Client Success & Buzz

Articulating my experience collaborating with Spivey Consulting reveals certain challenges. I am the first person in my family to pursue higher education and was raised in a household with limited financial means. Despite initial hurdles, such as independently applying for the FAFSA due to unfamiliarity with the procedure, enrolling in a four-year university, and subsequently earning a graduate degree prior to considering law school, the entire law school application process, including the LSAT examination, was daunting and formidable.

The process of applying to law school significantly differs from that of other academic programs. The admissions procedure is rigorous due to its complex prerequisites, which include LSAT scores, comprehensive academic transcripts, and the demonstration of advanced soft skills through scholarly essays, letters of recommendation, and additional supporting documents.

Without the support of Spivey Consulting Group’s Pro Bono Program, I believe that my application, background, and nuanced experiences might have been overlooked by the admissions committees at various law schools. Through this program, I was paired with Ms. Paula Gluzman, an individual of exceptional qualities.

My previous interactions with Paula were numerous, and her role as my law school consultant greatly influenced how I recounted and articulated my story to substantiate my decision to pursue and attend law school. When I composed the various statements required by different law schools, it necessitated revisiting and exploring both positive and negative moments in my life, in order to illustrate to the admissions committee the character, growth, perseverance, and grit that led me to this point. Although these memories existed in my mind, it was challenging for me to articulate them clearly in writing. 

This is where Paula offers substantial support, guidance, and mentorship. She listens attentively and provides sincere, nonjudgmental instructions. Such support is seldom available during the law school application process. Feelings of self-doubt, unworthiness, and occasional thoughts of surrender may arise; however, Paula remained steadfastly by my side. We devoted numerous hours to discussing every aspect of law school applications, as well as the psychological barriers that hindered me from expressing my authentic self in my writing. Paula demonstrates exceptional skill in writing, comprehending my experiences (an ability I am confident she shares with others she has assisted), and she consistently draws out my best qualities. Paula responds quickly, is highly communicative, and is readily available to address any questions and/or concerns. At a certain point during my application journey, I had to take a risk, step back, and inform Paula that, due to the recent passing of a loved one in my family, I needed to prioritize my well-being. I also communicated that law school might not be feasible for my future at that time. 

I conveyed this information to Paula, expressing concerns that our collaboration could be discontinued and that my academic pursuit at law school might be prematurely concluded. Nonetheless, my apprehensions were met with kindness, compassion, and understanding, as Paula sincerely acknowledged my attributes as a candidate, an individual, and my potential—even in instances when I was unable to perceive it myself. 

These are the qualities and experiences that Spivey Consulting brings to its work with students like me. Paula offers humor, warmth, and extensive knowledge throughout the law school application process, personalizing the experience alongside me. Paula was, and remains, supportive as I pursue my aspiration of attending law school, which has now become a reality. I look forward to completing and graduating from law school at the earliest opportunity! 

I strongly encourage all students to consider applying for Spivey Consulting Group’s Pro Bono Program, which offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate with Paula and other consultants who dedicate their time, effort, and expertise to helping aspiring law students achieve their ambitions and find their purpose. It is initiatives such as Spivey’s and professionals like Paula that I am eternally grateful for. This is one reason why I actively support others through mentorship and dedicate my time to making law school more accessible and attainable for individuals aspiring to pursue a legal career.

Thank you once again, Paula and Spivey Consulting Group. Your contributions will always remain in my heart and are an integral part of my law school journey and subsequent endeavors.

As a first-generation student entering the 2025 application cycle, I came into this process with so much self-doubt and anxiety. In particular, as a minority, I was concerned the contentiousness around DEI and affirmative action would render my stats inadequate and that my application materials would never be enough.I applied to a wide variety of law schools, nearly blanketing the T14. While I can't say my own tenacity did not play a part in my success so far, Spivey Consulting, particularly Spivey Consultant Michael Burns, provided me with more insight than I could have ever found on my own on how to succeed in such a competitive cycle. I truly feel the resources Spivey offered were instrumental to knowing how I could be the most strategic in leveraging who I really am outside of my statistics to law schools. With it only being the middle of the cycle, I have already been accepted to NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, and Vanderbilt. Moreover, I have also completed interviews with UChicago, Yale, and Harvard.

The opportunity to work with Spivey, specifically within the Spivey Pro Bono Program, embodies the difference between breaking generational curses for someone like me. Spivey has not only provided me with confidence in myself and the story I carry, but a little bit more faith in society to make the legal field more equitable.

Paula Gluzman was exceptional! Her knowledge of the law school admissions process is unmatched, and she truly took the time to get to know me and my story. The brainstorming process was incredibly helpful, and her feedback pushed me to present my best self. I especially appreciated her sharp eye for detail and the creativity she brought to an often rigid system. I am so grateful for her guidance and support — I couldn’t have navigated this process without her.

Getting the chance to work with Paul Rollins was the highlight of my law school application process. I felt as if Paul really got to know me, and he helped me get into the mindset of what admissions officers want to see. He ensured that I was putting my best foot forward, and I truly feel like I outperformed my stats thanks to his support. Paul helped me fine-tune all of my materials, and his feedback was always thoughtful, strategic, and (most importantly) fast. He was always available, consistently provided quick turnarounds, and gave me a lot of confidence throughout the process. Realistically, I couldn’t have asked for a better consultant.

Nikki Laubenstein was so patient with me and always would get back to me quickly and efficiently. We worked on so many applications together and she always had so much patience with me. She always answered my seemingly never ending questions with ease, listened to my concerns, and voiced her advice with care. Nikki kept me on track throughout the application cycle and I know her advice and help was invaluable to me securing a spot in a great law school.

[I appreciated] not only the application cycle support but the mentorship and reassurance throughout the process that I was/am good enough to be lawyer! As a first-gen high school graduate and college student, this past application cycle was incredibly difficult. I trusted Anna Hicks-Jaco completely, and never once did I feel that she wasn't rooting for me. It gave me a sense of hope and motivation that even when I didn't believe in myself, Anna still did. While the feedback on my applications materials were EXTREMELY helpful, the relationship I developed with Anna was the truly the real gift!

Erika Guckenberger was wonderful to work with during my application cycle! She gives extremely personalized feedback on materials, and offers great advice on the best strategy for your candidacy. I truly believe that my great results last cycle were made possible through her assistance from the beginning to the end of the process.

Joe Pollak took me from someone who never thought law school was even a possibility for him to going to a school I never thought I’d be able to attend!

Sam Parker is the best. She was such an abundant source of uplifting positivity at HLS even before I began law school. And once I got to school, Sam’s care for students was plain for all to see — she stayed in touch, checked in, and went out of her way constantly to help everyone. She was probably the most liked member of the Admissions office by students and staff alike. She is incredibly insightful about the legal admissions world, and given her years of experience at HLS, clearly has her finger on the pulse of what admissions offices are looking for — especially now in our changing world and landscape. She is also, simply put, a wonderfully kind person. She sees the best in everyone and is fun, thoughtful, resourceful, and engaging. I have absolutely no doubts about Sam’s abilities as an effective communicator, and I am certain she will be an invaluable resource to her clients at Spivey, helping them craft their narratives and stories into beautifully constructed essays and interview answers. Sam has also read thousands of law school applications from the cream of the crop — that is a rare experience she will leverage in advising her clients. She is one of my very favorite people at HLS, and I can say with absolute confidence that if I were a student applying to law school right now and needed help leveling up my admissions work product, I would look no further than Sam. HLS’s tremendous loss is certainly Spivey's gain. She is the elite of elite — while also being disarmingly humble and charmingly kind. Work with Sam — you won’t regret it!

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Anne Dutia was amazing -- so smart, knowledgeable, skilled, and a joy to work with.  She gave me incredibly valuable guidance and truly made a huge positive impact in my admissions results.  I could tell she really cared and went above and beyond in understanding me as a law school candidate and how my application could be best tailored for the schools.  I could not be more grateful and recommend her so strongly to everyone!

Tom Robinson is an expert in consulting for international applicants and was phenomenal in helping me write my story based on experiences with legal systems in different countries. He taught me how to improve my writing skills tremendously which helped me a lot on my essays as well as my current law school classes.

Nathan Neely has always been supportive and patient, sometimes sacrificing his off time to deliver feedback on time.  He provides critical insights from an former adcom's perspective, which is very helpful.

Derek was indispensable to my law school applications. His expertise, responsiveness, and genuine care made an incredibly stressful process feel manageable. I got into my top choice school with a scholarship so Spivey was definitely worth the investment!

Jenn Kopolow's competent and clear guidance made the entire application process straightforward and efficient. Her feedback was always insightful and on time. I would recommend her to any law school applicant.

Danielle went above and beyond as a consultant, not only in helping me craft a strong package to present the best version of myself to law schools, but also in helping me get to know the legal field better as someone without much prior/family exposure. She provided much-appreciated guidance and connected me with resources to better understand how my identity will impact my future legal career, and I am feeling even more confident going into law school thanks to her assistance.

Spivey Consulting is worth every penny for transfer students looking to get into their top school of choice. The timeline and process is very condensed and stressful and having the firm behind you is a game changer. I had the privilege of working with Nikki Laubenstein who help me strategically navigate this complex admissions cycle.

Shannon Davis was extraordinarily helpful, efficient, and clear in her communication, feedback, and suggestions. I strongly recommend that anyone concerned about the quality of their admissions materials contact her for assistance. Her help made me a better writer.

Joe Pollak was a steady hand in helping guide me to admissions success for my 1L. Though I was satisfied with my 1L choice, we teamed up again for the transfer cycle and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results.

It's not that everything Anne Dutia said would happen actually came to pass (even though it did). It's that she said this was doable at all despite my disadvantages. She believed in me more than I did. And I think maybe that mattered most.

Erika Guckenberger was absolutely incredible - I am so happy I had the chance to work with her. She was enthusiastic, timely, and genuinely supportive and caring about my opportunities. Thank you, Erika!

I wanted to reach out and share my experience working with Joe. I had never considered hiring admissions help before. Truthfully, my family and I didn’t have the resources to invest in this kind of support. I self-studied for the LSAT and planned to handle most of the process on my own. Looking back, I can say without hesitation that it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Joe’s help was so worth the money.

He went above and beyond anything I could have expected—so much so that my friends and family now joke that I should be tipping him. He was incredibly responsive and hands-on throughout the process. I was certainly not low maintenance or low stress. There were weeks when I emailed him daily and met with him over Zoom three times a week. Despite the frequency, he remained fully engaged in every meeting, and his replies were consistently thoughtful, detailed, and often several paragraphs long. My outcomes were beyond anything I could have imagined.

While my stats were strong, as a KJD I never expected to be admitted to both Stanford and Harvard and receive the full Karsh-Dillard Scholarship at UVA. But more than the results, what stood out most was Joe’s calming presence throughout my entire cycle. Sure, my outcomes were great but Joe made the process genuinely enjoyable. Joe armed me with the information I needed to prepare for every hurdle that came my way and to make informed, strategic decisions throughout the process. I also felt that Joe genuinely cared about me and my goals.

When my plans shifted mid-cycle and, for personal reasons, Stanford became my top choice, he quickly accommodated this change. He allowed me to switch one of my schools to Stanford and he even made himself available to answer a few questions about Stanford during the spring semester even though I hadn’t paid for the full-cycle package.

Overall, I would recommend Joe to absolutely anyone. He really made my dreams come true!

Nick Everdell was so immensely helpful throughout the law school admissions process from beginning to end--I can't recommend him enough. His honest overall advice on strategy; candid feedback on my essays, resume, and addenda; and insights into the inner workings of admissions all made the law school application process so much more transparent and so much less stressful. He was constantly available to answer my questions and assuage my anxiety and concerns over the course of the months-long process. If you get the chance to work with Nick, TAKE IT! It was worth every penny.

Rodia went above and beyond the entire time I worked with her. She was compassionate, knowledgeable, supportive, and transparent about the entire process. Not to mention, she is kind and reassuring, which made the stressful application experience a little less hectic.

In general, the team at Spivey is incredibly talented and knowledgable, and they are worth every penny.

If I were going through the admissions process again, there is nobody I would want on my side more than Sam. She brings contagious, optimistic energy to everything she does and has years of relevant work and education experience. I would trust Sam in every step of my process, as I know her feedback would be constructive and expertly delivered. And, as a bonus, Sam understands what it takes to get from the Midwest to some of the nation's most prestigious schools, which would have been extremely helpful for a small-town Iowa applicant like me. She is simply the best!

Julia Truemper is an incredible law school admissions professional. I worked closely with Julia at a top 20 law school, and she brings a high level of expertise and experience, energy, and care to her work in admissions. She understands every angle of the admissions process from recruiting around the world to interviewing candidates for premier scholarships and wrangling waitlist advising. As a lawyer, Julia knows firsthand what it takes to obtain a J.D., and she truly has a passion for helping others pave their legal paths.

I had a wonderful experience from beginning to end with my consultant, Hannah Song. Hannah was instrumental in helping to develop a cohesive story while always ensuring the essays produced maintained my personal voice and style. As an older applicant, I was apprehensive and unsure how to navigate the application process. Hannah's expertise and deadlines greatly reduced my stress and made the mountain of work manageable and exciting. Throughout the process she was a tremendous sounding board and went out of her way to accommodate my schedule whenever needed. Without Hannah and Spivey, I am assured I would not have gotten into the amazing schools I was admitted to. It was overall a phenomenal experience and I could not recommend enough Spivey, and specifically Hannah Song, to any law school applicants.