Where do I submit my personal statement for law school?

Asked by: Taya Bednar  |  Last update: September 23, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (20 votes)

The personal statement: This is an essay required by almost all law schools. It is written by the applicant and then uploaded onto the LSAC website.

How do I submit a personal statement to law school?

How to Format Your Law School Personal Statement
  1. Double-spaced, left-aligned.
  2. In 11 or 12-point Times New Roman font.
  3. Uses a single space after a period.
  4. Contain page numbers.
  5. Use one-inch margins on all sides.
  6. Include a header, that contains: Your name. Your LSAC number. The words “Personal Statement”

How do you submit a personal statement?

Give examples of any related academic or work experience. Show you know what the course will involve and mention any special subjects you're interested in. Demonstrate who you are by listing any positions you've held, memberships of teams or societies, and interests and hobbies.

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.

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.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS | my personal statement

24 related questions found

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.

Can I use the same personal statement for all 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.

Do law schools look at your 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.

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 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.

Can I post my personal statement online?

I posted my personal statement online – could this cause me a problem? The short answer is yes. Posting your personal statement online, perhaps in a blog or a forum such as our sister site The Student Room, is likely to be an issue.

In what format should I submit my personal statement?

A general rule of thumb you might follow is to submit a 2-3 page statement, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, in 12-pt. Times New Roman font. While there are no set rules about length or format, this is typically considered appropriate and sufficient.

Who do I address personal statement to?

Write your personal statement to the person or committee reading it. Make sure whatever you know of the school or program is on your mind while writing the essay. For some programs, you may be able to figure out exactly who's going to read the statement.

How do I write a personal statement for Canadian law school?

Be sincere and authentic. Make your statement interesting from the very first paragraph. Consider it your “interview on paper.” Provide specific examples to illustrate your statements.

Should I put my LSAC number on my 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.

What do law schools look for in personal statements?

We want you to use the personal statement to show us that you have the skills needed to succeed in law school, beyond what your LSAT score or GPA can tell us. We're looking for things like a strong work ethic, motivation, and the determination to overcome obstacles.

Can I write my personal statement in a day?

If you can write interesting, personal, compelling, clear, and effective personal statement in 24 hours or less, hats off to you. Many applicants think they can do it, but the truth is grim. You may be able to write an okay essay at best, it won't be stellar.

How long is a personal statement for law school Canada?

Most law schools ask for a 2-page personal statement, but lengths can range from 2-4 pages.

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.

Can introverts go to law school?

For example, introverted law students and lawyers can choose to focus on types of practice that don't require a lot of court appearances, like tax law or estate planning, and also learn to be more comfortable making arguments when needed.

Can you get rejected from law school?

One factor is the abundance of applicants to top law schools, according to J.D. admissions experts. Nevertheless, every applicant who applies to a range of schools is likely to receive at least one rejection.

Do law schools check your social media?

Law schools often look at your social media presence when reviewing applicants' candidacy. You don't have a lot to gain, but so much to lose by posting inappropriate things to social media. Use this helpful law school application social media checklist to make sure you are covered!

Can you reapply to a law school if rejected?

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.

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.

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!