Personal Statements

The most challenging part of the law school application may well be the personal statement. You'll find loads of advice for writing personal statements on the Internet, in books, from paid consultants and previous applicants. To some extent, which advice rings true to you may be as personal as the statement itself. Regardless of which advice you pursue and consider, keep in mind that your personal statement is an opportunity to let an admissions committee get to know you on terms you control - a rarity in the application process. So, try to see the statement as an opportunity to provide insight into who you are and what you would bring to their incoming class that no other applicant does.

我

Admissions committees do not have much time to read statements - get their attention immediately and keep it. One way to do this is to start your story in motion. Ira Glass of This American Life is a genius story-teller. Once you start listening to one of his stories, it is very difficult not to stay through the end of it. His advice about story-telling applies well to writing a personal statement: combine a story with a supporting "moment of reflection." There are many versions of Glass' advice on this topic and it is advice that applies to personal statements just as to radio stories.

Law schools will have their own requirements in terms of length and specific questions. Make sure to adhere to those restrictions. Generally, though, personal statements are about two pages, doublespaced.