Savvy Savings

How can you find the lowest prices on the things you need in Law School?

That’s easy, well, if you can get your hands on an iPhone or other device with an android operating system.

The company Big in Japan came out with the program ShopSavvy to bridge the gap between shopping online and shopping in the store to find the best price for the goods you need to buy.

All you have to do is download the app, open the program, and use your phone camera to scan of the bar code of the item you want to buy.

Once the object is scanned ShopSavvy does the rest.

This program will locate local stores, as well as online store selling the product you want and lists the prices of the item from each seller. Not only can this be used for groceries, and housewares but, also legal textbooks and school supplies you need.

So, the next time your at Walmart trying so save some money, scan the bar code and make sure it’s really the lowest price. With the cost of law school tuition every little bit you save is less you have to pay for later.

Be Smart, use technology to your advantage and watch your pennies,

Kate Lawton

The New Law School Rankings are out!!

Here’s a look at what U.S. World and Report shows the top 14 Law Schools are as of this year.

From: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/rankings

So what do these rankings mean? Well the U.S. News and World Report explains the main factors involved in the ranking are:

• Quality Assessment (weighted by .40)
  1. Peer Assessment Score (.25)
     • This score comes from law school deans, deans of academic affairs, chairs of faculty appointments, and the most recently tenured faculty members ratings of their school’s programs on a scale from marginal (1) to outstanding (5).
  2. Assessment Score by Lawyers/Judges (.15)
     • This score comes from legal professionals, including the hiring partners of law firms, state attorneys general, and selected federal and state judges ratings of programs on a scale from marginal (1) to outstanding (5).
• Selectivity (weighted by .25)
  1. Median LSAT Scores (.125)
  2. Median Undergrad GPA (.10)
  3. Acceptance Rate (.025)
• Placement Success (weighted by .20)
  1. Employment Rates for Graduates
     • The graduating class of 2008 determined these numbers. The employment rate measured at graduation receive a (.04) weight while employment nine months after graduation is given a (.14) weight.
  2. Bar Passage Rate (.02)
• Faculty Resources (weighted by .15)
• Expenditures Per Student
  • From the 2008 to 2009 fiscal years the average expenditures per student are calculated with the average instruction, library, and supporting services having a (.0975) weight and all other items, including financial aid having a (.015) weight.
• Student/Faculty Ratio (.03)
• Library Resources (.0075)

What does this mean to upcoming applicants?

While these scores give a good sense of what law schools have overall better facilities and reputations, these numbers aren’t telling you everyone should go to Harvard.

Going to law school is a personal decision for each applicant and your ranking of schools based on the most crucial factors to you, will likely differ greatly from the U.S. News and World Report numbers.

The cost of the school, the location of the school, the programs the school offers and the library facilities are all things that are more important than the ranking of schools to many applicants.

So how can you decide what law school is right for you?

First, you have to decide what the most important factors are for you about the law school you most want to go to.

Then you simply have to do your research. I recommend using the LSAC website to help make this decision more easy.

By clicking ion that blue link you will be able to search American Bar Association Approved schools by region, keywords, by the likelihood that your LSAT and GPA will lead to your acceptance, or even by a detailed search using your specific qualifications.

If you haven’t looked at this feature of the LSAC website you really need to check it out.

Stressed Out About Law School?

For all of you undergraduate students who are stressed about applying to law school, studying for the LSAT and still making good grades in college, this video is your life saver! Watch this video and get advice from a few University of Florida students, advisors and counselor on how to reduce your law related anxiety.

Are Pre-Law College clubs a good idea?

As an avild member and Vice Presidential candidate in the Pre-Legal Honors Society at my college, I reccommend being involved in college pre-law organizations. I, however, may be a bit biased. I recently took a look at an uncommon experience of a club member who was actually turned off by law after joining my pre-law orgainzation. Yet, if you watch this informative Audio Slideshow you’ll see the discourged student still reccomends joining a college organization if your the least bit interested in law as an undergraduate. Click the photo below to watch and learn why.

GetIn2Law with Podcasting

Do you know what to expect in law school?

Are you worried law isn’t the right field for you?

Have the horror stories about law school made you too scared to commit?

Click Here to listen to my very first podcast for the GetIn2Law Blog and sort out the drama from reality!

Putting off Law School Debt

The American Bar Association is taking a stand for law students. With a poor economy and ever increasing prices of living and education, the ABA is asking Congress to help law students by giving them more time to pay off their debts.

According to an article on ABAJournal.com, the ABA is asking Congress to make commercial lenders allow law school students to put off paying back loans for up to 3 years. This postponement of payment has been allowed by federal student loan programs and, with the ABA’s hard work, future law students can hope the provision is extended to commercial loans.

Law school is very expensive and every little bit helps. So, stay tuned to this legislation.

The Infamous LSAT

I’m honestly scared to death of the LSAT.

Sure, it only tests of your ability to learn and reason quickly but, I know I will need help to make a good score. And, lucky for all of us who feel over-whelmed by the LSAT, there are many people who can help.

1) Princeton Review 2) Kaplan 3) Test Masters 4) Power Score 5) LSAC materials

There are many, many other test prep companies but, these are a few I have heard good things about. I don’t know everything though, so feel free to post information about classes you’ve taken for test prep.

I start taking a Kaplan class in two weeks. So, look forward to some first hand information about how I like the class!

Looking Ahead

Interesting insight from a real law school student who tells it like it is!

Between the reading, teachers and other students, law school can be intense enough to make some students drop out! But, if you check out Mr Law School on Youtube you’ll see he’s still alive, well and staying in school after a whole semester.

It’s Time You Looked Into Law!

Check the Learning about Law page to find out where to start your law career! This site has the latest, most informative and verifiable information you’ll find on the web.

Getting Started!

Welcome!

This is the place for the latest, most helpful, and verifiable  information about getting into law school.

How do I know?  I am applying for law school myself.

Whether you just started considering law or have known all your life  that you wanted to get your Juris Doctor, this site will be your secret  weapon to stay on top of the law school preparation and application  process.

I created this Blog to pass on my knowledge as a law school bound college student, as well as that of others I have met and will continue to meet in my time operating this site. I want to make the application process easier for my fellow lawyers to be. Everyone starts somewhere, so why not right here!