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5 Tips for Studying for the LSAT While You Have a Job
So, you’ve decided to go to law school after starting a career in another field. Or, you decided to go to law school a while ago, but you’ve got to pay the bills while you prepare to apply. No matter the case, if you’re working while studying for the LSAT, you’re in an intimidating situation. So, you need some tips for studying for the LSAT during this time.
Tips for Studying for the LSAT
Studying for the LSAT is a massive time commitment. Therefore, people don’t feel like they have the time or energy to devote to it while they’re working demanding jobs.
While the task seems daunting, it is possible to study for the LSAT while working. This is true no matter the person or the job.
But effectively studying for the LSAT while you have a job will take a targeted and specific approach. Here are 6 tips for studying for the LSAT while you have a job.
1. Use an LSAT Prep Course
If you’re asking, “Should I take an LSAT prep course?”, the answer is: yes. I say this because a lot is riding on your performance on the LSAT. But don’t let this fact scare you. Instead, let it motivate you to find the best LSAT prep course for you.
The right course can help you earn the high score you need while spending less time and money on the study process. I’ve reviewed many LSAT prep courses for the purpose of helping you discover which one works best for you. So, check out my reviews and commit to a course soon.
An LSAT prep course is not only an essential tool for performing well on the LSAT, but it’s also critical to making the most of the time you have to study while working full-time.
2. Don’t Hold to a Strict Timeline
If you’re studying for the LSAT while you have a job, this is some of the most important advice I can give you. Do NOT hold yourself to a strict timeline of studying. Instead, study as long as it takes you to reach your LSAT score goal.
Studying while you’re working will undoubtedly slow your progression compared to how fast you could be moving along if you were studying full-time. However, you cannot let that fact make you grow impatient.
When you set your LSAT score goal, don’t give yourself a deadline to reach that goal. Work as hard as it takes, for as long as it takes. Let your score decide when you stop studying, not some self-imposed timeline.
Even if you hate your job and just want to be in law school now, I promise it will be worth it to take as long as necessary to raise your LSAT score. If you don’t believe me, read about how important your LSAT score is to law school admissions and your future legal career.
3. Make Sure You’re Devoting Your Most Effective Time
As mentioned earlier, people working while studying often complain about lacking time or energy for studying. And that is completely understandable.
However, if you know you want to attend law school, preparing for the LSAT must be your top priority.
So, whenever you’re studying, be it an hour every evening or just a few hours on the weekend, you must study when you’re operating the most efficiently. You want to bring the best version of yourself to your studies every time.
For some, you may have to wake up an hour earlier every day to drill a timed section. And for others, you may have to use your lunch break to study every day.
No matter what you have to do, be sure that you are giving your best effort to your LSAT prep.
4. Study Timed Sections During the Week & Full Practice Tests on Weekends
Here’s another tip many people have found helpful: Don’t take full-length practice tests during the workweek.
Instead, people have had more success doing timed sections during the week when they find the time. Then, they save full-length practice tests for weekends.
If you’re at the point in your LSAT prep where you’re focusing on drilling timed sections and doing full-length practice tests, try this as a weekly schedule:
From Monday-Friday, make time to do at least one timed section of each LR, LG, and RC while ensuring you have time to properly review those sections. If you have time to do more timed sections, great! Then, on weekends, make it a goal to do at least one full-length practice test.
Of course, stuff comes up in life that will prevent you from studying, especially when you have a job. But by sticking to conservative study plans like this one, you will avoid feeling overwhelmed.
5. Study Logic Games During Free Time at Work
Another simple tip for studying for the LSAT while working is to try to sneak a few Logic Games during idle time at work.
This is especially effective for people working desk jobs who have periods of time every day when they have nothing to do.
Any 5-15 minute gap can be filled with a quick logic game.
So, if you’re working a job like this that has free time, here’s what I recommend you do: keep a stack of incomplete logic games at your desk. This will allow you to conveniently grab a game and get to work anytime you realize you have idle time.
After work, go home and review the game. This is important to remember, as you may have enough time during the day to solve the game, but you may not have enough time to properly review.
6. Remember Your Goal
Lastly, if you’re studying for the LSAT while you have a job, remember your goal and remind yourself of it every day.
You are trying to be a lawyer, and though you’re working as an accountant, a bartender, or a professional bull rider now, your main focus needs to be on chasing that dream.
So, make sure you’re devoting the time and energy required to make that dream a reality. Focus on studying for the LSAT while trying not to get fired at work. Don’t focus on work while trying to find time to study for the LSAT.
Studying for the LSAT While Working
Even with an LSAT prep course, studying for the LSAT is difficult no matter your situation. Throw a job in, though, and studying for the LSAT can seem impossible.
But it’s not.
Just take these tips for studying for the LSAT into account while you’re working. Then, you can improve your LSAT score, get into your dream school, and start your career as an attorney. Now get to work!
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About the Author John Wilson Booth
John Wilson Booth grew up in Alabama and attended the University of Alabama. He moved to Salt Lake City after graduation and began studying for the LSAT. His cold diagnostic score was a 154 and he self-studied to a 171. Now, he works as a writer as he decides which law school to attend.
