Show how your future aspirations align with the school’s strengths by writing an effective “Why Law School” essay. For instance, if it emphasizes free speech law studies, mention an impressive alum who studied this field as evidence that your choices align.
This applicant expertly expressed their passion for law in a mature manner that demonstrated how both their academic path and extracurricular involvements align.
1. Focus on your goals
Your personal statement should help answer the “Why this school” question effectively, yet don’t simply list off everything you like about a law school–this isn’t its purpose; rather, discuss how your goals and values align with its unique offerings.
As one writer demonstrates their dedication to social justice through detailing how their early experiences shaped their desire to serve others – without sounding preachy.
As future lawyers, these candidates demonstrate adaptability by discussing how quickly and effectively they assumed new tasks and roles quickly and effectively. Furthermore, they demonstrate curiosity by emphasizing how they always seek to understand the root causes behind problems they encounter.
2. Be specific
Writing clearly about your goals requires specificity. Instead of just listing off actions taken and achievements achieved, be sure to link each to your overall goal. For instance, if your desired career goal is free speech attorneyship, talking about an impressive alumni is great, but more effective would be outlining how this aspect of law aligns with it and why your desired career choice would suit it better.
Lastly, when applying to multiple schools with similar essay prompts, ensure that each response is tailored specifically for each institution. Also avoid including information that can easily be found online as this will appear irrelevant and unoriginal to an admissions officer. Lastly, adhere to any word or character limits specified for your essay submission.
3. Be yourself
As with any essay, your personal statement should reflect who you are as an individual. While it is important to avoid rambling and inappropriate language, your statement allows the admissions committee to get to know more about you through its pages.
This student opened his or her statement with an engaging anecdote that immediately engaged readers, before using the remainder of their statement to demonstrate how this experience relates to law and their desire to help people.
Personal experiences to demonstrate your passion for law are an excellent way to set yourself apart from other applicants, yet be wary not to overdo it by providing every detail of your life story; too much detail may overwhelm an admissions team reader and come across as too self-promotional.
4. Be concise
Schools who request essays as part of supplemental applications, interviews or personal statements want to ensure you have taken the time and care to fully appreciate their mission and values. Generating strong narratives within word/character limits is one way you can demonstrate this understanding and appreciation.
Start by conducting some initial research into each school, noting any aspects that stand out to you – this might include unique programs, the expertise of individual faculty members or commitment to diversity within its ranks.
Once you know which elements are most significant to you, structure your essay so as to highlight them logically. This demonstrates a strategic approach to all aspects of law school life – not only academic offerings – while attesting your ability to integrate social and extracurricular aspects into an overall legal education.
5. Be honest
As part of your personal statement, it is crucial to be candid. Admissions officers can easily detect when someone is trying to manipulate emotions or fabricate stories for admission purposes. They want to see passion; but also want to get to know who they are as individuals.
One common misstep applicants make is using their personal statements as a platform to promote themselves; this approach often results in bad impressions. Instead, focus on emphasizing your positive qualities instead.
Utilizing sensory language can bring your essay to life and make it more relatable for readers. Utilizing chronological structure or taking an approach focused on themes can also help your audience better understand who you are as an individual and why law school will benefit you in the future.