What is a bad personal statement for law school?

Asked by: Velda Hirthe  |  Last update: August 13, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (64 votes)

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 does a bad personal statement look like?

Choosing a bland topic that admissions committees see over and over again. Overstating the obvious and using clichés. It's very likely that the applicants you are competing with also like science and want to help people. Lying or making up a personal story for your essay.

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.

What does a good law personal statement look like?

Tell the Admissions staff something about yourself, your experiences and your life. Use vivid, descriptive prose with the intent to draw readers in and keep them interested. A boring, flat essay can be the kiss of death. There are three different essays to consider when applying to law school.

What do law schools look for in personal statements?

The personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your personality, reflect on the experiences that led you to apply to law school, and demonstrate how you will make a great addition to the school's incoming class.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS | my personal statement

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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 makes you stand out in law school applications?

Extracurricular Involvement

Law schools want to admit motivated, energetic students who get involved and try to improve the campus—and world—around them. The admissions committee will be looking at your undergraduate extracurricular activities to get a sense of how involved you might be on their campus too.

Do law schools read your personal statement?

Law school admissions teams read hundreds of statements, so it's important to write one that stands out. Ultimately, a good law school personal statement is engaging, unique and descriptive of your personal qualities that would make you a good attorney.

What is the first sentence of the law school personal statement?

The beginning of a solid law school personal statement ought to be intriguing, experts say. "The statement should begin with a strong intro sentence, that summarizes the applicant's goal or tone," Ivy says. "For example, 'I have always been interested in international finance.

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.

What makes a killer personal statement?

You'll be on the right track if you show your enthusiasm for the subject or course, your understanding of it, and what you want to achieve. Admissions tutors – the people who read and score your personal statement – say don't get stressed about trying to think of a 'killer opening'.

Can I use the same personal statement for different law schools?

As you can see, while one draft reflecting on a particular interest or story could respond to most of these law school personal statement prompts, you cannot - and should not - submit the same essay for all law schools. Make sure your essay is geared toward answering the question each institution asks.

How many pages should a law school personal statement be?

Depending on the law school, your personal statement will range in length from 300 to 1000 words. Most law schools require personal statements that are two to two-and-a-half pages, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12 point font.

What should I cut out of my personal statement?

Cut Extra Words

A really quick way to reduce your word count is to do a search for the words 'very', 'really' and 'that'. Your sentences will make sense without the extra words, for example 'I really like' can be changed to 'I enjoy', and 'made me realise that I' would be fine as 'made me realise I'.

What words should you avoid in a personal statement?

Here are some words you should remove if they feature in your personal statement.
  • Passionate. Possibly the most overused word when it comes to personal statements. ...
  • Team player. You're a team player and can also work well individually? ...
  • Watching TV. ...
  • Extensive. ...
  • Also. ...
  • Jokes and puns. ...
  • Expert. ...
  • Overly long words.

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!

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.

Do you put your name on a personal statement law school?

Your personal statement needs to include a header that has your name and your LSAC number. This will be crucial for admissions officers to identify your documents if they get mixed up.

How long did it take to write law school personal statement?

Generally, applicants who are working on their applications part time – in addition to work, school or other time commitments – will need three to five weeks to complete a personal statement. Because the personal statement is open-ended, it can take several drafts to come up with the right subject and structure.

Do law schools look at 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.

Can you reuse your 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.

Do law schools look at the writing sample?

Although LSAT Writing samples don't receive a score, they are considered by law school admission committees when reviewing individuals' applications. Each law school uses LSAT Writing in its own way. However, most law schools view LSAT Writing samples as an integral part of their admission decisions.

What is the most important thing when applying to law school?

Each law school combines your cumulative GPA with your LSAT score to come up with an index score. This index score is the most important admissions factor, and it is used to benchmark you initially against other applicants.

What is the most important part of law school application?

Your LSAT Score

One of the most-discussed and hardest-earned aspects of your law school application is the LSAT score. Law schools will be looking for a strong LSAT score that is at or above their median score. The higher your score is above the median, the more competitive your application is.

How to answer the question why do you want to go to law school?

Don't say you want to study law because “it's the greatest career in the world” or because you've never wanted to do anything else. Explain why you think it's the best career for you or why nothing else has ever captured your interest the same way law has.