Law and Justice

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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