Can you reuse your personal statement for law school?

Asked by: Vivienne Bins  |  Last update: August 6, 2025
Score: 5/5 (39 votes)

But keep in mind point #3 above! 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 I use the same personal statement for every law school?

For many/most applicants, the prompts are similar enough that the same personal statement template can be used with minor adjustments for each school (see Tip #2 on personalization). For some applicants, however, the prompts are different enough that you should write multiple personal statements.

Is it okay to reuse a personal statement?

You can, but ideally you'd want to rewrite the PS and any 2nds to incorporate new experiences, etc...

Is it okay to use I in a personal statement?

Like many rules, there are exceptions to avoiding first-person usage. For instance, personal statements, reflections, opinion pieces, or any assignment directions that explicitly state using first person can and should freely use “I” statements.

Can I reuse a statement of purpose?

Finally, don't just reuse the same statement of purpose for each school you apply to. You can recycle the same information, but make sure you tweak it for every school. Your statement will sound stale and the admissions committee will notice if you don't do this.

[Law School Admissions] Are you making this mistake on your personal statement?

33 related questions found

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 I use the same statement of purpose?

CAN I USE THE SAME PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR EVERY INSTITUTION I AM APPLYING TO? The personal statement needs to be targeted to each individual school, relating your experiences and qualifications to each individual institution.

Do you have to use the same personal statement?

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 in UCAS Apply.

Are you allowed to use I in a personal essay?

Using the first person voice (e.g, I, me, my) is expected in personal reflective writing, but you might also use the first person voice in other types of essays when describing your personal experiences to avoid ambiguity.

Can you use someone else's 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.

Do colleges know if you reuse essays?

While colleges don't have a system in place to check if you've reused an essay across multiple applications, it's important to ensure that each essay you submit is tailored to the specific college and question being asked.

Can you have 2 personal statements?

Although you can apply for up to five courses on your UCAS application, you can only submit 1 personal statement. So it needs to cover all your course choices.

Should you change your personal statement?

No, you cannot update your personal statement. If you have additional information relevant to your application which you think the universities and colleges would find useful, please contact them direct. They may ask you to send a new personal statement to them, if they want to see it.

Do law schools fact check personal statements?

Finally, this may go without saying, but don't stretch the truth (ahem) in your personal statement. We can tell. And we will check.

Can you reuse a personal statement for different schools?

Yes! It's perfectly okay to use the same essay for both the Common App and Coalition Application. In fact, you can use the same essay for any application that requires a lengthy personal statement—like ApplyTexas—since the prompts are broad.

How long do you spend on a personal statement for law school?

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.

How do I say I agree in an essay without saying I?

Our Grammar Check tool can ensure you're using these phrases correctly.
  1. I concur. If you're looking for another way to say I agree, this phrase is about as direct a synonym as you can get. ...
  2. You're right. ...
  3. Absolutely. ...
  4. Definitely. ...
  5. Exactly. ...
  6. I couldn't agree more. ...
  7. I'm with you on that. ...
  8. I couldn't have said it better.

Can you use I in your personal statement?

While starting every sentence with "I" is not advisable, remember that you and your experiences are the subject of the essay.

Can you use the same personal essay?

The simple answer is yes, with a few caveats. While repurposing essays can be doable, it requires careful planning, choosing the right topic to write about, and careful attention to detail to ensure each application receives the attention it deserves.

What is copycatch?

Copycatch finds statements that show similarity, works out how much of the statement may have been copied, and reports the findings. This helps admissions staff at universities and colleges judge applications, and it is the providers who decide what action, if any, to take regarding notified cases.

Does your personal statement have to be exactly 4000 characters?

A maximum of 4,000 characters (or 47 lines of text) is to be used in the personal statement so you must ensure that you structure your personal statement sensibly to include all of the key areas. As your word count is limited, everything you write should be relevant and add value to your statement.

Can I edit my personal statement after submitting?

First, the bad news. Once you've submitted your personal statement to a given school, there is no going back. This is why it is absolutely critical that you make sure your essay is exactly what you want it to be before you press submit.

Can I use the same personal statement twice?

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.

Can I submit the same personal statement to multiple law schools?

Conclusion. Writing a compelling personal statement, diversity statement, and addenda is critical for a successful law school application. While reusing these documents can save time, tailoring them to each school shows genuine interest and can significantly enhance your chances of acceptance.

Can personal statements be used as statements of purpose?

Personal statement

This document is more biographical than the statement of purpose. A good way to understand the personal statement is as a document that shows your passion for the field to which you are applying. You will want to demonstrate personal characteristics that show your readiness for graduate school.