Do you need a different personal statement for each law school?
Asked by: Mr. Grayson Collier | Last update: September 9, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (65 votes)
You'll probably need to write only one basic personal statement, but you should tweak it for each law school to which you apply. There are usually some subtle differences in what each school asks for in a personal statement.
Can I reuse my personal statement in 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.
Should you write a different personal essay for each college?
Depending on the school, different colleges will have one or more supplemental essays that you are required to (or highly recommended to) write in addition to the main college essay. These should be school specific, and therefore, should not be a generic one applicable to multiple institutions.
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.
Are personal statements double spaced law school?
How Should a Law School Personal Statement be Formatted? The basic format of a law school personal statement is a double-spaced essay with 1-inch margins.
[Law School Admissions] Are you making this mistake on your personal statement?
Can I use the same personal statement for 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.
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.
Is it okay to use the same personal statement for different universities?
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.
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.
Can my personal statement be single spaced?
Personal statements are usually limited to 500 words (approximately one to two pages). Paragraphs should be single-spaced with an extra line separating one from the next. A standard typeface and formatting convention should be used to make your statement easily readable.
Should I personalize my personal statement for each school?
However, the school's essay lengths might be different, and your wording will vary based on the nuances of the question. Most important, many personal statements include some discussion of the specific program the candidate is applying to, and this part would certainly require fresh input for each school's essay.
Can you submit different personal statements to different schools?
Yes, you can definitely tailor your Common App essay to reflect the unique qualities of each college you are applying to.
What are admissions officers readers looking for?
Admissions officers want to know what kind of student you are and how you will fit into their campus community. The best way for them to understand this is through your essays. Students often share topics or stories that the admissions officers might not be familiar with.
What should you avoid in a law school personal statement?
- 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.
Do law schools care if you apply twice?
It will not count against you to you reapply to a law school that previously rejected or deferred you, as long as your application shows positive changes, additions, and growth. This can be in the form of additional course work and improved grades or continuous employment or internship experience.
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.
Does Turnitin know if I plagiarize myself?
Turnitin checks previously submitted work and detects it as plagiarism, whether it was submitted by you or someone else. This is because previously submitted papers and essays are stored on the Turnitin database. This means that if the work is re-used, Turnitin will flag it for similarity.
Does Turnitin detect copy?
Turnitin is an originality checking and plagiarism prevention service that checks your writing for citation mistakes or inappropriate copying. When you submit your paper, Turnitin compares it to text in its massive database of student work, websites, books, articles, etc.
Does Turnitin check handwriting?
Yes, Turnitin can detect handwritten text within an image. It uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to convert handwritten text into digital text, which is then analyzed for similarities with text in the Turnitin database.
Can you have two different 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.
Can I reuse 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.
Should I title my personal statement for law school?
The bottom line is that although you're writing your story, your law school statement doesn't require a title. Don't add one unless the school requests it.
Should you brief every case in law school?
It is best practice to brief every case assigned to you for the day. Cases are also important for the final exam, so it is critical to prepare case briefs before class. This will help you understand the cases you will apply on the final exam.
What makes a strong law school personal statement?
Well-written personal statements should not only demonstrate that you are proficient in your use of the English language but should also demonstrate that you can be logical, persuasive, engaging, and concise. Second, at most law schools, the personal statement is a proxy for an interview.
Should you list other law schools you're applying to?
Good lawyers know the difference between answering truthfully and showing all your cards. Unless an application specifically asks for every school to which you are applying, consider including only nearby or similarly ranked law schools.