Law Tutor Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why do law students need a tutor, regardless of the caliber of student?
Though law school professors are qualified to teach students the law, they usually use the Socratic method by posing questions to students about textbook case law and codes. This method promotes individual thought. However, the Socratic method focuses on certain cognitive steps and ignores others, including feedback that students may need to understand their personal errors in analysis. Many professors will often pose questions to students about case facts and rationales without properly explaining the actual rules that should be gleaned from the cases. More importantly, many professors do not explain to students how to be versatile in applying these gleaned rules to different fact patterns, which is an important skill that students must use in law school exams. This process of teaching misleads students into believing that they understand how to properly answer a law school exam. LST – Law School Tutor teaches students how to glean rules and how to apply these rules to various fact patterns through a proper analysis.
Shouldn’t law students try to work on their own first and wait until they receive their first set of grades before hiring Law School Tutor?
Most law schools use a very strict and demanding grading curve* and evaluate the student’s overall GPA and class ranking to determine if the student will be dismissed from law school, if the student will obtain or keep their scholarship and if they will be invited to join Law Review—factors that are even taken into consideration by prospective employers.** Students take a substantial risk by working on their own because, by the time they receive grades and they realize that they need law school tutoring services, they received low grades which are permanent and usually worth 50% of their overall GPA for the year. This greatly affects the student’s ability to raise their overall GPA and class ranking for the year and therefore limits their ability to obtain or keep their scholarship and join Law Review. It may also cause the student to be placed on academic probation. Students who have tutored with LST – Law School Tutor have received 4.0 grades, obtained or maintained a scholarship, and have been invited onto Law Review.
*Depending on the law school, a grading curve may be set at 2.5, 2.8 or 3.0. Thus, it is not uncommon for students who are deemed to be in the top 10% to have a 3.4 GPA.
**When hiring law students and lawyers, prospective employers in the legal field typically place a high value on students’ grades, class rankings and participation on law journals, including Law Review.
I graduated from undergrad at the top of my class, why do I need a law school tutor?
Most law schools only admit students who were also very successful in their undergraduate studies. This, combined with a very strict and demanding grading curve, creates a competitive environment, which consistently takes first year students by surprise when they receive grades near the middle or below the curve. Students who have tutored with LST – Law School Tutor have obtained grades that are much higher than their classmates’ grades, by using LST’s tools for success.
If a law professor offers office hours, why would a law student still need tutoring for law school?
Most law school professors focus on public policy or theory when teaching students the law and sometimes they will also use this approach when answering students’ questions during office hours. As a result, students may feel that their questions were not appropriately addressed by the professor. This could be due to the following factors: the professor answered the student’s questions by using general and vague terms, the professor misunderstood which part of the law the student is struggling with, the professor did not dedicate 100% of his or her attention to the student, the student does not ask the right questions that would trigger a proper response to clarify a particular issue, or the professor explained the law correctly but never demonstrated to the student how they should apply the concept in a law school exam. More importantly, professors rarely dedicate personal one-on-one attention to individual students by critiquing answers to practice exams. LST – Law School Tutor handles these issues by properly addressing each student’s questions and critiquing their answers to practice exams.
If a law school provides assistance to students, in addition to professors’ office hours, isn’t this as effective as tutoring for law school?
Dean’s Fellows, Academic Fellows and other various teachers’ aides teach and review course material. However, they rarely dedicate personal one-on-one attention to individual students by critiquing answers to practice exams. This is the most integral part of performing well in law school.
Law School Tutor shows students how to apply law school material taught by each individual professor, according to the professor’s preferences, including, but not limited to, IRAC formatting, memorandum formatting and policy based exam answers.
If a student does not know the law yet, why should a law student use a tutor before they have learned the law?
There is a misconception that students can do really well by waiting until they have learned and memorized all law school material before taking practice exams. This misconception can be attributed to the student’s history in achieving success during their undergraduate studies by using a similar method. However, law schools require students to analyze, practice and study concepts in a manner that is very different from their undergraduate studies.
Law school students typically have not learned and memorized this material until immediately prior to their examinations, leaving virtually no time for practice examinations in order to appropriately test the student on their ability to apply the material they have learned. Law School Tutor addresses this issue by teaching students how to answer practice exams while they are still learning the law.
Why should a law student hire a tutor for law school when all of their time is spent on reading throughout the week?
Because professors usually use the Socratic method when teaching law students and because professors often scold students for being unprepared or not understanding the material, students will often feel intimidated and pressured to be prepared. Law school students often focus most of their attention on reading their textbooks in preparation for their classes and final examinations. Though reading assists students in understanding legal topics, taking practice exams is more helpful in assisting students in preparing for their final examinations, which are often worth 100% of their semester grade. Law School Tutor assists students in becoming more efficient with their reading and studying so that they can spend their time more wisely by taking practice exams.
How does Law School Tutor assist law students in obtaining better grades in law school?
Law School Tutor prepares students so that they are equipped with knowledge and correct answers prior to being graded by their own law professors through midterm examinations and final examinations. In addition, once students obtain knowledge and correct answers, they are also able to then streamline and improve their analysis with each exam that they take with Law School Tutor, thereby compounding the advantage gained over other classmates who are not receiving such assistance.
When is the best time for a law student to hire Law School Tutor?
For best results, students should hire Law School Tutor during the first two months of the student’s law school semester. The earlier students meet with Law School Tutor, the sooner they receive feedback. This schedule ensures that Law School Tutor’s students are prepared when it is most crucial and beneficial to improve the student’s grades.
What trends does Law School Tutor see in law students who tutor with Law School Tutor?
Students who are really diligent tend to receive grades and an overall GPA between 3.4 and 4.0. These students did the following:
1) they met with Law School Tutor on a weekly basis throughout the entire semester until final exams,
2) they did not let reading assignments take precedence over meeting with Law School Tutor,
3) they asked Law School Tutor many questions in person when reviewing their exam answers,
4) they answered several exams per subject,
5) they reviewed a significant amount of material during each session,
6) they reviewed each subject with Law School Tutor, and
7) they continued to meet with Law School Tutor over several semesters and increased their overall GPA.
What materials do law school students receive from Law School Tutor?
Upon payment, Law School Tutor provides the student with tutoring material, according to the student’s needs, including rules, tips, and exams.
How is tutoring scheduled for help in law school?
Once payment is made, Law School Tutor sets a tutoring schedule with the student to meet with the student throughout the semester and review the student’s exam answers and progress. Law School Tutor typically sets a schedule with each student to meet once per week for a minimum of one hour.
Do Law School Tutor’s prices and hourly packages increase?
Typically, Law School Tutor’s prices and hourly purchase requirements increase around final exams in November, December, April and May and also increase between semesters in January. LST’s toolbox for law school packages and pricing vary.
How can a law school student obtain more information regarding Law School Tutor’s services, prices and package plans?
To obtain information on Law School Tutor’s services, prices and plans, please contact Law School Tutor by sending an email from your law school email address to info@law-school-tutor.com
How does Law School Tutor assist law students and prospective law students for free?
Law School Tutor is available to answer questions from prospective law students and current law students regarding law school, including advice on selecting a law school and advice on how to achieve success in law school. If you have questions, please contact Law School Tutor by sending an email to info@law-school-tutor.com