Hey. I worked full time while self-studying. No tutor. I used PowerScore.
PowerScore has a number of schedules, depending on how much time until your test (e.g., 1 mo, 3 mos, etc.). They also have something on their site where you enter your answers from practice tests, and it’ll tell you which kinds of questions you’re struggling with.
At first, I followed the schedule to get a sense of the LSAT. I then would do at least one practice test/weekend and adjust my studying accordingly to where I was struggling. Of course, certain types of questions are more intuitive than others, so I didn’t want to waste time studying concepts I understood.
I didn’t take any time off to study. Studied textbooks after work, and practice test(s) during the weekend.
I took a total of three days off: two days before the test and obviously one on test day.
On my first day off, I took one last practice test. Scored the lowest of any of my prep tests. That did not help my anxiety going in — I recommend you don’t make that same mistake.
It could benefit you.
It is not likely to benefit you. In most circumstances you'll either end up as a lawyer who spent an extra/unnecessary year in school or a policy worker who spent a lot of extra time+money on school.
If you get a straight JD then practice law but end up hating it, you can always go back and do an MPA or MPPA or MA in PPA or whatever at that point, if you can't get hired directly into policy with the JD and you need an additional piece of paper.