Can I use the same personal statement for law schools?

Asked by: Jacquelyn Jenkins  |  Last update: August 5, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (24 votes)

Requirements from School to School
It wouldn't be the wisest decision to submit the same personal statement to all law schools because they're not identical at all! When you apply to law schools via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), each school has its own personal statement requirements and prompt.

Can you reuse a personal statement for law school?

You don't need to write an entirely new personal statement if you are reapplying to law school. However, at the very least, the last few paragraphs of your previous statement should be updated to address why you didn't attend law school the first year you applied.

Can you use the same personal statement twice law school?

If you are a re-applicant, consider adding a new recommender to your existing recommender pool, one that reflects your current activity and acts as an update to your application. Begin writing or re-writing personal statement/essay; If you are a re-applicant do not use an essay from previous applications.

Should I use the same personal statement for all law schools?

First, if multiple schools are asking nearly identical questions, it's logical to use some or perhaps even most of your essay response. However, the essay lengths might be different, and the wording will vary to some extent. Read each question out loud, so you can actually hear exactly what the schools are asking.

Can I reapply to law school with the same personal statement?

Even though law schools may see your old materials, don't just submit the exact same essays. They will want to see a new personal statement and supplemental essays to show that you really are taking reapplication seriously. Some schools (like Penn Law) will ask you specifically why you didn't enroll in school.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS | my personal statement

19 related questions found

Can I use the same personal statement if I reapply?

You should contact your choices for further advice about your personal statement and provide any further information directly to them. I applied last year and I want to use my old statement – is this OK? It's OK to reuse your previous statement if you have applied before.

Do law schools fact check your personal statement?

Finally, this may go without saying, but don't stretch the truth or out-and-out lie in your personal statement. Law school admissions committees will be able to tell. And yes, they will check. Once you have a personal statement topic in mind, set aside some time to write—and just let yourself go.

Can I use my personal statement twice?

You must make sure that your personal statement is as good as it can possibly be in order to stand out from the crowd. It is best not to reuse any previous personal statements and focus on new experiences which could help you get into the course.

Is it okay to use the same personal statement?

You shouldn't submit the same personal statement to multiple different schools, just changing the school and program names. Even though the application committee won't know this for sure, they'll get a sense that the whole statement is just a little too generic.

What not to say in law school personal statement?

Lofty, pretty words that come off as vague should not be included in your law school personal statement. Be specific and look for overly abstract phrasings. If you notice one, try to determine if it's necessary and if so work on clarifying the point you are trying to get across.

What to do if you get rejected from law school?

How To Handle Law School Admission Rejection
  1. Take a break.
  2. Exercise.
  3. Reassess your options.
  4. Consider waiting another year.
  5. Option to transfer.

How long should you spend on law school personal statement?

Law school applicants should plan to spend time brainstorming their topic, developing outlines, writing, proofreading, and revising their personal statements before submitting them. It can take law school applicants 2-4 weeks to write a good personal statement.

Can I writing a personal statement for 2 different courses?

1. If there are only slight differences, or you've chosen joint or combined degrees with slightly different subject combinations... This shouldn't be a problem. Just try to make everything in your statement as relevant as possible to all five choices.

What happens if you copy a personal statement?

Applicants will be advised to ensure that they understand what plagiarism is and how to consult sources of information when they become students. 2.4 In cases where the statement contains over 80% of plagiarised matter, it may lead to a rejection decision.

Do you have to change your personal statement when reapplying?

Your personal statement is the primary means by which you communicate your story in narrative form. It is also the one piece of your application that absolutely must be changed—and significantly so—if you are to be successful as a reapplicant.

Is it okay to use the same personal statement for different universities?

Can I use the same essay for all my college applications? You can use the same personal statement and additional information essays for all of your college applications. The supplemental essay is a bit different as it tends to be more specific school focused.

What should you not start your personal statement with?

Avoid overused opening sentences, quotes and clichés like 'when I was young…' They want to know about you now, not your childhood or Shakespeare!

Can you plagiarise your own personal statement?

So long as the ideas are yours and you haven't copied someone else, you'll be fine. However if your personal statement's opening line is something like: “Ever since I was little I've wanted to be a…” then you should consider using something more original.

Should you avoid using I in a personal statement?

Consider The "I" Problem: This is a personal statement; using the first person pronoun "I" is acceptable. Writers often feel rather self-conscious about using first person excessively, either because they are modest or because they have learned to avoid first and second person ("you") in any type of formal writing.

Can you use the same personal statement as you did 3 years ago?

It's OK to reuse your previous statement if you have applied before. However, if you are now applying in a different name, make sure you fill in the 'Previous Name' box when completing your application.

How many times should you use I in a personal statement?

I'm a creative writer, but I try to avoid starting any sentence the same way more than twice in a paragraph. That said, you have to go with what sounds best and most natural. You can avoid starting all your sentences with "I" by adding an intro clause before it.

How many times can you change your personal statement?

You are allowed unlimited edits to the essay after your first application submission. To edit your personal essay, go back into the Common App tab and click on the Writing section. Simply click within the text box and make any changes that are needed.

Do law schools look at your Instagram?

A study conducted by Kaplan Test Prep revealed that 43% of law school admissions officers have Googled or looked up applicants on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms. Furthermore, 37% said that they have found something online that negatively impacted an applicant's chances of admission.

How much do law school personal statements matter?

The personal statement, one of the most important parts of your law school application, is an opportunity to highlight your writing ability, your personality, and your experience. Think of it as a written interview during which you get to choose the question.

How do you write a killer personal statement for law school?

9 Important Personal Statement Tips for Law School Applicants
  1. Tip 1: Focus on you. ...
  2. Tip 2: Brainstorm broadly. ...
  3. Tip 3: Be genuine. ...
  4. Tip 4: Just write. ...
  5. Tip 5: Remember your “why” ...
  6. Tip 6: Be specific. ...
  7. Tip 7: Grab our attention. ...
  8. Tip 8: Know what makes the school tick.