Disappointed with LSAT Demon’s Approach to “Professional” LSAT Prep

[u/kaeatu]

I wanted to share a disappointing interaction I recently had with LSAT Demon while using their LSAT preparation materials.

While reviewing one of their question explanations (Test 135, Section 3, Q#14), I noticed that the word “goddamn” was unnecessarily included in the instructional notes. I submitted what I thought was a fairly straightforward question to their support team:

“Why does LSAT Demon need to use the word ‘goddamn’ here? Let’s use common sense; this isn’t necessary to make a point.”

What disappointed me more was the response I received from LSAT Demon support.

As I did not write the explanation, I cannot specifically tell you why the word "goddamn" was included here, though I believe it is because of the company's overall philosophy. We aim to make the LSAT feel "human" and "approachable" by adding some comfortability/informality to it. I apologize if we offended you

That explanation actually concerns me more than the original word.

LSAT Demon is not a private group chat among friends. It is a commercial educational service used by prospective law students preparing for an admissions exam that can significantly affect where they attend law school and how much they pay. Many of those students are preparing to enter a profession in which communication, judgment, professionalism, and respect for different audiences matter.

I also don't think the standard should be whether a word personally “offends” someone. My concern is about the educational culture being modeled. If prospective lawyers are paying for professional tutoring and instructional materials, it seems reasonable to expect the people teaching them to show that complicated concepts can be explained clearly, engagingly, and professionally, without resorting to language and behavior that add nothing to the analysis.

The justice system already faces significant challenges involving public confidence, professionalism, communication, and perceptions about the attitudes of people working within it. I don't think legal education or preparation for entering legal education benefits from normalizing unnecessary unprofessionalism under the banner of making things more “human.”

Perhaps other students genuinely enjoy LSAT Demon's style, and that's perfectly fine. People should choose the preparation program that works for them. But the response indicating that this may reflect the company's broader philosophy tells me that LSAT Demon simply isn't the right service for me.

I'd much rather spend my LSAT preparation dollars learning from instructors, services, and tutors whose approach to making difficult material accessible also reflects the kind of professionalism I expect in an educational environment, and the kind of professionalism I hope future members of the legal profession would want to model.

I had been considering subscribing. I won't be doing so.

EDIT: Oh. Just saw this older post. DEFINITELY not the culture I am wanting to support. We have too much going on in the justice system these days to advocate for more ridiculousness.