Law School Transfer Personal Statement

The following content is an actual personal statement used for transfer applications (except those in parenthesis). The purpose of this is to give insight as to how a personal statement for a law school transfer application may look:

(The introduction:)

The most interesting request a school can make on any student, in my opinion, is to write a personal statement. I remember writing one in high school to hopefully cajole colleges to pick me out of thousands of hopefuls to attend their undergraduate school; it, too, was no day at the park. I thought, "What could I possibly talk about in a paper that is two whole pages in length about me?" After undergraduate school that thought changed to, "What could I possibly highlight about me in a paper that is only two pages in length?" Today, after having gone through the process of applying for law school before, and now having completed my first year, I have chosen to go through the process again, which poses a new question; "Why transfer?"

(The in depth statements in paragraph form:)

I attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, TX. As a member of an acting troupe, I participated in writing a show about people living with HIV and AIDS. After having toured the show to local schools, my acting coach encouraged us to apply to a national summit addressing the HIV and AIDS issue in America. Of my classmates and other high school students across Texas, I was one of three chosen to attend the summit in Washington, D.C. Our goal was to come up with ideas that would be presented to President Bill Clinton to educate and prevent the growth of HIV and AIDS cases among the nation's young adults. After receiving a letter of gratitude from the President for my participation in the summit, I understood how communicating through an art can make an impact on politics and make a social change in a community.

At Miami University (MU) in Oxford, OH, I majored in Mass Communications. As a student, I worked on air as a professional board operator with NPR News-National Public Radio News, interned with MSN-Miami Sports Network, worked on-air and as a sports commentator with WMSR-Miami Student Radio. I attended student hall council meetings, gave tours to prospective students as a Miami Student Ambassador, as well as prepared campus visits for Walt Disney recruiters as a founding member of the Walt Disney World College Program Association for the Miami University campus. The opportunities I took advantage of in college have proven invaluable and allowed me a chance to get hands on experience working in and with the media, which is also invaluable experience for use in any field of law.

My sophomore year in college I was accepted to work with the Walt Disney World College Program in Florida as an intern. At Disney I networked my way into another internship: on the set of a movie filmed on Walt Disney property. This meant I was fulfilling hours for two internships: over thirty hours a week working with the Walt Disney College Program and over thirty hours a week on the set of a movie starring Anthony Hopkins. Law and law enforcement was a part of this movie's storyline, so a full time lawyer was used for reference and authentication purposes. My first work experience connecting law with film came from this internship.

During my last semester as a student at MU, I was accepted as a news intern for WFAA-ABC in Dallas, TX. As a part of the internship, I worked with their investigative news team, which consisted of two investigative reporters, a producer and a practicing lawyer. It was my first working experience connecting law and (broadcast) news. A few years after graduation, I found myself working alone in a small newsroom just after midnight, preparing a ninety-minute morning newscast. For one year I knew more about the small city daily, than the average person who lived there for many years. As a producer, I would censor the news that viewers had access to, which included editing local and national news conferences. It was an experience that taught me how broadcast media and politics are indirectly connected: as a journalist I was supplying the public with information for them to make decisions on politicians, events, ideas, etc.

Upon entering law school, although I was involved as an ABA and SBA representative, I simply wanted to complete a JD program. My experience as a 1L is similar to those in high school and college; I learned to appreciate that there is a wide area in which the field of law can reach. However, the law school I currently attend limits my access to certain educational and career opportunities. On my own initiative, I attended various events including an internship fair in DC and worked as a volunteer with The Grammy Foundation for networking purposes. These experiences allowed me to network and meet people from various schools and professions which gave me a better understanding as to what I should want out of my law school experience. My desire to obtain a law degree now goes beyond simply obtaining the degree. I realize the educational experiences and the career placement capabilities at the law school I attend are what will lead to a great career and future.

(The close:)

During my second term of law school my family suffered the loss of two grandparents on my mother's side. I realized my time in law school should focused on things that are available to me through my law school; this includes balancing study time, focusing on completing my degree, and obtaining internships through the career placement office. My current institution's primary focus is in a flexible schedule and obtaining a JD in a short time. Here, a student has to spend extra time networking and job searching to secure a decent internship and job. Your institution supplies students with immediate access to internships and jobs while allowing students to equally balance being a law student and transitioning into the work force. With my background and experiences I realize your institution would offer better access to my area of interest in law. Furthermore, there are specific educational opportunities I am interested in that your school offers that my school does not offer. For these reasons I have an interest in law and wish to transfer to your institution.