Would taking a logic class greatly benefit me if I plan to take the LSAT?

Answer 1

No, taking a logic class or learning formal logic will not greatly benefit you in taking the LSAT, and I say this as someone who had to learn formal logic as part of my undergrad philosophy major.

I find that I use my knowledge of formal logic on the LSAT on only one of the three kinds of section--Logical Reasoning (LR). LR sections are typically about 25 questions long, and of those 25 questions, you might have to use formal logic on one of the questions, maybe two. The majority of questions will involve assessing arguments, how to weaken or strengthen them, and identifying their different parts.

Is there any benefit to learning formal logic? Yes, but not enough to justify taking an entire class on it. It will be a much better use of your time and resources to pick up some basic formal logic as you study for the LSAT.

Answer 2

The answer is: it depends. Most logic classes offered at universities and colleges will cover some of the basic topics tested on the LSAT, but, to master the LSAT, you'll need to be able to identify flaws, missing links, and the assumptions that underlie certain arguments--doing this requires developing skills that most college courses will not teach you.

In short, the class surely won't hurt, but it is not necessary!