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The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 239 features Victoria Inoyo, Director of Advising at Juris Education, a leading law school admissions consulting edtech startup.
Santa Clara Law is offering every admitted student a $16,000 scholarship to align tuition with the new federal loan cap for law school borrowers. Ben and Nathan discuss whether loan caps can rein in skyrocketing tuition, share wisdom from a departing Demon user, unpack the University of Miami's AI essay prompt, and offer reassurance to students stressed by LSAT scheduling woes.Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 526 on YouTube0:26 - Santa Clara ScholarshipsNathan and Ben react to Santa Clara Law's new PLEDGE scholarship, which effectively lowers tuition to just under the $50,000 federal loan cap. Borrowing limits are a step in the right direction for controlling law school costs.24:04 - Tips from a Departing DemonDemon student Abigail, who improved her LSAT from 159 to 176, offers a parting piece of advice: take breaks. She encourages students to let the material settle and give themselves time to recharge. Nathan and Ben highlight her success as proof that steady, balanced preparation works.28:34 - University of Miami AI Essay PromptDemon teacher Beatriz highlights Miami Law's unusual essay prompt that requires applicants to use generative AI. Nathan and Ben credit the school for recognizing AI's growing role in lawyering and suggest other schools should follow suit.36:06 - Scheduling Woes Strike AgainA Reddit user vents about not finding a time slot for the October LSAT. Nathan reassures students that LSAC always opens more seats.38:21 - Letters of RecommendationTwo listeners ask for advice on letters of recommendation:Morgan debates which supervisor to ask for a letter of recommendation. Ben and Nathan recommend choosing the one who knows Morgan best.Abo wonders if decade-old letters of recommendation can still be used to apply to law schools. The guys advise Abo to get updated letters.47:51 - “Should I Stay or School I Go?”An engineer is considering law school. Ben and Nathan encourage him to research the opportunities that patent law offers, but suggest that staying in engineering might lead to better career outcomes. 57:21 - What's the Deal with Detroit Mercy?Ben and Nathan investigate Detroit Mercy Law, which just got ABA approval for a fully online JD program. The guys explore what this approval could mean for legal education. They dig into the school's stats and highlight its Canadian–U.S. dual degree.1:15:35 - Personal Statement Gong ShowCody takes the stage on the Personal Statement Gong Show, chasing Sophia's record of 34 lines.1:33:39 - Word of the Week - Augur“The obligation to exercise reasonable professional skill and judgment—under either constitution—does not encompass an obligation to augur an about-face by the United States Supreme Court.”Get caught up with our Word of the Week library.
Listener Ean writes in with the story of how he fought for and received an increase in his LSAC GPA. Josh and Nate use the story to remind listeners to understand their transcripts and how LSAC calculates each grade.Read more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!
In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike sits down with the original LSAT cheating scandal whistleblower, who we call "Travis" in this podcast, and Dave Killoran, Founder and CEO of PowerScore. They discuss Travis' investigation process, how he tried to sound the alarm, LSAC's response, why he came to Mike and Dave, and an analysis of what happened and what's next for the future of the test.You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. You can read a full transcript of this episode (with timestamps) here.
Ben and Nate tackle three frequently asked questions on whether schools consider only your highest score, LSAC GPA, and when to apply.LSAC transcript information: https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school/jd-application-process/cas/requesting/transcript-summarizationRead more on our website. Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments. Watch this episode on YouTube!
Ben and Nate break down the measurable cost of applying late in the law school admissions cycle. Your LSAT score has the most value on the day that applications open. By rushing your LSAT or applying late in the cycle, you sacrifice points and leave money on the table. With AI poised to disrupt the legal market, it's more important than ever to go to law school for free. Study with our Free planDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 521 on YouTube0:32 – AI Making Law School Obsolete?Ben and Nate discuss an article from a former Google exec claiming AI will make law and medical degrees obsolete. The guys acknowledge that AI is improving, but it still makes mistakes. While they agree that a law degree isn't a guaranteed gravy train, they also note that the law itself is a barrier to modernization, which will slow AI's impact on legal education. The schools most at risk are bottom feeders churning out lawyers for grunt work. Their advice: don't pay tuition at weak schools.14:50 – LSAT Suspended in Mainland ChinaLSAC halts testing in China after evidence of cheating. A Reddit post earlier this year even advertised cheating services. While tough for honest test takers in China, applicants should appreciate LSAC's effort to safeguard exam security.24:03 – Cost of Delaying AppsHow late is too late? While early applications are stronger, it's never worth rushing the LSAT. The best strategy is to get your best LSAT and then apply at the start of the next cycle. A University of Chicago Journal of Law and Economics article finds that delays weaken applications. Waiting 100 days is equivalent to dropping 2.1 LSAT points or 0.26 GPA points. Schools review applications in waves, and the earliest applicants are often the strongest. Missing the first wave, even by a day, can carry measurable costs.Dynamic Decision-Making under Rolling Admissions: Evidence from US Law School Applications47:43 – Main Point vs. SummaryA summary lists information, but a main point answers “why.” It's what the author is trying to convince you of, not just what they said.52:31 – Doing LR BackwardsListener Blair wants to work backward in Logical Reasoning to combat fatigue. Ben and Nathan's answer: If you're scoring under 175, you shouldn't be finishing sections anyway, so working backward means skipping easier questions to do harder ones. If you're at 175 or above, then fatigue isn't an issue.59:28 – Score PlateausListeners Trevor and Ireland feel stuck. The guys caution against chasing a single breakthrough. Progress comes from carefully reviewing and learning from every mistake, one question at a time.1:04:42 – Personal Statement Gong ShowListener Elena is the next Gong Show contestant. Ben and Nathan read her personal statement until they reach an unforgivable mistake—they then ring the gong. The record is 34 lines, set by listener Sophia.Want in? Send in your statement by September 1, 2025, to be considered for the Gong Super Show. 1:07:20 - Word of the Week - TruismThe standard advice about writing is mostly truisms, like “Make a plan,” “Don't use the passive,” or “Think of your audience.” Get caught up with our Word of the Week library.