Law students would tell you that law school is a “jealous mistress,” which the faint of heart should best live without. It is for this same reason that the selection process is more rigorous and the application to law school more competitive, especially if you are aiming for the top law schools in the country. If law is your passion, then there is one more thing that you need to work hard on aside from having an outstanding GPA and getting an excellent LSAT score: turning in a top-notch personal statement.
A personal statement is also known as an admission or application essay. Typically, it is a two-page essay which sums up the reasons why you want to go to law school. Some law schools, however, may set a minimum or maximum word and page count. The rules of writing a personal statement typically vary from one university to another, so it is best to stick to the format required by the law school of your choice. A law school may also assign a specific theme or question that you should work on, while others usually allow applicants freedom to choose what topic to discuss. Whatever is required by the Admission Board of the law school that you are eyeing, your main objective should be to make your personal statement stand out from thousands of essays.
Law school admissions are all about LSAT and GPA scores as well as how many A’s a student got in the undergraduate years. However, law school admissions also look for potential students who excel not only in the academics, but also in other areas. Though this may sound like applying to college all over again, extracurricular activities and your other pursuits not related to school or work can be the aces up your sleeves. In the same manner that you discuss how being the captain of the lacrosse team in high school helped you channel your focus in your college application essay, in your law school personal statement, you can talk about how you’re involvement with certain organizations has opened your eyes to the desire to study the law. Here are just a few of the extracurricular activities that are cited in sample law school personal statements.
Membership with NGOs
Being part of a group such as a non-government organization can work for you in your quest to get into law school. In some sample law school personal statements, authors detail how their passion for saving the earth has prompted them to join an NGO. Good sample law school personal statements also focus on how earning a law degree can help applicants realize their dream for a more environment-conscious society. These NGOs are good training grounds for future lawyers. You are trained in reviewing existing legislation and even help draft new bills for the protection or pursuit of your organization’s cause. Going to law school can seal in better knowledge and skills in understanding how the law works.
