Richardson LSAT Prep

Letter to Prospective Law Students

From John Richardson, B.A., LL.B., J.D.

Congratulations on your interest in law. The 1990s were marked by a decline in law school applications. Since 2000 interest in law has increased. There is an increase in both law school applications and the number of people taking the LSAT. Gaining admission to Canadian law schools is a challenge - a challenge that is achievable. Admission to law school is a worthy goal. In order to succeed you focus on every part of your law school application file.

As you know the deadline date for applications to Ontario law schools is November 1. It is wise to write the LSAT in June. This will leave you the summer to develop the remaining components of your application file. Completion of the law school application file is a time consuming job. You should undertake it at a time that will not interfere with your academic commitments. I commend you on your decisions to approach the LSAT and complete application process in this way!

Although we run different kinds of LSAT programs throughout the year I would like to give you early notice about a very special program that I have run each May since 1993 in preparation for the June LSAT. This program is a special enhanced version of Mastering The LSAT (and all other aspects of the law admissions process). The course will appeal to those of you who want the most comprehensive live instruction available to ensure that you do the LSAT one time only and do your best in the complete admissions process!

In 1979 I began teaching LSAT courses while I was still attending law school. Since that time I have personally developed and authored four different LSAT courses. My seminars about the "pre-law process" have been presented on behalf of university pre-law societies and career counseling departments. In addition I have personally organized numerous educational events for students interested in law school. I have authored a book about the pre-law and law admissions process. The book is called Law School Bound - How To Get Into Law School And Become A Lawyer In Canada And The U.S. In addition, I have also written a book about LSAT preparation. The book is called Mastering The LSAT - How To Prepare Effectively And Successfully.

What does effective LSAT preparation involve?

Effective preparation for the LSAT involves the mastery of four general categories of skills that are applicable to all LSAT question types. They are:


  1. Background skills that are at the root of each question type
  2. Rules for the design of the questions
  3. Rules for the design of the answer choices
  4. Multiple choice principles which will allow you to identify the correct answers

Effective preparation involves the application of the preceding general principles in the context of specific categories and sub-categories of questions. Each of the logic games, logical reasoning and reading comprehension sections have specific categories of questions.

My five week "Mastering The LSAT" course for the June LSAT will meet either two or three times each week. Most of the class sessions will be on weekend days. These will be full day class sessions running from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (The Saturdays of May 31 and June 7 will run from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) Evening class sessions (optional tutorials) will meet on three Friday evenings. Each of these class sessions will generally run from 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. In addition to the class sessions, there will be six "practice testing" sessions (using real LSAT exams) throughout the course. During each session a full length LSAT will be administered. As you can see this guarantees approximately 78 hours (if you start on May 10) of in class instruction and practice LSAT testing. Please note the the course will NOT run on the May 17 - 20 Victoria day weekend.

There will be four parts to the program:

First, there will be individual class sessions. Class sessions will be on weekend days. In addition there will be three optinal topical tutorials in the form of Friday evening sessions. Each class will be devoted to no more than two categories of LSAT questions. For those question categories I will teach the background skills and specific multiple choice techniques that are applicable to that question type. I will focus separately on both the questions and answer choices. Both recent actual LSAT questions and supplementary questions provided in your course materials will be used as the basis for discussion. In addition, you will be taught the requirements of writing an effective writing sample. I personally will teach the vast majority (if not all) of the class sessions. It is likely that Mastering The LSAT will be the only course that I will teach personally for the June LSAT!

Second, each class session will be followed by specially selected homework exercises. At the end of each class specific reinforcement exercises based on the class lecture will be assigned for homework. To put it simply, the focused homework exercises are an important part of this program.

Third, you will participate in "practice testing" each week. The fact is that LSAT scores improve by practicing full length LSAT exams. This improvement is attributable to both familiarity with the test questions and familiarity with the conditions you are being tested under!

Fourth, we will pay special attention to all aspects of the law admissions process. As important as the LSAT is, it is only one part of your application file. We will learn how to apply differently to different law schools in both Canada and the U.S. Personal statements and effective letters of reference will be given special attention. The course includes my "Getting Into Law School" course on Friday May 23 and my "Personal Statement Workshop" on Sunday June 8. In addition, I have arranged for various lawyers and law students to participate as "guest speakers" for this part of the program. The guest speakers are a wonderful dimension to the program that is included only in May of each year. Mastering The LSAT is the only complete law admissions program available. In addition, as a participant in my Mastering The LSAT program you will be invited to participate in an "early bird" session of my "Personal Statement and Law School Application Workshop" which will take place on Saturday morning June 2. In this way will provide you with guidance on how to approach the complete application process after the June LSAT!

My goal is to bring all my years of course development and teaching experience to bear in creating the most comprehensive, focused, structured and effective live LSAT course ever taught. I am not aware of any course anywhere that is as comprehensive as this one. For this reason, it is probable that I will not offer this enhanced version of the Mastering The LSAT program again until June of 2009.

The cost of the entire course, including all materials, is $895 (Canadian) which includes GST and all course materials. (This may be the last time the course will be offered at this low price.) This tuition fee will include everything (including a personalized writing sample evaluation) except GST. The course will be taught at St. Michael's College on the downtown campus of the U. of T. You may start the program on Saturday May 10 or Saturday May 24.

I plan for "Mastering The LSAT" to be a tremendously effective course. The success of the course will result from my personal commitment to teach the best course that I can and a commitment from the students to give it a 100% effort! Your success and the success of this course will also depend on your consistent attendance and a commitment to doing the homework! I will give it my enthusiastic best, and I expect you to give it your enthusiastic best!

In addition to this course, during the months of May and June we will be offering one and two weekend programs for the June LSAT. As a participant in my "Mastering The LSAT" course you will be permitted to sit in (free of charge) on any of the sessions of our other courses for the June LSAT. You may find this useful as a refresher or for clarification of specific points. At the first session you will be given a list of dates and locations that are available.

A $100 deposit is required to reserve a seat in the course. We accept cheques (payable to "Richardson - Mastering The LSAT") or credit card. You may wish to telephone us at 410-PREP(7737) with your credit card deposit. As a further option you may register by e-mail at lsatprepregister@prep.com. The full tuition fee must be paid no later than the start of the first class on May 10 or May 24 (whichever the case may be).

If you are from outside the Toronto area you might be interested to know that accommodation is available at low cost on the St. Michael's College campus. Call (416) 926-7141 for further information.

In May of 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 this enhanced version of Mastering The LSAT has been a tremendously exciting, stimulating, informative and effective experience! The students have been extremely enthusiastic! I look forward to a repeat in May of 2008!

Sincerely yours, John Richardson, B.A., LL.B., J.D.

P.S. You are invited to have a free subscription to my Law School Bound newsletter. The newsletter will allow you to stay in touch with issues concerning law admissions and the pre-law process. I publish it once a month. It is available only by e-mail and is free to anyone. To obtain a monthly copy simply send an e-mail to lawnews@prep.com New issues will be available on the first day of each month.


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