Thinking LSAT

Nathan Fox and Ben Olson

Ben Olson and Nathan Fox started the Thinking LSAT Podcast to become better LSAT teachers and have some fun. Please 1) subscribe, 2) rate and review, and 3) send us questions: help@thinkinglsat.com. Don't pay for law school!

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577 episodes
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Episodes577

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Yesterday · 1 hr 28 min
Don't Drill Yourself Into a Corner (Ep. 570)
A listener asks whether drilling one question type until they've "mastered" it beats mixed practice. Ben and Nathan explain why focusing on a single type creates a false sense of progress. They argue that mixed practice better prepares students for the unpredictability of the real LSAT. Also in this episode: - A law school asks waitlisted applicants to take a “situational judgment” test - Which test a student with only two attempts left should register for - How to reapply after being dismissed from law school Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 570 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Drilling Method 8:47 Tips on Predicting 22:11 Waitlist Games 41:13 Test D Question — Planet Y 58:50 When to Register 1:04:32 UC Law SF Alumni Email 1:09:12 Reapplying After Law School Dismissal 1:23:14 Word of the week — intransigent
July 27 · 1 hr 32 min
Why Law Firms Can't Stop Hiring (Ep. 569)
Dan Currell returns to unpack a decade of major shifts in legal education and hiring. Nathan and Dan discuss employment outcomes for recent law graduates and the unusually frothy market in law firm hiring. Also in this episode: - What's fueling the surge in law school application - The mounting pressure students face once enrolled - Grade inflation at the undergraduate level Employment Outcomes Since 2016 Hiring by Firm Size Since 2016 Law School Applications by Year Mean UGPA for First-Year Class Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 569 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Introduction 5:21 Enthusiasm or Fear: What's Driving Applicants? 16:26 Employment Outcomes for Recent Law Graduates 25:53 The Frothy Market in Law Firm Hiring 34:24 The Super-Star Effect 42:25 Removal of Logic Games 49:09 The Rise in Law School Applications 59:06 Pressure on Students 1:04:30 Take-Home LSAT Change 1:12:55 Grade Inflation
July 20 · 1 hr 24 min
Did RC Secretly Get Harder? (Ep. 568)
The Demon team discovered that LSAC removed a Reading Comprehension feature in its updated interface. The test will no longer highlight referenced text in the passage. Ben and Nathan talk about this change and what it means for students. Also in this episode: - Chicago Law Releases Update on AI Strategy - Whether to pursue a master’s degree before law school - The next Personal Statement Gong Show contestant University of Chicago Law Policy Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 568 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 No More Blue Highlighting on RC 14:12 On the Parallel Reasoning Ledge 25:58 Chicago Law Banning Phones and Laptops 36:19 Tips from Departing Demons 40:12 Test D Question — Athleisure 48:17 Pursuing Master’s Before Law School 55:24 Personal Statement Gong Show 1:19:48 Word of the week — recalcitrant
July 13 · 1 hr 33 min
The Diagramming Debate (Ep. 567)
A student pushes back on the Demon's advice against diagramming on the LSAT. Nathan and Ben respond with why their intuitive approach helps students answer questions faster and more accurately. Also in this episode: - A viewer follows up on their score hold - A judge's advice on sharing personal struggles in a personal statement - Whether being a KJD hurts your application Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 567 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Prematurely Registered for the LSAT 17:10 Accusation of Cheating 41:08 Pearls v. Turds 44:40 Confused with LSAT Demon 49:57 Test D Question — Evil Oil Barons 1:04:13 Sharing Struggles in Personal Statement 1:16:16 KJD Tax 1:25:29 Word of the week — auspicious
July 6 · 1 hr 27 min
Don't Choke On Test Day (Ep. 566)
A viewer writes with disappointment about an underperformance on their last two LSAT administrations. Ben and Nathan remind her that scores naturally fluctuate, and that if you've been scoring high, the answer is almost always to be registered for the next test. Also in this episode: - A viewer who underperformed on their June LSAT administration - An update from a former Demon student after their first year of law school - How a splitter can boost their law school application Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 566 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 June Score Release 8:30 Underperforming on the LSAT 17:16 SCOTUS Writing Jargon 19:50 Wake Forest Law Deferral for Increased Scholarship 45:47 Test D Question — State senate election 55:20 Demon Alum 1L Update 1:06:10 How to Boost Application 1:21:25 Word of the week — proprioception
June 29 · 1 hr 14 min
Above The Law Ranks for Big Law (Ep. 565)
The 2026 “Above the Law” law school rankings just dropped. Unlike US News, Above the Law only ranks 50 schools and weighs employment outcomes almost exclusively. The result? Some schools rank much higher than expected while others fall despite their prestige. Also in this episode: - Advice on pass/fail courses from an academic advisor - The Department of Education lowers loan rates for borrowers - What to do in your last five minutes on RC Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 565 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Above the Law Rankings 16:17 Pass/Fail Advice from Academic Advisor 20:35 Department of Education Lowers Student Loan Rates 33:31 Test D Question — Vocabulary 48:30 LSAT Retake Advice from Dean Z 1:02:53 Last 5 Minutes of Reading Comprehension 1:09:39 Word of the week — abrogate
June 22 · 1 hr 30 min
Welcome to the Waitlist Games (Ep. 564)
Law schools have started to give out acceptances off of their waitlist. Ben and Nathan give advice to a viewer who received a spot off the waitlist from a higher ranked school with no scholarship offer. Also in this episode: - How to consistently study while working full-time - A viewer email asks whether they should register for the August LSAT - The next contestant on the Personal Statement Gong Show Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 564 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Studying and Working Full-TIme 7:37 Decision Advice on Waitlist 27:01 #thirstylawschools 37:33 Should I Take the August LSAT? 51:59 Test D Question — Smartphone ban 1:03:25 LSAT Study Timeline 1:11:16 Personal Statement Gong Show 1:24:50 Word of the week — contumacious
June 15 · 1 hr 12 min
Big Law Pays 455k. Here's the Catch (Ep. 563)
Milbank raised salaries for their associates with many law firms expected to follow. Ben and Nathan discuss the type of students who are the most likely to land in big law and the potential downsides of working in such firms. Also in this episode: - Whether you should review answers you get right - AI outperforms law professors in a Stanford study on tutoring - Tips from students who crushed the LSAT Bloomberg Law Article Reuters Article Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 563 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Big Law Associate Raise 12:27 Reviewing Correct Answers 18:15 Ready for Timed Sections? 30:26 AI Beat Law Professors In Stanford Study 38:37 Test D Question — Michelson and Morley 52:17 Tips from Departing Demons 58:42 Hope for a Splitter 1:07:40 Word of the week — garrulous
June 8 · 1 hr 4 min
Avoid These Scammerships (Ep. 562)
Jazmine writes in asking if she should accept the offers that are waiting on her June LSAT score. Ben and Nathan advise her to sit out this admissions cycle, maximize her LSAT score, and pursue better scholarship opportunities next cycle. Also in this episode: - How much letters of recommendation matter - The right approach to the argumentative writing sample - A Reddit post about performing worse on drilling than on sections Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 562 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Enroll Now or Reapply Next Cycle? 12:10 How Much Do LORs Really Matter? 21:09 Good at Untimed Sections but Bad at Drilling 31:36 Test D Question — Vinyl Art 43:12 How to Approach the Argumentative Writing 55:01 Demon Respondent Update 1:00:06 Word of the week — tutelage
June 1 · 1 hr 16 min
New LSAT Registration Rule, Explained (Ep. 561)
LSAC has updated the LSAT registration process so students now choose their test date and time based on when they signed up. As a result, students who register earlier get priority to preferred testing times. Ben and Nathan advise students that registering when you’re ready is still the highest priority, but those who are ready may find an advantage to signing up sooner. Also in this episode: - Whether you need an admissions consultant to get into the top schools - UC Berkeley Law’s AI Policy - Advice from students who crushed the LSAT UC Berkeley Law AI Policy Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 561 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 LSAC Registration Update 11:26 Military Benefits are Expiring. Should I Apply Now? 24:43 Using an Admissions Consultant 34:50 Test D Question - Brenda & Mike 46:25 Ugly Mode 2.0 50:52 UC Berkeley Law's AI Policy 1:01:33 Tips from Departing Demons 1:07:31 Word of the Week – concomitant
May 25 · 2 hr 2 min
Understanding Your Score Range (Ep. 560)
A listener who scored at the low end of their range on two official attempts asks Ben and Nate if they should delay their June test. Ben and Nathan explain that scoring within your range, even at the bottom of it, is completely normal and advise the listener to keep studying as usual. Also in this episode - A law school offers scholarships before students even apply - A listener with a PhD, struggling to find employment, asks whether law school is the right next step - How a stay-at-home mom can approach a personal statement Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 560 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Understanding Your Range 9:35 #thirstylawschools 22:41 Unemployable. Should I Go to Law School? 40:58 Update from Demon Alum 55:50 Personal Statement for Stay At-Home Mom 1:07:36 Test D Question – Trash bins 1:30:25 What’s the Deal with… University of Texas 1:56:20 Word of the week – bonhomie
May 18 · 1 hr 28 min
Advice for Pre-Law Advisors (Ep. 559)
A college pre-law advisor asks Ben and Nathan how to best prepare undergraduate students for law school. Ben and Nathan encourage them to keep doing what they’re doing and stress the importance of the cost of law school. Also in this episode - A viewer asks what score they should aim for - Whether to enroll at UT Austin or reapply next cycle - A rapid-fire of Pearls v. Turds Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 559 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Advice for a Pre-Law Advisor 12:23 Exit Survey Feedback 25:06 Enroll Now or Reapply 48:56 What Should My Target Score Be? 56:17 Pearls v. Turds Rapid Fire 1:06:50 Personal Statement Gong Show 1:25:55 Word of the week — armamentarium
May 11 · 1 hr 8 min
Don't Break Your Neck on RC (Ep. 558)
Ben and Nathan review part of LSAC’s official LSAT prep curriculum. A pyramid-shaped diagram in the Reading Comprehension section catches their attention, but they remind students that the LSAT is easy and that success comes from focusing on one question at a time. Also in this episode - A law school starts summer classes so students qualify for Grad PLUS loans - Demon students share success stories from the April LSAT - A listener question about regressing performance ⁠Study with our Free Plan⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Download our iOS app⁠⁠ ⁠Watch Episode 558 on YouTube⁠ Check out all of our ⁠“What’s the Deal With”⁠ segments Get caught up with our ⁠⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠⁠ library 0:00 Law School Starting Early for Grad PLUS Loans 7:28 April LSAT Score Release 13:10 Regressing on Performance 25:27 Test D Question – Raising Tolls 44:10 #thirstylawschools 54:05 Really, Really, Really Bad LSAT Prep 1:01:52 Saying No to Law Schools 1:03:35 Word of the Week – breviloquent
May 4 · 1 hr 8 min
40 Years of Teaching the LSAT (Ep. 557)
Ben and Nathan have taught the LSAT for over 20 years. Students leaving the Demon often give the same advice: read carefully, eliminate wrong answers, and slow down. Also in this episode - A large law firm submits a court filing with AI hallucinations - Whether you need a diagnostic score before starting your LSAT studying - Tips from Demon students who crushed the LSAT Reuters Article: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/sullivan-cromwell-law-firm-apologizes-ai-hallucinations-court-filing-2026-04-21/ Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 557 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 AI Hallucinations in Big Law Filing 3:55 ABA Employment Data 24:11 Do I Need a Diagnostic? 31:24 Tips from Departing Demons 43:25 Knowing Your Law Preference 51:37 Is Law School Right For Me? 1:05:40 Word of the Week – modicum
April 27 · 1 hr 9 min
Inside the College Pricing Game ft. Dan Currell (Ep. 556)
Dan Currell, former Department of Education official, joins the podcast to break down how colleges and law schools use opaque pricing, fake tuition numbers, and binding early decision contracts to maximize returns from students. Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 556 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 The Early Decision Racket 5:30 How College Pricing Actually Works 14:54 The Hidden Price Problem 22:13 Antitrust, Regulation, and Who Could Fix This 33:18 Who Pays Full Price? 41:59 Southern School Surge and Demographics 50:19 Record Law School Applications and Final Advice
April 20 · 1 hr 26 min
The Truth About Softs (Ep. 555)
A viewer writes in asking about their chances at the T14 while being a super splitter. They explain their work history includes founding a multimillion dollar healthcare business. Ben and Nathan ask if the viewer really wants to pursue law school given their entrepreneurial success. If they do, they should focus on maximizing their LSAT. Also in this episode - A question on the “soft” side of applications - Partnership between Arizona State University and Starbucks - Whether to use a recommendation letter from a former boss Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 555 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Tough Love 12:43 “Soft” Side of Applications 24:04 Test D Question – Standardized-Testing 50:20 ASU and Starbucks Partnership 54:26 Super Splitter with Small Business 1:02:21 Best Time To Start Studying 1:10:04 Recommendation Letter Conundrum 1:19:30 Word of the week – vociferous
April 13 · 1 hr 43 min
RIP T14 (Ep. 554)
The updated rankings for law schools have dropped! Ben and Nathan discuss the changes, the schools that refused to participate, and what applicants should actually focus on when choosing a law school to attend. Also in this episode - Law school marketing emails wishing students good luck on the LSAT - Whether to drop a class and graduate late to preserve their GPA - Another Personal Statement Gong Show contestant Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 554 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 USNews 2026 Rankings26:17 #thirstylawschools 30:05 Test D Question – English Rule 43:50 Implicit Assumptions 53:00 Pearls v. Turds 1:00:03 Should I Upgrade Demon Plans? 1:05:19 Dropping Courses 1:11:46 Personal Statement Gong Show 1:38:38 Word of the week – throes
April 6 · 1 hr 12 min
Oklahoma Gets It Right on AI (Ep. 553)
Ben and Nathan react to two stories: California pushing to require AI training in law schools, and Oklahoma's surprisingly hands-off approach to AI in the courtroom. They discuss AI’s growing role in the legal field and why Oklahoma’s simple rule, use it however you want, just own every word, might be the smartest policy. Also in this episode - A viewer performing differently between timed sections and practice tests - Whether you can predict future competitive cycles - Why the University of Alabama has such a high GPA median Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 553 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 AI in Law School and the Legal Profession 6:20 How to Get Faster 20:00 Test D Question – Moving Truck 38:52 Incongruence Between Sections and PTs 44:54 Will My GPA Hold Me Down? 54:22 What’s the Deal with the University of Alabama? 1:05:36 Word of the Week – quotidian
March 30 · 1 hr 41 min
Emailing for More Money (Ep. 552)
A listener asks how to negotiate scholarships, especially when schools claim they don’t negotiate. Ben and Nathan advise always asking for more and using competing offers as leverage. But, they stress the importance of being ready to walk away from an offer that doesn’t meet your needs. Also in this episode - Handling burnout from LSAT studying - A logical reasoning question about a mushroom allergy - Whether job prestige helps in law school admissions Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 552 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 Burn Out. Need Advice. 17:43 How to Negotiate 50:45 Test D Question –- Mushroom Allergy 1:00:36 Studying Abroad 1:15:28 Pearls v. Turds 1:21:28 Job Prestige 1:26:43 Losing Study Progress 1:36:38 Word of the week – gravamen
March 23 · 1 hr 40 min
Personal Statement Gamble (Ep. 551)
A listener asks whether they should include their experience as a professional poker player in their application materials. Ben and Nathan advise that they should. Pursuing something at a professional level demonstrates a meaningful commitment and a proven ability. Also in this episode: - A law school with an endless amount of fees - Whether you should attend an online law program - When conditional scholarships become predatory Study with our Free Plan⁠ ⁠Download our iOS app⁠ Watch Episode 551 on YouTube Check out all of our “What’s the Deal With” segments Get caught up with our ⁠Word of the Week⁠⁠ library 0:00 William & Mary’s Law School Fees 13:38 Attending an Online Law School 23:06 Predicting Role Questions 33:23 Working as a Professional Gambler 48:20 LSAC Guided Plus Program 1:03:22 Accepting a Conditional Scholarship 1:19:08 Ohio Northern’s Summer Program 1:33:10 Word of the week — effusive