The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) chapter at UTSA has been holding study groups for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) every other Sunday since Sept. 30. 

The LSAT examines critical thinking and analytical skills. The exam is offered six times a year, lasts approximately four hours and costs $180. The sessions BLSA hosts take place in the JPL in Group Spot A, and cover topics that will be found in different sections on the LSAT: logical reasoning, reading comprehension, logic games and strategic writing. All sessions are open to the public and anyone may attend. 

“We accept everyone, not just black people, and we want to show what it takes to get to law school,” said Joelle Thomas, senior communication major.

Zaakirah Holmes, a senior political science major, found the sessions to be very helpful. 

“They allow me to learn how to navigate certain questions and it helped me to become accustomed to the hypotheticals and gave me strategies that can help me with cases in my professional career as a lawyer,” Holmes said. 

Kimiya Factory, Vice President of The Black Law Student Association, and Thomas are administering these sessions and incorporating them into their personal curriculum.

“The Black Law Student Association chapter at UTSA is a student organization, which is a branch of the National Chapter of the National Black Law Students Association at law schools around the country,” Factory said. “The organization focuses on Pre-Law students seeking LSAT preparation, professional development, networking and general information for the study of law.”

The organization is also doing many other things to help prepare for the LSAT as well. 

“I’m trying to implement a mentorship from juniors and seniors to freshman, where they can learn about what it takes to go to [law school],” Thomas said. 

BLSA encourages those interested in law to learn more about what is needed for law school. 

 “Our goal is to increase the presence of African-Americans in the legal field,” Factory said. “We have professors come and [meet] with the students. We are different because you can go to any law school in the country and find our members. We have ties all over the country due to networking.”

The next sessions are on Oct. 28 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.