Hey everyone! Really glad to join the community. I’ve been self-studying for the LSAT since July, and after recently discovering the 7Sage podcast, I knew I needed to dive into the forums—my only regret is not finding this place sooner!
Right now, I’m scoring in the low-to-mid 160s on practice tests and am looking forward to using 7Sage to push into the 170s.
Are there any other non-traditional students here balancing LSAT prep with a full-time job?
Excited to learn alongside everyone here. Happy studying!
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I'm a trial paralegal and a mom, and these trials seem to always coincide with my test windows. Last month, I billed 240 hours in arbitration and lost most of my study windows. My study schedule isnt a schedule, lol. But I'm getting a number of perfect to near perfect sections devoting up to an hour in the evening, quick drills on lunch hours when those exist, and 4 hours on weekend days. I dont study unless my brain is there... otherwise I just fall into bad habits made worse by cognitive fatigue. Even if you get 30 good minutes, its better than 2 hours of flubbing sections because you cant think straight.... Also, get a strategy down for each question type. Make it as simple as possible to follow and be able to identify the question types immediately. I have a recording of myself walking through each strategy that I listen to on my way to and from work just so my strategies and such dont erode. Also, prioritize sleep before the exam instead of cramming.
@MommaEmmaMLS
What type of law? How old is your child? Are you still in school?
Sorry about this influx of questions; I just see a lot of myself in this post.
I too am a mother to a 4-year-old child, and I wanted to get some tips on studying!!!
@amberdonato I work in big law as my firm's West Coast Litigation & Dispute Resolution Paralegal/Case Manager. The practice area is a fairly large scope, but all business litigation related, which has been my area for around 8 years. I picked the highest paid track for the non-attorney line of work mainly to stabilize my family. I finished my undergrad in business law in 2018 when my son was about a year old (he's 9 now) and only had like fifty bucks to work with, lol. But I finished my masters in litigation and dispute resolution when my son was 8 (much higher GPA). So my heart goes out to you as a student mom! It is no walk in the park. My pregnancy was brutal in college and did a number on my UGPA, then daycare cost me a kidney on the black market... so a JD was on hold indefinitely and now medians are so high I need some amazing LSAT to get in. 🫠 But it's beyond time, and I really want to be *done* with law school by the time I'm 35. The testing endurance is what kills me more than any of the actual logic. My tips arent ironclad or anything. I utilize the library a lot. I drill more than full test because long uninterrupted stretches are rare to come by. I utilize recording and text to speech a lot so when I'm stuck driving, in waiting rooms, doing something mindless at work, etc. I can listen. Game drills are quick ways to stay engaged too. Audio recordings also helped me a ton when I was finishing my undergrad. Ive found this test is more of an assessment of your executive function than logic alone. Divided attention is lethal and working professionals and parents live with chronically divided attention. Working on sustaining focus is just as important as the logic, so is figuring out when your brain works best and how to get it there. But message me anytime, wishing you all the luck 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
@MommaEmmaMLS Thank you. We are definitely in this together.
working 9-7 as a legal assistant! went from 160s to 170s after studying for about 6 months on and off. i suggest 3 hours a day on the weekends, and maybe half an hour on weekdays before work if you can.
@zunair this made me feel a lot better.
@zunair This is more or less what I have been doing. I typically carve out 2-3 hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I treat it like "test day" in how I make sure I am not interrupted, phone is put away, noise cancelling headphones are in and I commit 2-3 hours to LSAT related activity only. That way, on test day, or even on PTs, I'm used to processing LSAT jargon for 2-3 hours uninterrupted.
@AndrewGebo yeah exactly, deep immersion is key for dealing with the time aspect. i do a prep test on the weekend and then the rest of the week is BR and figuring out where i went wrong.
Me right here. It has really not been easy balancing work and study. But I am a determined person. This LSAT needs to be dealt with.
@EdwardMarah
I feel you on the determined aspect. I am a full time mother, student, and studying for the LSAT exam and I cannot seem to find the perfect study scheudle.
@EdwardMarah I treat weekends as my "training" days. Set aside 2-3 hours on Sat and/or Sun and do LSAT stuff only for that period.
Me! Working a 9-5 as a paralegal, also scoring in the 160s :)
It’s a huge challenge. Like the LSAT isn’t to begin with, but dividing the attention even further with an ongoing career is ridiculous crazy. But that’s why we’re here right? There’s something a little off about us that we would even attempt to pull off something like this. Don’t let the effort get you down. After 2mos of intense study it still feels like I could use another, hmm, around 1.5 years to do it well. Just kidding, but it feels that way often. I’ve done two degrees while working and it still feels like this one exam is more of a challenge than both of those. Add it all together and we have a big mountain to climb.
Senior paralegal here and Mom of two kids under the age of 4. I basically just study anytime I have free time. Lunch hour at work, nap time for the kids, and once my kids are in bed for the night. 7sages also has an app, it's super convenient since I can study here and there when I don't have my laptop.
Hi! Joining in here, I'm a fulltime paralegal to both trial and appellate attorneys. Balancing everything is wicked hard. I particularly love 7Sage because the platform is so flexible and allows me to adjust my studying to my schedule. Some of my work days are 11-12 hours. I can't have the same study schedule every day (I wish!!!) so I'm frequently shifting things. I usually study 6 days a week and am trying to do 2 practice tests a week. I do one after work during the week, and then another on Sunday afternoons at a local library.
Thought for the non-trad fam here, should we start our own group? It would be really neat to have a constant channel going for us non-trad students to share advice, struggles, wins, etc. I do think we could benefit from hearing how each of us organizes our studying with everything we all have going on.
Anyway, keep up the good fight, everybody! I'm so proud of all of you :)
Non-traditional student here; and I've been that way since I started college. I'm a father of 5, full time employee, and I sit on a non-profit board. I agree with MommaEmma about utilizing your brain when it is sharp vs. using it and hitting a wall. I use my lunch breaks at work, and I sometimes use the 7Sage app while the kiddos are bathing. Drilling my weaker Qs has been helpful for data and guidance purposes.
It can be difficult, but what has worked for me is to have a specific time to study for the LSAT. I prefer to study before work to have a fresh mind before all the stress of the working day accumulates. Meal prepping is also a must in my opinion. It will save you a ton of time.
@AdamLaw I want to try and do this because 7-8 am is like a golden time for my brain!
@AdamLaw Yes! I try to be very cognizant of my mental clarity before doing anything related to the LSAT.
I am. I a single mother of 4 adult children (2 of them are twins :)) I work full time as a paralegal in the prosecutors office for 20 yrrs. I have been studying on and off since 2018 and off and on this summer. I have taken the LSAT a few times and I will be buckling down today for a January retake and get this test out of my life forever. I got it this time and I am trying to score in the 160s. I am not trying to go to a top school so I will be okay with a score in the mid 160s. Good luck to you, we got this.
I'm in the same boat! What's helped me the most is taking as many PTs as possible to get my mental stamina up, reviewing every question I do whether I get it right or wrong, and creating a "study guide" for myself where I write down everything I've learned throughout the study process. I just scored my first -0 in an LR section yesterday after 3 months of studying! So, if you're determined, you can absolutely make it happen!
@squishylana this is encouraging!
Yep! Working 8-8 as a legal analyst at an investment firm, I study in the early morning before work
Yep, full time job with kids. Curious to hear how you balance studying/tips too! I’m still learning!
@S.Val.
I feel this comment so hard lol
@S.Val. Hey! Working full time and a single mama of two kids (one elementary, one middle school). I do an hour of studying in the morning, hop on any live classes I can, and use the app to drill while my kids are getting ready for bed/taking baths/at extra curricular activities/while I'm relaxing in bed/etc. I'm an auditory and kinesthic learner so watching then practicing works well for me. I'm aiming for an online/hybrid part-time program so I don't care about T14 schools or anything like that.
Oh, and apply for a fee waiver! I got denied the first time but then appealed and got approved.
Yep. Full time job in a senior leadership position, broke my leg the week after I decided to start studying, etc. Maybe 3 solid weeks of actual studying because of everything going on. 160 on the August LSAT and was scoring mid 160's. Just decided to try 7Sage because I didn't see any improvement with LSAT Demon or Loophole. Hoping admissions really are holistic.....
Hi! I work as a food manager and it's been difficult studying after because I'm super tired from work. I'm happy we are here to encourage each other. We got this!!
@MonicaYum Have you tried making time before work to study? It is best to avoid those low energy sessions when tired, I found they can be counterproductive and damaging.
I only do very light and short sessions during workdays and try to be productive with LSAT adjacent tasks that support developing the same skills.
Most people writing here are paralegals so are already heavily engaged in this type of activity, surrounded by a huge support system, and have a great runway for reaching up- that drive is a motivating factor.
But when you are in a much different environment it can be at times isolating, and more challenging. We do not benefit from adjacent tasks that are conducive to the skills we want to build, nor have the network to reach out to.
Although technically non-traditional, I consider a paralegal a non-trad student with how involved with the legal field they are, they're so extremely privileged by circumstance and fall more into a continuing education/workplace training. That labelling doesn't help any of us outside that legal system, truly non-traditional types, with no potential training or opportunity in our jobs. I wish these paralegals could be put into their own category so we know who has work experience outside the narrow confines of a law office from the rest that have actual non-traditional experience. How is it non-trad if they are all following the same traditional path of paralegal -> LSAT.. it's like the non-trad student tradition is a tradition of paralegal to LSAT.
I work full time also. What is helping me is my study groups. The accountability and study sessions have increased my overall PT score.
I empathize with you because I have already tried to study for LSAT without a job for two months, only to have a few anxiety attacks recently, which made me question whether prepping for this exam without getting paid a single dime is really the best decision. By the way, I live in Shanghai, which is a notoriously expensive city, say, my living expenses (rent plus food) is approximately $744 per month, and the average studying span is 10 months, totally burning a big hole in my pocket.
Yes, I am! It has been tough to squeeze in the time. I've been studying on my lunches, but that is not enough hours per week. It is just difficult because my brain is most effective in the early morning. Studying after work, if it's past 7ish, I am so dead! When are you planning to take it? I'm planning for January.
Been working and studying and wanted to share what I wish I knew before I started -
Definitely apply for a fee waiver and if you get rejected, appeal! This will apply to CAS/ 2 LSAC tests and 7Sage.
live classes are helpful to meet other no-traditional students :)
I work with an affordable tutor I found here on 7Sage and strongly recommend working with one or a study buddy to keep yourself motivated. The nice thing about working with another person instead of a weekly study group is that they can be flexible to your schedule should work get busy, life comes up etc. Sometimes I meet with my tutor at 9pm on weekdays because it's the only time I know I'm free. Always happy to share their info :)
What has been your biggest score increaser that you’ve been able to do?
I am now to the point where I feel like I’m overdoing it and I’m running myself thin.. even my scores have seen a slight regression
Up until a month ago I was working a full-time job, studying for the LSAT, and going to school part time. The only way I got through it was my amazing support system. Luckily, I have finished school now and I'm able to only have the LSAT and work to focus on. I spend my lunch studying and then usually do another hour and a half when I get home from work. I know this is what I want so I am putting in the work. Wishing everyone here an extra hour in the day and success on this exam!
Wow! Thank you, everyone. Sorry I missed the party in my own comments section!
It's great seeing so many paralegals and legal assistants in here. My background is a bit different. I'm in my 30s with over a decade in corporate tech and finance, but I've had a lifelong pull toward law and public service. After running a local campaign recently, I realized it was finally time to make the leap.
I'm finishing up my undergrad degree this fall while balancing full-time corporate work and studying for the October LSAT. Targeting a strong local program in my area and feeling incredibly motivated to get there.
Excited to keep grinding alongside all of you!
Fellow non-trad student here! Working full time and single mama of two, taking the Sept LSAT & have Nov on the back burner, if needed. Aiming for a part-time online/hybrid program. Welcome to the fun!!!! :)
I’m a non-traditional student working full time. One mistake I made was constantly switching between prep materials. I used The Loophole, PowerScore, LSAT Demon, and 7Sage at different points, and I think switching approaches slowed me down. I also learn better by doing than by reading, and I realized too late that I was spending way too much time reading about how to approach the LSAT instead of actually doing questions and learning from my mistakes. Toward the end of my prep, things finally started clicking, which honestly made me wish I had picked one method earlier and stuck with it. I think all the flip-flopping contributed to my 135. My biggest advice would be to figure out how you learn best and build your prep around that instead of trying every resource people recommend.
@pnatt Hi, your journey sounds similar to mine. I got all the material, and finally said that’s enough just start practicing already. I felt like if i absorbed all this information, it would click, but it didn’t. I felt behind. I also suffer from ADD and my working memory is that of an 90 year old, so it takes me a thousands years to complete a question. I have improved over time, but I wish my AHA moment would come sooner. I’ll be old and gray by the time I’m finish law school at this rate.