Should I title my personal statement for law school?

Asked by: Prof. Horacio Rippin | Last update: February 16, 2026

Score: 4.4/5 (20 votes)

No, you generally should not title your law school personal statement with a creative title; it's usually best to leave it untitled or use the official name like "Personal Statement," as creative titles can seem gimmicky and waste valuable space, with a proper header including your name and LSAC number being far more important. Focus on using the word count to tell your unique story, not on a catchy headline, and include your identifying information in the header as required by most applications.

Do I need to title my law school personal statement?

Law School personal statements do not need a title unless specifically asked for in your law school application, so you should not title your law school personal statement.

Do I put my name on my personal statement at law school?

Put your name on the left, your LSAC number in the middle, and the words “Personal Statement,” followed by a page number, on the right.

What should I title my personal statement for law school?

Your personal statement does not need a title. So it's okay to talk about something that you care about or that there is a law or a policy that affects you, but keep it as general as possible without showing that you've already learned everything that you need to know about it before you get to law school.

Should you title a personal statement?

The title of your personal statement should be simple. I recommend naming it what the school names the paper. For example, an appropriate title would be Personal Statement, Statement of Interest, or Program Proposal.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS | my personal statement

21 related questions found

What is the 80 20 rule for personal statement?

The 80/20 rule for a personal statement means dedicating 80% of the content to your academic engagement, skills, and passion for the subject, showcasing deep knowledge and relevant projects, while using the remaining 20% for extracurriculars, work experience, and future goals, keeping it focused on demonstrating your suitability for the course rather than just listing hobbies. This principle, adapted from the Pareto Principle, helps you prioritize what truly matters to admissions tutors: your academic potential and subject-specific suitability, not just a list of activities.

What to avoid in law school personal statement?

DON'T just restate your résumé in narrative form. ...
DON'T address your weaknesses in the personal statement. ...
DON'T focus on your high school activities or accomplishments. ...
DON'T be overly dramatic. ...
DON'T spend too much time talking about someone or something else.

Is ChatGPT helpful for law school?

ChatGPT Earns Top Marks in Law School

OpenAI's O3 model not only passed but excelled in a range of law school exams, outperforming human students in some cases. This is a sharp improvement from earlier versions, which scored in the B–C range.

What do law schools look for in personal statements?

In the New England Law application requirements, we advise applicants to “write about personal characteristics and circumstances; strengths; work experiences; extracurricular activities; ethnic, economic, and educational background; or any other topic that will help the committee evaluate you.”

Can ChatGPT write a personal statement?

Yes, you can use ChatGPT for a personal statement as a tool for brainstorming, outlining, or refining grammar, but you should never let it write the entire statement, as this leads to generic content lacking authenticity, risks plagiarism, and can get flagged by detection tools, potentially jeopardizing your application. The key is to use it ethically to enhance your unique voice and experiences, not replace them, by starting with your own ideas, using AI for phrasing suggestions, and always ensuring the final product reflects you.

Is a 3.3 GPA too low for law school?

A 3.3 GPA isn't "bad" but makes getting into top-tier (T-14) law schools very difficult, as their median GPAs are much higher (around 3.7-3.9+), but it's often sufficient for mid-tier or lower-ranked schools, especially with a strong LSAT score, compelling personal statement, and relevant work experience, which can significantly boost your application by showing resilience and readiness.

Do I need a heading for my personal statement?

For some, that includes a title. For others, they use every word possible in the word count to tell their story. Your student can debate the merits of a title or not as they're developing their essays. They are not needed, but I like them.

What disqualifies you from law school?

What disqualifies you from law school often involves dishonesty, serious criminal history (especially crimes of moral turpitude like fraud), significant financial irresponsibility, or academic misconduct, all falling under the "character and fitness" evaluation, though a single minor issue usually isn't a bar if disclosed honestly and explained well; failure to disclose, lying on the application, or misrepresenting facts is often a more significant reason for denial or later disbarment.

What phrases should I avoid in a personal statement?

Using clichés

Avoid overused phrases like 'my passion for history began...' or 'I have been interested in geography since a young age'. Admissions tutors read a ton of personal statements and you want to stand out. So get creative with your sentences (but be sure not to go off-topic).

Is it okay to trauma dump in college essays?

No, it's generally not okay to "trauma dump" (overshare graphic details) in college essays; instead, focus on the growth, resilience, and lessons learned, framing the hardship to show your unique perspective and potential, not pity or victimhood, to demonstrate strength rather than just sadness. A good essay uses trauma as a brief context for a story of overcoming and evolving, showing what you gained, not just the pain itself, making it powerful and compelling for admissions officers.

What is the proper header for a law school personal statement?

Some law schools might ask for a header with your full name, the page number, your LSAC number, and the words “personal statement.”

Do law schools check for AI in personal statements?

AI AND LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

As of Fall 2024, most law schools prohibit the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially pertaining to any application essays, while a handful of law schools explicitly permit the use generative AI.

Does it matter if your personal statement is over 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.

How do I make my personal statement stand out?

Make your introduction clear and direct. Grab the attention of your reader from the start, with a strong opening sentence highlighting your main skills, as well as outlining why you are applying to this course. ...
Include examples (but make sure they're relevant) ...
Put the 'personal' in 'personal statement'

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.

Is $400 an hour a lot for a lawyer?

Yes, $400 an hour is a significant rate for a lawyer, often reflecting experience, specialization, and location, falling at the higher end of average rates ($100-$400+) but can be standard or even considered a "deal" for highly specialized work in major cities, while being quite expensive in other areas or for less complex cases. Factors like the firm's size, location (big city vs. rural), the lawyer's expertise (e.g., corporate, IP vs. family law), and case complexity greatly influence this rate.

How rare is a 172 on the LSAT?

A 172 LSAT score is extremely rare and elite, placing you in roughly the top 3% (97th percentile) of test-takers, meaning you scored better than over 97 out of 100 people, making it a very strong score for even the most competitive T14 law schools. While common on law school forums, it's statistically exceptional, outperforming most applicants for top programs, though some extremely selective schools have medians even higher.

What makes a strong law school personal statement?

Your personal statement should explain your interest or purpose for studying the law. This does not have to be the backbone of the entire piece, but it should be at least mentioned somewhere. It should also avoid legal jargon and should not be some sort of showcase for legal knowledge.

What are the 5 D's of college essays?

The "5 Ds" of college essays are common, overused topics that often make it difficult for students to stand out, including Death, Divorce, Disease, Drugs, and Dating (or Drama)**, with many counselors suggesting avoiding them because they're hard to handle authentically and often lead to clichés, though the focus should always be on you (the writer) rather than just the event itself.

Do and don'ts for personal statements?

Proofread as many times as possible. Don't copy and paste – make yours original. Don't post your personal statement on the internet or on social media or share your personal statement with anyone including your friends and family, unless asking for feedback from people you trust.