What is a good length for a law school personal statement?
Asked by: Ricardo Block | Last update: January 3, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (42 votes)
Some schools set no limit for personal statements, but most suggest either 2–3 or 2–4 pages. Aim for two pages, double-spaced. Do not make the error of thinking that more is better. Law schools value the ability to persuasively convey information in a relatively short space.
How long should my personal statement be in law school?
Most schools ask that students submit personal statements that are between two to four pages long. If you choose to write three pages, ensure each sentence is meaningful and adds value to your essay.
Is a 3 page personal statement too long?
How long is a personal statement? Generally, your personal statement should be a 2-3 page statement with double spacing, 1-inch margins, and a 12-point font.
How long is the Harvard law statement of purpose?
Each Statement must be one to two pages in length, using double-spacing, one-inch margins, and a font size that is comfortable to read (no smaller than 11 point). We expect every applicant to use at least one full page for each Statement.
What is the best length for a personal statement?
Your personal statement length can be up to 4,000 characters long. This may sound a lot, but it's a word limit of around 550–1000 words with spaces and only about 1 side of typed A4 paper. You need to keep it concise and make sure it's clear and easy to read.
law school application personal statement length
Is a 500 word personal statement too short?
Personal statements are generally 500-650 words. For example, the Common Application, which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words. Similarly, the Coalition Application, which has 150 member schools, features an essay with a recommended length of 500-650 words.
Is a 1000 word personal statement too long?
The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.
How long is the NYU law personal statement?
This is a brief statement—make it no more than 500 words. It is also personal. Describe aspects about yourself, your accomplishments, or your academic and professional goals.
What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?
So let's take a look at what it actually takes to have a chance of being admitted to the most prestigious and preeminent law school in the world. As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School.
How long is the personal statement for UCLA law?
Submit the following: Completed application. Personal statement (use an electronic attachment). Separate essay not to exceed two double-spaced typed pages.
What are the margins for a law school personal statement?
The basic format of a law school personal statement is a double-spaced essay with 1-inch margins. You should use a standard font in size 11 or 12, like Times New Roman, Calibri, Cambria, or Arial. You can also use standard Google fonts with a similar aesthetic, like Roboto.
What is too long for a personal statement?
Generally, 500-600 words is the best choice for the personal statement word count. But it's crucial to pay attention to the requirements provided by the chosen university. If there are no specific instructions concerning the word count, I would aim for approximately 500-800 words.
How many law schools should I apply to?
How Many Law Schools Should I Apply To? Your best bet is to apply to a minimum of two reach schools, two match schools, and three safeties. A reach is a law school whose students' average LSAT and GPA scores are higher than yours.
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.
How long should Georgetown Law personal statement be?
Georgetown Law does not have a minimum or maximum length for the personal statement, though we recommend around two pages double-spaced. You can write your personal statement on any subject that will enable the Admissions Committee to get to know you.
How long is the personal statement for Stanford Law School?
Personal Statement.
Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution to Stanford Law School. The personal statement must be submitted electronically with your electronic application. Your statement should be approximately two pages in length.
What was Obama's LSAT score?
The easiest to predict, by far, is Barack Obama's score, mostly because we have some data. Based on admissions records, we can deduce — somewhat reliably — that Barry-O scored between the 94th and 98th percentile on his LSAT. Using today's grading system, that would place him somewhere around a 170.
How hard is a 172 LSAT?
Your percentile on the LSAT shows how many people you outperformed on the test. Scoring 172 typically puts you in the top 1.3%, surpassing 98.7% of other test-takers. LSAT percentiles may change slightly each year based on everyone's performance.
What was Elle Woods' LSAT score?
Elle Woods, a fictional character portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the movie Legally Blonde, is known for her remarkable LSAT score—179 out of 180. Portrayed as a stereotypical "valley girl," she embarks on a journey to Harvard Law School in the movie that has since become a cult favorite.
How long should Berkeley Law personal statement be?
Personal Statement
Three pages is recommended. The subject matter of the personal statement is up to you, but keep in mind that the reviewer will be focused on determining your potential to be a successful law student and graduate of Berkeley Law.
What is the lowest LSAT score to get into NYU?
While NYU Law does not specify any minimum LSAT score required for admission, you should aim for your score to be equal to or higher than the median of 172.
How long is the Penn State personal statement?
Penn State Essay Requirements: Common Application Personal Statement (Optional): Choose from Common Application 2023-2024 Prompts (650 words) Penn State Personal Statement (Optional): Focused on Getting to Know the Applicant (500 words)
How long should my personal statement be for law school?
Some schools set no limit for personal statements, but most suggest either 2–3 or 2–4 pages. Aim for two pages, double-spaced. Do not make the error of thinking that more is better. Law schools value the ability to persuasively convey information in a relatively short space.
Is 800 words too much for a personal statement?
Normally, the length of a personal statement will be dictated by the application—500 words or 800 words are typical limits, as are one-page or two-page limits.
Can I go over a word count?
Overlong essays will be penalised according to the following rule: 1% of the maximum obtainable mark will be deducted for every 100 words, or part thereof, over the word limit. So, exceeding the word limit by 1-100 words incurs a deduction of 1%; exceeding by 101- 200 words incurs a deduction of 2%; and so on.