LSAT

[Marcus Aurelius]

Today's high schools/colleges feature a lot of grade inflation.

If we didn't have ACT/SAT/LSAT and other exams as an additional way to measure students, everyone would apply with a 4.0 GPA. Then what?

And what about those who are terrible test takers? Those who have test anxiety? Those who are neurodivergent? Those who come from poorer socioeconomic classes? Plenty of people don't take these exams for a variety of reasons. Doesn't mean they can't succeed and earn decent grades. With my SAT scores, I should never have graduated with a 4.0 for my first bachelor's degree and a 3.949 for my second, and I'm currently holding a 4.0 in grad school. My SAT's got me into community college. That's it. Seriously.

These are all good reasons why I don't support standardized tests for college admissions. I have test anxiety and didn't do that well on the GMAT. Near the end of my admissions interview, the guy actually let out a big sigh before saying "okay, you're in." I ended up completing the degree program with a 3.9 GPA.

[Alpha]

In reality though if you can't handle the stress from the LSAT are you cut out to be a lawyer? I wouldn't want a "bad test taker" and someone who suffers from anxiety to defend me in court. No offense, but the LSAT is a very learnable exam.

Most attorneys don't spend a lot of time in court.  They sit in offices and read/write contracts, formal negotiations, liability issues, etc.

[evanmonast]

In reality though if you can't handle the stress from the LSAT are you cut out to be a lawyer? I wouldn't want a "bad test taker" and someone who suffers from anxiety to defend me in court. No offense, but the LSAT is a very learnable exam.

You think there aren't practicing attorneys who suffer from anxiety? Get real! 

You are also ignoring the socioeconomics and racial issues with these exams.

Anxiety bad enough to not be able to pass the LSAT? No, not a single one.

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In reality though if you can't handle the stress from the LSAT are you cut out to be a lawyer? I wouldn't want a "bad test taker" and someone who suffers from anxiety to defend me in court. No offense, but the LSAT is a very learnable exam.

Most attorneys don't spend a lot of time in court.  They sit in offices and read/write contracts, formal negotiations, liability issues, etc.

Unless you want to separate schools/programs between attorneys that will be present in court rooms and attorneys that work in offices I don't see how this changes anything.

[Alpha]

In reality though if you can't handle the stress from the LSAT are you cut out to be a lawyer? I wouldn't want a "bad test taker" and someone who suffers from anxiety to defend me in court. No offense, but the LSAT is a very learnable exam.

You think there aren't practicing attorneys who suffer from anxiety? Get real! 

You are also ignoring the socioeconomics and racial issues with these exams.

Anxiety bad enough to not be able to pass the LSAT? No, not a single one.

---

In reality though if you can't handle the stress from the LSAT are you cut out to be a lawyer? I wouldn't want a "bad test taker" and someone who suffers from anxiety to defend me in court. No offense, but the LSAT is a very learnable exam.

Most attorneys don't spend a lot of time in court.  They sit in offices and read/write contracts, formal negotiations, liability issues, etc.

Unless you want to separate schools/programs between attorneys that will be present in court rooms and attorneys that work in offices I don't see how this changes anything.

What I would most like is for you to show me some data that indicates that "bad test takers" make bad courtroom attorneys.

[rachel83az]

Taking a test is a completely different environment to being in a courtroom. They're vastly different skills. Might as well say something like "people who don't like roller coasters shouldn't be a lawyer". Or "people who have arachnophobia shouldn't be a lawyer".

Me, I'm good at standardized testing. If I cared enough to study, I think there's a good chance that I could do decently enough on something like the LSAT. But I think I'd also make a terrible lawyer. Being able to pass an exam says nothing about all the other skills necessary for a given profession.

[Pats20]

Here’s the way I see it. People are always going to have fault with something. Eliminate the gre the gmat , mcats , lsat , act , sat , you name it because people don’t like them because they do poorly on them. Eliminate proctored exams , writing papers , multiple choice questions , essays ect. when they don’t do well or get accepted into their program of choice then they’re just going to blame something else. It isn’t a perfect world or a perfect system. How could it be perfect for everyone in every situation ?
Life isn’t perfect. It’s called adversity.

[evanmonast]

Taking a test is a completely different environment to being in a courtroom. They're vastly different skills. Might as well say something like "people who don't like roller coasters shouldn't be a lawyer". Or "people who have arachnophobia shouldn't be a lawyer".

Me, I'm good at standardized testing. If I cared enough to study, I think there's a good chance that I could do decently enough on something like the LSAT. But I think I'd also make a terrible lawyer. Being able to pass an exam says nothing about all the other skills necessary for a given profession.

Criminal defense is fairly similar to taking a test just with an audience and an oral participation requirement. 

I don't understand what a fear of roller coasters has to do with being able to retain and regurgitate information with quick time constraints and with the pressure of someone's innocence on your shoulders. 

I didn't say the LSAT was a perfect tool for predicting someone's ability to pass law school or the BAR was the perfect tool to predict someone's ability to be a lawyer but they are by far and away the best tools we have available. Until there is a better alternative for weeding out applicants I don't see how any reputable school would drop the LSAT. It won't happen anyway so this is all a moot point.