Meet Allard Law student and LSAT prep course instructor Jung Hee Park

Last spring, the UBC Black Law Students’ Association, in partnership with Indigenous Legal Studies and Allard Law, offered its third annual free LSAT preparation course for self-identifying Black and Indigenous applicants.

The UBC Black Law Students' Association first launched the course for aspiring Black law students in 2020, as one step to help meet the urgent need for more Black lawyers in British Columbia. The course was designed to support Black applicants in overcoming one of financial barriers to getting into law school: the cost of an LSAT prep course. In 2021, UBC BLSA worked with Indigenous Legal Studies to open up the course to include Indigenous applicants preparing for the exam.

Last year, the course was taught by Allard Law student Jung Hee Park. The course included 34 instructional hours, as well as webinars and panel sessions from Black and Indigenous lawyers and Allard staff.

We spoke with Jung Hee about studying for and writing the LSAT and about how law schools and the legal professional can better support racialized students.
 

What tips would you give someone just starting to study for the LSAT?

I’d like to first say that the LSAT is different for everyone, and whatever you’re experiencing right now is perfectly normal. Some people can reach high scores after studying for just two months, but for others, it might take two years to reach that same score. And that is completely fine. Although the LSAT may seem daunting, don’t lose confidence in yourself!

The LSAT is different for everyone, and whatever you're experiencing right now is perfectly normal.

Another tip is to dig deep into each question. Make sure you fully understand why each option in the multiple choice is or isn’t the right answer. If you don’t understand, look at the explanations or ask an instructor to explain it to you. Once you understand the logical process that leads to the right answer, try to answer that same question again while imitating the mental process of the explanation. Then, apply the same process when solving the next question.
 

Tell us about your own experience studying for the LSAT.

Like many students, studying for and taking the LSAT was not an easy experience for me. I re-learned the importance of having friends and family who support me in my journey in life. I also learned how to better manage my time and energy and how to determine the right study strategy for myself based on the study material and circumstances. Moreover, I learned how to build healthy study habits as well as ways to overcome challenges in a resilient manner.
 

What changes would you like to see in law schools and the legal profession to become more equitable and inclusive?

I believe that access to legal education for historically underrepresented groups is crucial. Even before the law school admission process, many of those who are part of racialized or marginalized groups face barriers to legal education that render their journey to enter law more difficult. It’s important to help reduce these initial barriers to legal education so that there is a fairer opportunity for historically underrepresented groups to enter the legal field. The LSAT Prep Course for Black and Indigenous Applicants is a valuable step forward in this direction.

Reach out to current law students and have a chat with them. You can learn about law students’ education and career trajectories, as well as their lived experiences of the law school admissions process and life at law school.

Another important step towards this goal is education during law school. Providing a robust education to law students on themes of colonization, oppression and other social justice issues can not only make law schools more equitable, but it can also plant the seeds for these law students to make positive impacts towards equity and inclusion in the future.
 

Do have any advice for students who are currently thinking about applying to law school?

Reach out to current law students and have a chat with them. You can learn about law students’ education and career trajectories, as well as their lived experiences of the law school admissions process and life at law school.

Getting a sense of what being a law student and legal professional might feel like for you may help in the decision to apply to law school. Law students generally like helping others, so don’t be afraid to reach out to one of the law school’s Student Ambassadors.

Spring 2023: Free LSAT Preparation Course for Black and Indigenous Applicants
 

In May and June 2023, the UBC Black Law Students’ Association, in partnership with Allard Law’s Indigenous Legal Studies and Allard Law, will offer their free LSAT Preparation Course for Black and Indigenous Applicants. Registration opens March 1. Please visit the course information page for more information and to sign up to receive a notification when registration opens.