Lancaster, a charter city, is the 32nd largest city in the state of California. The history of this city that now finds itself in the business of clean energy can be traced back to railroads. In between it was famous for aviation, as it is the sight of the air force base where Chuck Yeager took off from to break the speed of sound for the first time in human history. Lancaster was incorporated into Los Angeles County in 1977, and in 1993 saw the first Los Angeles County Prison built here. This was unpopular with the residents, but still stands to this day.
One trip to Lancaster and you'll see that they still embrace their love of flight, as aviation is the biggest economic driver of the city. Lancaster is home to several major defense contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and NASA even has a research facility here. There are plenty of employment opportunities in Lancaster, which as true in the field of law as it is otherwise. It pays to be a lawyer in Lancaster, and the average salary for a lawyer in the city is roughly $100,000 per year.
Those looking to study law near Lancaster will have a wealth of choices, as southern California is home to some of the best law schools in the country and in the world. Whether it be USC or UCLA, getting in won't be easy. These schools are obviously very competitive as the prestigious nature of the institutions plus the location makes them top landing spots for students all over the world. To get into one of these schools, you are going to need to flaunt a resume that shows strong academic performance over the course of your schooling.
That won't be enough on its own, though. You will also need to do very well on the law school admission test, otherwise known as the LSAT. The LSAT is a daunting and brutal academic test, known as being one of the hardest tests in academia. Of course, it is not impossible. To have the best chance of doing well on the LSAT, you are going to need plenty of preparation and a solid plan. The best way to achieve both of these things at the same time is to take an LSAT prep course.
The search for an LSAT course is no easy task, and in the beginning it can be downright daunting. Between the different ways to teach the LSAT and all the different venues to take LSAT prep, it seems like there are endless options. The stress of this search is probably unwelcome by most students who are already stressing out over the prospect of the LSAT itself. The stress is only natural, of course. When you consider the importance of the LSAT as it pertains to the rest of your academic career, and ultimately your career in general, then this will be a course of great importance. How do you know which course is right for you?
In this article, we will go over some of the top priorities when it comes to what you should be considered in an LSAT prep course. With what you've learned from this content, you should be able to more confidently make a decision about which LSAT course is right for you. There is plenty to discuss, but before we go into details there are some aspects of LSAT prep that we think are necessary. Those things are:
- Actual LSAT questions from years previous.
- Detailed video/in-person explanations of the types of questions you'll receive.
- A sliding scale for pricing.
- A support system to help you with your prep even when you are not in class.
Online vs In-Person LSAT Prep Courses
When choosing your LSAT prep course, one of the first things you should consider is where you will be doing your LSAT prep. This is also one of the more important considerations you will make. You will be spending a lot of time studying for the LSAT, so you want to make sure that you are in a venue where you can commit to the course, focus, and be physically comfortable.
When it comes to location, you have two main options: in-person or online. Traditional thinking would place students in an in-person LSAT prep course, but with the internet being as advanced as it is, you now get all the same resources and support with an online LSAT prep course as you do with in-person LSAT prep. While both of these courses have the same goal, they get there in different ways. So, why choose one over the other? Let's take a look.
Those who prefer a classroom setting will probably lean more towards using the services of an in-person LSAT prep course. With in-person LSAT prep courses, you will be placed in a classroom with a group of peers and an instructor. The group of peers adds an extra support system for students, allowing them to bounce ideas off of each other and seeing perspectives others may not. Class sizes are kept small so that each student has plenty of one on one interaction with the instructor. There are a lot of varying reasons why test prep firms hire their instructors, but each one of them is an expert in some way on the LSAT. Students who want to know hiring practices can generally find the information on the course website.
Once you have stepped out of the classroom, you'll have extra help in the form of video lessons. These lessons may only be available for the duration of the course, so you will want to make sure to take advantage of them. A typical length for an LSAT prep course is 6-8 weeks, meeting once or twice a week. Because of this, you will want to make sure that you can fully commit to your LSAT prep. When it comes to schedule, in-person courses are rather inflexible. That's not the only downside to in-person LSAT prep. They are also very expensive.
Students who need a bit more flexibility will find online LSAT prep courses particularly attractive. These courses are taught via video lessons, which allows a student to fit them into their schedule whenever it is most convenient. You will also be able to do these courses wherever you want. It is true that you will not have a group of peers and one on one interaction with an instructor, but you will receive ample resources and plenty of support via email. Some courses even offer 24-hour support for students who are studying at odd hours, such as students who are seeking to change careers and are juggling a job while studying for the LSAT.
These courses are also great for those who like to learn at their own pace. With online courses, you never have to worry about the embarrassment of falling behind or the boredom of getting ahead. Flexibility is only one of the perks of online courses. These courses are also much more affordable than in-person courses. When you consider everything that online LSAT prep courses offer, it makes sense that they gain in popularity every year.
The one constant, whether you choose online or in-person LSAT prep, is that you need to make sure that the course you are taking offers practice exams. These practice exams are the best way to see how your preparation is going as you ready yourself to face the LSAT. Here, you'll be able to see your weaknesses and hone your strategy. You will also get an authentic feel for the LSAT, as most of these practice exams will be actual LSATs from previous years. Different courses hand these out in different ways. Some courses only offer a few and place them strategically throughout a course, while others will give you access to as many as you would like.
Pros of an In-Person Course:
- In-person resources such as teachers, books, and peers.
- A structured system that goes at a specific pace, allowing you to focus on one thing at a time.
- Take practice tests in a realistic environment.
Pros of an Online Course:
- Make your own schedule.
- An expansive list of readily available resources.
- Less expensive than In-Person.
- Personalized problem-solving.
- Take as many practice tests as you want.
Best Online LSAT Prep Courses in Lancaster
LSATMax LSAT Prep Course
Your secret weapon for getting accepted to the law school of your choice, the LSATMax online LSAT prep course from TestMax, is guaranteed to raise your scores. For a reasonable one-time fee, you’ll get instant access to a huge arsenal of tools to help you prepare for the exam on your own time. With countless five-star reviews across TrustPilot, Google Play, and the Apple App Store, LSATMax is clearly the best online LSAT course available.
What makes LSATMax the best online prep course for any pre-law student looking to max out their LSAT scores? First, because it’s available on both web and mobile, you will be able to access your course materials at any time. Next, unlike many online courses that use practice questions written by so-called experts, LSATMax only uses actual questions that have appeared on the LSAT. Your membership gives you access to up to 9,000 questions.
There are three LSATMax course packages available. All three contain the full LSATMax course catalog with over 100 hours of video from instructors who have all scored in the 99th percentile on the LSAT themselves. You’ll also have opportunities to get personalized help from our instructors via real-time chat, message boards and scheduled office hours Q&A sessions. All students can also access their sample questions using LSATMax’s digital LSAT simulator for an authentic experience that replicates and gets you ready for the real LSAT.
Course Packages Available:
All LSATMax packages contain the full course catalog and a subscription to LSAT Prep Plus which gets you access to every LSAT practice exam available from the LSAC. You can choose between 3 flexible packages that give you access for the length of time you need to study for the LSAT.- LSATMax 60: This package gives you 60-day access to the full LSATMax course. It is great for students who have a shorter amount of time to study before their exam or who only need to raise their score a few points.
- LSATMax 180: This 180 day access package is designed to fit the needs of most students by giving access to the course for longer than the average time spent studying for the exam.
- LSATMax 365: This package is the best value for those who have a longer time frame to study for the exam or need to raise their score as much as possible.
No matter which package you choose, TestMax offers 0% financing for up to a full year through Affirm. Remember, the earlier you begin preparing for the LSAT, the higher your scores will be.
Pros:
- Get instant access to flexible packages and pricing
- Guaranteed to boost your LSAT score or your money back
- Interactive instruction with real LSAT experts
- Digital LSAT simulator for 100% realistic test experience
Kaplan Live Online LSAT Training
https://www.kaptest.com/lsat/courses/lsat-prep-live-online
Delivered over the course of eight live classes, the Kaplan Live Online LSAT Training also includes two live, proctored LSAT practice exams. While the Kaplan instructors have good reviews, this 32-hour course is more expensive than many alternatives offering 100+ hours of video training. Kaplan also allows students to purchase three additional hours of one-on-one training by upgrading to the Live Online PLUS plan. One drawback to the format of the Kaplan Live LSAT training is that it’s not very flexible: you must attend classes during specific times, or attend a make-up session later.
Pros:
- Access to 80+ real LSAT tests
- Includes LSAT lesson books
Cons:
- One of the most expensive online LSAT courses
- Must attend live classes during scheduled times
- Only 32 hours of video training included
Alpha Score LSAT Prep
One of the few options for basic, affordable LSAT prep, Alpha Score offers a good selection of study materials for a reasonable price. There are over 50 hours of video lessons from instructors, each with at least 5 years of experience teaching LSAT prep courses. There is no live content, but you are able to ask questions to your instructor via messaging on the member’s area of the website. Membership to the Alpha Score LSAT prep course lasts for 12 months before you need to renew to keep access.
Pros:
- 50+ online lessons and tutorials
- Reasonably priced
- Long-lasting access
Cons:
- Only 10 official LSAT-licensed practice tests included
- No live instruction is available
Best In-Person LSAT Prep Courses in Lancaster
TestMasters
Address-Cal State University, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330
Phone Number-(800) 696-5728
Link-https://www.testmasters.net/Lsat-Prep-Class/California/San-Fernando-Valley/23530
Why they are a good choice
TestMasters goes out of their way to make sure that each student has everything that they need to be set-up for success on the LSAT. Here, you'll have plenty of time with your instructor as you'll get 60 hours of classroom time. Speaking of the instructor, they only hire instructors who have scored in the 98th percentile or better on the LSAT. Outside of the classroom, you'll receive additional learning in the form of 100 hours of video lessons. The curriculum is tried and true and developed by the world record holder for most perfect scores on the LSAT, Robin Singh. TestMasters is held one hour south in Northridge.
Manhattan Review
Address-Manhattan Review GMAT GRE LSAT Prep, Los Angeles Teaching Center at the Marriott, 900 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone Number-(310) 402-5117
Link-https://www.manhattanreview.com/los-angeles-lsat-prep-courses/
Why they are a good choice
Manhattan Review wants to teach students to their strengths. To do this, they perform evaluations before and during each LSAT prep session to learn how each individual student learns best. Using this information, they are able to arm each student with a unique skill set when it comes to taking the LSAT. Because this is a bit more difficult way of teaching the LSAT, Manhattan Review only hires instructors who have scored in the 99th percentile on the LSAT. Manhattan Review is located in downtown Los Angeles, one hour south of Lancaster.
Blueprint LSAT
Address: Blueprint Classroom, 937 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: 1-888-427-7737
Link: https://blueprintprep.com/lsat/classroom/locations/ca/los-angeles-westwood
Blueprint, a smaller LSAT prep course provider with a course in Los Angeles, only hires instructors who scored above the 98th percentile on their own LSAT. With their well-designed curriculum and large library of study resources that includes 85 historical LSATs, they're one of the best in-person options around.
The Best Law Schools Near Lancaster
- Dale E. Fowler School of Law at Chapman University
- UCLA School of Law
- USC Gould School of Law
- Whittier College Law School
- Loyola Law School Los Angeles
Interested in going to the nest law school near Lancaster? See this list of the best law schools in California.