents us with a fascinating look at Harvard Law School, its culture and the nature of the law education of the late 1980s.He paints a portrait of everyday life as a law student, scrambling for Law Review positions, summer internships, judicial clerkships and ultimately, for a job after graduation.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Harvard Law School    4. Historical - U.S.    5. Individual Institutions Of Higher Education    6. Kahlenberg, Richard D    7. Law    8. Law (General)    9. Law students    10. Lawyers & Judges    11. Legal Education    12. Massachusetts    13. Biography: general    14. Jurisprudence & General Issues    15. Laws of Other Jurisdictions & General Law    16. USA   

Reviews (1)

More than just a history of Yale Law School
Law school histories run the gamut in quality.For example, those dealing with Columbia (by Goebel) and Harvard (Charles Warren) add a rich dimension to our understanding of legal education and the role of law schools in the bigger picture.Other histories can be mundane and so narrowly focused upon the school itself that they are of little general interest. This volume, edited by former Yale Law Dean Anthony Kronman, falls into the first category and employs a unique approach in doing so. This is because the book is not a chronological history of YLS, but rather consists of six essays by five different authors focusing upon differing facets of the School's history. However, each author also addresses a broader area of interest than just what was going on at YLS.For example, excellent essays by Robert Stevens and John Langbein place the founding of YLS within the larger context of legal education in 18th and 19th centuries. A second essay by Langbein discusses the unique approaches to legal education YLS developed. Perhaps the strongest essay is by Robert Gordon who focuses upon some of the Legal Realists at YLS during the 1930's (Arnold, Douglas, Frank and Hamilton) who gravitated to the larger stage of the New Deal and became national policymakers.Laura Kalman, who is writing a full-length history of YLS, contributes a perhaps too extensive essay on the so-called "Dark Ages" at YLS in the 1960's and 1970's when student unrest and faculty dissention became notable features of the YLS landscape. Each essays rests upon extensive footnotes, adding an invaluable dimension to the book's value. All told, this book should be of value to anyone interested in the development of legal education, the New Deal, the turbulent 1960's and 1970's, as well as those whose interests are limited to the Yale Law School itself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Connecticut    2. History    3. History: American    4. Law    5. Legal Education    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Study and teaching    8. United States - General    9. Yale Law School    10. Law / Legal Education   

Reviews (6)

Disappointing
I found this book much too polemical. Thomas also fails to fully address the situation his book is supposed to describe- the Kiwi Camara incident. For example, Thomas makes it sound as if Camara was completely ruined when he actually went on to become a Stanford Law professor. The wikipedia entry on Camara does a better job at explaining what happened.

Insightful and chilling
As a current Harvard Law student myself, I can attest to the chilling picture that Thomas presents in this well-written book.Few people outside of Harvard know just how far out of touch with America and the majority of its citizens Harvard Law School (and most law schools) have become.What these institutions label as "conservative" most people would call moderate-liberals.Harvard is emblematic of institutions of higher learning that proclaim diversity while instituting fascist polices designed to utterly eliminate the once venerable free discussion of ideas.This philosophy is due to their prevalent hated of America and freedom that these institutions have so luckily flourished under.How sad -- how scary.

Great Book! Bold and skillfullywell-written
This is an important book. It will be read, re-read, and thoroughly debated for many years to come.
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Subjects:  1. Cambridge    2. Freedom of speech    3. Harvard Law School    4. Law    5. Law schools    6. Legal Education    7. Legal History    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Massachusetts    10. Political aspect    11. Political correctness    12. United States - State & Local - New England    13. History / General    14. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (5)

Good for us procrastinaters...
I agree with earlier reviewers that old practice LSATs are probably the best way to prepare.BUT, if you are presured for time as I was, this book works great for trying to cram in some studying in the month before your test date.
Great capstone to your LSAT review
If anything, I found many questions in this book to be *harder* than what I saw on the LSAT (I took it earlier this year).I think that this is best used after you've purchased some old LSATs and gotten into the rhythm of practicing the questions.Other than that, good guide and worth the price.

Don't use only this book
This book works great as an in-depth review of what all the other review books tell you to do.Each chapter gives a brief (as in 10 page) summary of some of the skills you may need and some of the questions you may encounter.However, the list of skills and techniques is by no means comprehensive (and I personally found the recommended techniques for logic games very inefficient and confusing compared to every other technique for logic games that I've tried), so if you are looking for a "How to" approach to the LSAT, this book is not your best bet (I recommend Nova's Master the LSAT book instead).On the other hand, it does gives you some succinct tips, and works great if you are trying to cram in some studying in the month before the test.
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Subjects:  1. Education    2. Educational Tests And Measurements (Higher Education)    3. LSAT (Law School Admission Test)    4. Law (General)    5. Study Aids    6. Study Guides    7. Education / Testing & Measurement