How to Write a Law School Personal Statement that Will Get You Admitted

The law school admission process is a notoriously harsh, numbers-based game. It may seem like your fate is already decided, before you even start your application. While this is partially true, it is also true that your personal statement is an extremely important secondary factor in law school admission. There are many other applicants with similar numbers, and it is important to set yourself apart from the group. A well-written and carefully crafted personal statement can tip the balance in your favor, just as a poorly written one can land you in the rejection pile. This is especially true if your numbers are borderline for admission. In order to write a good personal statement, it is important to know what the admission committees want.

Do Write About Yourself

The personal statement is exactly what it sounds like: a statement about yourself. This is not the place to showcase your skills as a research paper writer. Your personal statement is essentially your interview for law school, so make sure to write about what makes you special and why the admissions committees should let you into their law schools.

Don't Write A College Admission Essay

It may seem like the law school personal statement is simply a second round of college admissions essays. However, there are some very distinct differences between the two. Most importantly, the law school personal statement has less room for creativity. While colleges may be impressed if you write your admissions essay as a poem or a puzzle, law schools will not be amused.

Do Explain Why You Are Interested In Law

While you do not have to write exclusively on why you are interested in attending law school, you should connect your experiences back to the law in some way. For example, if you write about volunteering, then conclude with how that lead you to realize that law school could help you better people's lives. If you write about your experience as an engineer, then also write about how this made you interested in intellectual property law. You can write about almost any aspect of your life, but make sure to conclude with how it lead to your interest in attending law school.

Don't Write Anything Inappropriate

Your law school personal statement should not be about a romantic relationship, regardless of how important it has been in your development. Neither should you write about sex or anything else that is blatantly inappropriate. While it may be acceptable to write about controversial issues like religion or politics, you should think carefully about whether it is the most important thing you can write about yourself. If you do write about anything controversial, then write carefully and be aware that the person reading your statement might not share your views on the subject.

Do Listen to Guidelines

It is very important to carefully read the guidelines for each school and adhere to them. If the guidelines say that your personal statement must be less than five hundred words, then keep your statement for that school within five hundred words. You should also check to see if the law school wants you to address any particular topic in your statement.

Don't Write Anything Negative About Yourself

Your personal statement is not the place to explain your bad grade in creative writing, or your arrest five years ago. Your personal statement should focus on your positive qualities and the reasons that the law school should admit you. Write a separate addendum to explain anything negative in your record. Your personal statement should be honest, but it should also be a glowing review of you.

Source: Personal Experience