How long does it take to study for LSAT while working full time?

Asked by: Nicola Yundt  |  Last update: January 4, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (69 votes)

Most LSAT experts recommend around 3 months of full times study, or around 150 to 300 hours; this breaks down to approximately 12 to 25 hours a week of studying every week. This is the study plan that suits most people and is the most customizable depending on your individual obligations.

Can you study for the LSAT working full time?

If you work full-time or go to school full-time, 15 hours per week of LSAT studying over the course of 4 months might be a good guideline. Here's how you might fit it in over the course of the week: 5 hours on Saturday. 2.5 hours per day, Mon-Thurs.

How long do you really need to study for the LSAT?

Nonetheless, 250 to 300 hours of LSAT preparation over a period of a few months is a good benchmark. Most students who dedicate significantly less time won't maximize their LSAT scores.

Is 2 months enough for LSAT prep?

If you can dedicate eight hours a day, for a total of 40 hours per week, to your study prep, two months may be enough time to study for the LSAT. However, the minimum recommendation is three months.

How many hours of studying to get 170 on LSAT?

Set a Weekly Study Goal. Rather than fixating on hours per day, consider setting a weekly study goal. The usual LSAT study time is 150-300 hours, with 200-250 hours being the sweet spot. You may then calculate how many hours you need to study per week.

If you're too tired to study, watch this video...

22 related questions found

How rare is 172 LSAT?

So, a great score on the LSAT is a 172, but more than 100,000 people take the LSAT every year and only 1% score 172 or higher. For the top 50 law schools, the median LSAT score is between 164 and 174. A good LSAT score for top tier(defined by T14 schools for this article) law schools is between 171 and 174.

Can I study for the LSAT in 3 months?

3 months is a great amount of time to study for the LSAT! However, that's with a major caveat: we're assuming that you can commit 10-12 hours a week over 3-4 days during that period. But, if the time commitment isn't doable for you, you have a few options, depending on your situation!

Which LSAT month is the hardest?

There isn't one specific month that is the easiest or hardest to write the LSAT, and if there was, it would change each year since the students writing the LSAT change each year! The hardest test will be the one you haven't fully prepared for, regardless of the month!

What is the average LSAT score without studying?

Based on our independent research, students who sit for the LSAT without studying typically score between 145 and 153. However, that is the average and does not mean you can not score higher than that.

How many prep tests should I take before LSAT?

There's no minimum number of LSAT practice tests you should take. The right number depends on your starting point and how much time you have. Regularly assess your progress and adjust your practice test schedule accordingly.

Does taking the LSAT 3 times look bad?

Additionally, if you take the LSAT more than three times, or if you have a significant difference in scores (typically more than five points), an admissions committee will want to see an addendum explaining why you kept taking the exam, or explaining the reason for the higher score—essentially, to explain why the high ...

What is the average LSAT score?

The LSAT is scored on a 120–180 scale. The average LSAT score is about 153. This relatively small range of scores means that small improvements in performance can increase your score quite a bit.

How long should I study in a day?

This leaves 5 to 6 hours per day for studying – reading textbooks, taking notes, revising notes, building and practicing solu- tions to problems, and reciting and self-testing on existing notes, etc. Students who spend 5 to 6 hours per day studying usually do quite well in college.

How long does the average person study for the LSAT?

Average Recommended Study Time

Most LSAT experts recommend around 3 months of full times study, or around 150 to 300 hours; this breaks down to approximately 12 to 25 hours a week of studying every week. This is the study plan that suits most people and is the most customizable depending on your individual obligations.

Is law school possible while working full-time?

Even though the American Bar Association (ABA) dropped their 20 hour a week work limit for full-time law students, many law schools themselves typically limit how many hours a law student can work per week, making it impossible for a professional to keep a full-time job while also attending law school.

Is a 170 LSAT attainable?

170 score: Scoring a 170 on the LSAT is almost always considered a good score — that means you are in the 2-3% of test-takers. Still, it won't guarantee you admission at a top law school. Other parts of your application are still a factor.

Is 142 a bad LSAT score?

The LSAC also reports a mean LSAT score of 151.88 among all these test-takers. All these factors combined mean a score of 142 is both below average in terms of LSAT scores, and far below average in terms of performance for an LSAT test-taker.

Can you get a 150 on the LSAT without studying?

You can expect to score between 145 and 153 when taking the LSAT without studying. This would generally fall within the 26th to 53rd percentile.

What is the lowest LSAT score accepted by law schools?

The below table shows the schools that accept the lowest LSAT scores. This shows that the lowest acceptable LSAT score is 139. Typically, a good rule of thumb is that you want to at least break 140 to make taking on the cost of law school economically feasible. You can get into a law school with a 140 LSAT score.

Is the LSAT going away in 2025?

The ABA's House of Delegates will vote on the Council's proposed change in February 2023. If the House votes to nix Standard 503, the standardized-test requirement won't go away until 2025. So, the LSAT isn't definitely going away, and it's definitely not going away until 2025.

What is the hardest year in law school?

Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.

What is the most difficult part of LSAT?

Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games)

This may not seem like a lot, but with a 35-minute time limit, students will only have about eight and a half minutes to complete each individual “logic game.” These “logic games” are one of if not the most notorious sections of the LSAT because they are meant to trick the test-taker.

How long does it take to study for the LSAT while working full time?

Be realistic: if you are starting from scratch, you will need more than two months' worth of prep time. Do not add extra stress to your life by trying to add four hours or LSAT prep on top of an 8+ hour work day. If you need six, seven, or eight months to be fully prepared, then so be it!

What is the hardest month to take the LSAT?

You'll look at my LSAT PrepTest Raw Score Conversion Charts and calculations of what it takes to get an LSAT score of 160 or 170. Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

What is the best LSAT prep book?

Best Introductory LSAT Prep Books
  • The Official LSAT SuperPrep. Link: www.amazon.com. ...
  • The Road to 180. Link: www.amazon.com. ...
  • The LSAT Trainer. Link: www.amazon.com. ...
  • Let's LSAT. ...
  • Introducing the LSAT: The Fox Test Prep. ...
  • Manhattan Prep's LSAT Strategy Guide Set. ...
  • 33 Common LSAT Flaws. ...
  • Kaplan's LSAT Prep Plus 2020 — 2021.