The Year Before Law School

She believed she could, so she did.

Photo by sara sanchez sabogal on Unsplash

A little over a year from now, if everything goes according to plan, I’ll be sitting in my first law school classroom. Even writing that sentence feels surreal.

Over the last several months, I’ve shared why I decided to pursue law school in my 40s. I’ve written about regret, disappointment, second chances, and discovering that dreams don’t expire simply because time has passed. Those stories weren’t easy to tell, but they were necessary. They helped me make peace with where I’ve been so I could finally embrace where I’m going.

For a long time, I believed I had missed my opportunity. I looked back on my undergraduate years with more shame than gratitude. I focused on what I should have done instead of everything life required of me after graduation, caregiving, loss, building a business, ministry, marriage, learning who I was, and surviving seasons that could have easily broken me.

Now, as I begin preparing my law school applications, I can feel some of those old anxieties returning. The LSAT, my transcripts, letters of recommendation, and writing a personal statement that somehow captures more than forty years of life can feel overwhelming at times.

But something is different this time. I’m no longer afraid of my story.

Instead of trying to explain away the difficult parts of my life, I’ve begun to see them as evidence of perseverance. Every setback taught me something. Every disappointment shaped me. Every season I thought would define me simply became another chapter in a much larger story.

There is something to be said for continuing to dream after life has knocked you down. I’ve had seasons that could have completely leveled me, yet somehow, I still smile. I still believe. I still wake up wanting to become a better version of myself. Most importantly, I still believe I can leave this world a little better than I found it, and that desire has only grown stronger with age.

Visiting My Second Law School

Yesterday I toured my second law school, and for the first time I could genuinely picture myself there. The campus felt warm, welcoming, and full of possibility. As I walked through the halls and listened to the presentation, I found myself imagining what life might look like as a student there.

What impressed me most wasn’t the school’s ranking or reputation. It was how intentionally they invest in preparing their students for success. They offer a Summer Start program that gives incoming students a head start before classes even begin. They have also developed coursework around artificial intelligence so future attorneys understand both the legal and ethical questions surrounding AI before they enter practice.

Another thing that stood out to me was how seriously they take bar exam preparation. Rather than waiting until graduation, they begin helping students prepare throughout law school. Prestige is wonderful, but preparation changes lives. It seems to me that every law school should be thinking this way.

One detail surprised me even more. Throughout the campus were framed passages of Scripture. Seeing God’s Word displayed in an academic setting gave me an unexpected sense of peace. It reminded me that pursuing excellence and pursuing faith do not have to exist in separate worlds.

The school also provides free mental health counseling because they recognize that succeeding in law school isn’t just about intellectual ability, it’s also about emotional resilience. That spoke to me. Law school will undoubtedly be one of the most challenging experiences of my life, and it’s encouraging to know there are schools that understand students are people before they are lawyers.

Of course, there’s one catch. It’s also one of the most expensive schools I’m considering. Dreams are inspiring, but student loans are reality. As much as I loved what I saw, I have to carefully weigh the financial side of this decision as well.

This was only my second law school visit, and I still plan to tour five or six more campuses before making my final decision. At the moment, I intend to apply to roughly ten schools. Ideally, I’d like to stay in Mississippi to avoid paying out-of-state tuition, but we also have family in Tennessee, Ohio, and Illinois. Those support systems matter, especially when you’re preparing to spend three years immersed in one of the most demanding academic experiences of your life.

Ultimately, I’m not just choosing a law school. I’m choosing the place where I’ll spend the next chapter of my life. I want to put myself in the best possible position to succeed academically, pass the bar exam, and begin serving others as an attorney.

Why Law School?

During the tour, our guide asked all of the prospective students one simple question.

“Why law school?”

My answer was simple.

“It’s always been a dream of mine, and now is the right season to pursue it.”

That answer was completely true, but if I’m being honest, there was so much more I wanted to say.

I believe our world desperately needs people who are committed to truth, integrity, wisdom, and lifelong learning. Too often, influence has become more valuable than character. Popularity is mistaken for credibility, and confidence is mistaken for competence. We live in a culture where everyone seems to have a platform, but not everyone has taken the time to develop the knowledge or discipline that should come before speaking with authority.

I don’t want to simply have opinions. I want to understand the law. I want to develop the discipline to think carefully, argue honestly, and advocate well. Learning still matters. Building yourself still matters. Doing the hard things that stretch you still matters.

Of course, that wasn’t the speech anyone on the tour signed up to hear, so I smiled and gave the shorter version.

Preparing One Day at a Time

I’ve been actively preparing for the LSAT since 2025. Along the way, people have generously encouraged me. I was gifted a Princeton Review study book, and I’ve also been working through resources like Khan Academy through LSAC, 7Sage, and The LSAT Trainer. In October, I’ll take a four-week Kaplan course before sitting for the November LSAT.

These days my life is wonderfully full. Since school is out and I don’t have substitute teaching assignments at the moment, much of my time is spent helping care for my aunt, running Hello To Natural alongside Darrell, serving in ministry, and preparing for the LSAT.

I’ve recently been studying the different argument types that appear on the exam and even made flashcards so I can truly know them inside and out before moving deeper into Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Writing.

One unexpected lesson throughout this process has been realizing how much technology has affected my ability to focus. Like so many people, I’ve become accustomed to constant notifications and quick information. Studying for the LSAT has forced me to slow down, concentrate, and think deeply again.

The encouraging part is that I can already see the difference. When I slow down and really engage with the material, I understand it. I know practice questions aren’t the same as taking the actual exam, but I’m grateful for the maturity that allows me to approach this process one step at a time. I don’t feel like I have to conquer everything today. I simply have to keep showing up tomorrow.

The Gift of This Year

As I move through this process, my prayers are simple.

I pray that I’m accepted into the schools where I apply. I pray for opportunities to receive merit-based scholarships that will lessen the financial burden. I pray that I have the wisdom to choose not simply the highest-ranked school, but the one where God wants me to be.

More than anything, I pray that He continues to lead, guide, and direct every decision I make. I want Him to be reflected not only in where I go, but in how I walk through this entire journey.

This year feels different. It’s the space between who I’ve been and who I’m becoming. It’s the year before law school, the year of preparation, the year of trusting, and the year of becoming.

Twelve months from now, my life could look completely different. I don’t take that lightly.

I’m grateful for this season because after everything life has taught me, after every detour, every disappointment, and every unexpected turn, I have something I once thought I had lost.

I get to dream again.