AMber Tutors
Graduate-level tutoring Services
You've worked so hard, getting through college with good grades and important activities. Now you have your sight on furthering your education - going on to law school or graduate school. Or perhaps you've gone even further, finishing law school and turning your eye toward becoming a practicing attorney. But it's not easy - nor should it be! You have a road ahead of you, starting with an entrance exam. Right now there are an abundance of resources available - from books to blogs to prep courses. Tutoring is another great resource, whether you use it as a supplement to a course or book or want to talk through tricky problems. It's particularly useful for people with an interactive learning style, who learn by discussing, asking questions, and explaining thought processes. If that's you, read on for more information or contact me now!
LSAT
If you're pre-law, you may already know how important the LSAT is and how a high score can affect the schools you may be accepted into as well as scholarships. In many cases, law schools are weighing your G.P.A. and LSAT score roughly equally. This means that all the work you did in college can be erased by a poor LSAT score. On the other hand, a good score can help raise your competitiveness, whatever your undergraduate G.P.A.
Courses and prep books, while helpful, rely on teaching standard techniques that work for the majority of people. Many other students, however, find themselves plateauing in score because they need further individualized help.
If this is you, contact me to discuss how we can improve your test score in any or all sections, and make the most of your studying.
LAW SCHOOL
AND bar exam
Tutoring is not a replacement for a substantive review course, but provides an application of the reviewed material, targeted to you and how you learn. Tutoring can help you understand the material and increase your ability to analyze and explain. Exam scorers are looking for specific elements clearly presented in a tight essay format. Tutoring gives you opportunities to practice issue spotting, organization, and writing regularly with feedback from a bar-admitted experienced bar exam tutor.
The type of tutoring that is best for you depends on how you learn and what you need. Some students have particular subjects to target, specifically want feedback on your essays or Practice Tests, or want to meet on a regular basis for guidance and accountability. Some students work best one-on-one, while others thrive in group tutoring environments.
Mass products (like books and programs) don't work for everyone. If tutoring could help, contact me to discuss how we can tailor a program to improve your scores and make the most of all the work you've been putting in for years.
About me
I am a life-long learner, a curious investigator, and a zealous advocate for social justice. Utilizing my J.D. and membership in the Minnesota Bar, I have served as a judicial clerk, a legal research expert, and a volunteer attorney. My passion, though, is education, both personally and professionally. I love to learn, which help explains going back to school again and again and again.
I earned a J.D. from the College of William and Mary, where I recieved a fellowship and other awards, was on the editorial board for the Journal of Women and the Law, and ran the Moot Court competition for the Institute of Bill of Rights Law. I studied one summer at the Institute of Human Rights in Galway, Ireland, and worked during and after law school as a research clerk for local government. I have further legal experience at Legal Aid, as a law clerk to a judge, and as a Reference Attorney. It was during law school, when I began tutoring the LSAT, that I discovered my love of teaching, which prompted me to go to graduate school to be an educator.
In my Ph.D. program at the University of Iowa, I focused on political and interpersonal persuasion, culminating in my dissertation which examined how friendships affects political beliefs and behavior. My research has since expanded to look at the intersection of communication and law; my most recent publication considers how our discourse and rhetoric affect the law and the judicial system.
I am passionate about sharing my learning by teaching and tutoring. I have more than 10 years of experience as a college professor, and have taught a variety of classes including interpersonal communication, persuasion, legal systems, argumentation, and social support. At the same time, I have been tutoring test preparation for the Uniform Bar Exam, Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), and recently added one-on-one tutoring or coaching with law students and graduate school applicants. I have two cats, Marlowe and Webster, who I know are the smartest cats in the world, having listened to so many lectures and lessons. In my spare time I like to read, travel, and eat M&Ms.
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Individualized Sessions
We begin by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses on each section, looking at the patterns of questions you find easy or struggle with. Then we can work on your individual struggles and discuss strategies specifically designed to maximize your score. Being able to talk through your thought patterns and approaches to questions will let us see and address any common mistakes, which can increase your scores dramatically.
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Integration with your studying
Tutoring is best as a supplement to your own studying, whether with a program or self-paced. I am happy to share recommendations and resources. We will discuss topics and questions from the resources you use between sessions to maximize your time with your tutor. This "between session" work is essential to your progress and increased scores. It enhances what we do in our individual sessions, providing more insight into a personalized strategy for you.
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Homework and Check-ins
If helpful, I will offer additional learning resources between sessions to underscore and further support our work together. I am also happy to assign some practice writing prompts or other questions. If you are struggling with something, we can target homework. Likewise, if you have mastered a concept, we can sprinke in review questions as we focus on other concepts. We use regular check-ins to assess your progress and, if necessary, readjust your individualized plan.