Elias Neibart is the founder of Elias Neibart Tutoring.  He was a Pat H. Odom Dean’s Achievement Scholar at Emory University.  Neibart graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Emory University and is currently working and tutoring before attending law school.

At Emory, Elias Neibart was a Junto Fellow in the Program in Democracy and Citizenship.

The Junto Fellowship is a part of Emory University’s Franklin Fellows Program, which encourages the critical study and supports classroom learning with film discussions, reading groups, and attendance of fine arts performances. Junto Fellows receive curated course offerings in literature classics and other liberal arts topics, all focused on critical reasoning skills such as analytic reading and cogent writing.

In pursuit of his goal to become an attorney, Elias Neibart has undertaken practical steps to build the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the legal field.  He spent the summer of 2016 as a judicial intern in Essex County, New Jersey, shadowing Judge Michael L. Ravin and becoming familiar with the parts of the trial process.  

In the summer of 2017, Neibart became a legal intern with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. He observed court proceedings and analyzed various forms of evidence, including surveillance videos and witness statements. He also built experience in authoring a number of legal document types, including motions to suppress and post-conviction relief briefs.

Elias Neibart accepted a summer internship with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. In this role, he assisted in the writing of subpoenas and the preparation of evidence for federal criminal proceedings.

During college, Elias Neibart also conducted research focusing on the founding of the United States of America and the United States Constitution. Neibart participated on the Emory University Mock Trial Team, where he was a nationally recognized mock trial competitor.

Elias Neibart currently works in New York City, and he will soon attend Harvard Law School.

We were able to arrange an exclusive interview with Elias Neibart to learn a little more about his professional journey and future academic plans.  An excerpt from this interview can be found below.

How did you get started?

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a half-day standardized test administered by The Law School Admission Council several times annually at designated testing centers all around the world. After self-studying for the LSAT for six months, I decided that I wanted to share my knowledge, strategies, and test-taking skills with other prospective law students.

During the summer of 2019, I officially founded Elias Neibart Tutoring. As the founder and owner, I exercise full creative control over lesson plans and student development.

What inspired you to start this business?

When I was studying for the LSAT and looking for a private tutor, I was surprised by the high cost and lack of flexibility of the major test preparation companies. Most private tutors charged well over $100/hour and had little to no availability for new clients; you had to work within their schedules, not the other way around. I started Elias Neibart Tutoring to offer a high-quality, cost-effective, and flexible option for test-takers.

There is a recent uptrend of law school applications and increased competition to get into the most prestigious law schools, with median LSAT scores increasing at 97 law schools between 2018 and 2019.  The 2019-2020 admission cycle saw a 3.3% increase in applicants, and a 2019 ABA Journal article predicts a similar increase for 2020-2021. LSAC study materials, non-LSAC books, commercial test preparation services, self-study are all options, but it was clear to me that a more personalized private tutoring option should be available to prospective law students.

Our classes are customized and personalized to meet the specific needs of our students, building on their testing strengths and eliminating testing weaknesses with cutting edge study strategies and proven test-taking tactics.

How do you make money?

After each lesson, students can use Zelle, Venmo, a check, or cash to pay for their session.  If a student foresees needing more than fifteen hours of assistance, bulk discount rates are available.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your business?

We were able to quickly adapt to the current health crisis by shifting our focus from in-person tutoring to virtual learning.  Students are able to conduct their preliminary diagnostic assessments and interim exams in a digital format, while I am able to provide one-on-one instruction and interactive content via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and other virtual learning platforms.  In many ways, online learning has presented new opportunities to engage and interact with students all over the country and offers a level of flexibility and convenience that was not possible before.