Photo Courtesy by Google.

How to ace those LAEs (and the whole process that comes with it)

You want to be a lawyer, huh? Well, there are three things — PhiLSAT, application, and the LAE itself. I’ll try my best to outline how to ace those LAEs and fulfill your dream (or your parents) to become a lawyer.

So you’ll think, what’s my credential in creating such a guide? Well, I am currently a freshman (barely surviving) at the University of the Philippines College of Law and I also passed the Ateneo LAE.

Taking the PhiLSAT

You don’t have to worry about this test so much. It’s a “pass or fail” examination and the passing score is low (around 60–65) and I think you can even have it waived upon application in law school. Only schools under the Legal Education Board require this examination such as Ateneo and San Beda. However, there is a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court on the requirement of such an examination for law schools.

Start of the Journey. Philippine Law School Admission Test, commonly known as PhiLSAT, is administered by the Legal Education Board (LEB) for aspiring future lawyers. Photo courtesy by ABS-CBN.

The exam itself is a regular aptitude test. Again, you don’t have to worry about the test itself. You may not opt to review if you want to, but a little browsing through will help. Think of this as a practice to the real exams. The only thing you have to note is it’s long. It took 4 hours, without a snack break. Even water is not allowed! But you’re allowed to go to the restroom. I took the PhilSAT last year and I’m not sure if they changed the policy already, but be prepared for long hours of reading long essays.

Note: Despite a pass or fail system, do take it seriously though! Law schools might refer to your score during the evaluation of your application. PhiLSAT happens twice a year so please do take note of the deadlines.

Forms, Forms, Forms

Now onto the forms. The fact is it’s gonna be long with a series of questions about you. If you feel like the test is not your forte, then you better take this part of the application seriously.

There will be parts of the form that you are not sure of and you’ll end up procrastinating since you can’t move to the next part. However, there are more important questions located at the end which are the essay questions about yourself. If you can’t finish it in one go, try putting a placeholder data in the required fields so you can proceed to the essay questions. Copy these questions and put it in a Word document or Google Docs, then answer from these. You’ll have the liberty to refine and craft more polished answers.

I wrote around 2–3 sentences or one paragraph as answers. Be concise and straight to the point. Answer logically as well. When you answer the essay questions, try to base your answers in this formula:

Your Personal Reasons and Motivations + What the School Stands For or is Known For = Your Answer

Afterward, don’t forget to grammar check your essay questions! I use Grammarly and it makes all the difference. You’ll feel more confident about your answers.

Pro tip: List all the documentary requirements and have a checklist of all of the things you need. Refer to your registrar about these requirements and apply as soon as possible! These documents take a while and you don’t want it to add to the stress should be allocated to the review.

Photo Courtesy by Google.

The Examination (s)

Now you’re done with the application (and PhilSAT), you’re ready to do the exam. I’ll divide this section into 2 parts: pre-exam and during the exam itself. These are the things I did and of course, you may want to change some things.

Pre-Exam

1. Buy a reviewer. I bought a Rex reviewer from the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) at Pasay since it’s discounted. The reviewer will act as your personal trainer in such a way that when you answer it, you get to see why your answer was correct or wrong. Usually, it explains the rule or general reason why, so you get to be acquainted as well.
2. Enroll yourself in a review center. I enrolled in a review center and the aim of a review center is not to learn everything again but to familiarize yourself with taking tests. It helps in such a way that you get to learn tips and tricks in taking tests and be refreshed in the formulas and equations in the math part. I enrolled in a two-day session and for me, it’s enough.
3. Do practice tests. What’s a better way to practice, than to rehearse the exam right? Try doing practice tests and time yourself while doing so. It helps you get to get better in taking the actual test. But, dwell with the parts you’re having difficulty with. There is no shortcut to it and you’ll feel unmotivated, but it pays off. Really. Also, take practice exams with your friends! You’ll feel motivated in the process and you can have someone to check on you if you get distracted.
4. Read up. There is a general knowledge section of the test. Read up on general facts but don’t focus on it that much. Focus more on the tips and tricks, grammar rules, and equation.

During Exam

1. Get enough sleep and food. Seriously, there’s no use of all the review that you’ve done if you’re sluggish in the actual exam. Don’t eat too much or too little before the exam. It will affect you negatively in such a way that you can’t focus on taking the test.
2. Be strategic. When taking the test, the first few items in a section usually does not make any sense. What I’ve observed (especially in UPLAE) is that they put the hard items at the beginning, maybe to discourage you or take up most of your time. Remember you’re timed strictly. If you feel stuck in the first few items, move to the last items first. These items are comparatively easier than the ones at the beginning.
3. Just answer. No time to remember all of the equations, formula, and grammar rules, because you are strictly timed. Just answer with your gut feeling with an educated guess if you really don’t have any idea about the question. No sense in pretending you know how to answer if you really don’t. Better use your time in something that you really know.

Note: Each school-specific exam is different from each other. UP has way crazier questions with analogies and logical patterns which do not make sense at all. I think it’s part of the process to spot patterns, but I’ll warn you that no sense in applying the plain meaning to words used in the pattern. In Ateneo, however, you can apply reason to logical patterns which makes it easier to flesh out the patterns.

Bonus: The Interview

The interview comes after the exams. The UP College of Law, starting this year, has implemented panel interviews for everyone who passed the UPLAE. On the other hand, Ateneo implements interview for waitlisted applicants. I cannot speak for Ateneo, but I can share my experience with the UPLAE panel interview which can also be applied to any other kind of interviews for law admission.

Grilling Session. This is an accurate representation of how it looks in the panel interview. Photo courtesy by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

1. Dress well, but comfortably. Interviewees are highly encouraged (required, really) to dress in smart casual attire. Don’t be too formal in such a way that you’ll wear a gown, suit, or barong. Office attire will do.
2. Be of deference, but still stand out. Always respect your interviewers. No sense in antagonizing them, because they’ll determine if you’re in or out. Be firm on your stand, but in a polite manner. Know when to back down during an exchange of opinions with the panel.
3. Don’t antagonize your previous school and the school you’re going in. If the interviewers start asking why did you not choose your school as law school (for example, if you’re an undergraduate from Ateneo and is doing a panel interview in UP, don’t throw shade at Ateneo or even mock UP). Chances are your panelists may be from your previous and future school and may not sit well with them if you antagonize them.
4. Just stick with marketing with yourself. Don’t throw bad stuff to other applicants, even if the panelists are implying you to do so. It’s a trap. Just go back to highlighting your strengths and how you’ll stand out from the crowd.
5. Review your answers in the form. I reviewed the answers in the form I submitted in the application because the interviewers will more or less bounce off from my answers in the application. I even browsed back from the lessons of my favorite classes in college, and lucky enough I was asked to discuss it and I would say I nailed it. So review your answers!

Photo courtesy by Raph Cocson.

6. Think, then answer. Panel interviews are done to test if you can handle the pressure which is inherent in law school. More often, there is a good cop and a bad cop in the interview. The bad cop will grill you and the good cop will side with you (kind of, but is more difficult to assess than the bad cop).

Don’t be pressured to answer immediately, you may allot few seconds before answering to think about your answer so that you won’t regret and have the whole discussion derailed because you said something you don’t even mean.

Comments about this guide are highly appreciated such as if you want me to separate each part such as application, the exam itself, and interview. Also if you have further questions about taking LAEs, you may reach me at gjcguillermo@gmail.com.

Thank you and good luck with your application. See you in Malcolm (or in Rockwell or in other law schools)!