Personal Statement

Personal Statement

Your personal statement is the one part of your application that allows you to describe yourself in your own terms. The focus is on you: your story, your experiences, the people who have changed you and the people you have changed, your achievements, your goals, and your special abilities as well as the ways in which these elements relate to your future potential as a law student and lawyer.

Think of the personal statement as a combination of thoughtfulness and advocacy, two skills which are central to a lawyer's work. Keep three things in mind: write about yourself, be specific, and be passionate.

Getting Started

You will want to start by brainstorming about the more significant aspects of yourself. List major accomplishments or events in each category:

Work

Education

Personal

How have your various experiences helped you grow? What do they show about your abilities? What do they show about your interests?

Consider the following characteristics and try to connect each characteristic to particularly relevant experiences or accomplishments.

Intellectual ability
Analytical ability
Discipline
Creativity and imagination
Motivation
Ability to work with others
Organizational skills
Leadership
Compassion
Self knowledge
Self confidence
Writing ability
Speaking ability

Your First Draft

Search through the items you have jotted down during the brainstorming stage for an experience that will be interesting to your reader and will serve as a theme for the story you are trying to tell. If possible try to identify a single image/event which will introduce your essay and help the reader remember you.

Without worrying about format or any other formal requirements, sit down and write two pages that focus on this single experience.

Your Second Draft

The next step is to connect the dots so to speak. Review the list of abilities (analytical ability, leadership, etc. (see above) and select 3-4 attributes that connect nicely to the story you developed in your first draft.

In your second draft, connect your story to the qualities that make you an outstanding candidate for the study and practice of law.

Format

Follow any directions given by the particular law school on the application form. Generally, you should type the statement, with double spacing, and keep it to approximately two pages in length. Aim to be clear, concise, and compelling.

Get Some Help

Ask two individuals whose writing ability you respect to review your essay and provide suggestions for improvement.

For professional essay writing help, visit the Essay Edge web site:

EssayEdge.com. EssayEdge also offers 100 free admission essays and application essay editing by Harvard-educated editors.

For professional help with your law school application and LSAT prep, visit the Get Prepped web site.

Get Prepped offers a comprehensive admissions assistance package with an individual instructor.