The Most Important LSAT Passage Ever Written

Over the years, I have seen an incredible number of LSAT questions. Occasionally, there are ones that I would describe as exceptionally clever, and other LSAT questions have been profoundly challenging. But if someone asked me to name the most “important” LSAT question I had ever read, I would describe a particular Reading Comp passage. To avoid being overly long-winded, I will summarize the passage by saying that it focused on the difference between (1) choosing between two reasonable options, and (2) choosing between a reasonable and an unreasonable option. The gist of the passage was that it isn’t nearly as important to “get it right” if you are choosing between two “reasonable” options, but it is very important to choose wisely when the choice is between a “reasonable” and an “unreasonable” option.

While that probably seems obvious, I wish I would have appreciated that more during my life. I also think appreciating that distinction is particularly important for pre-law students who will face a series of important decisions in the near future. Let me briefly share my thoughts with a few examples:

• GOING TO LAW SCHOOL: Many students debate whether or not they should go to law school or not. It is an important decision that is worthy of serious thought. You should not go to law school if every ounce of your mind and body tells you not to do so. For example, if the only reason you are considering law school is because that is what your parents want for you, and you know you don’t want to do it, going to law school is probably an “unreasonable” choice. On the other hand, if you are contemplating between law and another career, each of which has some pros and cons, give the issue serious thought but don’t obsess about being wrong: both choices likely are “reasonable” ones, and you probably will be satisfied with either option.
• CHOOSING A LAW SCHOOL: If you are “on the fence” between two (or more) law schools that accepted you, give the decision some serious thought. If you know you don’t want to go to a particular law school (the cost of that law school will cause you to lose sleep every night, it is in an area where you really don’t want to live, you sense the law school “culture” is very incompatible with your personality, etc.), choosing that law school over another merely because it is slightly higher in the “rankings” is likely going to be an “unreasonable” decision. On the other hand, if it’s a really close choice for you between two law schools, give it some serious thought but don’t worry about being “wrong”: both choices are probably “reasonable” decisions, and you likely will be happy either way.
• CHOOSING A CAREER: If you are fortunate enough to have multiple decisions of jobs after graduating from law school, you may struggle with which decision you should make and what career path to follow. If you know you are going to be miserable with one choice, selecting that option simply because it pays a little more money is likely to be an “unreasonable” decision that will make you unhappy. On the other hand, if the choice is a close call, give it some serious thought but don’t worry about being “wrong.” You likely are choosing between two reasonable options, and either one is likely to work out. Besides, you can potentially shift your focus of careers over time if you want to.

Hopefully, you get the idea. The most important thing to concern yourself about when making major life decisions is to avoid making an “unreasonable” choice. When faced with two “reasonable” options, give it some serious thought but don’t worry about being wrong – there almost always will be some positive and negative aspects associated with either choice. In addition, all sorts of unpredictable factors will occur over time that you couldn’t have known about in advance. If you are choosing between two “reasonable” options, make your decision, be content with it, and make the best of whichever choice you made!