@alexandergreene93842 sorry yes I agree with @dzhai218191. The only reason I think it may help is that I work directly for two partners who are very influential and have expressed their recognition of my potential to come back, but besides that it won't matter haha

I'm not saying that working in big law is a bad idea, nor am I claiming that people only want to work in big law for the money. What I am claiming is that if the only reason you want to go to a T14 is because you want to work in big law, and the only reason you want to work in big law is to pay off the loans you took on to go to a T14, there is a circular reasoning that needs to ironed out. Think about why the statistics show so many lawyers as being unhappy. It seems like people like @2543.hopkins and @974 have thought out their decisions, so I am in no way discrediting that, but I do caution people who make assumptions about money/careers without openly and honestly considering what they are getting into!

As a fully-self supporting adult who does not have anyone to help pay for law school, I think assuming that the only way to pay bills is to go into big law is silly. Two main reasons:

1) 160,000k - 190,000k a year as a starting salary is not necessary to "pay bills" or even pay back loans, even considering full tuition.

2) If the desire to go into big law stems from the desire to be able to pay off law school loans, that's some serious circular reasoning.

I'm mostly playing devils advocate here, but it comes from speaking with a lot of people who are the ones who took on hundreds of thousands in debt and are SO unhappy but can't leave because of the so-called "golden handcuffs."

Understood that I am extremely lucky to have had the opportunity for first-hand exposure, but I also think that exposure is what puts me in a position to caution people!

I actually vehemently disagree with this, and it's this kind of thinking that makes so many associates miserable.

"and given the ridiculous cost of a legal education across the board, the only two decent and relatively common options to recover from that debt burden are big law or loan forgiveness."

But we can get into that in a more private conversation, if interested!

It is Cravath, FYI. And I work on the busiest case team in Manhattan (i.e. we bill more hours than anyone -- I'm just on my 15 min lunch break right now!)

Yes, one of those.

Best things: exposure to some of the biggest players in litigation/the prestige itself, the money, the intensity (as someone who thrives in that environment)

Worst things: the brutality of the hours is less about the number are more about the unpredictability (this goes all the way up the food chain), it can get VERY boring and repetitive and the hierarchy makes you feel like a cog in a machine

Sorry I know that has nothing to do with your question but just a word of caution from someone in the trenches!

Have you worked at a big law firm? I recommend doing so before you resign yourself to taking on hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to go to a T14 where you (likely, unless your scores are great) won't get any scholarship money. I work at the top law firm in NYC and I do enjoy it but it is not for everyone and it is glamorized as much as demonized.

I had those questions on mine!

I just re-did the game from memory. I did not mis-read a rule and I definitely had three game boards with two elements switching off. SO CONFUSED.

If you had a question stem that had two questions that is the experimental.

PT 68 game 4 literally destroyed my confidence for three days

One time in class my professor asked us to write down what we love the most in the world. A lot of people said their parents or pets, but he said "what" not "who" so I wrote "efficiency." ENTJ 4thewin

I agree with Andrew. I also recommend getting up early when you start PTing. I work a ton of crazy hours but on the nights I do get home before 11 I make sure to go right to bed so I can get up and PT. Not sure about your experience at the firm you are at, but my job is intellectually demanding and I often do associate work on my busiest days, so by the end of the day my brain is taxed. Getting in my studying/PTing before the day begins is the only way I've been able to break into the low 170s.

Also confused about this. All of the video explanations have disappeared, too.

ADVICE FROM SOMEONE WHO WORKS AT A TOP LAW FIRM:

Not to take away from any of the advice and encouragement, but do not think for one second you will have a lot of time/bandwidth to study once you start working.

I put off the LSAT and am now also setting a hard deadline of October. I started studying in January, but have really only found a way to talk to my manager and dedicate two nights a week starting this month.

I graduated top 10 in my class from a top 15 liberal arts school and never had trouble studying. I say this to stress that even with drive and passion (I actually like the LSAT -- I took three advanced logic courses in college but I suck at testing so there's my issue), you will have a lot less time than you expect. ESPECIALLY if you are paralegaling.

Try to get in as much as you can now. You have no idea how crazy your schedule is about to get!

Does anyone want to do the first one next weekend? I'm thinking we just bring our own test (depending on where we are in our studying) and take it together. We can proctor ourselves.

Cool!

What do you guys have in mind? I'm not sure how much group studying would help, but I think taking timed practice tests with more than just myself could be useful.

Also interested!