The Institute for Law and Public Affairs   Preparing for the LSAT
The Institute for Law and Public Affairs

Preparing for the Law School Admissions Test

The ILPA provides information about LSAT preparation methods and courses. The LSAT is not a test of legal knowledge, but rather a standardized measure of the verbal reasoning and acquired reading, analytical and logical reasoning skills that law school hopefuls have developed over the course of their lifetime and education.

The LSAT is offered several times a year and consists of five 35-minute multiple choice sections (4 contribute to the score, while one is a variable section used to test new questions) and a 35 minute un-scored writing section, which is taken separately. 

Plan to study accordingly. Ideally, undergraduates planning to apply to law school in their senior year should plan to take the LSAT in either summer or fall of their final undergraduate year to take advantage of early decision options and no later than December for regular decision.

If you are taking the LSAT for the 2024-2025 law school application cycle, be aware that starting August 2024, the Analytical Reasoning section of the LSAT, better known as “logic games,” will NOT appear in the LSAT. The Analytical Reasoning section will be eliminated and replaced by a second Logical Reasoning section, as announced by the LSAC on Oct. 2023.

Students should plan to spend 3-6 months preparing for the LSAT - or over 250 hrs. Once understood the nature of LSAT questions, students should take several timed-practice tests, including the writing sample, to become familiar with the format and develop the pacing and endurance needed to complete the test. Students can find sample tests at the LSAC Website. 

For LSAT preparation, LSAC has partnered with Khan Academy, which provides cost free individualized preparation materials. There is also a number of live and online LSAT commercial courses. The ILPA does not endorse any particular course for LSAT preparation. We encourage law school hopefuls to carefully consider their strengths and weaknesses and evaluate different courses to select the course best suited to them. The UTSA Summer Law School Preparation Academy also incorporates LSAT workshops into the curriculum.

LSAT Preparation Classes

REGISTER FOR THE LSAT HERE.