What should law school personal statement be about?

Asked by: Derick Keebler  |  Last update: November 27, 2023
Score: 4.8/5 (29 votes)

The personal statement is your chance to REFLECT upon your life and show the law school admissions committee who you are as an INDIVIDUAL. 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.

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.

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.

How long should a personal statement be for law school?

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.

How do you write a good personal statement for law?

My top tips are:
  1. Convey who you are through your statement.
  2. Explain why you wish to study law.
  3. Provide examples rather than mere assertions.
  4. Avoid spelling and grammatical errors.
  5. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare your personal statement, drawing on any sources of help available to you.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS | my personal statement

28 related questions found

What are the elements of a good law school personal statement?

The personal statement is your chance to REFLECT upon your life and show the law school admissions committee who you are as an INDIVIDUAL. 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.

What should be the opening sentence of a 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.

What should not be included in a personal statement?

What Not To Put In A Personal Statement
  • 1 Claims With No Evidence.
  • 2 Skills Or Extracurricular Activities Irrelevant For Your Course.
  • 3 Poor Grammar And Spelling.
  • 4 Failures And Regrets.
  • 5 Sentences That Lead Nowhere.
  • 6 Quotes That Don't Fit.
  • 7 Facts With No Context.
  • 8 Made Up Stories.

What not to write in a personal essay?

7 Things to Avoid in Your Personal Statement
  • Whining. Don't whine in your essay! ...
  • Someone else is the hero. Your essay might talk about someone else in your life who has had a positive or negative influence on you. ...
  • Reads like a resume. ...
  • Lack of focus. ...
  • Leaves out personal growth. ...
  • Overcomplicated language.

How not to start a personal statement?

Avoid overused opening sentences, quotes and clichés like 'when I was young…' They want to know about you now, not your childhood or Shakespeare!

Should I put my name on my law school personal statement?

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.

Can you swear in a personal statement?

Avoid swearing in a college essay, since admissions officers' opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it's safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

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.

Who should read my law school personal statement?

You should have a peer, professor, or admissions advisor read your essay. The core question to ask them to evaluate is, “Do you have a good sense of who I am and why I want to attend law school after reading this?” If the answer is no, revisions are necessary. For big changes, rewrite instead of editing.

Should I put a header on my law school personal statement?

Include a header, that contains: Your name. Your LSAC number. The words “Personal Statement”

Can I use a quote in my personal statement?

The Quote: Be careful incorporating quotes into the statement. If you start off with a quote, incorporate a quote or end with a quote, make sure it fits (tie it to your theme) and is not just plopped into the statement for dramatic effect. Be mindful of oversharing. We appreciate learning about your personal journey.

Should a personal statement be sad?

As someone who has been on the receiving end of many sad essays, rest assured that this is not a strategy I would recommend to any student. No college admissions reader wants to spend an entire day reading sad or depressing stories from their students.

Should I say thank you in a personal statement?

Therefore, while it may seem polite and courteous to end by saying “I hope that I will be admitted to your university”, or “thank you for your consideration”, these sentences are too general and would not do justice to all the impressive aspects of your application you've mentioned in your personal statement.

What makes a personal essay stand out?

A standout college essay has several key ingredients: A unique, personally meaningful topic. A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook. Specific stories and language that show instead of telling.

What makes a personal statement bad?

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.

Should I include hobbies in my personal statement?

Students should include one paragraph at the end of their Personal Statements summarising their extracurricular interests (hobbies / activities / awards / voluntary work etc). This section must be kept short as discussion of the subject should take priority.

Who will read my personal statement?

Your personal statment will be read by both subject specialists in the course you have applied for and our Director of Admissions. If you are invited for interview, you may be asked questions relating to things you wrote in your personal statement or it may not be mentioned at all.

What do law schools look for in letters of recommendation?

Letters that reflect real knowledge of an applicant's performance and character are the most useful to the admissions committee and, therefore, to the candidate. One or two paragraph letters full of generalities, however complementary, are not particularly helpful.

How many personal statements do you need for law school?

Most applicants apply to ten or more schools, and it is unfeasible to write a different version of one's personal statement for each school one applies to. Instead, we recommend that you write two versions of your personal statement: a 2-page version and a 3+ page version.

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.