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.
What is a good personal statement length?
HOW LONG SHOULD MY PERSONAL STATEMENT BE? A. Unless otherwise specified on the school’s admission website, most personal statements are
between 2-3 pages in length
. Personal Statements are typically 1.5 or double spaced and adhere to regular one inch margin space.
How much does your personal statement matter for law school?
Here’s the good news.
It doesn’t matter much
. Those two things–your LSAT and GPA- will matter much much more than writing the world’s best essay. As I mentioned before, your law school essay is worth very little in the grander scheme of your application.
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.
How do you make a law personal statement stand out?
- 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.
Do law schools actually read personal statements?
“The personal statement also
allows the applicant to showcase writing ability
. Law school and the legal profession require a clear and concise writing style that can be displayed by the applicant in the personal statement.”
What should you not put 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 a good personal statement for law?
- Be straightforward. Do not make it more complex than it is. …
- Proofread, proofread, proofread. …
- Be concise and organize your thoughts. …
- Make sure your personal statement is about you. …
- Be yourself. …
- Write in your own voice. …
- Make it personal.
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 personal statements should I read 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?
Why should you choose law?
As a lawyer, you will constantly deal with different cases that pose all kinds of problems. Your work will rarely be repetitive as you will defend people from various industries and backgrounds. Law also
enables you to better understand human behaviour and our society
.
What do top law schools look for?
- Strong Academic Record and LSAT Score. …
- Extracurricular Involvement. …
- Excellent Writing and Reading Abilities. …
- Personal Growth. …
- Strong Recommendations from People Who Actually Know You. …
- Something Special… …
- Demonstrated Interest in the Law School Itself.
How many law schools should I apply to?
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 GPA do law schools look at?
Dear Grade Point Analysis: Initial evaluation of your application will be based on your cumulative GPA and LSAT score. Thus, your
3.3 GPA
– or 3.5 if you improve it – will be what admissions committees consider.
Should you talk about grades in a personal statement?
The Princeton Review in “Topics to Avoid on Your Personal Statement” advises prospective law students
not to write
about low test scores or grades, “A low LSAT score speaks for itself. … Being a bad test-taker is not a good start to a successful law school career, so it’s not a point you should hammer home.”
How do you explain bad grades in a personal statement?
Start this paragraph with a positive (reminding the reader of the candidate’s dedication to the PA profession). Then,
sneakily slip in the “bad stuff
”…the low grades. Give reasons for the grades without making excuses, and discuss how the grades were improved.
