Law School Application Process

As the vast majority of law schools do not require an interview as part of the application process, the personal statement is your best chance to "speak" to the admissions committee about aspects of your background or experiences that can not fully be captured on a transcript or a resume.

Since people apply to law school with such diverse life experiences, schools usually afford applicants wide latitude in terms of the subject matter of the personal statement, so as not to limit a candidate's ability to write about what is most important to him or her. As a result, the open-ended questions that most law schools pose can be answered effectively in any number of ways. Most importantly, be genuine and show them who you are. Provide information that they will not find in your application form, resume, and letter of recommendation - give them something new. If the application asks you to answer a specific question, make sure your statement addresses it.

If it is the theme of your statement, sometimes it is okay to address negatives in your personal statement. If doing so, take responsibility for those of your making. If it is not related to your theme, it is better to address such negatives in an addendum to your application if you believe an explanation is necessary.

If the application gives specific parameters, follow those. If not, try not to exceed 3 pages, double-spaced with one-inch margins.

Not to undercut the importance of the personal statement, but even an excellent statement is unlikely to make you a strong candidate at a school you would otherwise be unlikely to get into. A candidate who is not in a law school's "zone of reasonable consideration" based on other criteria (i.e., G.P.A., LSAT, etc.) is unlikely to be vaulted into the category of a sure-admit solely on the basis of a solid statement. The opposite, however, is not necessarily true; even a well-qualified applicant cannot produce a mediocre personal statement and expect to get by on the strength of their LSAT and academic record alone. Particularly at highly competitive law schools, or within the category of borderline candidates who may be otherwise similarly qualified, the personal statement can play a major role in differentiating applicants.

The Pre-Law Advisor reviews personal statements and provides feedback for students. Other campus resources include the University Career Center and Writer's Roost. There are also a number of online services offering assistance with personal statements.

Personal Statement Websites