Law and Justice

Posts Tagged ‘Sample’

After you’ve conscientiously compiled and submitted all the requirements to the law schools you want to apply to, there comes the big wait for the phone call or letter that can decide the way your life would run for the next four years or so.  However, the stomach-wringing doesn’t stop when you get call for an interview.  In fact, it should also be a cause for more jitters since you’ll be face-to-face with people who will openly judge you based not only on your intellect, but also your appearance.  So what do you do to calm down and sail through the interview?  Here are just a few of the things that might help.

Do your research

Browse the Internet for information about the program and the school you are applying to.  Search for notable alumni such as politicians, activists, and even celebrities if possible.  Find out if there are famous or notorious faculty members as well. When you get the call or letter for interview from the law school, you can ask who will be the ones to do the interview so you can do some research about them.  Researching about the panel members can help you get to know a few facts about them so you won’t be making any comments or statements that may be taken as an offense.  Showing that you know a thing or two about the school and are willing to learn more can make the interview and the succeeding conversations flow more smoothly and more freely.

Read your law school personal statement again

Inevitably, your law school personal statement will also be the one of the topics that will be discussed during the interview.  Brush up on the essay or personal statement that you passed for this particular law school so that it won’t take too long for you think of the answers when the panel members ask you questions about it.

Practice

Just like in a competition, it also pays to practice before the day of the interview starts.  You can face a mirror and pretend that you are speaking to the panel members.  Think of possible directions for the conversation or questions that may be asked to you so you can answer appropriately.  Be sure to choose the appropriate and comfortable clothes for the event as well.  If you’re not used to wearing business attire, you can get the feel of it if you wear these even on your practice sessions.  Your clothes have to ne cleaned and pressed on the day of the interview itself to make a good impression on the interviewers.

Do a preview of the place

Going to the school a few days before the scheduled interview can help you get acquainted with the campus, the routes, and the streets that lead to it, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area.  Knowing where the interview will be conducted can help you save time.  Look for the nearest parking space and designated exits so you won’t have any trouble on the day of your interview.

Before you’re invited to an interview, the selection panel would skim through hundred of personal statements.  To make sure that your essay will stand out, check out a sample law school personal statement.  Take note of what’s done right and wrong on each sample law school personal statement.  Only through this can you get fully prepared on writing your own.

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Law students would tell you that law school is a “jealous mistress,” which the faint of heart should best live without.  It is for this same reason that the selection process is more rigorous and the application to law school more competitive, especially if you are aiming for the top law schools in the country.  If law is your passion, then there is one more thing that you need to work hard on aside from having an outstanding GPA and getting an excellent LSAT score: turning in a top-notch personal statement.  

A personal statement is also known as an admission or application essay.  Typically, it is a two-page essay which sums up the reasons why you want to go to law school.  Some law schools, however, may set a minimum or maximum word and page count.  The rules of writing a personal statement typically vary from one university to another, so it is best to stick to the format required by the law school of your choice.  A law school may also assign a specific theme or question that you should work on, while others usually allow applicants freedom to choose what topic to discuss.  Whatever is required by the Admission Board of the law school that you are eyeing, your main objective should be to make your personal statement stand out from thousands of essays.

How to write a top-notch personal statement   

Even if you have superb writing skills, it would be a good idea to check out sample personal statements for law students.  Try to search for sample personal statements of those who have made it to the law school of your choice, so you will have a better grasp of the essay structure and organization that the Admission Board prefers.  The more samples you read, the better it is for you.  Try to determine what elements they all have in common.  Effective personal statements often explain the applicant’s personal goals clearly and show consistency of purpose by stating his or her motivation for pursuing law school, which is then supported by activities that match these reasons.  

Do your research on the background of the law school.  Find out which values and principles they consider most important, and make sure that you present yourself as a good match to these.  

What to avoid

Although you should make it a point to tell the Admission Board why you are a suitable student, never lie in your application.  Although an interview may not be part of the selection process of some law schools, most universities do conduct interviews.  If you have padded or lied in your essay, the interviewer is bound to find out, and this will just jeopardize your chance of getting into law school.  

Similarly, keep yourself from copying sample personal statements and substituting the items with your own information.  It is dishonest and will make you less confident during the interview.  In addition, your essay will lose its personal touch and uniqueness, which are important factors when catching and holding the reader’s attention.  Do not go overboard with the creativity.  Keep in mind that it is law school you are applying to, where conciseness and sensibility are highly valued.

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Law school admissions are all about LSAT and GPA scores as well as how many A’s a student got in the undergraduate years. However, law school admissions also look for potential students who excel not only in the academics, but also in other areas. Though this may sound like applying to college all over again, extracurricular activities and your other pursuits not related to school or work can be the aces up your sleeves.  In the same manner that you discuss how being the captain of the lacrosse team in high school helped you channel your focus in your college application essay, in your law school personal statement, you can talk about how you’re involvement with certain organizations has opened your eyes to the desire to study the law. Here are just a few of the extracurricular activities that are cited in sample law school personal statements.

Membership with NGOs

Being part of a group such as a non-government organization can work for you in your quest to get into law school.  In some sample law school personal statements, authors detail how their passion for saving the earth has prompted them to join an NGO.  Good sample law school personal statements also focus on how earning a law degree can help applicants realize their dream for a more environment-conscious society.  These NGOs are good training grounds for future lawyers.  You are trained in reviewing existing legislation and even help draft new bills for the protection or pursuit of your organization’s cause. Going to law school can seal in better knowledge and skills in understanding how the law works.

The debate club

You’ve probably seen on TV and in movies how lawyers are very eloquent speakers and highly-attentive listeners when it comes to defending their clients and attacking the opposing side.  The debate club hones this talent early on.  Applicants who have a background in public speaking or debating can very well feel at ease in the courtroom when delivering speeches or launching verbal attacks through depositions. Individuals who also excel in writing can also cite this ability in their law school personal statement.  If you have a good command of the language and can fashion these into highly informative and purposeful written output, then you may have the potential to write legal briefs that can be one of the weapons of a lawyer in a case.

Social Work

Though the desire for public service may be for those who aspire for a position in government, having the heart and kindness to serve others is also a great factor that law school admissions panels look for in applicants.  Pro bono, that legal service rendered for free by accredited lawyers, actually translates to “for the good of the public.”  If you possess the intellect and skills for becoming a lawyer and also have the compassion to serve those who need justice, you can do very well by relaying your involvement with social work or community services in your admission essay.

Extracurricular activities also tell much about who you are, your interests, beliefs, and purpose in life.  So don’t forget to highlight these experiences when writing your admission essay for law school.

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