Personal Statement – Law School Admissions
The personal statement is not the most important part of your application, but if written poorly, the admissions committee will notice and it could harm, instead of help, your admissions package. On the other hand, a good statement can sway the admissions committee in your favor. Your task here is to make the slight difference between admission and rejection. To set yourself ahead of the pack. This task could prove to be both satisfying and frustrating, so it helps to keep your goal in front of you.
Your goal is to provide to the admissions committee additional evidence of your intellect and your achievements. Here is your opportunity to present a full and rich picture of who you are as a person and a student. This is where you have an opportunity to put your academic record inline with who you are as a person…showing opportunities you have had and obstacles you have overcome. Writing this statement gives you the opportunity to give evidence of your achievements that aren’t shown in other parts of your application. You will want to describe how and why these events have shaped your attitude, your focus and your intellect.
The University of California at Berkeley Career Center gives the following advice:
“The personal statement gives you an opportunity to showcase your abilities. So, the best statements not only follow the schools’ instructions, but are tied together by a theme and a logical progression of ideas, making good use of transitions. They also employ perfect grammar and are written in a direct, simple style that avoids pretentious language. The best statements are not laundry lists of accomplishments and activities, but essays that describe a unique episode or two from your experience that demonstrate both your motivation for pursuing legal education along with positive, interesting aspects of your personality.”
To do this well, come up with your content and then execute it well. Consider the following.
Writing the Law School Personal Statement:
Brainstorming
What’s special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
When thinking through what you will say in your statement, you may want to search for samples. Here, you will likely read samples of amazing accomplishments, such as…a police officer shot in the line of duty. Don’t let these examples make you feel inadequate. The majority of applicants feel, “I’m just average and have lived an average life.” Well, you’re in the same boat as most of us average people, but you must begin to look at your life is unique. Your task in this essay is to showcase your unique experiences.
Take some time to consider and evaluate the following:
- Details of your life—Personal or family obstacles or inspirations, influential people or events that have shaped or influenced your goals.
- Your interest in the study of law:
When did you become interested
What field of specialty do you plan to pursue
What have you learned about the field, and yourself, that has increased your interest and conviction that this is the right direction for you.
What insights have you gained? - How did you learn about the above…Classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
- What have you learned through previous work experience:
Leadership or managerial skills
How has that work contributed to your growth? - What are your career goals?
- Explanation of any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record. For example, great GPA but mediocre LSAT score. Or, a great upward movement of your GPA.
- Unusual obstacles or hardships that you have overcome. For example, economic, family, physical obstacles.
- Your personal characteristics. For example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence. In what ways will this enhance your success in law school and then your profession. Can you demonstrate by example that you have these characteristics?
- What skills you possess: leadership, analytical, etc.
- Why are you a strong candidate for law school.
Tell Your Story:
Your personal statement should be interesting and easy to read. However, relax…it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. The law school admission committee is seeking assurance that you can evaluate and reflect on your goals with a critical eye. It’s length — just one-page…about 450 words.
One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. Begin with a lively opening paragraph. If your statement is fresh and different you will be able to set yourself apart from the pack…making yourself memorable.
Avoid Common Personal Statement Mistakes:
Do not oversell:
You do not want to over-do the listing of your accomplishments. You do not want to portray yourself as one with an oversized ego. You need to come across with modesty without selling yourself short. It’s a balance…
Back up your statements:
Your writing should not be merely a list of your accomplishments. You will need to explain how you achieved them and how those experiences shaped you.
Well Written:
This is like any other essay. The personal statement needs structure and substance — a main idea, a body, and a conclusion. Your goal is to illustrate substantial and meaningful qualities of yourself without duplicating information.
Proofread meticulously. Writing skill and good command of language is essential. Express yourself clearly and concisely and stay within the word limits given.
