The very first step to starting you law school application process is to create a LSAC account. LSAC, The Law School Admissions Counsel is where you will sign up for the LSAT, take the LSAT, and apply to law schools. It is important that you familiarize yourself with the website, as well as the many resources it offers.

This may just be the most important step in your law school admissions process. It requires you to be brutally honest with yourself and your expectations. You may have heard that you should set 3 months aside to study for the LSAT. Most recommendations suggest taking it in August to give test takers an option to retake if needed and still be an early applicant. The reality of it is 3 months is a baseline that is not realistic for many applicants.

The LSAT is a skill, practice makes perfect. It is not an exam that can be crammed. Everyone is vastly different in their ability to master the exam. Additionally, people come from all walks of life, many work multiple jobs, are students, support families, while studying. It is important that you set a timeline, but even more important that you give yourself grace with this timeline and readjust as you advance and measure your progress.

The majority of the admissions advice you will find online will give you a timeline of 3-5 months to study —> take the LSAT in August —> retake in September if needed —> Apply early, many applications open in September.

Though this is a helpful baseline, it is not realistic for many and it you have to be self aware and honest with yourself about the following:

• Expectations you have for the exam if your goal if to be a 170+ scorer, 3 months will likely not be adequate especially if you are working, in school, or have any other commitments.

• Your ability to master the exam, everyone is different believe in yourself always, but know your limits. Burn out is very common with LSAT takers and can be detrimental in your score.

• Costs. Applying to law school and the LSAT itself are expensive, below we outline the process on how to apply for a fee waiver if you qualify which can help reduce the financial burden. The reality is even with the fee waiver, the cost to test takers and applicants still holds significant weight. It is important to familiarize yourself with these cost and prepare promptly.

LSAC offers fee waivers in 2 tiers for those who are income eligible. Many study platforms offer discounts for those who qualify for a fee waiver. The application process is expensive and can be burdensome. It is important to reach out to lsacfeewaiver@lsac.org regarding any questions you may have. Further information on qualifications, tier benefits, and commonly asked questions can be found here on the LSAC website.

Though it is possible to self study for the LSAT, it is my belief that study platforms significantly help advance ones ability to master the LSAT. Below I have outlined my opinion on the best platforms, as well as their cost with and without a fee waiver.

PLEASE take all the information you see online with a grain of salt, even the information on this website. Many TikTok creators promoting specific study platforms are being incentivized to promote platforms and are not disclosing this information. Remember, just because someone has gotten a 170+ on the LSAT themselves does not make them an expert in teaching the exam to others. Be critical of the promotions you see for LSAT study tools. To be clear, I have never been asked to promote any outside source nor will I ever.