Broadly speaking, your personal statement for law needs to cover three main strands:
Motivation
: Why do you want to study/practise law? Exploration: What have you done so far to explore your career choice? Suitability: Why are you a great fit for a legal career?
What should you not do in a law school personal statement?
- Do not play a role, especially that of a lawyer or judge. …
- Do not tell your life story in chronological order or merely re-state your resume. …
- Do not become a cliché. …
- Do not use a personal statement to explain discrepancies in your application. …
- Do not offend your reader.
What looks good on a personal statement for law?
Broadly speaking, your personal statement for law needs to cover three main strands:
Motivation
: Why do you want to study/practise law? Exploration: What have you done so far to explore your career choice? Suitability: Why are you a great fit for a legal career?
How long should your personal statement be for law school?
Depending on the law school, your personal statement will range in length from
300 to 1000 words
. Most law schools require personal statements that are two to two-and-a-half pages, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12 point font.
How do I write a personal statement for law school?
- Tip 1: Focus on you. …
- Tip 2: Brainstorm broadly. …
- Tip 3: Be genuine. …
- Tip 4: Just write. …
- Tip 5: Remember your “why” …
- Tip 6: Be specific. …
- Tip 7: Grab our attention. …
- Tip 8: Know what makes the school tick.
What do you need to put on your personal statement?
Tell the reader why you’re applying – include
your ambitions
, as well as what interests you about the subject, the course provider, and higher education. Think about what makes you suitable – this could be relevant experience, skills, or achievements you’ve gained from education, work, or other activities.
How do you end a personal statement for law school?
Conclude your personal statement
by referring back to the introductory paragraph and restate your main thesis
in a slightly different way. 5. Use your law school personal statement as a means to market yourself. Most top law schools receive thousands of applications.
Do all law schools require a personal statement?
Most law schools require a personal statement
. Others may allow a diversity statement and/or an addendum. Submit ALL statements that apply to you. Tell an interesting, informative story and personal story about yourself in 700-1400 words (double- spaced).
What qualities makes a good lawyer?
- Passion for the Job. …
- Compassion for Clients. …
- Great Communication Skills. …
- Willingness to Listen. …
- Knowledge of the Law. …
- Strong Writing Ability. …
- Creativity. …
- Good Judgment.
Should you name drop in a personal statement?
People won’t recognize
the names you’re dropping, and it’ll backfire on you. Leave them out.
What should you not say in a personal statement?
- NEGATIVITY. …
- NOT MENTIONING YOUR SKILLS & ACHEIVEMENTS. …
- EXAGGERATION & OUTRIGHT LIES. …
- POOR SPELLING AND GRAMMAR. …
- NOT GETTING FEEDBACK. …
- STATING THE OBVIOUS. …
- TALKING ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD. …
- THE WORD PASSION.
How do you write an amazing personal statement?
- Make a draft without a character counter. …
- Take your time. …
- Find the perfect words and expressions. …
- Concentrate on your strengths. …
- Find the perfect opening sentence. …
- Make it your own work, voice and ideas. …
- Be honest. …
- Get someone to proofread your statement.
How long is a Yale law personal statement?
Applicants often submit the personal statement they have prepared for other law school applications.” Aim for
about 500 words
.
What law schools should I apply to?
How Many Law Schools Is Too Many? A good rule of thumb is to apply to
at least a dozen law schools
: five reaches, five midrange schools and two safety schools. Reach law schools are highly competitive, admitting applicants with average GPAs and LSAT scores that may be a bit higher than your own.
What is the law school personal statement?
A quality personal statement—
a short essay in which you articulate who you are and why you want to go to law school
—allows an admissions officer to understand your motivation to attend law school, and the reasons why you want to attend their school, specifically.
How many letters of recommendation do you need for law school?
Candidates should be prepared to discuss why they want to go to law school, he says, and how they decided where to apply. They should also bring a resume, transcripts and an outline of their personal statement. Choose quality over quantity. The norm is to submit
two recommendation letters
, Ivey says.
