How I studied for the LSAT
Probably the most commonly asked question I am asked. “How did you study for the LSAT?” Let’s talk about it.
The LSAT is the Law School Admissions Test that is required for admission to most law schools in the United States.
Background: I am probably the worse person to ask this question because it took me a total of three years to study and finally take the LSAT. I was never a great test taker. As a student, I excelled in writing assignments and projects than standardized exams.
Disclaimers: I only took the LSAT once on May 2020 -- the first LSAT Flex. The LSAT-Flex was a remote, online version of the LSAT created in response to the pandemic, allowing candidates to take the test remotely. It consisted of only three sections: Reading Comprehension, Logic Games, and Logical Reasoning. Logic Games is no longer tested on the LSAT. I also studied for the LSAT while I worked full-time as a paralegal. I did NOT pay for a private tutor.
My Timeline:
Spring 2017: I am heading into my last summer before I graduate college and I decide to take the LSAT. I register for the June 2016 exam. I took my first practice exam during this time and scored in the low 130s. I study for a few more months and I realize that I am not prepared. I cancel my exam registration.
December 2017: I graduate a semester early from college and I start working full-time as a temporary immigration paralegal the next month.
January 2018 - June 2018: I work at a busy business immigration law firm. I am working weekends and at times late hours. I try my best to have a consistent study routine but it is incredibly difficult with my work schedule. I am still studying on the weekends but not as much as I would like to during the week.
June 2018 - July 2019: I change jobs. At this new job, my work-life balance is significantly better. I am an immigration services intake coordinator at a grassroots non-profit. My work hours are very flexible and my job encourages a later start time (10am-6pm work schedule). I do not work weekends. I also realize I have much more energy in the mornings than I do after I finish a day of work. At the time, my dad worked near my job and his shifts would start at 7-7:30am. I decide to look for a nearby coffee shop near my job to study in the mornings before work. My dad would then drop me off at this coffee shop before he drove to work. Almost every weekday, I studied before work from 6:30am to 10am. I also study on the weekends. It was during this time that I finally started to see progress in my LSAT score. I was scoring somewhere in the 140s.
July 2019 to January 2020: I change jobs. At this new job, my work-life balance is even better. As a hotline paralegal, my work hours are very rigid. It is a strict 9am-5pm job, but I am on the phone from 9:30am to 4pm with a one hour lunch break. I take advantage of this schedule to study in the office before work, during my lunch break, and after my calls end (4-5pm). I also continue to study on weekends. My co-workers would sometimes look at me in awed as they would see me study. I am scoring now in the low to mid 150s and after much consideration, I decide to take the LSAT finally. I register for the exam. It is scheduled for sometime in Spring 2020.
March 2020: The news of the pandemic spread and my job goes remote. I am worried of the uncertainty of the world, but I am also registered for the LSAT and I do not want to push it any further. What on earth do I do??!! I am then told that the LSAT will be administered remotely (i.e. LSAT-Flex). I decide to sign up for it.
May 2020: It is the morning that I decide to take the LSAT. I am nervous. I feel like puking. I log on to the exam software and then my computer crashes in the first 20 minutes of the exam. I freak out. I panic. I quickly run to my parent's room and grab an old mac laptop that my sister previously had. I pray that her laptop works. It does thankfully. While I am taking the exam, I notice my hands are shaking. And then, it is all over. I finish taking the LSAT. I now await my fate.
June 5, 2020: I received the email that the scores were out. I opened and saw that I scored 153! It was the greatest relief.
October 2020: I finally submit my first law school application.
January 2021: I was accepted and enrolled in CUNY Law’s Evening Program.
Reflection:
It is important to note that what is not highlighted in the above timeline and what I think it is important for me to be transparent about is how frustrated I felt during this time.
It was frustrating to study for an exam after and before work, during the weekends... for YEARS... and for my progress to not reflect all the work that I was putting in. It was also frustrating to watch the years go by and see my college classmates go on and attend law school while I was still struggling with this exam.
And also, not to mention, feeling like a complete disappointment to myself and to my family. "Todavia esta estudiando por ese exam" (You are still studying for that exam). That was the sentiment I received. As time passed, I felt like certain family members and family friends genuinely believed I would not go to law school or that I would never become an attorney. It was embarrassing. So I ended up keeping it a secret (that I was studying for the LSAT) or telling specific family members to never ask me about the exam again.
In addition to frustration, there were many mental breakdowns throughout these years. I constantly felt, "Can I do this?" "Am I smart enough for law school?" "If I can't even excel in the LSAT, what makes me think I can excel in law school?"
Also, my goal was initially to go to a T14 law school (top 14 law schools in the nation i.e. Harvard, Cornell, etc.) for which, a high 160-170 LSAT score was/is needed to be a competitive candidate. However, after years of working as a paralegal in the non-profit sector, I realize that I didn't need to go to a T14 school to do the work I wanted to do as an attorney. I also realize how expensive law school is and I ultimately decide to apply to schools that would be affordable (in-state law schools) and that had evening programs as I wanted to continue to work full-time while going to law school part-time. So when I received my LSAT score, I felt relief. I only needed a low to mid 150 score to be a competitive candidate, which I thankfully achieved with a 153 score.
All of the resources I used (NOT sponsored):
1. The LSAT Trainer by Mike Kim
This was a great introductory book. it was highly recommended to me.
2. The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible Workbook
The logic games are no longer part of the LSAT but this was a great book for logic games.
3. 10 Actual, Official LSAT Preptests
This is a non-negotiable when it comes to LSAT studying. There is no better way to study for the LSAT than taking REAL and full LSAT practice exams.
4. The Loophole in LSAT Logical Reasoning
This book was recommended to me and it was honestly OK, in my opinion.
5. 7Sage.com
The most helpful and affordable resource at the time.
How I studied and what ultimately helped me:
1. Discipline and Perseverance
I can not express how much I had to rely on my discipline and perseverance in getting through 3 years of studying for the LSAT. I studied for the LSAT while working full-time and it was not easy.
I constantly get asked but how did you do it? How did you have the discipline? Well, I told myself - I have no other choice. There is no Plan B. I am going to law school. And despite the years of self-doubt, breakdowns, and uncertainty, I would have my cry sessions and then proceed to study the very next hour. This was my dream and I wasn't going to give up on it.
2. 7sage
7sage was a great resource. I followed their schedule and also attended a free in-person class. I could not recommend 7sage more!
3. My LSAT Spreadsheet
4. Taking full practice exams at busy coffee shops
I prepared myself for the worse case scenario by taking full practice exams or sections in busy coffee shops. This was very helpful in timing myself. I did not expect my computer to crash on actual exam date, but hey! life happens.
5. Sister support
I could not have survived this era without my sister's support. She was my rock during this time. Find your rock and cry to them when you need to.
My LSAT related YouTube videos:
My LSAT related Instagram posts:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClE__A4P8-_/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
My LSAT related TikTok videos:
“Believe in yourself and keep going. I am so glad I never gave up on this journey. it took a total of 9 years, from when I initially thought of going to law school (2016) to now, to make it this far. I am now finally living my purpose as a practicing attorney”
Final thoughts:
If you are reading this and you're struggling with the LSAT, I hope you know you are not alone. I was once in your position. I studied for this exam for YEARS.
And if this is truly your dream, you will not give up on it.
You will continue.
You will take the LSAT.
You will get accepted to law school.
You will attend law school.
You will graduate from law school.
You will take and pass the bar exam.
You will be sworn in as an attorney.
You will get there.
Whether that's in one, two, three, or several years, you will be an attorney!
Believe in yourself and keep going. I am SO glad I never gave up on this journey. it took a total of 9 years, from when I initially thought of going to law school (2016) to now, to make it this far.
I hope this helps and please share this blog post with another friend who needs this reminder.
