The writing section of the Law School Admission Test will get an overhaul this summer with a greater emphasis on gauging analytical skills.
Currently, LSAT takers have 35 minutes to write an argumentative essay on a provided topic designed to demonstrate their logical reasoning. The updated writing section will give examinees 15 minutes to read different positions on a debatable topic, after which they will have 35 minutes to write an argument in which they take a position and address the strengths and weaknesses of the various ideas presented.
The updated writing section will debut on July 31 — eight days before the first LSAT without logic games, a decision which prompted jeers and cheers. The writing section is taken separately from the rest of the test, at home.
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The maker of Stanley cups hired Arnold & Porter as defense counsel in lawsuits over lead … Brownstein Hyatt will lobby for Saudi Arabia’s new mega-city NEOM … The State Bar of California will seek a 24% increase in the annual fees … Jacksonville University College of Law became the first new U.S. law school since 2017 to get the ABA’s provisional accreditation … Schulte Roth was sued by an investment fund over “exorbitant and unjustified” fees for its work on a failed investment … Allen & Overy and Shearman will merge. Here are the new leaders of A&O Shearman … And, a new legal AI venture promises to show how judges think.
MOVES
In Washington …
Antitrust lawyer Neely Agin will return to Norton Rose Fulbright as U.S. head of antitrust after spending the last six years at Winston & Strawn … Troutman Pepper added financial services partners Kevin Petrasic and Matthew Bornfreund from Davis Wright Tremaine … Finance partner Monica Thurmond joined Fried Frank from Paul Weiss … Real estate lawyer Kim Pagotto joined Dentons from Hogan Lovells … Baker Botts added energy finance partner Matthew Gurch from Stoel Rives.
In New York …
Private equity dealmakers Neal Reenan and Ian Bushner joined Freshfields from Latham … Dechert hired Brian Miner from Schulte Roth & Zabel, where he was co-chair of the M&A and securities group … Loeb & Loeb added seven partners from Morrison Cohen … DLA Piper hired environmental transactions attorney Andrew Westgate, who was previously at Latham … Pierson Ferdinand, which launched at the start of 2024, added 25 partners in February.
In Los Angeles …
Davis Wright Tremaine hired employment class action leaders Tritia Murata and David Zins from Morrison & Foerster … Sidley added partner Peter Burke to its global finance practice. Burke was at Paul Hastings … Sheppard Mullin hired real estate partner Rocky Delgadillo from DLA Piper … Cooley hired the co-chair of Baker McKenzie’s North American class action practice group, Teresa Michaud.
In Palo Alto …
Squire Patton Boggs added partner Sarah Mirza to its global intellectual property and technology practice from Artegis Law Group.
In Chicago …
Baker McKenzie expanded its North America tax practice with the addition of Rob Clary from KPMG … Christopher Buch joined Vedder Price’s executive compensation and employee benefits group from Polsinelli.
In San Antonio …
Real estate lawyer George Hinchey rejoined Haynes Boone. Hinchey is the fourth real estate hire in 2024 for the firm.
In Charlotte, N.C. …
Baker Donelson launched an office with the addition of shareholders John Branch, Elizabeth Haskins, Thomas Hooper, Paul Osowski, Evan Sauda, William Starr, Fred Wood Jr. and Noelle Wooten.
In Denver …
Holland & Hart hired trusts and estates litigation partner Michelle Canerday from Katten Muchin Rosenman.
In Minneapolis …
Litigation partner Christine Lindblad rejoined Fox Rothschild from Medica, where she was director of litigation.
In London …
Bird & Bird hired corporate partner Jonathan Angell from Dechert … Massimo Amoruso joined Mayer Brown as a partner in its global energy group from Clifford Chance.
