Do personal essays matter for law school?
Asked by: Buck Hodkiewicz | Last update: August 5, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (57 votes)
That's why your personal statement is a critical part of your law school application: It's your chance to address the law school admissions committee directly and show us your character, what's important to you, and why you're a great fit for the school.
Is a 3.7 GPA too low for law school?
The average GPA for law school is between 3.91. However, like LSAT scores, it's important to understand that the specific average GPA can differ depending on the law school and its level of competitiveness. Top-ranking law schools often expect higher average GPAs, typically ranging from 3.8 to 4.0 or even higher.
How important are essays for law school?
Beyond personal and diversity statements, some law schools also allow or require extra short essays. Most commonly, a school might ask about why an applicant would be a good fit for the school, often called a “Why this law school?” essay. These are almost always worthwhile to write.
Does the personal statement really matter?
As you now know, one of your goals as an applicant is to let admissions committees get to know you. It is just as important that they like you. Admissions committees are in no rush to admit applicants who are arrogant, pretentious, elitist, or rude. So the tone you use in your personal statement is important.
What to avoid in law school personal statements?
- Overused Quotes. Your first sentence has to hook your reader enough to urge them to continue reading. ...
- Focusing On Someone Else's Success. ...
- Vague Descriptions. ...
- Focusing Too Much On Your Anecdote. ...
- Humor.
LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS | my personal statement
Do law schools care about personal statements?
Unlike your undergrad application essay, you may need to be more straightforward with your personal statement for law school. But that doesn't mean it has to be boring. You still want to tell a story that allows the admissions committee to get to know the real you and remember you in a sea of applicants.
What are the don'ts of a personal statement?
Don't make unsupported claims. 'I am the best student you will see all year' doesn't go down too well, even if you think you can prove it! Don't copy someone else's UCAS personal statement or use something you have found on the internet.
How long should my personal statement be for law school?
For most applicants, 715 to 725 words. If you have an extensive relevant background you need to cover, for example, if you are coming to law as a second career, then your word count can edge higher, up to 850 words. If you lack relevant experience, your word count can edge lower, down to 650 words.
Is 700 words enough for a personal statement?
Postgraduate applicants who need to complete a personal statement are asked to do so as part of their application to the University. The UCAS form allows for a total of 4,000 characters, around 700 words, so you need to think carefully about the points you want to put across.
What is too personal for a personal statement?
The situations you describe can be personal, but only up to a point: beware of revealing too much that is emotionally intimate. Ask yourself, “Do these experiences make me sound emotionally unstable, ambivalent, or insecure?” If so, don't bring them to the admissions committee.
Is a personal statement more important than LSAT?
In the end, your personal characteristics and driving motivation will impact your future far more than LSAT scores. Take time to do well on your LSATs. But, don't neglect the other parts of your applications, like the personal statement, that might have an equally meaningful impact on your admission.
Do you have to be good at writing to go to law school?
Contracts and other legal documents are pretty dry, because they have to be. That being said, “legal writing” doesn't necessarily mean “boring.” In fact, your ability to tell an interesting—and persuasive—story is critical in law school. So that writing elective you took in undergrad is more useful than you know.
Does the LSAT essay matter?
That's right—the essay section has absolutely no effect on your overall LSAT score. But, copies of your writing sample will be sent to law schools, along with your LSAT score, as part of your official report, so youll want to do the best you can with the assignment you receive.
How rare is a 176 LSAT?
Less than 1% of test takers score a 176. It's a very hard thing to do. Don't let this sub skew your perception of what's realistic.
Can I get into Harvard Law with a 3.8 GPA?
While the LSAT score and GPA are significant factors, Harvard Law considers applicants holistically, valuing diversity and unique perspectives. The LSAT score for Harvard Law School typically falls within the 169-175 range, while the average GPA for admitted students is between 3.8 and 4.0.
How hard is it to get a 170 on the LSAT?
The LSAT is scored on a bell curve, ranging from 120 to 180. On recent tests, the hump of the curve has centered around 153. Percentiles vary slightly between tests, but generally around 25% of test-takers score 160 or higher, 5% score 170 or higher, and 1% score 175 or higher. Only one in 1,000 test-takers scores 180.
How short is too short for a personal statement?
How long should my Personal Statement be? The length of a personal statement varies depending on the university, but generally, the average length for an undergraduate application is between 400 and 600 words, around one side of A4 paper or a maximum of 47 lines.
Can I put bullet points in my personal statement?
Use a word doc, so you can write drafts and keep editing while checking your character count as you go along. Bullet points are a great way to list all of the things about yourself in the first instance, and then you can start to build on this – but don't use them in the final draft.
What is a good example of a personal statement?
I am ready to commit to full time study and have much to contribute to university life. I realise that I am most interested in people, what makes them the people they are and how this manifests in their behaviour and opinions.
Do law schools look at personal statements?
The essay or personal statement is your opportunity to tell the committee what sets you apart from others. An essay on actual experiences and past accomplishments has more value to the committee than speculation about future accomplishments.
Should I put my name on my personal statement?
Do you put your name on a personal statement? It's better not to put your name in the first paragraph of the application essay. The name is usually mentioned in the header of the personal statement. However, it's necessary to consider the guidelines for an essay.
Should I tailor my personal statement to each law school?
Instead many law schools ask for additional, often optional, essays about why you are interested in the specific program. However, you can still subtly tailor your personal statement by focusing your “angle” on the strengths and values of the program.
Can I write my personal statement in one day?
A good personal statement cannot be written the night before. Take your time to plan what you want to say, and use multiple drafts to make sure you say it in the right way. As well as this, make sure you have enough time before the deadline to give yourself a break before rereading and sending off your statement.
What makes you stand out in a personal statement?
'The best opening sentences refer to experiences – students need to think about what stands out to them regarding their relationship with their chosen subject… their interest in the subject may have been generated from work experience, voluntary work, hobbies/interests or even from studying it at A Level.'
Can I end my personal statement with a question?
Keep the ending of your personal statement short, concise and to the point. Like the start of your personal statement, try to avoid cliches, quotes or asking rhetorical questions you're not going to answer.