Looking for general advice for a non-traditional student, what are you looking for in a student that already has a well established career in another field? Do other advanced degrees hold additional merit when looking at various applicants?

In general, law schools are looking for academically strong applicants with great communication, leadership and organizational skills. This comes in many different forms. Age is not a factor to keep someone out of consideration. The advice for non-traditional students holds true as it does for all applicants...tell your story of why law and any other information you want to relay to an admissions committee. Do this in well written statements in your own authentic voice. Advanced degrees are positive factors (unless the applicant did not perform well). The issue is most applicants do not have them. Thus, they are not one of the major factors like the LSAT score and UG record which every applicant has when applying.

Does it look bad to have taken the LSAT in Sept and again in Oct?

Not at all. Most AOs know that applicants who take the LSAT more than once are just trying to get the best score possible. And, they will consider the higher score of the two for admission and scholarship purposes.

Seconding all of the questions that have asked about applying later in the year! Does applying by the end of the year, or even into January, put you at a significant disadvantage (in terms of spots available and financial aid)?

I would not say it puts you at a significant disadvantage. This will vary from law school to law school however. Some applicant pools are more competitive than others. It will depend. However, I am sure that an applicant that may be considered very strong that applies later in the cycle, will probably have a shot at being admitted. You will have to judge if you are strong candidate for each particular applicant pool. Lastly, it is always better to apply earlier in the cycle, but it is even better to submit an application that is polished as opposed to one that is thrown together.

Is it advised to apply to a school if you’re below their GPA median but above their LSAT median?

I believe an applicant should apply to an array of law schools. A few schools that are target, a few that are safeties, and even one or two that are reach schools. The reason is, the numbers are only part of the equation. If you have a great story and passion for why law, great leadership and communication skills, admissions committees may give you a shot in being a student at their law school. There are applicants admitted below the 50th and 25th percentile medians. Who knows, you may be one of those admits.

Will I still be able to have a fair shot at scholarships if I send out all my applications by December 2024?

This will depend on how each law school awards scholarships. Most law schools will state if they have a scholarship application and when it will be available and when the deadline will be. If it is not clear how scholarships are awarded, nor if scholarship funds run out by a certain date, an email to the admissions office is recommended to ask.

What are some activities, jobs or volunteerism that law schools would like to see in a gap year?

This all depends on you and your interests, needs and wants. I have seen many different things in the categories of work and volunteering. I highly recommend that you do something besides just sitting on the couch. Just make sure it is something for your growth. Whether it is financial, educational, or for your health (mental and/or physical). Lastly, do not do something believing that it is what law school AOs want to see on your resume. Do it for you.

What are you looking for in LORs? Are there certain traits or topics I should ask my professors to write about?

In general, an AO wants specific details about you. For instance, how do you interact with your classmates or coworkers, are you organized, are you timely with assignments or projects, etc. It would nice if the recommender compared you to other students or coworkers as well. For example, some professors will state details of what percentage you rank compared to all of the students they have taught (e.g., top 1%, 10%...).

If I take the LSAT for a total of 4 times, will that reflect badly on my application?

I hate to sound like a broken record, but it depends. It depends on when the tests were taken, are the scores very different, or are they all similar, etc. From my experience, if I saw 4 or more scores, I understood the applicant was trying to increase their score. However, some may put more emphasis on the applicant's judgement about retaking the LSAT multiple times, especially when their scores are practically the same. If there is a good reason, an addendum may be appropriate to explain why take it so many times. In the end however, admissions officers will focus on the highest of the four scores for admissions and scholarship purposes. Remember, this is just a small part of your application in total. Your academic record, your personal stories and passion for the law will play a role in the overall decision as well.

In regards to personal statements and diversity statements, is it possible that the essay may be subject to discrimination when discussing personal identity information such as being Muslim/Arab. Is it better to avoid such details?

I don't believe you should avoid details about your background. You can still be professional in your writing and be true to yourself. Also, I believe that most admissions officers will be blind to whatever personal beliefs they may have and want to recruit a diverse class to have diverse discussions in their law classes. This only benefits each student, the legal profession and society in general. Lastly, if a law school does not want this diversity, then that law school may not be a good fit for you anyway.