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This week’s podcast discusses paying off student loans. Our guests are Heather Jarvis, attorney and Senior Program Manager for Law School Advocacy at Equal Justice Works; Edie Irons, expert on income-based repayment and public service loan forgiveness, and Communications Director at the Institute for College Access & Success; and Glen Herrick, Senior Vice President of Risk Management at Wells Fargo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Our first guest, Heather Jarvis, attorney and Senior Program Manager for Law School Advocacy at Equal Justice Works, starts by discussing the timeline students typically follow when they start paying off student loans. She also discusses the different payment plans students can choose from when repaying their student debt, and spends time covering income-based repayment, which bases a student’s monthly loan payment off his or her current salary. She also stresses the importance of keeping in constant communication with your student loan lender.

Edie Irons, Communications Director at the Institute of College Access & Success, also discusses different student loan repayment options and suggests that thorough conversations with your lender are of utmost importance when deciding on the best repayment option for you. She also offers information on loan forgiveness programs, which allow students to get some of their loans forgiven based on the career they choose after graduation.

Our final guest, Glen Herrick, Senior Vice President of Risk Management at Wells Fargo (SD), talks about privately-funded education loans such as the ones offered by his institution. Herrick suggests first exhausting all possible funding through federal channels before taking out private loans. He also underlines the importance of making sure to manage your debt.

Guests:

Edie Irons – Communications Director at the Institute of College Access & Success
Heather Jarvis – Attorney and Senior Program Manager for Law School Advocacy at Equal Justice Works
Glen Herrick – Senior Vice President for Risk Management at Wells Fargo (Sioux Falls, SD)

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This week’s podcast discusses the practice of Constitutional Law. On the program we will hear from William H. “Chip” Mellor, co-founder, President, and General Counsel of the Institute for Justice, and Jeremy Hessler, a 3L at the University of California Hastings College of the Law and Editor-in-Chief of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly.

Chip Mellor, President and General Counsel for the Institute for Justice, suggests that students who are interested in this area of the law should know it comes with hard practice but great reward. He goes on to say that students should ask themselves why they want to practice constitutional law because it needs to be rewarding on a deep level in order for a constitutional law attorney to be truly successful. Mellor also points out that a constitutional lawyer is much more than simply an attorney-they are also a legal historian and strategist.

Jeremy Hessler, a 3L at the University of California Hastings College of the Law, and Editor-in-Chief of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly, says that, although he didn’t have much knowledge of constitutional law before attending law school, what he has learned in school has definitely piqued his interest. Hessler goes on to say that students interested in constitutional law shouldn’t just limit themselves to constitutional law classes—they should also take courses in any other subjects that they find interesting, as other areas of the law are all rooted in constitutional law. Finally, Hessler credits his growing interest in constitutional law to the Constitutional Law Quarterly at UC Hastings, and advises undergraduate students who may be interested in this path to take classes in political science, history, and U.S. government.

Guests:

William H. “Chip” Mellor – President and General Counsel for the Institute for Justice
Jeremy Hessler – 3L at the University of California Hastings College of the Law, and Editor-in-Chief of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly

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The week’s podcast takes a look at LSAT online preparation courses. On the program are Jeff Thomas, Assistant Director of Pre-Law Programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, and Jon Denning, Development Director for PowerScore Test Preparation.

Jeff Thomas, Assistant Director of Pre-Law Programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, starts by stating that today’s students require the availability of many different types of preparation for the LSAT. He goes on to say that determining if online LSAT prep courses are the right learning environment for the student is a crucial first step that students must complete before enrolling in an online prep course. Thomas also emphasizes that, although online courses are often more readily available than traditional classroom courses, and often offer greater flexibility, this does not mean that online courses offer less preparation or materials than other types of LSAT preparation.

Jon Denning, Development Director at PowerScore Test Preparation, says that the primary benefit of LSAT online preparation courses is their accessibility. He also says he doesn’t believe there are any true negatives to online courses, but that students must understand the need to be self-disciplined if they choose to take part in this kind of preparation. Denning goes onto say that success in an online preparation course isn’t limited to just one type of student, and that it can be beneficial to those in all different professions and at different points in their LSAT studies. He also mentions that an added benefit of these classes is that students from all over the world can take part in the preparation, and add to the discussion in the virtual classroom. Finally, Denning agrees with Thomas and says that online courses not only allow students to learn the same information as other courses from their location of choice, they also often the same amount and quality of preparation material.

Guests:

Jeff Thomas – Director of Pre-Law Programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
Jon Denning – Development Director at PowerScore Test Preparation

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This week’s podcast discusses attending law school later in life. Our guests are Deborah Schneider, author of Should You Really Be A Lawyer? The Guide to Smart Career Choices Before, During and After Law School; Ruth Carter, a current 3L at Arizona State University College of Law; and Mark Anderson, a current 1L at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Deborah Schneider, author of Should You Really Be A Lawyer?, suggests that students who are thinking about attending law school late in life should go through four steps to determine if law school is the best step for them: Investigate law school, conduct a self assessment, find out what attorneys actually do, and have real world exposure to the legal practice. Schneider also recommends that students look at law school realistically and with a clear mind. She stresses that, no matter a law school applicant’s age, they should all thoroughly think about their decision before committing to attending.

Ruth Carter, a former therapist and counselor and current 3L at Arizona State University College of Law, believes that students should wait until they are older to attend law school because they can then complement what they learn in law school with their own real-world experiences. She believes one of the top advantages of being an older law school student is the ability to dismiss the normal law school “drama,” and recommends that student focus on learning and networking while in law school, which will provide them added benefits post-graduation.

Our final guest is Mark Anderson, a 37-year-old law student currently attending William Mitchell College of Law. He believes the key advantage of being an older law school student is the life experience his age allows him to bring into the classroom, particularly because he is able to relate his personal experiences with whatever cases his class is examining.

Guests:

Deborah Schneider – Author of Should You Really Be A Lawyer?
Ruth Carter – 3L at Arizona State University College of Law
Mark Anderson – 1L at William Mitchell College of Law

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This week’s podcast discusses testing accommodations for the LSAT. Our guests today are Dr. Stephen Mouton, a clinical psychologist and owner of PrivateTesting.com; Dr. Karl Wagner, president of Powell & Wagner Associates, a private consulting psychology practice in Cambridge, Mass.; and Kevin Fritz, a 1L student at Washington University School of Law in Saint Louis who needed LSAT test accommodations when taking the LSAT. We reached out to Law School Admissions Council (LSAT), who creates and administers the LSAT, requesting comment for this piece, but they declined to comment.

Our first guest, Dr. Stephen Mouton, says there are a lot of options when requesting testing accommodations for any standardized test. However, he stresses that, before requesting from the governing body for the exam, students need to make sure they fulfill all the required qualifications. Dr. Mouton also says that students with disabilities should take some time to investigate the accommodations options that are available, in order to determine what will help them succeed on the LSAT.

Our second guest, Dr. Karl Wagner, says that companies like his exist to help students obtain the necessary paperwork and testing required to request testing accommodations. He also advises that students decide if they will need accommodations well in advance of the test, since the evaluation and accommodations request process is a lengthy ordeal that often takes considerable time.

Our final guest, Kevin Fritz, draws from his own personal history with testing accommodations. Fritz suffers from muscular dystrophy, requested testing accommodations from LSAC when he decided to take the LSAT, and did not receive the accommodations he wished to obtain. He now works with The National Association of Law Students with Disabilities, where he is able to help students like himself.

Guests:

Dr. Karl Wagner – President of Powell & Wagner Associates
Dr. Stephen Mouton – Clinical Psychologist and Owner of PrivateTesting.com
Kevin Fritz – 1L at Washington University School of Law in Saint Louis

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This week’s podcast answers the question many law school applicants ask themselves after receiving their decision letters: “I’ve been accepted. Now what?” Our guests are Ann Levine, author of The Law School Admission Game; Jamie Hammers, Assistant Dean for Admissions at the University of Houston Law Center; and Anne Chaconas, Director of Admissions Counseling at PowerScore Test Preparation.

Ann Levine, author of The Law School Admission Game, recommends that prospective law school students do research on each of the schools at which they have been accepted before making a final decision. Along with researching the schools themselves, Levine believes that looking at the financial aspect—tuition cost and scholarships—is also extremely important. She also suggests that students spend some time before law school begins with family and friends, since this can prove to be refreshing and help ease the transition into law school.

Jamie Hammers, Assistant Dean for Admissions at the University of Houston Law Center, suggests that students plan a visit to the schools they have been accepted to, and encourages students to sit in on classes and meet with professors during their visit. She also mentions that, if an in-person visit is not possible, a “virtual” visit through the school’s website can often prove to be just as effective. Dean Hammers concludes by stating that, in addition to liking the school itself, it is also important to like the city where the school is located.

Our final guest is Anne Chaconas, Director of Admissions Counseling at PowerScore Test Preparation. She advises students to wait for all their acceptance letters so they are able to compare the pros and cons of each institution to which they have been accepted, as well as consider all financial aid packages they have been awarded. Chaconas also suggests that students take into consideration law school rankings and which school is offering them most “free” money before making final decisions. Finally, Chaconas emphasizes that students not rush into a commitment before thoroughly researching all their choices, and encourages students to remember their ability to bargain with schools.

Guests:

Ann Levine – Author of The Law School Admission Game
Jamie Hammers – Assistant Dean for Admissions at the University of Houston Law Center
Anne Chaconas – Director of Admissions Counseling at PowerScore Test Preparation

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This week’s podcast is the third installment of our law practices series. This week will discuss intellectual property, or IP, law. Our guests on the program are Jerry Fellows, shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and Lewis Gould, partner and chairman of the Patent and Trademark Practice Group at Duane Morris LLP.

Intellectual property law deals with the laws surrounding “creations of the mind.” Our guests today talk about two main areas of intellectual property: Patents and trademarks.

Our first guest, Jerry Fellows, says intellectual property law is a specialty that will continue to be strong and could potentially thrive in a legal recession. Students interested in intellectual property law should, says Fellows, develop analytical skills. He also says this practice is a very broad field and offers a lot of opportunities, and lends itself to a wide range of personalities and areas of expertise.

Our second guest, Lewis Gould, says that there are two primary areas within intellectual property law, trademarks and patents, and suggests that students become familiar with both sides of the practice. He says that, often, students are more interested in trademarks because, unlike patents, it doesn’t require an extra bar exam. Gould suggests that students interested in IP law take intellectual property courses beyond the basic survey course during their law school career, and begin planning their academic path early in the law school career so that they can make sure ot have the requirements needed to pass both bar exams after graduation.

Guests:

Jerry Fellows – Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Lewis Gould – Partner and chairman of the Patent and Trademark Practice Group at Duane Morris LLP

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This week’s podcast discusses how to put together a “stand-out” law school application. Our guests today are Ann Gibbs, Associate Dean of Administrative and Student Services at Wake Forest University School of Law; Ann Levine, author of The Law School Admission Game; and Anna Ivey, founder and head of graduate school admissions for Anna Ivey Consulting.

Our first guest, Ann Gibbs, says that good attributes for law school applications are a well-written personal statement, and above-average LSAT scores and GPA. In the case of students whose LSAT and GPA numbers aren’t exceptional, she suggests that students should focus on highlighting outstanding attributes in other part of their application.

Our second guest, Ann Levine, says there are two ways to stand out on your application: Your experiences, and your overall presentation. She states that the best section to easily stand out in is the personal statement. Levine suggests that a thoughtful or unusual personal statement can go a long way to grab and keep an admission staffers’ attention, but warns against oversharing or “being cheesy.” Finally, Levine gives us her best piece of advice when seeking to have a stand-out application: Be very careful when putting your application together; always make sure to proofread all the text and confirm there are no mistakes.

Our final guest, Anna Ivey, says the most important aspect of any law school application are the LSAT and GPA, but says numbers aren’t the only thing that can make or break your law school chances. Ivey suggests that students without outstanding numbers can still put together a solid application, but may face an uphill battle with a certain caliber of school. Like Levine, Ivey says that the law school application is the one way students have to “prove” themselves to admissions representatives; therefore, they should make sure to do put their absolute best forward, and double-check all the information they include.

Guests:

Ann Gibbs – Associate Dean of Administrative and Student Services at Wake Forest University School of Law
Ann Levine – Author of The Law School Admission Game
Anna Ivey – Founder and head of graduate school admissions for Anna Ivey Consulting

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This week’s podcast covers law school scholarships and discusses some ways to help pay for your law school education. Our guests are Brandon Hamilton, Assistant Dean for Admissions at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law; Debby Hohler, spokeswoman for Upromise.com; and Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FastWeb.com and FinAid.org.

Brandon Hamilton, Assistant Dean for Admissions at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, discusses the process Louisville Law applicants go through to be considered for scholarships. He says that students have the ability to receive scholarships not only for academic achievement, but also for leadership qualities and diversity of background. Hamilton points out that scholarships at his school and many others don’t require the applicant to file an additional application. At the Louisville Law, applicants are automatically considered for scholarships through the content of their admissions application. Hamilton also encourages students who have received a more substantial package at one law school than at others to call the admissions offices at the other schools and engage in “scholarship negotiating.”

Debby Hohler, spokeswoman for Upromise.com, talks about the Upromise program and how it can help you save for and pay for law school. Though not a traditional way to help pay for your law school education, Upromise offers a variety of opportunities for students to receive easily-earned cash to help pay their bills. UPromise offers credit cards to students and their families that offer cash-back opportunities from a variety of places that students frequently visit. The cash-back benefits students receive are sent to an account and can be used to directly pay back student loans or other student expenses.

Our final guest is Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FastWeb.com and FinAid.org. FastWeb lists many scholarship opportunities for students in a variety of different fields. On the site, students are able to fill out a questionnaire detailing their background and educational goals, allowing the scholarship selection process to take place more efficiently than a traditional pen-and-paper approach. Kantrowitz also mentions that FastWeb is not limited to only scholarships; fellowships are also found on the site and can prove to be a good option for graduate and professional students.

Guests:

Brandon Hamilton – Assistant Dean for Admissions at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law
Debby Hohler – Spokesman for Upromise.com
Mark Kantrowitz – Publisher of FastWeb.com and FinAid.org

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This week’s podcast discusses LSAT training on-the-go, e.g., using flashcards and iPhone applications as a method of training and studying for the test. Our guests today are Andrew Brody, National Content Director for LSAT programs at The Princeton Review; Jeff Thomas, Assistant Director of Pre-Law programs for Kaplan Test Prep; and Ashish Rangnekar, co-founder and CEO of Watermelon EXPRESS, a company that produces educational iPhone and iPad applications for the GMAT and the LSAT.

Our first guest, Andrew Brody, believes that LSAT training on-the-go should only be used as a supplement to a more rigorous training schedule involving LSAT classes, tutors, and practice tests. He suggests that students can do a variety of things to prepare for the LSAT on-the-go: Listen to podcasts, use iPhone apps, or even change their everyday reading material to focus on a different part of the test on a daily basis. However, he emphasizes that on-the-go training should ideally only be done along with another, more formal, type of LSAT practice.

Our second guest, Jeff Thomas, agrees with Brody and suggests that on-the-go options are good for students who only use that source of training as a supplement. If a student is too busy to prepare for the LSAT using traditional resources such as classes and practice tests, and only uses on-the-go materials, Thomas suggests that they should reconsider their priorities and rearrange their schedule to find time to properly prepare for the test. He also talks about his company’s many on-the-go studying options and their more traditional ways to prepare for the LSAT.

Our final guest, Ashish Rangnekar, says that his company’s LSAT applications offer a convenient way for students to prepare for the LSAT. Rangnekar says that, along with including a great deal of study material in the application, Watermelon EXPRESS also offers the ability to socialize with other students using the LSAT preparation application.

Guests:

Andrew Brody – National Director for LSAT programs at The Princeton Review
Jeff Thomas – Director of Pre-Law Programs for Kaplan Test Prep
Ashish Rangnekar – Co-founder of Watermelon Express

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In this week’s podcast we look into the question, “What to do with a Law Degree?” We speak with Robert Boland, sports agent, attorney, and professor at NYU; Caroline Dowd Higgins, Director of the Career and Professional Development Office at Indiana School of Law; and Robert Nelson, Director of the American Bar Foundation.

Robert Boland came to us with a rather unique story. Although he was a passionate student athlete in college, worked in various athletics-related capacities, and did graduate work in sports broadcast management, he didn’t immediately go into sports agency after law school. Instead, he clerked, then served as an assistant district attorney, confidential assistant to a trial judge, and as a special counsel in antitrust litigation (the most common sports law issue) at two large New York law firms. It was only when he co-founded Global Athletic Management Enterprises (GAME) in 1998 that he began to build his sports clientele, and truly began a fruitful career in sports agency: endorsement and general athletic contract negotiation. He still works in the sports industry and serves as a full-time professor at NYU in the Masters of Sports Management program.

Our other two guests also shed light to other options available to students who graduate with a law degree.

Caroline Dowd Higgins talks about the advice she gives her students when they are just starting law school and are looking for a career path.

Robert Nelson talks about a study the American Bar Foundation did called After the JD and some of the surprising (and not-so-surprising) facts they discovered.

One of the most poignant (and most heartening) things you will learn from this podcast is that with a law degree you can-and many people do-follow your heart and do almost anything.

Guests:

Robert Boland – Professor, Sports Agent, Attorney – New York University
Caroline Dowd Higgins - Director of the Career and Professional Development Office – Indiana University
Robert Nelson – Director – American Bar Foundation

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This week’s podcast discusses the writing sample section of the LSAT. Our guests are Eva Lana, President and CEO of Binary Solution Test Preparation, and Andrew Brody, National Content Director for LSAT programs at The Princeton Review.

Our first guest, Eva Lana, says the writing sample of the LSAT, though not scored, is important because it is sent to the schools to which you are applying. She also suggests that some schools may use the sample as part of the admission process. Lana goes on to say that, when preparing for the section, reading samples and writing practice essays can be beneficial, and suggests that students develop a strategy of how they will answer the writing sample prompt questions in order to understand how to best organize their approach.

Andrew Brody suggests that students shouldn’t worry too much about this section because they will likely obtain or hone the skills needed for the writing sample during the course of their LSAT preparation. He also says that when students are developing their argument for the writing sample, they should strive to be fair-minded and consider both sides of the argument. Along with these suggestions, Brody underlines the importance of not letting a sample stand out for the wrong reasons (and tells us what those reasons are), and talks about how students should strive come into the LSAT understanding the basic structure of how they will approach the sample.

Guests:

Andrew Brody – National Content Director for LSAT Programs at The Princeton Review
Eva Lana – President and CEO of Binary Solution Test Preparation

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