The LSAT is intimidating enough as it is. But if you’ve been out of school for a while and you’re a non-traditional student, that intimidation factor may be even greater. You may be wondering:
- Can I do this?
- Do I still have my “book smarts”?
- Can I compete against people half my age?
This article is here to reassure you that, no matter your age, you can successfully make the career change toward law school and it starts with conquering the LSAT.
Non-Traditional Student LSAT Tips
Am I “Past my Peak”?
Maybe you’re worried that you’re not as sharp as you used to be. Perhaps you’ve even heard that “fluid intelligence” — the ability to quickly process and recall information — peaks in our early 20s and slowly declines from there.
Thankfully, there’s good news! Recent MIT research suggests the reality behind intelligence is far more complicated than you think. Yes, younger people typically process information faster. However, this belies the reality that intelligence is truly a multifaceted range of mental skills, some of which peak early on but many of which peak much later.
And that’s just fluid intelligence, which fails to take into account our crystallized intelligence — that is, our reservoir of facts and knowledge that continually expand with our worldly experience. Crystallized intelligence dictates that if you’re older, you’ve likely read more, have a better vocabulary, and have higher emotional intelligence. These skills can translate to real advantages on LSAT test day, especially in the LSAT Reading Comprehension Section, which covers a breadth of subject areas, is laden with emotional tone, and often has a tricky vocab word or two.
The LSAT Is Not an IQ Test
The logic and structural reading concepts on the LSAT are more akin to learned skills, not measures of aptitude. In other words, the LSAT is more like riding a bike or playing an instrument. You improve by learning how it works and by practicing deliberately.
Does innate intelligence help? Probably. A musically inclined person might pick up the guitar faster than someone who isn’t.
However, if the LSAT were primarily an intelligence or aptitude test, we would expect undergrads from the world’s best schools to cluster near the top of the scoring range. They don’t. Historically, even at elite colleges, average LSAT scores tend to fall in the mid-160s—strong results, but far from the ceiling.
In my experience working with LSAT students, raw ability can only get you so far. We see this when students have high LSAT diagnostic scores. Once a student has crossed the mid-160s, closing the gap to 180 depends far more on their mastery of specific logic and structural reading skills. What makes the biggest difference on the LSAT isn’t intelligence, but practice.
The LSAT Is Learnable
Say it with me: The LSAT. Is. Learnable.
From my experience as a teacher, the number one predictor of a student’s success is how consistently they practice and review. Logical Reasoning is predicated on arguments. Arguments tend to follow the same patterns, methods of reasoning, flaws, and types of assumptions. Reading Comprehension tends to ask about the same handful of themes, viewpoints, and support, again and again.
If you can stick with your LSAT study schedule, you will familiarize yourself with these patterns and see progress. It just takes the resilience to keep with it and the curiosity to ask “why?”, even in moments of failure.
How Your Experience Translates on the LSAT
If there’s one underappreciated advantage a non-traditional student has is real-world experience. Many LSAT questions, especially in Logical Reasoning, deal with the inner workings of groups and institutions—business scenarios, policy debates, and the like. If you’ve spent years attending meetings, evaluating proposals, and reading dense reports, you’ve been training for this test without realizing it. Even if not, you too have likely, absorbed way more practical experience than you might think.
As a teacher, I’ve seen younger students take quickly to the more abstract logical concepts, but they often struggle to connect them to practical applications. Non-traditional students don’t have that problem.
Establish An LSAT Study Schedule That Works for You
As a non-traditional student, you probably can’t dedicate 20 hours a week to LSAT prep. You have a job, actual responsibilities, and maybe a family. That’s fine! Consistency beats volume. Studies show that when it comes to learning a subject, distributed practice—shorter, regular sessions over time—is more effective than marathon cram sessions.
If you work a full-time job, try to be disciplined about maintaining regular short study “windows.” Thirty focused minutes before work and another 30 in the evening every day is a great foundation that will far outperform a sporadic three-hour study binge on a random Saturday.
Build your LSAT prep into your existing structure rather than try to overhaul everything. And be realistic with yourself. If your prior commitments mean that you will need six to nine months of studying instead of three, that’s okay. You’re still going to make it happen. Don’t rush your LSAT prep.
Consider Your “Why”
Your emotional resilience connects to something much deeper: your motivation.
Many people take the LSAT because it’s the next checkbox after undergrad. You’re doing this because you’ve made a conscious choice to overhaul your life. You have something that many lack: clarity of purpose. When practice gets tedious or you hit a plateau, your peers might question whether law school is even worth it. You already know it is. That conviction will carry you through the hard days in ways that raw intellect never could.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to imagine that younger test-takers have some inherent advantage, like better memory or fewer commitments. The reality is far more complicated. Nearly everyone struggles with the LSAT. The difference is that you’ve probably learned to cope more effectively. You’ve already navigated career challenges, personal setbacks, and workplace pressure. When the going gets tough, you can lean on that experience and know that everything will be all right.
Are you ready to reach your LSAT potential? Blueprint LSAT has helped thousands of students increase their LSAT scores by 15 points on average—including working professionals, career-changers, and students balancing full schedules. Whether it’s in a Live Course or 170+ Course led by expert Blueprint LSAT instructors, in a Self-Paced Course that gives you total control over your schedule and studying, or one-on-one with a tutor, we have the LSAT prep that fits your learning style.
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Further Reading
🌱 Growth vs. Stagnant Mindset: Why It Matters in LSAT Prep: Discover how a growth mindset can make all the difference in your LSAT motivation and LSAT prep.
🏫 Five Things Nontraditional Law School Applicants Should Know: Applying to law school can be a daunting process, no matter your background, but if you’re a non-traditional student, you face a unique challenge. Here are five things you should know about the admission process if you’re a non-traditional applicant.
💻 How to Study for the LSAT Part-Time: If you’re planning to balance studying for the LSAT with a course load, internship, or job, then read this to learn how to fit LSAT prep into your busy schedule!
