Law School Personal Statement Samples for Application
Stanford and Yale are the top two law schools in the country. Their acceptance rates are 11.3% and 9.7%, respectively. Only the best get into law school, that’s for sure. But how can you show that you’re the best? A well-written personal statement, which tells your reader about yourself and why you’re a good candidate, is the only way. Here’s how you can write one.
Steps for Writing the Best Law School Statement
The law school personal statement you deserve is just a step away – or, more accurately, six steps.
- Research and think: What brought you here? What does your law school want to see?
- Jot down your ideas: Write down the most important points so you don’t forget.
- Decide on a structure: What will go where? Think about the narrative you want to create.
- Outline: Write down your structure with your main points inserted. This will make it easier to stay organized later on.
- Fill in your outline: When writing, take care to retain your own voice. Talk out loud and transcribe if you need to.
- Proofread a lot: You should get someone to look over your statement, as well as looking it over yourself. Expect many drafts!
Keep or Don’t Keep: Law School Statement
What should stay in your law school personal statement? There are two quick lists with personal statement tips to show you.
Keep this:
- Positivity – show that you’re a positive and optimistic person!
- Confidence – without cockiness, of course
- Why you’re the right person for this course
- Relevant transferrable skills
- Your story and your own unique voice
Ditch that:
- Jokes, unless they’re very subtle and you’re sure they’ll go over well
- Slang and other such informalities which will make you seem unprofessional
- Cliches – opening phrases like “ever since I was a kid” and the word “passionate”
- Quotes – they’re not worth the space you’ll spend on them
- Showing, not telling, and unverified claims
Buzzwords and Trends in Law School Statements
The latest trends for personal statement writing are:
- Concrete numbers demonstrating your achievements
- Relevant experience only, no fluff
- Action verbs
What are action verbs? They’re verbs that tell you what someone’s done, and they’re the hottest buzzwords for personal statement writing. Some examples: addressed, analyzed, questioned, changed, challenged, determined, devised, created, found, gathered, innovated, and instituted. All these words say something about what you did, leaving a solid impression in the mind of the reader. That’s a great thing for a personal statement.
Personal Statement for Law School Samples
To help you get your statement started, here’s a sample outline.
- Intro: How did you become interested in the law, and why do you want to go to law school?
- Body paragraph 1: Why are you qualified for law school? What have you done to prepare yourself for the experience?
- Body paragraph 2: Explain why you want to go to this specific school.
- Body paragraph 3: What are your long-term plans? Show critical analysis and long-term thinking.
- Conclusion: Sum yourself up, and give a short note about why you deserve to be in this school and what you’ll contribute.
Personal Statement Law School Samples
Law school could be the best time in your life if you manage to get into a program you love. We can help make sure you achieve your dreams. With a well-written personal statement samples for college, you’ll be sure to succeed.