Self-study
Hi everyone,
I’m currently a Project Manager at a software company, working ~50 hours/week. I’m not very fulfilled and don’t feel passionate about the work, which is part of why I started studying for the LSAT.
I’ll hit one year at my company in October 2026, but I’ve been struggling to find the time and energy to study. I think I could reach around a 165 by August, and I’d like to apply this upcoming cycle.
Delaying to the 2027–2028 cycle isn’t ideal for me. I’m also concerned about maintaining strong relationships for letters of recommendation—I have them now, but that could change over time.
While I think my work experience adds value to my application, leaving before a full year might raise concerns about commitment.
I’d really appreciate advice on what to do:
Quit my job and focus on LSAT prep (is ~7 months of experience okay if my score improves?)
Stay in my job and apply with a lower score
Wait for the 2027–2028 cycle (and potentially find a less demanding job—open to suggestions on roles that are helpful for law school applications)
I’m not set on a specific area of law yet. I majored in Neuroscience and English, and I enjoy reading, writing, and analytical work. My current role also involves some contract-related work.
Thanks in advance for any insight!
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18 comments
@RachelT - Just chiming in from the admissions perspective!
This really is a rock vs hard place matter, to be honest. Because - yes - a higher LSAT score will have a great benefit in your application evaluation. No doubt about that!
But the flip side is that it doesn't look great if: 1) you leave your job without being their for a full year (with a caveat for truly toxic situations or situations where you had to leave due to personal/family/medical reasons), and if 2) you don't have anything on your resume to replace the job you left. Or to put it another way, if your resume just ends in May and I'm reading your app in October/November, it's great that I'm seeing a high LSAT but I'm also dinging the app for the weaker resume.
So here are some things you can consider:
If you left your job, how would you present this on your app? If the only presentation is "I wanted to focus on the LSAT prep," you need to find another angle.
For example, what else would you do with your days other than LSAT prep? Could you also fill your schedule up with volunteer service? Ideally in the area of law (or adjacent to it) that you hope to practice? Because that would mitigate the gap in your resume AND then you could present the gap as "I wanted to have the time to focus on LSAT prep but I also wanted to be able to pursue some of my interests prior to attending law school, such as ____."
How's your undergrad GPA? Will that number be above the medians for the schools you're considering? If so, that at least takes a little pressure off your LSAT.
I hope that all helps!
If you do decide to quit your job maybe do it closer to test day? Stick it out until June or July so you can have a few more months of experience on your resume! Good luck either way!
I was just here to ask what resources were you using to study for the test? And if so what was helpful to you because I’m also in a similar situation. I work 50 hours as well. And it’s been a struggle for me to also structure everything
Don't quit. Do both. Study. Get your 165, apply, and get admitted, but don't quit. Work on parallel plans. If you're swinging between trees, don't let go of one branch before you have the next branch firmly in your grasp.
I've been a senior corporate recruiter for 12+ years and have worked for FAANG companies, so I know the participants, patterns, and outcomes. We are experiencing historic, tectonic shifts to reduce headcount in hiring, work allocation, job responsibilities— all of it, everything about work— driven by AI (or what companies think they can do with AI) and will remake entire industries. Already, in workforce analysis circles, social sciences, OPsych, and HR groups, they are drawing a line of demarcation between "before AI" and "after AI." The shift AI will bring to the workforce is nothing short of the Industrial Revolution.
If you're a project manager, the impact on your job and other similar jobs cannot and must not be underestimated.
Apply to your favorite schools, and if you get in, go for it. If you don't get in, stick it out with your job. If you get RIFd before you can apply again, you'll get a juicy departure package that can fund your life for six months or maybe a year if you're frugal, effectively paying you to study for the LSAT for the next cycle. Either way, you'll have a plan, be focused, and be funded.
@judahtravis this is the way! What a thoughtful answer.
I’m in the same boat as you, I’m turning in my notice on Thursday, definitely nervous, but I think the risk is worth the reward
I'm currently in the same boat. I even took a week off from work to see if studying without working made a big difference, and it did. I plan to resign in June.
I'll preface this by saying I am not an admissions expert, so I will only speak from my current experience as opposed to commenting on yours. I quit my job two weeks ago to take the LSAT in August. I have savings and will be fine financially. I decided to do this because I was unable to truly focus on the LSAT along with my job and current grad program. Going to law school and becoming a lawyer are dreams of mine and taking the time to study will not only open up what schools I can get into, but also increase scholarship odds. The ROI was there for me. I figured if recommendations changed because I was following my dream, they probably weren't going to be the best recommendations anyways. I was fortunate to work with people who understood I had this goal. I weighed my recommendations and tried to figure out who would still recommend me despite leaving. I also took a week off to see how full time studying affected studying/scores. It was a huge difference. I spoke to my school's undergraduate law advisor as well and that gave me clarity on how schools might see this.
@mustblaw thank you for your thoughts! I’m not sure if your advisor/you have any opinions on how attractive work experience looks on an application? I’m unsure if putting my 8 months of corporate work would look like a lack of follow-through or anything…
@RachelT I had been in my position for two years so not too much longer in the grand scheme of things. They said work experience is important, but the LSAT is more important. They also said to consider my framing for why I left my job, my intentional path to law school, and showing commitment in other ways. For example, I have been volunteering for an organization for years, have continued to grow in my education, and had hit a roadblock in my career, in terms of what I wanted to do, that could only be broken by attending law school. I personally believe if you can find other examples of your commitment and drive towards law school, leaving your job can be spun into a positive.
The biggest factor in this decision is your financial situation and support system. Only you know those factors. I would be hesitant to quit my job if either my financial situation or support systems were in question.
@NunyaBizNiz thank you! This makes a lot of sense.
Burn the boats. Cortés torched his ships in the New World so his men couldn't retreat. Win or die — and they won. Keep the job and you'll study at half-power. Your brain knows the fallback is there. The shore you want is the one you can't retreat from.
@EliSchechter fired me up 🔥
I was in a similar situation to you. I was working 50-80 hours a week for about two years. At the time I had to continue working to generally pay rent and survive. Studying at 50 hours is possible. The more you work the less you can feasibly study. If your job is complex and takes most of your mental energy there may not be enough left in you to study well even when you are trying to study. Studying and working depends on a lot of factors and different people may need to make different choices there.
Letters of Recommendation can be gotten now and used later. Just inform the people you may wait before applying but you would like to have their letter because you enjoyed X class or working on X project with them (for work). So at least go get your great rec's while you are in contact with these people.
@WillowBound2 thank you for your thoughts! I guess, have you left your job now? I’m saving as much as I can right now and my job definitely leaves my brain fried by EOD 🙃
@RachelT No, I just dropped to a regular 40 hours so I have more time. I am on my own so I can't leave my job until I am back in school and being supported by student loans. I wish I could just study but food and shelter are sort of important. Life happens. Just keep working towards your goals. You will get there.
Burn the boats. I'm also studying for the Aug LSAT if you need a study partner