Law School Skills Program Overview

IHL's core area of expertise is advising students on all aspects of gaining admission to law school, as well as on how to be successful once admitted. One important component of our law school service offering is the Law School Skills Program. This program is an extension of the work that we have been doing since 1996 through our LSAT tutoring and law school admissions consulting programs. It is specifically designed for incoming law students who want a head start on building key law school skills such as reading and briefing cases, creating course outlines and preparing for and taking law school examinations.

Students in the program work with IHL consultants who have performed at the top of their law school classes at schools such as Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Yale and Michigan. These consultants have unique insight into what it takes to be a successful law school student.

Law school courses and exams are very different than what you encounter as an undergraduate student. Heavy use of the Socratic Method as well as grades that are based solely on a single essay exam require students to develop and utilize a different set of skills to be successful. This program is designed to give incoming law students a head start on core law school skills and first-year coursework. By starting law school with a basic set of essential tools and a better understanding of classroom expectations, our program helps to alleviate much of the stress and frustration first year law students often experience.

By being more prepared for their first year of law school, students who take part in our program are able to make an easier transition to law school and achieve better first-year grades. These grades are the single most important factor for eventual placement in both internships and full-time positions with law firms, judges (legal clerkships), public interest organizations and government agencies. First-year grades set the tone and trajectory for a successful legal career. They are also the most important factor evaluated by admissions committees when students seek to transfer after their first year of law school.

If you are going to take advantage of this program, we suggest that you do so during the spring or summer prior to your first year of law school. We also offer it to current law students who want to improve their academic performance. In addition, we offer law school subject tutoring to current law students who are seeking to perform at a higher level in certain courses.

This program is available in-person at one of our offices or remotely via Skype, WizIQ or other videoconferencing platforms. We have worked with many students remotely and have found it to be as effective as in-person consultation.

Curriculum

The Law School Skills Program has two main components. The first teaches basic skills that are essential for law school. The second provides a high-level introduction to one or more required first-year law school courses. You can elect to enroll in one or both components of the program.

• Essential skills:
  • Curriculum is typically covered in four to six one-on-one sessions
  • Program includes how to prepare for the Socratic Method, read and brief cases, write outlines and answer law school exam questions
  • Designed to impart a strategy and approach to law school that maximizes students' ability to succeed and puts them ahead of the curve from the first day
• First-year law school coursework:
  • Can cover all relevant first-year subjects including contracts, constitutional law, criminal law, property, torts, legal writing, civil procedure
  • Curriculum is based on commonly used syllabi from major law schools or from a student's particular law school (if known or available)
  • Number of sessions is customized based on each student's needs and circumstances
  • Program can be designed as a high-level introduction to some or all of the relevant courses, or as a deep dive into each subject matter

Other Related Services

• LSAT Tutoring
• Graduate School Admissions Consulting
• Bar Exam Tutoring
• Law School Tutoring and Support

If you are interested in learning more about our Law School Skills Program, or any of our other services, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by phone at (212) 889-8378 or (734) 623-8378. To enroll, please click here.