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The Ultimate Guide to Writing an Outstanding Law School Personal Statement

Dazzle Admissions with Your Legally Awesome Personal Story
Apr 2, 2023

Introduction

Let's face it: you've spent countless hours studying and acing the LSAT, and now it's time for the pièce de résistance – the law school personal statement. This is your golden opportunity to showcase your personality, and put your best legal foot forward. But don't worry, this guide has got you covered. In no time, you'll be writing a personal statement that could put John Grisham's early drafts to shame.

If you're ready to convince law school admissions committees that you're the next Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Thurgood Marshall, then buckle up and get ready for a wild ride through the world of crafting the ultimate law school personal statement.

1. Know Your Audience: The Admissions Committee

First and foremost, remember that you're writing for the admissions committee. These are the gatekeepers of your future legal career, and they've read more personal statements than there are citations in a Supreme Court decision. To avoid becoming a legal footnote in their memory, keep the following in mind:

  1. Be professional, but also relatable. You don't want to sound like a robot that's been programmed to spout legalese.
  2. Avoid clichés like "I want to make a difference" or "I've always wanted to be a lawyer." Unless, of course, you've been dreaming of billable hours since you were in diapers.
  3. Consider what makes you unique. Remember, this is your chance to stand out among a sea of applicants with equally impressive academic records and LSAT scores.

2. Choosing Your Topic: Make It Personal and Memorable

When it comes to choosing a topic for your personal statement, think of it as an episode of Law & Order: Your Life Edition. It's your moment to shine, so pick a story that showcases your passion, resilience, or commitment to justice. Consider these tips:

  1. Use an anecdote. Admissions committees love a good story, especially one that shows your problem-solving skills or ability to navigate tricky situations. Just be sure not to end up on the wrong side of the law!
  2. Reflect on a transformative experience. If you've had a life-changing event that led you to pursue law, share it! Just remember to keep it PG-rated.
  3. Discuss a personal challenge you've overcome. Nothing says "I'm ready for law school" like demonstrating your resilience in the face of adversity.

3. Structure and Organization: Your Legal Blueprint

Now that you've chosen your topic, it's time to draft your personal statement. Like a well-organized legal brief, your statement should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Consider the following tips for structuring your masterpiece:

  1. Begin with a strong opening. Start with a hook that will capture the reader's attention and make them want to keep reading. Think of it as your own personal Miranda warning: "You have the right to remain captivated."
  2. Develop your story in the body. This is where you'll expand on your anecdote or experience, and explain how it has shaped your desire to pursue a legal career. Remember to be concise and avoid meandering – this isn't a filibuster.
  3. End with a powerful conclusion. Tie everything together and reiterate why you're the ideal candidate for law school. Just like a closing argument, leave the admissions committee convinced that you're the right choice.

4. Style and Tone: Finding Your Inner Legal Wordsmith

When it comes to your personal statement, you want to strike the perfect balance between professional and engaging. After all, no one wants to read a 500-word legal treatise on why you should be admitted to law school. To achieve this delicate balance, follow these style and tone guidelines:

  1. Write in the first person. This is your personal statement, so own it! Using "I" allows you to convey your unique perspective and voice.
  2. Keep it conversational, yet polished. Write as if you were speaking to a respected mentor or professor. Avoid slang, but don't be afraid to inject a bit of your personality into your writing.
  3. Employ dry humor sparingly. A little wit can make your statement more enjoyable to read, but remember that humor is subjective. It's best to err on the side of caution, lest you inadvertently offend the admissions committee.
  4. Be precise and concise. Legal writing is known for its clarity and brevity, so practice these skills in your personal statement. Aim to keep it between 500 and 700 words, as brevity is the soul of wit (and law school applications).

5. Revision: The Art of Legal Editing

It's been said that writing is rewriting, and this is particularly true for your personal statement. Once you've drafted your masterpiece, it's time to don your editor's hat and polish it to perfection. Follow these tips for a meticulous revision:

  1. Take a break before revising. Give yourself some distance from your statement before diving into revisions. This will help you approach it with fresh eyes and a clear mind.
  2. Read your statement out loud. This technique can help you catch awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and other errors that might not be apparent when reading silently.
  3. Seek feedback from others. Share your statement with trusted friends, family members, or mentors who can provide constructive criticism. Just remember, opinions are like law school casebooks – everyone's got one, but you don't have to take them all to heart.
  4. Edit ruthlessly. Don't be afraid to cut, rewrite, or reorganize your statement. Your goal is to make your writing as strong and effective as possible, even if it means sacrificing a clever turn of phrase or an endearing anecdote.

6. Proofread: The Final Verdict

Before submitting your personal statement, it's crucial to proofread it thoroughly. Even the most compelling story can be marred by typos, grammatical errors, or other mistakes. Follow these proofreading tips to ensure your statement is error-free:

  1. Use spell check, but don't rely on it entirely. Some errors, like homophones or subject-verb agreement issues, may slip past your computer's watchful eye.
  2. Print your statement and read it on paper. This can help you spot errors that you might have missed on-screen.
  3. Enlist a second pair of eyes. Sometimes, a fresh perspective can catch mistakes that you've become blind to after multiple revisions.

Conclusion

Crafting an outstanding law school personal statement may seem daunting, but with the right approach and a healthy dose of perseverance, you can create a compelling and memorable statement that will impress even the most discerning admissions committee. So go forth and conquer, future legal eagles! And remember, as you embark on your law school journey, may the precedent be ever in your favor.

cryptanon HLS '22 & LSD creator

Tech-focused creator of LSD.Law. I built LSD while applying to law school. I saw unequal access to knowledge and built LSD to level the playing field and help applicants make thoughtful, well-informed decisions in the application process.

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@LamentableGiftedBeetle
D or R?
That makes it a lot closer, but I'd still be a little biased towards Texas. The local connections you make there will be more helpful than the national ones you'd make at Georgetown.
politics is very much a local thing still.
Very true! I'm kind of thinking the same thing. Thank you so much. I appreciate it and it really does help a lot!!
My answers based on my experience as someone who hires corporate lobbyists in about 20 states, including Texas, though I am not a politician myself.
let's just put it this way, going to law school in Texas can Never be used again you in Texas - going to Georgetown could
Haha, I have definitely considered that possiblity!
and as you rightly say, connections are critical. Do as many politicians favors as you can. Get in and start volunteering for campaigns etc.
Will do. I'm only just beginning to but that only becomes more and more apparent the more I do.
Also consider small donations to candidates you really like. It does make a difference. Look at it as an investment in your future career.
catman
18:19
Try and get really involved at the state level first. State assemblies are the best place to make connections. It's what I did and it has been paying pretty big dividends so far for me, thanking God for that
I will. Money in politics really is so essential
catman
18:20
It's a lot easier than you would think to get in at this level as well. There is always a ton of work to be done and I'm sure your state rep would love to have an assistant that got into GT law
Thank you catman, I've definitely been leaning that way to start out. Glad to hear you're having success!
catman
18:23
Thank you bro, dm me if there's any pointers I can give you
@catman: Thank you, bro. I'll take a pic to remember!
@LamentableGiftedBeetle: Also thanks again to you and your dad!
if i have more than average p/f grades due to covid + going abroad one semester will it be a big problem? nyu for example on lsac states they take into account ratio of p/f to graded courses though everyone knows abt the bot on lawadmissions that says p/f wont have any impact so not sure how to feel
It would be a lot better to run for politics in Texas, Texas has the best campaign finance laws in the country, as in it has none
if you make one good connection they can fund your entire campaign as an outsider/ anti establishment
That's how Ted Cruz got AG, he had a big donor who gave him a million dollars, and when he got mad that the press was chastising him for supported a republican as a gay man, he gave him another million, I know you're a D but just giving an example
I've actually looked, many outsiders last cycle in the Texas state house had more personal donors than special interests
@onetimesignin: That's very good advice. Based on everything I've learned so far, it definitely appears that would come in handy
Fool is I for giving advice to a democrat as I am a republican, but we're all in this together, lol
Only issued you'd run into out of state is the residency requirments, state house is easiest, but the requirments for senate and governor are increasingly more stringent in terms of length of residency
Yes, that's also something I have been thinking about as well!
@onetimesignin
Local politics is based, do it if you want to! Nothing to lose
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