When you substitute understanding with gimmicks, you hamper your score now and in the long term. Tips like “10 questions in 10 minutes” or “If you don’t understand an answer, it’s probably correct” excuse poor reading and rushed test-taking. When you accept that the LSAT is easy and every question is solvable, you’re more likely to commit to a problem until you solve it. No shortcuts needed.

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0:40 – Structuring Study

Mila started with a 150 and plans to study two to three hours a day while in school. Ben and Nathan suggest limiting LSAT time to one focused hour and prioritizing perfect grades. After she’s secured perfect grades for the semester, she can switch to LSAT prep. Mila and other candidates looking to boost their GPA could also consider enrolling in a few community college courses that offer A+ grades.

5:21 – Undergrad Involvement in Pre-Law Clubs

Kyle wonders whether joining pre-law clubs is necessary. The guys explain that clubs and extracurriculars are negligible compared to GPA and LSAT. A 4.0 GPA paired with a great LSAT score will always outweigh résumé fluff. Schools may pretend otherwise, but admissions officers prioritize numbers.

15:17 – Graduate School Conundrum

Carson asks if finishing grad school before law school makes sense. Ben and Nathan point out that lawyers learn what they need on the job—grad degrees won’t add value. Universities push unnecessary certificates and programs because they profit from them. Don’t pair bad LSAT prep with wasted tuition. Learn freely, but don’t pay for credentials you don’t need.

26:53 – Pearls vs. Turds

Demon team member Beatriz shares a questionable piece of advice that one of her students heard from another prep company: “If you don’t understand what the answer is saying, it’s probably correct.” Turd. This advice is antithetical to the Demon approach. Wrong answers don’t need to make sense, but right answers do. If you understand the passage, you should be able to understand why the right answer is right. The LSAT is easy if you approach it correctly.

32:57 – UC Law San Francisco Welcome Email

Nate reads a verbose welcome email from his alma mater, UC Law San Francisco (formerly Hastings). It’s a wall of text showing what students pay thousands for—law school administrators framing business interests as justice. The email is more about promoting the school’s image than welcoming students.

39:50 – Choosing the Right Law School

Sean wants advice on picking the right school. Step one: get your best LSAT. Step two: apply broadly and early. Step three: compare offers. Rule of thumb: rank schools by cost, not prestige. If a more expensive school is ranked higher, double its rank and see whether cheaper options fall within that range. Going cheaper often means graduating at the top of your class, with better job prospects and stronger networks.

59:57 – Question Types

McKenna asks whether she should study question types. The guys explain that focusing on question types is a distraction. Meaning is in the words on the page, not labels. Most struggling students overemphasize question types instead of careful reading.

1:07:53 – Personal Statement Gong Show

Celebrity contestant and Demon teacher Kaley shares a lived-experience essay.

1:19:05 - Word of the Week - Inexorable

Among them was a rigid belief in the inexorable power of logic to change the opinions of others.

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Ben and Nate break down the measurable cost of applying late in the law school admissions cycle. Your LSAT score has the most value on the day that applications open. By rushing your LSAT or applying late in the cycle, you sacrifice points and leave money on the table. With AI poised to disrupt the legal market, it’s more important than ever to go to law school for free.

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0:32 – AI Making Law School Obsolete?

Ben and Nate discuss an article from a former Google exec claiming AI will make law and medical degrees obsolete. The guys acknowledge that AI is improving, but it still makes mistakes. While they agree that a law degree isn’t a guaranteed gravy train, they also note that the law itself is a barrier to modernization, which will slow AI’s impact on legal education. The schools most at risk are bottom feeders churning out lawyers for grunt work. Their advice: don’t pay tuition at weak schools.

14:50 – LSAT Suspended in Mainland China

LSAC halts testing in China after evidence of cheating. A Reddit post earlier this year even advertised cheating services. While tough for honest test takers in China, applicants should appreciate LSAC’s effort to safeguard exam security.

24:03 – Cost of Delaying Apps

How late is too late? While early applications are stronger, it’s never worth rushing the LSAT. The best strategy is to get your best LSAT and then apply at the start of the next cycle. A University of Chicago Journal of Law and Economics article finds that delays weaken applications. Waiting 100 days is equivalent to dropping 2.1 LSAT points or 0.26 GPA points. Schools review applications in waves, and the earliest applicants are often the strongest. Missing the first wave, even by a day, can carry measurable costs.

Dynamic Decision-Making under Rolling Admissions: Evidence from US Law School Applications

47:43 – Main Point vs. Summary

A summary lists information, but a main point answers “why.” It’s what the author is trying to convince you of, not just what they said.

52:31 – Doing LR Backwards

Listener Blair wants to work backward in Logical Reasoning to combat fatigue. Ben and Nathan’s answer: If you’re scoring under 175, you shouldn’t be finishing sections anyway, so working backward means skipping easier questions to do harder ones. If you’re at 175 or above, then fatigue isn’t an issue.

59:28 – Score Plateaus

Listeners Trevor and Ireland feel stuck. The guys caution against chasing a single breakthrough. Progress comes from carefully reviewing and learning from every mistake, one question at a time.

1:04:42 – Personal Statement Gong Show

Listener Elena is the next Gong Show contestant. Ben and Nathan read her personal statement until they reach an unforgivable mistake—they then ring the gong. The record is 34 lines, set by listener Sophia.

Want in? Send in your statement by September 1, 2025, to be considered for the Gong Super Show.

1:07:20 - Word of the Week - Truism

The standard advice about writing is mostly truisms, like “Make a plan,” “Don’t use the passive,” or “Think of your audience.”

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Ben and Nathan share strategies for using visualization to stay engaged in Reading Comprehension. They also explain that getting a full-ride to law school takes more than just a high LSAT score—your application timing, school choices, and willingness to walk away from weak offers all matter.

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0:28 – How Law Schools Guide Career Decisions

A Harvard alumnus describes losing his job in big law after publishing an op-ed criticizing the Trump administration. Nathan and Ben discuss how law schools recruit students under the banner of justice, but then steer them toward corporate law firms. The guys remind listeners: you can’t do public-interest work and make big-law money at the same time. Sending their students to big law is a choice that schools have a vested interest in.

9:27 – UC Law SF Sweatshirt Drive

Nathan shares an email from UC Law San Francisco (formerly Hastings) asking alums to buy sweatshirts for incoming 1Ls. He and Ben laugh at the school’s request for $40 sweatshirts while simultaneously charging students more than $50,000 in tuition per year.

21:16 – Visualizing Passages

Connor asks for advice on improving visualization skills in RC. Strong reading comprehension depends on pausing to visualize the text—especially when it’s abstract. Creating a mind map lets you evaluate each sentence and anticipate what’s coming next. If you’re not actively questioning and connecting ideas, you’re missing the forest for the trees.

34:01 – Proctor Troubles

Michael ran into issues with a proctor during his test and wonders if he should cancel his score. Ben and Nathan say there’s no advantage to canceling. The real question is whether his practice test results showed he was ready. Prepared students need not worry about minor test-day issues.

37:51 – Don’t Settle for Sub-Par

Mike has a 3.98 GPA and practice LSAT scores in the 170s. He’s considering applying in-state with a 166 but also wonders about his T-14 prospects. The guys advise Mike to take an additional gap year, score 170+, apply early, and secure scholarships at top schools, especially given his career aspirations.

44:17 – Conditional Full Ride

Theo adopted the motto of going to law school for free. After a gap year, he improved his LSAT, applied broadly, and accepted a full-ride scholarship to his top choice law school. The downside is that it’s a conditional scholarship. Nate encourages Theo to stick to his commitment not to pay for law school.

52:37 – Personal Statement Gong Show

Natalie is the next Gong Show contestant. In this segment, Ben and Nathan read your personal statement until they reach an unforgivable mistake—they then ring the gong. The record to beat is 34 lines, set by listener Sophia.

1:08:34 - Word of the Week - Waylay

I don’t want to waylay our meeting with this topic.

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Ben and Nathan field a handful of questions with a common theme: they come from students who are moving too fast on the LSAT, attempting too many questions, and failing to understand what they’re reading. In other words, they’re rushing to failure.

The solution is simple: Attempt one question at a time. If you miss it, review until you understand why. Then, move on to the next one. Slow down, skip all the gimmicks, and the LSAT becomes easy.

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0:33 – Reading All Answer Choices

Sydney asks if she can skip answer choices once she finds her prediction. Skimming bad answer choices is fine, but you still need to glance at all of them. You also don’t have to read every word. As soon as an answer starts moving in the wrong direction, eliminate it confidently and move on.

8:35 – Master’s Degree to Make Up for a Low GPA?

Joe recognizes that his undergraduate GPA will hurt his admissions chances and is considering a master’s degree to improve his odds. Ben and Nathan note that his 4.0 GPA in his senior year already shows he can succeed in law school. Graduate grades won’t factor into his LSAC GPA. Joe should focus instead on removing bad grades from his transcript and getting the best LSAT possible.

13:37 – Mean LSAT Tweets

After a 144 diagnostic, Chris sends Nate an angry email. Ben and Nathan outline the Demon’s resources for improvement—if Chris wants to use them. They also note that academically strong students often approach the LSAT like school: skimming, rushing, and relying on outside knowledge—habits that hurt scores.

19:12 – Worst GPA You’ve Ever Seen

Rachel has a 1.73 GPA and just wants to get into law school. The guys commend her paralegal experience but explain that her only shot is with a strong LSAT. Given her situation, she should consider part-time or state-accredited programs to reduce cost and risk.

26:41 – Two-Word Accommodation Request

A Reddit student gets 50% extra time for “severe anxiety” with a simple two-word doctor’s note. Ben and Nathan highlight the ease of securing accommodations but remind listeners that they aren’t necessary to succeed.

34:30 – When to Take a Break

Blake feels burnt out after hours of daily studying with little progress. The guys point out that he’s prioritizing quantity over quality. They advise him to skip September, focus on learning, and wait to take the official test when he’s ready.

43:17 – ABA Journal

Ben and Nathan scoff at the latest ABA Journal, which addresses loneliness, gambling addiction, and the California bar exam mishap just on the cover. Inside? A first-page ad asking lawyers to donate more money to the ABA with a testimonial from a dental hygienist.

50:10 – What’s the Deal with Purdue Global Law School?

Peter wants to know if Purdue Global Law School, a California-accredited law school, is worth applying to.

1:09:40 - Personal Statement Gong Show

Sophia signs up as the next Gong Show contestant. In this segment, Ben and Nathan read your personal statement until they reach an unforgivable mistake, then they ring the gong. The number of lines to beat is 21—the record currently held by listener Danielle.

1:20:27 - Word of the Week - Ameliorate

The new tutoring program was designed to ameliorate students’ struggles with reading comprehension.

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Thinking LSAT Show Notes

In preparation for test week, Ben and Nathan remind students of a foundational piece of advice: treat the official test exactly like you would any other practice test. They apply that advice to everything from testing location decisions to your test week study plan.

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0:25 – Ticketmasters

Reddit is full of students panicking about unavailable test center seats due to a 50% increase in August registrations. Demon team members weigh in on the remote vs. in-person testing debate, with Ben and Nathan generally siding with online testing. While there can be proctor issues, they note that this isn’t a universal problem and argue that horror stories are often amplified on Reddit while the smooth administrations go unnoticed.

7:36 – Eliminating 4 out of 5

Demon student Tom highlights a valuable LSAT skill: confidently eliminating four answers even if you’re unsure why the fifth is right. Ben and Nathan explain the two paths to the correct answer—positive identification or conclusive elimination. When unsure of why a correct answer solves the problem, be sure to learn from that question in review, even if you get the question right.

13:12 – The Week Before?

Harry asks how to prepare in the final week before his test. The guys say to keep doing exactly what’s worked. They caution that even asking this question suggests Harry may be treating the official test differently from practice. Planning to use all five attempts reduces the pressure of any one test.

19:50 – LSAT Demon Dashboard Ratings

A listener asks about the purpose behind the Demon’s dashboard ratings and how to utilize them effectively. Ben and Nathan explain that there were two primary goals: motivation and more immediate feedback. They emphasize that rating changes aren’t always linear, and minor drops shouldn’t be discouraging.

24:40 – Video Explanations for RC

Connor wonders if he should still review RC videos when he got everything right. Ben and Nathan say yes—especially if the passage felt confusing or required guesswork. Watching how teachers read can improve your process, not just your accuracy.

28:32 – Transcript Petition Success

Megan shares how she successfully petitioned to remove bad grades from her transcript. Ben and Nathan read the letter she used and suggested others in similar situations should try this approach. They note that smart, respectful advocacy can yield real results.

40:28 – Applying Broadly

A student recounts accepting a partial scholarship and still facing six-figure debt. Ben and Nathan stress that 80% of law students receive scholarships and that partial offers can still lead to heavy debt burdens. Applicants should apply broadly and reject the idea that a “generous” offer is good enough if it means massive loans.

Check out the LSAT Demon Scholarship Estimator

47:00 - Word of the Week - Askance

“The judge also looked askance at Anthropic’s acknowledgement that it had turned to downloading pirated books in order to save time and money in building its AI models.”

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Ben and Nathan push back against hype-driven decisions, urging students to ignore rising August LSAT registrations and wait to test until their practice scores consistently reflect readiness. They caution against chasing perceived trends, whether that means rushing to take an “easier” test or relying on gimmicks like diagramming. Even if more conditional logic appears in Logical Reasoning, the path to success remains the same: focus on intuitive understanding and resist shortcuts that only complicate the test.

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0:30 – August 2025 Registrations

Despite an increase in August test registrations, Ben and Nathan stress that this shouldn’t affect your personal test date. Wait to sign up until your practice test scores indicate that you’re ready. They remind listeners that perceptions of an “easier” test are misleading.

14:26 – Still No Need To Diagram

Henry asks if LR sections now contain more conditional logic. Ben defends the intuitive approach even on the most conditional-heavy questions, while Nathan notes that LR will never match the complexity of logic games. Diagramming, among other gimmicks, are magic beans sold to students. These strategies only complicate the test and inhibit meaningful understanding.

22:17 – Michigan AI Essay

Jordan sends in a Michigan Law prompt inviting applicants to use generative AI. The guys are critical of the prompt but applaud the school for acknowledging AI’s role. They discuss how this reflects evolving attitudes toward AI in legal education.

30:06 – Why Don’t You Want Me to Go This Fall?

Lizzy expresses pressure to apply quickly despite not feeling ready. Ben and Nathan explain why waiting until you have your best score matters most. They warn against a “one-and-done” mindset and emphasize that rushing leads to lower scores, worse offers, and possible regret.

40:20 – Listing Awards

A listener asks whether they should list awards they haven’t officially received yet. The advice: yes, include them—just mark them as “expected.”

42:08 – Online JD Programs

Are online JDs respected? Do they get scholarships? The guys argue there’s little meaningful distinction between online and in-person programs. Applicants should still apply early and broadly to maximize scholarship offers.

51:22 - Word of the Week - Unless

Innovation cannot thrive unless organizations embrace risk-taking.

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This week, Josh and Nate tackle the misconception that the Demon isn’t built for beginners—a belief that emerges from the absence of an introduction to LSAT “theory”. They explain that a bloated curriculum, disconnected from questions, often confuses students and can even reduce scores. The Demon advocates jumping right into questions and letting the test, paired with our explanations, be your teacher.

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0:33 – Announcements

Registration deadlines are coming up. You know you’re ready to sign up when your practice tests match your goal score.

Registration Deadlines

Register for Ben’s Free Class

6:07 – Logical Reasoning Mindset

Nate and Josh explore the mindset required for success in Logical Reasoning, emphasizing that each question has one objectively correct answer. Rather than starting with abstract theory, they advocate an intuitive, hands-on approach: dive into real questions, make mistakes, and learn from them. The Demon is built for beginners. By focusing on solving problems and reviewing mistakes, students can build a strong foundation for sustained success.

18:50 – Candidate Referral Service

Josh and Nate revisit the candidate referral service and consider whether it’s worth signing up. Several Demon team members share how they used the service and received CAS fee waivers to apply early and widely. Still, be cautious—don’t let school marketing sway you. Stay skeptical of marketing gimmicks from these schools and be a savvy applicant.

LSAT Demon Scholarship Converter

26:54 – Tale of Two Careers

Jacob is thinking about a pivot to law from a very successful accounting career. Josh and Nate recognize there is a meaningful career opportunity, but caution him not to go to law school just because he has great reasoning skills. Instead, meet tax attorneys and decide if that is a job that you want.

36:41 – Studying with a Buddy

Demon Student Alex asks how to study with a buddy. Josh and Nate encourage him to practice teaching questions to each other. Josh encourages Alex to utilize the LSAT Demon Discord to find a study buddy.

LSAT Demon Discord

44:46 – Studying for One Hour

Alexis doesn’t feel like she is making progress with only one hour per day during her lunch break. The guys encourage her to continue her slow and steady approach to studying, but encourage her to improve the quality of her hour. Your LSAT hour needs to be your best hour of the day: interruption-free, focused, and energized.

57:23 – Full Practice Test Fails

Paige’s scores plummet when she takes full practice tests instead of timed sections. Josh suggests that the score is distracting her from giving the test 100% of her mental effort. The guys then suggest that Paige must not be applying her normal process to practice tests. Nate concludes: You should have a growth mindset when it comes to practice tests. Ask yourself how you can learn from this test, not what score you will get.

1:04:43 – Comparative RC

Gavin struggles with comparative passages. Josh and Nate encourage him to start explicitly focusing on comparing and contrasting as he’s reading.

1:12:11 - Word of the Week - Specious

The difference between “literary” and “genre” fiction is a specious distinction.

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After an influx of GPA addenda questions, Nathan and Josh address several examples in a rapid-fire segment. Their main point: you probably shouldn’t write one at all. Addenda highlight weaknesses and provide information that admissions committees may hold against you. Skip the sob stories and focus on showing why you’ll succeed in law school.

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0:42 – Big Beautiful Bill

Nathan and Josh discuss provisions of the Big Beautiful Bill that cap law school loans at $50,000 per year. They argue it’s not the crisis some students fear, noting that borrowing six figures for law school is unwise and the cap protects less informed applicants. They see the bill as targeting predatory schools, not students.

Check out our Scholarship Estimator.

2025 AccessLex Data Report

23:52 – Rapid Fire Addenda

The guys advise students to avoid addenda. Addenda draw attention to the weakest parts of your application and must be concise and strategic if used. An effective addendum highlights positive traits and avoids overexplaining. The goal is to shift focus away from negatives and give admissions officers something strong to latch onto.

38:46 – Role Questions

Nathan and Josh explain how to approach role questions, which ask about the function of specific sentences in an argument. They remind listeners that sentences are usually in one of two key categories: premises and conclusions. While answers are phrased abstractly, you succeed by reading answer choices with the same care and engagement used on the passage itself.

50:18 – Accuracy Up but Speed Stalled

Nathan urges students not to chase speed at the expense of comprehension. Every missed question indicates another question you got correct, but didn’t understand. Rereading whole passages is a red flag for poor initial reading. Meaningful engagement with the passage allows students to trust their comprehension in the face of flawed arguments.

1:04:05 – Broken Questions

Josh and Nathan refute the idea of “broken” LSAT questions. While some answer choices may be stronger than others, all correct answers are defensible. Blaming the test forfeits a chance to improve. When struggling, walk away and revisit the question with fresh eyes—some days you’ll simply perform better than others.

1:11:14 – Personal Statement Gong Show

Hannah sends in her submission for the Personal Statement Gong Show. Josh and Nathan read the personal statements and hit the gong when something goes wrong. The standing record to beat is 21 lines, held by Danielle.

1:27:07 - Word of the Week - Effect

Pollination of fruit tree flowers, a necessary step in fruit production, is effected only by certain insects.

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