The following post is an anonymous contribution from a friend who wrote the LSAT during COVID-19.
If you thought writing the LSAT was hard enough, imagine trying to coordinate to write it in the middle of a global pandemic. That brings us to the LSAT-Flex, the Law School Admissions Council’s (“LSAC”) version of the test to write at the ‘comfort’ of your home with a live proctor watching you through your computer webcam. The pandemic meant a few things for the LSAC: (1) in no way could there be any in-person writing of the exams due to lockdowns in most, if not all, countries that the LSAT is administered in, and (2) the LSAC had to decide whether to cancel the LSAT writing for each month the pandemic continues, or administer the test remotely to each person. Hence, the LSAT - Flex was formed as their solution. Structure: the LSAT - Flex was not like your typical LSAT. The exam became 3 sections instead of 5 sections - they removed the experimental section and removed one Logical Reasoning section. This meant that the exam had one section each of Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning (‘Logic Games’) and Reading Comprehension. To maintain the integrity of the exam, no bathroom breaks were permitted during the exam. Administering the LSAT: The LSAC had to hire a third party administrator, ProctorU, to administer the test. ProctorU has been used for many years by institutions trying to administer tests/examinations virtually - but many steps had to be taken by each test taker before Test Day with ProctorU. For one, everyone had to sign up for a time in the day to write the LSAT (not everyone wrote at the same time). On test day, your entire desk had to be clear except for your pencils, erasers, and 5 pieces of blank paper. There would be someone watching you through your computer webcam, watching every move to see if there is any cheating happening behind the scenes. Before the exam began, you had to show the proctor your entire room, show underneath your desk and use another vanity mirror to show that there were no sticky notes on your laptop screen. Furthermore, they download a software on your laptop that grants them complete control of your laptop and can watch where your mouse is moving on the screen throughout the test. Final Thoughts: A shorter exam with fewer sections that I also could write in the comfort of my own home? I thought this exam was a no-brainer, of course I wanted to write this. But be warned - your strategy has to change a bit. For one, now your Analytical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections are weighted more (33% now compared to 25% of your LSAT score on a normal test). Some test takers were furious by the change, as for them, Logical Reasoning was their best section and was not being weighted as much this time to their score. Others were upset because they tended to perform better in an exam setting outside their home. For those reading this that have more than one year for law school, consider which one you might perform better in. For those applying in November, your best bet is to prepare for both types of LSATs - amidst the uncertainty of this pandemic, the LSAT-Flex could continue to be administered for some time. 1L was definitely 1L of a time - it was the hardest school year for me to date, both academically and mentally. Early on in 1L, I started to feel like I was burning out largely due to my 3 hour round trip commute, heavy readings and the mental pressures of being in law school. At one point in October, I realized that things needed to change and they needed to change fast. I’ve wanted to go to law school for years and I was finally here. I needed to find ways that would help me destress and enjoy my law school experience. Here are some of the ways I kept myself (mostly) sane throughout the school year:
Your first-year of law school can be quite stressful. Before you know it, you will be getting ready to write that big final paper or exam and feel overwhelmed. This feeling is completely normal and everyone has gone through these struggles. I can’t say that I’ve mastered the art of stress management but here are some things I found really helped me ease the stress during my first-year at Osgoode.
I found 1L to be less stressful than other points of my life. I’m not exactly sure why this was the case. Few tips on how I was able to enjoy 1L: Joining clubs/ societies. Two main clubs that shaped my 1L experience were Osgoode Women’s Network (OWN) and The Competition Law Society. Both clubs introduced me to like minded peers, current practitioners, and was a way to get involved in the legal world. There is something for everyone, pay attention at the club fair or talk to upper years about your interest to join an association for you! (My shameless plug for the Competition Law Society, I was a 1L executive this past year, and this incoming year I'll be the Vice President) it's the first in law club in the niche field of Competition Law, known as Anti-Trust Law in America. Feel free to reach out to learn more about the club and the field itself.
The first year of law school is a different experience to say the least. For some it's the moment they've waited for their entire lives, for others it is a detour in the journey in life. Depending on who you are, what your stress tolerance is and what your definition of stress it, managing the transition to law school will be different than the person you sit next to in your lectures. We've decided to share our tips on how we got by. |
Legally BrownThree Osgoode Hall Law students sharing their lived experiences and providing *unsolicited* advice. Archives
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