personal statement for law school uk

How to write a great personal statement

Crafting a personal statement that stands out is an important part of the UCAS process. However, it can be hard to know exactly what to include, how to write it, and how to stand out. With this in mind, we caught up with Student Recruitment Manager Richard Palmer for his tips on writing a great personal statement.

By Cara Fielder . Published 13 October 2021. Last updated 12 January 2024.

Why is a personal statement important?

Your personal statement is about much more than just meeting the grade requirements and needs to tick a few boxes to stand out. These statements are a top factor when it comes to consideration for admissions experts – but don’t see it as a chore, your personal statement provides an opportunity to communicate your unique skills and strengths to secure your place at university.

What are admissions looking for?

Students must have the appropriate qualifications and grade predictions to meet entry requirements, but this will need to be elaborated on in your personal statement. As you think of your different qualifications, accomplishments, and qualities remember to link them all together to show how this makes you suitable for your chosen course.

Excellent spelling, grammar and attention to detail.
Illustrate your suitability for the course by linking it to different areas of life. For example, earlier studies, extra-curricular activities, personal hobbies/experiences and work experience (if applicable).
Your personality – not in terms of humour or sarcasm but show that you are a responsible and hardworking student.
A strong reference that supports your application.

Our nine tips for writing your personal statement

Map out the structure.

A great way to approach this is visually: create a diagram splitting the personal statement into sections. Firstly, you want a strong opening introducing yourself. The middle section can then be split into three sub-sections: your course choice, education experience and your wider experiences (e.g. extracurricular activities and work). Then conclude with a concise summary of the points you’ve made.

Whilst the whole statement needs a good deal of work, a robust opening can hook the reader and make all the difference to an application. It’s an opportunity to briefly cover everything you’ll discuss in greater detail throughout your statement. Consider why you want to study the course, your passion for the subject, where you hope it leads and why it’s right for you.

Similarly, a strong closing paragraph can leave a positive and lasting impression. Try and consolidate what you’ve covered in your statement and reinforce why you would make a great candidate for the course.

Transferrable skills

When discussing your suitability, share how the content and skills learned from your current or previous study relate to your chosen course, and how they will help you succeed. For instance, if you studied A Level Business and apply to study accounting and finance try and highlight how your current learning will influence your degree choice.

Of course, there are many degrees where it might not be possible to study the subject before university, so you’ll need to be a little more creative and think outside of the box. For those subjects which aren’t directly related to your chosen course consider any crossover and highlight those links. For example, if you’ve chosen to study criminology and studied A Level Geography you could discuss globalisation, green crimes, or illegal pollution.

You should also discuss the wider skills you’ve developed. Consider how a variety of teaching environments, coursework, and creative projects have provided you with relevant skills to succeed in a degree such as organisation skills, time management, communication, and multi-tasking.

If you are applying for slightly different courses, remember that all your university choices will see the same personal statement. Make sure to prioritise talking about your main subject for consistency.

Be original

While it might be tempting to copy your friends or take inspiration from example personal statements online, avoid it at all costs. Plagiarism is often unintentional but the best thing you can do to avoid it is steering away from using templates or writing similar personal statements to your peers.

UCAS (for example) puts every statement through plagiarism software. If your statement has 30% similarities to others, a report is sent to all your university choices. They decide the outcome, which could be to revoke your offer. Don’t let this worry – if you honestly write an original statement and the software still picks it up by fluke the university will know what to do.

Consider your strengths

Follow this simple framework:

What are you good at?
How can you demonstrate that skill?
Keep it positive

For example - “I was a debate team captain and lead in making arguments” is good, but it could have something added to it to make it pop. A great way to do this is to add positive adjectives and adverbs to build up the sentence. “I was a successful debate team captain and lead in making winning arguments”.

Everybody has weaknesses, and it’s important to recognise these too. However, be sure to frame it as a positive. Be honest and recognise areas you haven’t experienced or aren’t as confident at – and consider positive ways that you can develop in that area.

Highlight any previous work experience

Even if it was short-term or voluntary, any experience is good and helps to emphasise your skills. Demonstrating that you have actively sought out work experience presents you as someone with initiative and independence.

Start writing it as early as possible and be aware of all the important deadlines. Draw out a timeline detailing when you aim to have your first draft done, your second draft, any reviews and submission deadlines. This will help to get you in the right mindset from the outset, because nobody likes last-minute stress.

Triple check your work

Sometimes when you have been working on something for a long time, it’s easy to overlook mistakes so it’s also helpful to ask someone else to proofread it for you. Double and triple check your work, keeping an eye out for typos. Getting family or friends to proofread your personal statement will also help to ensure that it sounds authentically you.

Stand out from the crowd

Try to think outside of the box and communicate what makes you unique. For example, if you have any creative ideas on how to improve a certain area within your chosen industry/subject, put this forward. This might tie in with your hobbies and work experience and be a good way to build on it.

Make evidence-based points

Highlighting your experiences is a crucial part of the personal statement but must be backed up with solid evidence. For example, if you have experience as a sports captain or society member, rather than just listing what you did, explain how you got there and what you achieved. Mention actions and outcomes, this shows how you strive for self-improvement and highlights an ability to clearly define goals.

If you’re still considering which degree to apply for, check out our range of undergraduate courses in law , business , criminology , policing , psychology and computer science .

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How to Write A Standout Law Personal Statement

A law personal statement is essential when applying to enrol on an LLB law course as an undergraduate or an LLM degree as a postgraduate. Get advice and tips on writing good law personal statements.

Our Guide to Law Personal Statements

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You’ll need to write a law personal statement if you’re applying for the LLB or other types of law degrees via UCAS . You will also have to write one if you’re applying to study law at postgraduate level.

What is a Law Personal Statement?

The personal statement is a piece of writing which you send off with your UCAS application to different universities . It’s capped at 4,000 characters (so will often end up running for about one side of A4), and serves as the best way to differentiate yourself from other applicants to the most competitive courses. In short, it’s the personal statement which is the truly ‘personal’ part of your application. This is your chance to grab the attention of the admissions team, who will often use the personal statement as the easiest way to pick between candidates with other similar metrics (e.g. predicted A Level grades which meet the entry requirements ). Other universities ( Oxbridge specifically ) place even more emphasis on your personal statement, using it as a way to decide who to invite to interview (and then as a source of discussion during interviews). Put simply, it’s an important part of your application.

For law specifically, a subject which is known to be both competitive and highly academic, the personal statement is even more crucial. The University of Law have a page outlining some law personal statement tips , but this article seeks to present our views on some of the most crucial elements of a successful personal statement for studying law at university – from what you should do to what you shouldn’t, structure, content and more, this article will get you well on your way.

How Universities Use Your UCAS Law Personal Statement

If a lot of students applying for law degree courses have achieved the basic entry requirements, university admissions teams use UCAS law personal statements to decide who is more suited to their learning programme. Some universities take this a step further with, for example, with the LNAT , which is taken into consideration alongside your personal statement.

Some law schools will read every personal statement and score them. They then use this score alongside your qualifications and grades to decide whether to offer you an interview. Other law universities don’t give as much consideration to personal statements and will only use them to decide between students who have borderline entry requirements.

Law schools may refer to your personal statement on results day if you don’t get the grades you need. A good personal statement could be the difference in securing a university place if you don’t get the grades you hoped for.

Planning Your Statement

Plan a clear structure.

First thing’s first, you’re going to need a clear structure. There are a few reasons for this. First, having a clearly planned out structure before you start writing will limit the amount of ‘waffle’ you could accidentally end up putting into your writing (more on that in our next point). Second, a clear structure allows your reader (those university admissions teams) to enjoy the personal statement more by increasing the smoothness of the reading experience associated with a well thought out body of text (remember, they’ll be reading hundreds, if not thousands, of these). Third, you’re applying to study law – the personal statement is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that you can produce well planned, structured writing (as is crucial for any humanities subject). The theme of the personal statement serving a dual purpose (presenting the content itself but also showcasing your writing abilities) will come up again throughout this article – it’s super important to bear in mind.

There is no one-size-fits-all structure that your personal statement should take, and you should allow yourself to be guided largely by the content you’re looking to present. It is a good idea, however, to feature a particularly catchy opening leading into an introductory section, a main body (structure however best suits the content) and at least a line or two of concluding material at the end.

Leading on from our last point, being concise is key. Not only does this allow you to demonstrate your clarity of writing (as all law students and aspiring lawyers need as a key skill ), but it also increases the amount of content (or explanation of that content) you’re able to pack into 4,000 characters. For example, have you written ‘on the other hand’? ‘Conversely’ is 2 words/7 characters shorter, and serves the exact same purpose. Also consider whether you’re repeating yourself. Conciseness is best achieved by proofreading.

Manage Your Tone

Throughout your personal statement, it’s best to take a relatively formal tone. Your content is the part that allows your personality and individualism to shine through. Also avoid humour – it’s simply too risky without knowing the preferences of the individual whose desk your personal statement will eventually land on.

Need Help With Your Statement?

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Writing Your Statement

Proofreading is essential for a personal statement, and you’ll likely go through many rounds of drafts. Having concise writing is key (see the point above), but even more important is the fact your personal statement needs to avoid any errors in spelling or grammar. These are easily correctible and may reflect badly on you as a student applying to an essay-based subject at university. It’s fine if you personally struggle with spelling or grammar – see our next point for a way to combat that.

Get Feedback

Your personal statement, while being innately ‘personal’, is best improved by showing it to a range of people. Although there will naturally (and sadly) be a difference in the quality of assistance you will receive based on the quality of your sixth form/college, be proactive in seeking out the best people possible to read over it and give you feedback. Are there any teachers at your school who studied on the university course you now find yourself applying to? Can you find current students/alumni of that course on LinkedIn and ask if they’d be willing to spare a few minutes to glance over it for you? The more input you get (from people who have more experience than you on this topic), the more secure you’ll feel in defending why you’ve written what you have.

Capital Letter Checks

If you’ve successfully followed the tips above, you’re likely to have a personal statement with a great deal of specific references in it. There’s an easy way to roughly check this – visually scan down your personal statement and see how many capital letters there are. If you’ve got very few, it’s likely that you may have included a fair amount of ‘waffle’. If you can spot quite a few capital letters, that’s a sign that you’ve probably included the specifics – great job! Where ‘I’ve read many legal books’ might throw up a red flag, ‘I’ve read X and Y books’ means you’re on a great path.

Get to Know Your Course

Demonstrate your interest by improving your understanding

Perfecting Your Statement

Keep it personal.

Attempting to present a broad overview of your degree’s content (e.g. trying to do a broad sweep of UK legal history) is useless, impossible, and ultimately pretty boring to read. It also means you’ll end up with something that skims the surface of many things. Remember, this is a ‘personal’ statement. The best way to approach it is to drill down deep into one or two particular niches that interests you (again, rather than skimming the surface of a huge range of topics). This keeps your personal statement fresh and interesting to read for the admissions team. Have you developed an interest in a particular piece of legislation that’s just come out? You could spend a paragraph going into some detail here – and the contents of that paragraph are what comes next.

Show – Don’t Tell

This is one of the most important pieces of advice possible. Once you’ve found a particular area of interest to talk about in your personal statement, you need to back that up with specific, tangible examples. Some people will also advise that you try and keep this content relatively recent in order to demonstrate an engagement with world affairs. Although not compulsory, this can still be a useful avenue to explore. ‘I’m really interested in the new Online Safety Bill’ is generic, proves very little, and could apply to anyone. ‘My interest in the new Online Safety Bill led me to read X book and watch X documentary, after which I considered X issues’ is specific to you, demonstrates a tangible interest in these topics, and is simply far more interesting to read. This idea of constantly building on what came before allows you to demonstrate a thread running throughout your essay (helping your structure present itself as clear in the process). This is where you’ll often hear people say that your personal statement needs to ‘flow’.

The range of things that you could ‘show’ is vast – books related to your course are a great starting point. If you know one of your top choice universities employs a particularly prominent member of faculty, perhaps you’d be interested to have a look at their writing and include that too. Other such content could include documentaries, conferences, events, or work experience. Now your personal statement is looking far more personal.

Academic vs Extra-Curricular

Balancing the proportion of academic to extra-curricular content in your personal statement is not an easy task, especially when you’re likely to hear that certain top universities like Oxbridge heavily favour the former. Law is also an intensely academic subject. With that in mind, it’s only natural to place a heavy emphasis on the academic side. However, if you’ve got extra-curricular content which you feel you could successfully link to your degree course in some way (e.g. ‘For my swimming club, I researched current health and safety regulations to make sure we are compliant’ – ‘I am in a swimming club’, conversely, doesn’t hold much value), then do feel free to include that too.

In short, while writing law personal statements may appear a challenge, following our top tips will allow your application to excel. Be clear, be specific, be you.

Watch this video from Solent University Law School, Southampton, which is packed with great tips on how to write a strong personal statement for law.

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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 21 September 2023 | 13 min read

Writing a law personal statement: expert advice from universities

Make your law personal statement stand out from the crowd in a competitive field, with these tips from university admission experts

Share this page

Email & print.

The university application personal statement is changing in 2025
University admissions service Ucas has announced that a new style of personal statement will be launched in 2025. This will affect anyone making a university application from autumn 2025 onwards. .

Be clear about why you’re choosing law

Read more: how to write an excellent personal statement in ten steps

Back everything up with examples from your life

Read more: how to write your university application

Keep your personal statement personal

Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

Swerve the clichés

Read more: personal statement FAQs

Don’t worry about writing the wrong thing

Read more: the ten biggest mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement

Make the bigger connections

Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements

Include any legal work experience on your personal statement

Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang

If you can’t get formal work experience, consider visiting your local court

Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say

Work experience in other fields could still be relevant to your law personal statement

Highlight the key skills.

Read more: how long does it take for universities to reply to your application?

Don’t just list things out

Some last tips from the universities….

Plan your personal statement : a well-structured and presented personal statement is going to be more persuasive. An attribute we are looking for in law students.
Pay attention to the detail : lawyers are required to be precise and accurate, so ensure that your application does not include grammatical or spelling errors.
Ensure that you research the courses that you are applying to : discussing your interest in an area of law is not going to come across well if the course that you are applying to does not offer it.
Focus on you : it is called a personal statement for a reason. For law courses, this is often the only insight that a university has into you as an individual, so make sure that your motivations, your experiences and your skills shine through.
Avoid cliches : no one wants to read about your ‘passion for law'.

You may want to look at these...

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps.

Help and advice on putting your application together

Personal statement FAQs

We've gone through some of the most commonly asked personal statement questions and put all the answers in one place

Personal statement secrets – universities reveal all

Want to know how to craft an amazing personal statement? Take some advice from the experts...

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UK Law School Personal Statement

How To Draft a Meaningful UK Law School Personal Statement

Law Personal Statement

Last updated: 19 June 2024

Applying to a UK law school is a significant step toward a rewarding career in law. Among the various elements of the UCAS application process in the UK, the personal statement stands out as a unique opportunity to showcase your individuality, motivation, and suitability for a legal education.

Crafting a compelling personal statement can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can create a meaningful narrative that sets you apart from other applicants.

Arrange a free consultation today to learn more about law school admission and how we can help you successfully apply.

Drafting a UK Law School Personal Statement

Understand its purpose.

Before you start writing, it’s crucial to understand the purpose of a personal statement. Admissions committees use personal statements to gain insight into your personality, experiences, and aspirations. This document should complement your academic records and test scores, providing a fuller picture of who you are and why you are pursuing a career in law.

Reflect on your experiences

Begin by reflecting on your life experiences, focusing on those that have influenced your decision to study law . Consider significant events, challenges, or achievements that have shaped your perspective and goals. Think about:

Personal Background: Family history, cultural influences, or personal challenges that have contributed to your interest in law.
Academic Interests: Specific subjects or projects that ignited your passion for legal studies.
Professional Experiences: Internships, work experiences, or volunteer activities that provided insight into the legal field.
Extracurricular Activities: Involvement in clubs, societies, or community service that demonstrates your leadership, commitment, and skills relevant to law.

Show, Don’t Just Tell

One key principle of effective writing is to show, not just tell. Instead of merely stating that you are passionate about law, provide concrete examples demonstrating your enthusiasm and commitment. Describe specific incidents, projects, or roles illustrating your qualities and achievements.

Highlight your qualities

UK law schools seek candidates who bring diverse perspectives and unique qualities to their law schools. Highlight what sets you apart from other applicants. Whether it’s your multicultural background, unique work experience, or distinctive skills, ensure that your personal statement reflects your individuality and the special contributions you can make to the law school community.

Align with the law school’s values

Each law school has its values, culture, and strengths. Research the law schools you are applying to and tailor your personal statement to align with their values and programmes.

Maintain a professional tone

While your personal statement should be personal and reflective, it must also be professional. Use clear, concise, and formal language. Avoid slang, clichés, and overly casual expressions. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and spelling. A well-written, error-free personal statement reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which are crucial qualities for a future lawyer.

Revise Revise Revise!

Writing a personal statement involves multiple drafts and revisions. Seek feedback from mentors, professors, or legal professionals. They can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement. Be open to constructive criticism and willing to make changes to enhance clarity, coherence, and impact. Proofread your final draft meticulously to ensure it is polished and error-free.

Study Law in the UK

By reflecting on your experiences, crafting a compelling narrative, and aligning with the values of the law schools you are applying to, you can create a personal statement that stands out. To begin your UK law application, reach out to SI-UK today.

What is the average length of a law personal statement?

The average length of a law personal statement must be about two pages long within the 800-word limit.

What are the four qualities of an outstanding law personal statement?

The four qualities of an outstanding law personal statement are:

Focus on quality over quantity
Keep your statement clear and concise
Create a compelling story that can engage the reader
Edit as per the specifications and ask for feedback

What are the 6C's of creating a personal statement?

The 6 C’s of a personal statement are:

Conciseness

What are the five steps to writing a personal statement?

Take time to reflect on your experiences, values, and motivations that can lead you to pursue an opportunity to write a good personal law statement.
Create an outline and brainstorm the points you want to include in your statement.
Write a compelling introduction that draws the attention of the reader
Present your experiences, skills, and achievements coherently and organised.
Revise your personal statement and seek peer, mentor, and advisor feedback to refine your writing.

How do you avoid repetition in a personal statement?

Focusing on varied sentence structures and vocabulary is essential in a personal statement to avoid repetition. Provide fresh perspectives or examples that support your ideas.

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References for mature students

What should you write in a law personal statement?

Bringing your interest in law to life is key. If you’re already studying law, then you might want to talk about topics you've enjoyed and any wider reading you've done.

Haven't studied law at A level (or equivalent)? Don't worry – there aren't usually subject-specific entry requirements for law degrees. Learn more about the 'unspoken rules' of university entry requirements here.

Dr Murphy suggests these other ways to demonstrate your engagement with law:

A book you’ve read that had a legal dimension to it.
Work experience, which could be in a solicitor’s firm or a mini-pupillage, but equally could be shadowing at your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), some charity work, or even your Saturday job.
Visiting your local magistrates' court, the Crown Court, or your nearest employment tribunal. As Dr Murphy puts it, ‘the English legal system is open and receptive to those wishing to experience law in action’.
Join a debating club, or start your own. If you have the opportunity to conduct a personal project or the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) , consider giving it a legal focus.

But don't simply list what you've done. Write about relevant experiences in your statement in a reflective way. What did you see? What did you learn? Why did it enhance your interest in law?

What else to include in your law statement

Why you want to study law: bring this to life by focusing in on aspects of law that are of particular interest to you, how it relates to your current studies, and what additional reading you've embarked on. But keep it concise – three or so paragraphs is probably fine.
How your skills fit: demonstrate that you have, or are developing, the skills needed for success in law – from public speaking to persuasive writing, or your meticulous attention to detail when writing essays.
Current affairs: the University of Cambridge (and many other universities) like applicants who keep up-to-date with current affairs and who are interested in the legal implications of the latest news stories.
Good written English: sentence construction, spelling, and punctuation are absolutely vital, and sometimes a cause for rejection.
Combined course applications: if you're applying for law in combination with a different subject, make sure you demonstrate something relevant to the other subject too.
What you've drawn from extracurricular activities: this is another good way to demonstrate your motivation, skills and enthusiasm for the course.

What not to do in your law personal statement

Fail to research your chosen courses: all that talk of your passion for company law won't impress a uni that doesn't offer it as an option.
Spelling and grammatical errors: as Dr Murphy says, ‘law is a discipline of precision, so being careless in such an important document will not bode well for a future legal career’.
Not explaining why it's relevant: if you read the law section of The Times, that’s great, but make sure you elaborate on why it's relevant to your application. Try reflecting on a specific article or feature, for instance.
Overuse of quotations: ‘don't try too hard to impress with quotations. I don’t care what Locke thinks, I want to know what you think!’.
Use clichés: including overuse of the word 'passion' or the phrase ‘law is all around us’. Don't just say it, demonstrate it in a personal, concise way. And remember, less is more.

Are a law personal statement and LPC personal statement the same?

No, these are two different things.

A law personal statement is part of the UCAS application process when applying to study law.

A personal statement for the Learning Practice Course (LPC) is submitted to the Central Applications Board (CAB) when applying to LPC training to become a solicitor, having already completed an undergraduate law degree (or conversion course).

While it is also a personal essay which you use to sell your skills, experience and passion for law, it is very different to a law personal statement – for one thing, the word limit for a LPC personal statement is 10,000 characters ( compared to 4,000 characters for a UCAS personal statement ).

The Two Principles of writing your Law Personal statement

There are so many things to consider when writing a personal statement that sometimes, you don’t which ones to follow or prioritise. There are two additional things to bear in mind where law personal statements are concerned:

Your interest and suitability should be demonstrated in relation to law as an academic subject - not law as a career. Principle #1

The LPC (Legal Practice Course) and the BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course) are separate courses geared towards making a student prepared for a career in law. In contrast, an undergraduate degree in law at university is not – it focuses, instead, on law as an academic subject. It is best practice to avoid speaking about your interest in the legal profession and focus instead on what it is about law as a subject that draws you to it.

For example, consider important law-related academic milestones of recent years and discuss how these have influenced you. You can mention cryptocurrency or the commercial use of drones. These topics might not seem law related at first, but the required legislation to have these elements present in society is most definitely a law problem.

Writing the personal statement is itself an opportunity for you to demonstrate skills which the study of law would require. Principle #2

Namely, the ability to make a coherent case (in this case, for your admission), to follow a clear structure and to express yourself concisely. A fun approach you could take is to think of your personal statement as your case to prove you are guilty or innocent (in other words, deserving of a place at your chosen university). Bring some charming humour into it and make it a memorable personal statement.

What to Do Before writing your law personal statement

You might be wondering: how can I demonstrate interest in law as a subject when I have little knowledge on what studying it at university will involve? This problem can, however, be overcome through adequate preparation before writing the statement. One way to prepare is by reading law books – that is – introductory law texts suitable for those who have never studied law before. One such text is Criminal law: the basics – by Jonathan Herring.

Wider Reading: Discover our recommended law reading list

It is important to read these texts not to learn about Law, but to gain some insight into what studying Law involves and why you find it interesting. Articles in the news on Law-related subjects can also be useful in introducing you to controversial legal issues; for example, The Economist previously published an article on the European Court of Justice’s ruling on a discrimination case (concerning whether employers can sack employees who refuse to remove their headscarves).

Mentioning such issues in your Personal Statement, and, more crucially, explaining why they draw you to the study of Law, as well as your thoughts on how the issues should be resolved, can be a great way to demonstrate your interest. Another preparatory step to take before writing the statement is work experience.

This, however, is not essential, and any work experience you complete should only be mentioned if it somehow increases your interest in Law as an academic subject or if afforded you the opportunity to develop skills which will enable you to be a good Law student.

Don’t worry if you’re not able to find work experience: another thing you can do is go into a court to watch a court case (courts in this jurisdiction are open to all). Another worthwhile activity is undertaking an extended essay or the Extended Project Qualification at school; this can give you the opportunity to develop research skills and look into a Law-related topic over a long period of time.

Writing Your law personal statement: structure and style

A good structure to follow is to dedicate the first half of the statement to showing your interest in studying Law, and how you developed that interest through reading books, articles and doing other activities. The second half of the statement should be where you produce evidence of your suitability for the study of Law.

One thing to bear in mind whilst writing the statement is that it is best not to be dramatic; it can be tempting to use a multitude of adjectives – this should be avoided as the statement tends to start sounding silly. Besides, a better technique for producing an interesting statement is using examples to evidence statements and being as precise as possible. The link below has a great example of a personal statement for Law application.

Success rates for students studying Law can be as low as 12% – UniAdmissions’ average success rate is 57%.

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Writing a personal statement for law school

Law School Personal Statements require careful consideration – they can make up a big part of your application to law school. With that in mind, read these 10 top tips for a law personal statement that is engaging, appropriate and effective: the perfect start to the path to success in law school application.

1. Enthusiasm: keen but not cliched

Your law school personal statement is your opportunity to show off your desire to be a law student. It is really important that you demonstrate your enthusiasm for the subject, your tutor wants to know that studying law excites and interests you, this will make you into a keen law student who is ready to learn. But, in people’s attempts to demonstrate their eagerness, some applicants over-exaggerate. This can sound cliched and tutors will be able to see through false enthusiasm. So, keep it real!

Some things to think about include

Why you were drawn to law
Why the law course excites you
The topics you are most drawn to
Why you enjoy using the skills required in a law degree

Things to avoid

Cheesy metaphors
Non-serious stories or flashbacks (think “when I was younger …” or “after watching Suits …”
Hyperbole and very strong adjectives (e.g. I absolutely love law, it is extremely enlightening and incredibly diverse)

2. Flow in your law personal statement!

You will have lots of things to fit into your law school personal statement (including an introduction, conclusion, work experience, reading and extra curricular). It is important that your law personal statement doesn’t read like a jumble sale: you don’t want to just throw everything on to the page in a random order. So, think carefully about structure .

Method

The best way to structure is to group things together, you might want to write down all the things you want to include on individual sticky notes and then try a few different groupings until you get to the one that makes the most sense.

Academic activity
Extra curricular activity
Reading
Writing
Work experience
Passion for law
Interest in the importance of language in the law
Appreciation of the diversity of law
Cogency
Argument

3. Analyse don’t describe

A common thing that tutors comment on is student’s lack of analysis. This means that instead of analysing and showing your analytical and law skills, you describe what you have done or list off the skills you have. The motto you should stick by is: show don’t tell .

Here’s an example …

This student has done some relevant work experience, but instead of analysing their time at the firm and thereby demonstrating their skills, they have simply listed their activities and stated the skills they learnt. The problem is, the tutor will not just take your word for it – you must show them the skills you have learnt not just state them!
This student does a much better job at demonstrating their ability to analyse. The student takes a personal and specific experience and explains their own personal analysis of the event. This is a great way of showing the tutor your analysis skills rather than just telling them.

4. Honesty is the best policy

It is really important that you are honest in your law school personal statement. Avoid over exaggerating your work experiences or reading, instead make insightful points about things you have definitely done properly. Not only is there a chance that you will be caught out at interview if you exaggerate your understanding of a piece of reading, it is also obvious to tutors (who have lots of experience and have likely read the materials multiple times in great depth) when you have not done the work properly. You don’t want to give the reader the impression that you think it is okay to wing your work: so stay honest for a better chance of success.

5. Extracurricular: a well-rounded applicant

You might think that law tutors are all about work. This is not true and many tutors will prefer to pick a well rounded applicant over one who’s entire experience is academic. You should aim for a 70/30 or 80/20 split academic to non-academic. One thing that is however very important when discussing non academic activities is skill linking.

Skill Linking

This is a technique where you relate every extra-curricular or non-academic activity to a relevant skill. Remember that law school skills don’t just come from reading and writing – there are loads of ways to present yourself as a student with the skills they need to start a law degree.
Timeliness
Accuracy
Flexibility
Stress management
Readiness to learn

6. Personal statement

Your personal statement should be exactly that: personal! This is about your experiences and your own thoughts. Even if you have done the exact same activities reading and work experience as another candidate, your personal statements should be entirely different. In order to make your law school personal statement include personal thoughts and specific experiences wherever possible …

Key terms to include …

This made me think …
Reflecting on this …
I noticed …
I was particularly surprised by …
The most important part of activity X for me was Y because …

7. Studying law not practicing

It is really important to know that you are applying to study law and not to practice it. You might use your law degree to go on and practice law but this is not necessary, there are plenty of other career paths available to a law school graduate. Moreover, the tutor is in charge of your study of law, they are not your boss supervising you as a practicing lawyer. With this in mind, you must check that your personal statement is geared up to an application for educational study.

Read this sample statement passage and notice where the student slips into applying for a practicing law position rather than an educational degree …

I feel as a lawyer I would be able to win cases with my argumentative and debating skills. I am drawn to the variety of a lawyer’s everyday work: reading cases, meeting clients and arguing in court. I feel I am particularly suited to a role in meeting and engaging with clients since I have excellent interpersonal skills. I am also an ambitious individual and hence the life of a high profile and high earning lawyer is right for me.

8. Use resources

As much as there might be things which are frequently included in a law school personal statement, there are no specific topic or activity requirements. This gives you the opportunity to be resourceful and think outside of the box. Perhaps your work experience has nothing to do with law? No problem, find a way to reflect on the skills you acquired and comment on how this would help you as a law student? Or, perhaps you don’t enjoy reading books? Try reading articles, newspapers, watching documentaries or listening to podcasts.

Here are a few things you might do outside of the typical solicitor work experience …

Essay competitions
Debating competitions
Attending talks
Writing for a student newspaper or website
Running a society or club
Volunteering

9. Reading and academics

We have talked about the importance of applying to study rather than practice law , and, since law is an academic degree it is crucial that you demonstrate academic interest and ability. You don’t need to make reference to your grades, tutors will already have these available to them. But, you do need to demonstrate academic ability beyond A- Levels: especially writing extended essays and reading more complex items. Some ways to demonstrate this include

Reading beyond your subject curriculum
Writing an essay for a competition
Completing an EPQ

10. Triple check!

Your law school personal statement will take time to write and you might find that after a while you have read it so many times it is tricky to be critical. At this point it is time to get feedback from other people. Take time to think through their feedback, reflect and make any necessary changes (remember you can always try out an idea on a new document and then go back to the original so don’t be afraid to give something a go!).

Here are a few people you might like to ask for constructive feedback …

Family (parents, siblings, aunts, uncles)
Teachers ( law teacher or any teacher especially of an essay based subject)
An online tutor
A successful applicant from a previous year

Law school personal statements are your first chance to make a good impression with your application. It can be stressful trying to get your personal statement spot on, but remember it is a work in progress and will improve over time. These tips should help you with that improvement and put you on the path to success as a law school applicant.

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Law Personal Statement – A Strong Introduction

When applying to study Law , the personal statement is your first chance to catch the eye of the admissions tutors. This is the initial section of your Oxbridge law personal statement , so create a good first impression! When writing your personal statement Oxford tutors will be grabbed first by the introduction. However, it’s all about balance in introductions…

Attract the reader’s attention while staying away from cliches.
Sound enthusiastic, but not obnoxious.
Set the tone for the rest of your message, but don’t provide too much information.

Table of Contents

Law Personal Statement Oxford Example

“Law is my life’s ambition; I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was a child.” I would be glad for the chance to study law at your amazing university, and I want to express my specific qualifications for a spot in law school in this statement.”

This law Oxford personal statement introduction is clichéd and lacks the appropriate tone. It’s crucial to seem enthusiastic, but you don’t want to come across as arrogant, so use a more reasonable tone. It’s also vital not to come across as arrogant or arrogant; portray oneself in a positive manner while being humble (remember, you haven’t begun studying law properly yet!)

“Law strikes a compromise between the requirement for clarity, which necessitates sharp lines, and the necessity for flexibility to the variety and complexity of social life. This conflict fascinates me, and I wish to explore it further through the study of law, evaluating its current condition and considering the prospect of future reform.”

This Oxford law personal statement foreword provides a personal perspective and thought. This is effective since it is unlikely to be similar to any of the other statements the instructor has read that morning. It also displays this person’s interest in the law without mentioning it explicitly, as well as their curious and inquiring nature. Furthermore, it establishes a trend that we hope will be continued throughout the statement.

TOP INTRODUCTION TIP → Striking the right balance between being passionately enthusiastic and cliche with quotes and conversations

This is your chance to demonstrate why you want to be a lawyer. It is critical that you show enthusiasm for the topic; when writing your law personal statement, Oxford instructors want to know that studying law excites and intrigues you. This will help you become a motivated law student who is eager to learn. Some candidates, however, exaggerate in their attempts to convey their zeal. This may come out as trite, but tutors will be able to spot fake excitement. So, stay true to yourself!

Consider the following points:

What drew you to the field of law?
Why are you interested in taking a legal course?
The subjects that interest you the most and why you love applying the abilities acquired through a law degree
What do you hope to do with your degree in the future?

Things to stay away from

Metaphors that are cheesy
Nonserious anecdotes or flashbacks (for example, “when I was younger…” or “after seeing Suits…”).
Strong adjectives and hyperbole (e.g. I absolutely love law, it is extremely enlightening and incredibly diverse)

The introduction to your Oxford Law Personal Statement!

It’s critical to nail the start of your Oxbridge law personal statement. It’s all about attracting the attention of the reader, showing passion, establishing the tone for the remainder of the personal statement, and avoiding clichés. Before submitting, you should revise and rewrite the opening several times, especially after finishing the rest of your personal statement to ensure consistency and flow. If you need some support, our Oxbridge law interview tutoring programmes can help you by assisting you in writing a stand-out personal statement.

For more advice, check out our other guides, such as writing about law personal statement work experience .

At Oxbridge Mind, we can also help you with other areas of the law school application such as preparing for the LNAT with our expert LNAT tutors . Contact us today to see how we can help.

→ What is a law personal statement?

A law personal statement is a document submitted by applicants to law schools or legal positions to showcase their qualifications, experiences, and motivations for pursuing a legal career. It is an essential component of the application process and provides admissions committees with an insight into the applicant’s personality, academic background, and professional goals.

→ What are some tips for writing a strong introduction for an Oxbridge law personal statement?

To write a strong introduction, applicants should start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention, provide a brief overview of their background and experiences, highlight their motivation for pursuing a legal career, and explain what they hope to achieve by attending law school or pursuing a legal career.

→ What are some examples of effective hooks for a law personal statement introduction?

Effective hooks introduction can include personal anecdotes, quotes, statistics, or questions that relate to the applicant’s experiences or motivations. A good example would be to start with a story about how you overcame a legal challenge, a quote from a famous lawyer that inspired you, or a question that reflects your curiosity about a specific area of law.

→ Should applicants include their academic achievements in the introduction of a law personal statement?

While academic achievements are important, the introduction should focus on the applicant’s personal and professional experiences, motivations, and goals. Applicants can highlight their academic achievements in other parts of the essay or application, but the introduction should focus on what makes them unique and passionate about pursuing a legal career.

→ Why is a strong introduction crucial for a law personal statement?

The introduction is the first impression that the admissions committee will have of the applicant. Therefore, it is essential to make it engaging, memorable, and persuasive. A strong introduction can captivate the reader’s attention, set the tone for the rest of the essay, and make the applicant stand out from the competition.

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With a blindfold across her eyes, Lady Justice represents the objectivity of the justice system. In a generation where the gender pay gap persists and minorities face discrimination decades after the introduction of equalities legislation, I wonder whether perhaps an all-seeing symbol would be more appropriate.

"Eve was Framed" by Helen Kennedy explores the bias against women in our justice system. She discusses the battle to even allow women to be involved in legal processes as senior members of the legal profession in a society where sexism was the norm and the idea of a woman in a court seemed to be at best a gesture of liberalism, but commonly accepted as a radical notion. It allowed me to appreciate how stereotypes are perpetuated by those who seek to exploit the weaknesses in our laws and legal system.

Ultimately I began to reflect upon the relationship between the law, liberal ideas and religion. I drew parallels to today's society and the more liberal ideals that are emerging, especially those that contradict major religions, such as laws regarding surrogacy. It is these scenarios which capture my interest in law and how it can reconcile the apparent dichotomy between them, as well as adapt to an ever changing society.

Competing in the Magistrates Mock Trials stimulated my interest in law as I was able to act out a case (albeit as the defendant!) as part of a national winning team of students. I subsequently shadowed barristers at St Ives Chambers, learning how to analyse cases from personal injury claims to family disputes.

I found one particular case of stalking eye-opening due to the requirement for harassment to have occurred several times before a prosecution is possible, making me question how our laws could be improved.

In Year 12, I took part in the Bar Mock Trials Competition, this time assuming the role of lawyer for the prosecution. This sharpened my analytical skills to assess a situation quickly and to create an appropriate response when having to cross-examine witnesses.

Performing at the Old Bailey and watching other teams gave me an insight into how the same case can result in different outcomes, depending on the performances of the those involved. Though not surprising given the subjective nature of the law and its interpretations and applications, it does make me question its fairness and ability to truly provide justice.

My EPQ investigates the extent to which the Hillsborough inquests have challenged the integrity of the justice system, providing valuable research skills required for any degree. Reading "Hillsborough - The Truth" helped to widen my understanding of the disaster, providing harrowing accounts of the day and subsequent injustices faced by the families.

Initially it seemed that this gross miscarriage of justice challenged the very morals justice is built upon, but further research revealed that perhaps its main causes and effects were the inexperience of officers and a lack of planning. Indeed, it seems that the recent verdict of unlawful killing may be an example of justice prevailing.

What I found most challenging was differentiating between a negative aspect of the justice system and a problem in legal processes. In this instance it was not the principles of the justice system that led to the initial incorrect verdicts and the long fight for justice, but the faults in other parts of the processes, such as flawed coroner reports and amended statements.

As well as being engrossed in my studies, I participate in Taekwondo and have done for the past ten years, an activity which has taught me discipline and commitment, as well as providing a release from my academic life.

Being appointed Deputy Head Girl has developed my public speaking skills with my part time job as a tutor enabling me to hone my communication skills, having to cater for children aged six to sixteen. I believe these skills will be an asset in dealing with the rigours of reading for a degree in Law.

Profile info

There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Author's Comments

University of Birmingham - Unconditional offer University of Cambridge - Accepted to interview and placed in winter pool University of Liverpool - Offer and offer lowered to ABB University of Nottingham - Offer University of Warwick - Offer

Grades: Biology A, EPQ A*, History A, Psychology A*

This personal statement is unrated

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Your Guide to Writing an Excellent Personal Statement

How to write a great personal statement for law.

In this handy guide, we will provide some useful hints and tips to help you tailor your personal statement and increase your chance of securing a place on your desired law degree.

What is a personal statement?

Your personal statement forms part of your UCAS application, and is sent to all of the institutions you are applying to. The aim is to convince the reader that you are the perfect candidate to study/practise law, and it should be personal; about your interests, your background, your aspirations, and the reason you want to study Law at university.

Tip: Although you are encouraged to talk about the LLB as a whole, don’t mention specific features – such as a specific placement or year abroad – unless it applies to all of the courses you are applying to via UCAS.

What skills should a Law student demonstrate?

Verbal communication skills.

One of the most important skills of a lawyer is ‘advocacy’: being able to communicate, advise, persuade. Can you include any examples of activities that have enhanced your communication skills? Or worked with others and offered informed advice?

Written communication skills

A good understanding of grammar and sentence structure is essential when studying a law degree and entering the legal profession. Your personal statement is evidence of how much attention you pay to this: don’t underestimate the importance of proof reading!

Developing a convincing argument

Putting forward an informed argument – both written and verbal – are skills that you will further develop whilst at university and throughout your legal career. Can you include any examples that demonstrate this? For example, public speaking, debating, or constructing an essay with pros, cons and conclusions.

Research skills

This links in nicely with the above point – to develop a convincing legal case, or progress on to specialise in a specific legal area – efficient and detailed research is an essential skill. Can you demonstrate any examples of research included in any of your current qualifications?

Volunteering

Volunteering at university is a great way of increasing your career prospects and expanding your legal knowledge. If you have any examples of volunteering or work experience – Law related or not – include them, and expand on the skills learnt. It’s worthwhile noting that Pro Bono Work (which involves offering free legal advice) is often an activity that both students and practising lawyers are involved in. Often, such work is conducted in a Law Clinic – where students and professionals offer free legal advice to members of the public, to help combat cuts in legal aid and also give something back to the local community.

Extra reading and exploration

An interest in wider research, or current affairs is desirable – some areas of the law have remained unchanged in 400 years whilst others may have changed since last month. But remember: be specific, name a text, particular case – and be sure you are genuinely engaged with it, you could be asked for more information at interview.

Tip: We’ve compiled a list of resources for students to engage with before beginning their studies at university . These resources may help with this aspect of the personal statement, helping you further understand terminology and think beyond the curriculum.

Personal Statement FAQs

What should i include in my opening paragraph.

Your opening paragraph should include something punchy, to attract the reader’s attention: it should reflect your background and experiences, and why they have influenced you to study Law at degree level
Examples may include: an area of Law that interests you, a relevant book you may have read and found interesting, a poignant and applicable news article/topic of late
If relevant, indicate a linked career goal (for example, working as a solicitor, barrister, or within the criminal justice system)
If you’re finding it difficult to make a start, leave your opening paragraph until last.

Tip: Most law degrees will cover seven core elements of law, including Contract Law, Criminal Law, Land Law, Equity and Trusts, EU Law, Law of Tort and Public Law.

Popular module choices within our LLB include law relating to medical treatment, human rights, family, the environment, trade, employment, and media.

How do I include my current studies?

Discuss how your qualification(s) prepares you for a Law degree. If you are already studying Law, start here. If not – don’t worry, most qualifications include skills that are transferrable to Law
Be specific and show an intellectual interest – which authors / modules / theorists / debates interest you? Why might this help you with your law degree?
Show how you have read beyond the curriculum

How do I include my extra-curricular activities?

When it comes to extra-curricular activities, do not simply list your achievements: state the skills that you learnt on your work experience or during your volunteering, explain how you have developed since being part of a sports team. Work to expand on why you feel these extra activities are applicable to studying a law degree – and, remember, it’s not about quantity here: it’s about quality.
In terms of supra-curricular activities – that is what you’ve done to learn outside of the classroom – again, be detailed and apply your learnings to the skills needed for a law degree. Tell us about any summer schools you’ve been a part of and what you learnt, any debates you’ve been involved in, what you’ve learnt from watching TED Talks.
Both extra-curricular and supra-curricular activities demonstrate that you are proactive – think of how this might relate to a legal profession.

Tip: During your degree, you may wish to get involved with opportunities such as competitions , mock client interviewing, mooting , or debating – all of which require a dedication of time beyond the realms of your studies.

Where do I start?

Begin by drafting bullet points, utilising the above pointers. Don’t worry about making sentences cohesive and structured to begin with – focus on the points you wish to make
Once you have your pointers, plan your structure and work out where each point will be placed. We’d recommend the following:
Opening Paragraph
Your Current Studies
Career Aspirations and Work Experience
School/ College Achievement/Extra-Curricular Activities

Edit and refine: hone your draft down to an eligible piece, and get advice.

Lawrence Thomas

What our students say. hear from law student, lawrence:.

How can applicants make themselves stand out when applying to Swansea?

More than simply stating that you are interested in studying law, specify why in detail; give examples from your experiences – part-time jobs, family members, work experience etc. Also, an applicant will stand out if they can display to the admissions team that they have qualities necessary to successfully study – e.g. determination – and gives examples for them too. Finally, try to do these things while avoiding generic statements and clichés – if the reader can anticipate how a sentence is going to end, it will be unremarkable.

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18 Law School Personal Statement Examples That Got Accepted!

sample-law-school-personal-statement-and-tips

This blog contains law school personal statement examples written by applicants who were successfully accepted to multiple law schools after working with our admissions experts as part of our l aw school admissions consulting services . Your law school personal statement is one of the most important parts of your application and is your best opportunity to show admissions officers who you are behind your numbers and third-party assessments. Because of its importance, many students find the personal statement to be daunting and demanding of the full scope of their skills as writers. Today we're going to review these excellent law school personal statement examples from past successful applicants and provide some proven strategies from a former admissions officer that can help you prepare your own stellar essay.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 44 min read

Law school personal statement example #1.

When I was a child, my neighbors, who had arrived in America from Nepal, often seemed stressed. They argued a lot, struggled for money, and seemed to work all hours of the day. One day, I woke early in the morning to a commotion outside my apartment. Police officers were accompanying my neighbors out of the building. They were being deported. In my teens, I was shocked to see that our kind, friendly neighbors had exhausted their last chance to stay in America as they lost a court appeal.

Since that time, I have worked closely with the many immigrant families in my neighborhood, and now university town. I began by volunteering at a local community center. Together with social workers, I served food and gave out clothes to new arrivals. My diligent work ethic led to more responsibility, and I received training in basic counseling techniques, first aid skills and community services. Soon, I was tasked with welcoming new community members and assessing their health and social needs. I heard the many difficult stories of those who had traveled thousands of miles, often through several countries, risking everything to reach a safe, welcoming country. I was proud to contribute in some small way to making America welcoming for these individuals.

The community center is where I had my first formal contact with legal aid lawyers, who were a constant source of knowledge and support for those who needed assistance. I was struck by the lawyers’ ability to explain complex legal processes to nervous and exhausted incomers: law, I realized, was about more than procedure. I decided that I, too, would strive to balance a wealth of technical knowledge with my caring, compassionate personality.

As soon as I enrolled in university, I knew I had the chance to do so. In my very first week, I signed up to volunteer at the university’s legal aid center, where I worked closely with law professors and students on a range of cases. Academically, I have focused on courses, such as a fourth-year Ethics seminar, that would help me develop rigorous critical reasoning skills. More importantly, I knew that, given my experience, I could be a leader on campus. I decided to found a refugee campaign group, Students4Refugees. Together with a group of volunteers, we campaigned to make our campus a refugee-friendly space. I organized a series of events: international student mixers, an art installation in our student commons, and concerts that raised over $5,000 for the charity Refugee Aid. I am proud to say that my contributions were recognized with a university medal for campus leadership.

I have seen time and again how immigrants to the United States struggle with bureaucracy, with complex legal procedures, and with the demands of living in a foreign and sometimes hostile climate. As I plan to enter law school, I look back to my neighbors’ experiences: they needed someone who knew the law, who could negotiate with the authorities on their behalf, who could inform them of their rights—but they also needed someone who would provide a caring and compassionate outlet for their stresses. I know that Townsville University’s combination of academic rigor, legal aid services, and history of graduates entering labor and non-profit sectors will allow me to develop these skills and continue making contributions to my community by advocating for those in need.

Thematic consistency: It focuses on just one theme: justice for immigrants. Each paragraph is designed to show off how enthusiastic the student is about this area of law. Personal statements—including those for law school—often begin with a personal anecdote. This one is short, memorable, and relevant. It establishes the overall theme quickly. By constraining their essay’s focus to a single general theme, the writer can go into great depth and weave in emotional and psychological weight through careful and vivid description. The personal statement isn’t a standard 3-paragraph college essay with a spotlight thesis statement, but it conveys similar impact through presenting a central focus organically, without resorting to simply blurting out “the point” of the piece.
Shows, rather than tells: Connected to this, this statement focuses on showing rather than telling. Rather than simply telling the reader about their commitment to law, the applicant describes specific situations they were involved in that demonstrate their commitment to law. “Show don’t tell” means you want to paint a vivid picture of actions or experiences that demonstrate a given quality or skill, and not simply say "I can do X." Make it an experience for your reader, don't just give them a fact.
Confident, but not arrogant: Additionally, this personal statement is confident without being boastful—leadership qualities, grades, and an award are all mentioned in context, rather than appearing as a simple list of successes.
Specific to the school: It ends with a conclusion that alludes to why the applicant is suitable for the specific school to which they’re applying and points to their future career plans. Thoroughly researching the law school to which you’re applying is incredibly important so that you can tailor your remarks to the specific qualities and values they’re looking for. A law essay writing service is really something that can help you integrate this aspect effectively.

What Should a Law School Personal Statement Do?

1. be unique to the school you’re applying to.

Students are always asking how to write a personal statement for law school, particularly one that stands out from all the rest. After all, advice from most universities can often be quite vague. Take this zinger from the University of Chicago : “Write about something personal, relevant, and completely individual to you… Just be yourself.” Every school will have different requirements or content they want to see in a personal statement. This is why it’s a good idea to review specific guidelines for the school to which you’re applying. For example, you can read Yale Law School personal statement examples , Stanford Law personal statement examples , and an NYU personal statement to get an idea of what these schools look for.

2. Demonstrate your skills and capabilities

For motivated students with the world at their fingertips, it’s a tough ask to narrow your character down into a few hundred words! But this is exactly the point of such generic guidelines—to challenge aspiring law students to produce something unique and convincing with minimal direction by the university. Law is, after all, a profession that demands your language to be persuasive, and the personal statement is merely one of many exercises where you can demonstrate your language skills.

3. Meet basic requirements

While the law school personal statement is about far more than just following essay directions, you still need to keep basic formatting and length restrictions in mind. Most law schools ask for a 2-page personal statement, but lengths can range from 2-4 pages. Georgetown Law School , for instance, recommends a 2-page personal statement but explicitly states that there is no official minimum or maximum. In general, length does not make a personal statement better. Rambling, meandering sentences and tiresome descriptions will only hurt the impact of your ideas, especially considering how many thousands of pages admissions committees have to churn through each year.

In short, keep to 2 double-spaced pages, and only go below or above this is if you absolutely have to, and if the school to which you're applying allows it. You want to keep things as widely applicable as possible while drafting your personal statement, meaning that you don't want to draft a 4 page letter for the one school that allows it, and then have to significantly rewrite this for your other schools. Stick to 2 pages.

4. Embody what the school is looking for

Lastly, many law schools won’t offer hyper-specific prompts, but will give you general law school admissions essay topics to follow. For instance, the University of Washington’s law school provides a number of topics to follow, including “Describe a personal challenge you faced” or “Describe your passions and involvement in a project or pursuit and the ways in which it has contributed to your personal growth and goals.” These topics may feel specific at first, but as you begin drafting, you’ll likely realize you have dozens of memories to choose from, and numerous ways of describing their impact. While drafting, try to explore as many of these options as possible, and select the best or most impactful to use in your final draft.

Law School Personal Statement Example #2

In my home community, the belief is that the law is against us. The law oppresses and victimizes. I must admit that as a child and young person I had this opinion based on my environment and the conversations around me. I did not understand that the law could be a vehicle for social change, and I certainly did not imagine I had the ability and talents to be a voice for this change. I regularly attended my high school classes because I enjoyed the discussions and reading for English and history, and writing came easily to me, but I wasn’t committed to getting good grades because I felt I had no purpose. My mindset changed as I spent time with Mark Russell, a law student who agreed to mentor and tutor me as part of a “high school to law school” mentorship program. Every week, for three years, Mark and I would meet. At first, Mark tutored me, but I quickly became an “A” student, not only because of the tutoring, but because my ambitions were uncorked by what Mark shared with me about university, the law, and his life. I learned grades were the currency I needed to succeed. I attended mock trials, court hearings, and law lectures with Mark and developed a fresh understanding of the law that piqued an interest in law school. My outlook has changed because my mentor, my teachers, and my self-advocacy facilitated my growth. Still, injustices do occur. The difference is that I now believe the law can be an instrument for social change, but voices like mine must give direction to policy and resources in order to fight those injustices.

Early in my mentorship, I realized it was necessary to be “in the world” differently if I were to truly consider a law career. With Mark’s help and the support of my high school teachers, I learned to advocate for myself and explore opportunities that would expand my worldview as well as my academic skills. I joined a Model UN club at a neighboring high school, because my own school did not have enough student interest to have a club. By discussing global issues and writing decisions, I began to feel powerful and confident with my ability to gather evidence and make meaningful decisions about real global issues. As I built my leadership, writing, and public speaking skills, I noticed a rift developing with some of my friends. I wanted them to begin to think about larger systemic issues outside of our immediate experience, as I was learning to, and to build confidence in new ways. I petitioned my school to start a Model UN and recruited enough students to populate the club. My friends did not join the club as I’d hoped, but before I graduated, we had 2 successful years with the students who did join. I began to understand that I cannot force change based on my own mandate, but I must listen attentively to the needs and desires of others in order to support them as they require.

While I learned to advocate for myself throughout high school, I also learned to advocate for others. My neighbors, knowing my desire to be a lawyer, would often ask me to advocate on their behalf with small grievances. I would make phone calls, stand in line with them at government offices, and deal with difficult landlords. A woman, Elsa, asked me to review her rental agreement to help her understand why her landlord had rented it to someone else, rather than renewing her lease. I scoured the rental agreement, highlighted questionable sections, read the Residential Tenancies Act, and developed a strategy for approaching the landlord. Elsa and I sat down with the landlord and, upon seeing my binder complete with indices, he quickly conceded before I could even speak. That day, I understood evidence is the way to justice. My interest in justice grew, and while in university, I sought experiences to solidify my decision to pursue law.

Last summer, I had the good fortune to work as a summer intern in the Crown Attorney’s Office responsible for criminal trial prosecutions. As the only pre-law intern, I was given tasks such as reviewing court tapes, verifying documents, and creating a binder with indices. I often went to court with the prosecutors where I learned a great deal about legal proceedings, and was at times horrified by human behavior. This made the atmosphere in the Crown Attorney’s office even more surprising. I worked with happy and passionate lawyers whose motivations were pubic service, the safety and well-being of communities, and justice. The moment I realized justice was their true objective, not the number of convictions, was the moment I decided to become a lawyer.

I broke from the belief systems I was born into. I did this through education, mentorship, and self-advocacy. There is sadness because in this transition I left people behind, especially as I entered university. However, I am devoted to my home community. I understand the barriers that stand between youth and their success. As a law student, I will mentor as I was mentored, and as a lawyer, I will be a voice for change.

What’s Great about this Second Law School Personal Statement?

It tells a complete and compelling story: Although the applicant expressed initial reservations about the law generally, the statement tells a compelling story of how the applicant's opinions began to shift and their interest in law began. They use real examples and show how that initial interest, once seeded, grew into dedication and passion. This introduction implies an answer to the " why do you want to study law? ” interview question.
It shows adaptability: Receptiveness to new information and the ability to change both thought and behavior based on this new information. The writer describes realizing that they needed to be "in the world" differently! It's hard to convey such a grandiose idea without sounding cliché, but through their captivating and chronological narrative, the writer successfully convinces the reader that this is the case with copious examples, including law school extracurriculars . It’s a fantastic case of showing rather than telling, describing specific causes they were involved with which demonstrate that the applicant is genuinely committed to a career in the law.
Includes challenges the subject faced and overcame: This law school personal statement also discusses weighty, relatable challenges that they faced, such as the applicant's original feeling toward law, and the fact that they lost some friends along the way. However, the applicant shows determination to move past these hurdles without self-pity or other forms of navel-gazing. Additionally, this personal statement ends with a conclusion that alludes to why the applicant is suitable for the specific school to which they’re applying and points to their future career plans. The writer manages to craft an extremely immersive and believable story about their path to the present, while also managing to curate the details of this narrative to fit the specific values and mission of the school to which they’re applying.

What’s Great About This Third Law School Personal Statement?

Description is concise and effective: This writer opens with rich, vivid description and seamlessly guides the reader into a compelling first-person narrative. Using punchy, attention-grabbing descriptions like these make events immersive, placing readers in the writer's shoes and creating a sense of immediacy.
Achievements are the focus: They also do a fantastic job of talking about their achievements, such as interview team lead, program design, etc., without simply bragging. Instead, they deliver this information within a cohesive narrative that includes details, anecdotes, and information that shows their perspective in a natural way. Lastly, they invoke their passion for law with humility, discussing their momentary setbacks and frustrations as ultimately positive experiences leading to further growth.

Want more law school personal statement examples from top law schools?

Harvard law school personal statement examples
Columbia law school personal statement examples
Cornell law school personal statement examples
Yale law school personal statement examples
UPenn law school personal statement examples
Cambridge law school personal statement examples

Law School Personal Statement #4

What’s great about this fourth law school personal statement.

Engaging description: Like the third example above, this fourth law school personal statement opens with engaging description and first-person narrative. However, the writer of this personal statement chooses to engage a traumatic aspect of their childhood and discuss how this adversity led them to develop their desire to pursue a career in law.
Strong theme of overcoming adversity: Overcoming adversity is a frequent theme in personal statements for all specialties, but with law school personal statements students are often able to utilize uniquely dramatic, difficult, and pivotal experiences that involved interacting with the law. It may be hard to discuss such emotionally weighty experiences in a short letter but, as this personal statement shows, with care and focus it's possible to sincerely demonstrate how your early struggles paved the way for you to become the person you are now. It's important to avoid sensationalism, but you shouldn't shy away from opening up to your readers about adverse experiences that have ultimately pointed you in a positive direction.

Law School Personal Statement Example #5

What’s great about this fifth law school personal statement .

Highlights achievements effectively: This writer does a fantastic job of incorporating their accomplishments and impact they had on their community without any sense of bragging or conceit. Rather, these accomplishments are related in terms of deep personal investment and a general drive to have a positive impact on those around them—without resorting to the cliches of simply stating "I want to help people." They show themselves helping others, and how these early experiences of doing so are a fundamental part of their drive to succeed with a career in law.
Shows originality: Additionally, they do a great job of explaining the uniqueness of their identity. The writer doesn't simply list their personal/cultural characteristics, but contextualizes them to show how they've shaped their path to law school. Being the child of a Buddhist mother and a Hindu father doesn’t imply anything about a person’s ability to study/practice law on its own, but explaining how this unique aspect of their childhood encouraged a passion for “discussion, active debate, and compromise” is profoundly meaningful to an admissions panel. Being able to express how fundamental aspects of law practice are an integral part of yourself is a hugely helpful tactic in a law school personal statement.

If you\u2019re heading North of the border, check out list of law schools in Canada that includes requirements and stats on acceptance. ","label":"Tip","title":"Tip"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Law School Personal Statement Example #6

What’s great about this sixth law school personal statement .

Weaves in cultural background: Similar to the writer of personal statement #5, this student utilizes the cultural uniqueness of their childhood to show how their path to law school was both deeply personal and rooted in ideas pervasive in their early years. Unlike the writer of statement #5, this student doesn't shy away from explaining how this distinctiveness was often a source of alienation and difficulty. Yet this adversity is, as they note, ultimately what helped them be an adaptable and driven student, with a clear desire to make a positive impact on the kinds of situations that they witnessed affect their parents.
Describes setbacks while remaining positive: This writer also doesn't shy away from describing their temporary setbacks as both learning experiences and, crucially, springboards for positively informing their plans for the future.

What’s Great About This Seventh Law School Personal Statement?

The writer takes accountability: One of the hardest things to accomplish in a personal statement is describing not just early setbacks that are out of your control but early mistakes for which you must take responsibility. The writer of this personal statement opens with descriptions of characteristics that most law schools would find problematic at best. But at the end of this introduction, they successfully utilize an epiphany, a game-changing moment in which they saw something beyond their early pathological aimlessness, to clearly mark the point at which they became focused on law.
The narrative structure is clear: They clearly describe the path forward from this moment on, showing how they remained focused on earning a law degree, and how they were able to work through successive experiences of confusion to persist in finishing their undergraduate education at a prestigious university. Of course, you shouldn't brag about such things for their own sake, but this writer makes the point of opening up about the unique feelings of inadequacy that come along with being the first person in their family to attend such a school, and how these feelings were—like their initial aimlessness—mobilized in service of their goal and the well-being of others. Their statement balances discussion of achievement with humility, which is a difficult but impactful tactic when done well.

Law School Personal Statement Example #8

What’s great about this eighth law school personal statement .

Shows commitment to the community: Commitment to one’s community is a prized value in both law students and law professionals. This writer successfully describes not only how they navigated the challenges in their group environments, such as their internship, the debate team, etc., but how these challenges strengthened their commitment to being a positive part of their communities. They don’t simply describe the skills and lessons they learned from these challenging environments, but also how these challenges ultimately made them even more committed to and appreciative of these kinds of dynamic, evolutionary settings.
Avoids negative description: They also avoid placing blame or negatively describing the people in these situations, instead choosing to characterize inherent difficulties in terms neutral to the people around them. In this way, you can describe extremely challenging environments without coming off as resentful, and identify difficulties without being accusatory or, worse yet, accidentally or indirectly seeming like part of the problem. This writer manages to convey the difficulty and complexity of these experiences while continually returning to their positive long-term impact, and though you shouldn’t seek to “bright-side” the troubles in your life you should absolutely point out how these experiences have made you a more capable and mature student.

Law School Personal Statement Example #9

What’s great about this ninth law school personal statement .

The writer effectively describes how their background shaped their decision to pursue law: Expressing privilege as adversity is something that very few students should even attempt, and fewer still can actually pull it off. But the writer of this personal statement does just that in their second paragraph, describing how the ease and comfort of their upbringing could have been a source of laziness or detachment, and often is for particularly well-off students, but instead served as a basis for their ongoing commitment to addressing the inequalities and difficulties of those less comfortable. Describing how you’ve developed into an empathic and engaged person, worked selflessly in any volunteer experiences, and generally aimed your academic life at a career in law for the aid of others—all this is incredibly moving for an admissions board, and can help you discuss your determination and understanding of exactly why you desire a career in law.
The student shows adaptability, flexibility, and commitment: Additionally, this writer is able to show adaptability while describing their more prestigious appointments in a way that’s neither self-aggrandizing nor unappreciative. One of the big takeaways from this statement is the student’s commitment and flexibility, and these are both vitally important qualities to convey in your law school personal statement.

Law School Personal Statement Example #10

What’s great about this tenth law school personal statement .

Shows passion: If you’re one of the rare students for whom service to others has always been a core belief, by all means find a novel and engaging way of making this the guiding principle of your personal statement. Don’t overdo it—don’t veer into poetry or lofty philosophizing—but by all means let your passion guide your pen (well…keyboard). Every step of the way, this student relates their highs and lows, their challenges and successes, to an extremely earnest and sincere set of altruistic values invoked at the very beginning of their statement. Law school admissions boards don’t exactly prize monomania, but they do value intense and sustained commitment.

Shows maturity: This student also successfully elaborates this passion in relation to mature understanding. That is, they make repeated points about their developing understanding of law that sustains their hopefulness and emotional intensity while also incorporating knowledge of the sometimes troubling day-to-day challenges of the profession. Law schools aren’t looking for starry-eyed naivete, but they do value optimism and the ability to stay positive in a profession often defined by its difficulties and unpredictability.

Every pre-law student blames their lack of success on the large number of applicants, the heartless admissions committee members, or the high GPA and LSAT score cut offs. Check out our blog on law school acceptance rates to find out more about the law school admission statistics for law schools in the US . Having taught more than a thousand students every year, I can tell you the REAL truth about why most students get rejected:

Need tips on your law school resume?

8 Additional Law School Personal Statement Examples

Now that you have a better idea of what your law school personal statement should include, and how you can make it stand out, here are five additional law school personal statements for you to review and get some inspiration:

Law school personal statement example #11

According to the business wire, 51 percent of students are not confident in their career path when they enroll in college. I was one of those students for a long time. My parents had always stressed the importance of education and going to college, so I knew that I wanted to get a tertiary education, I just didn’t know in what field. So, like many other students, I matriculated undecided and started taking introductory courses in the subjects that interest me. I took classes from the department of literature, philosophy, science, statistics, business, and so many others but nothing really called out to me.

I figured that maybe if I got some practical experience, I might get more excited about different fields. I remembered that my high school counselor had told me that medicine would be a good fit for me, and I liked the idea of a career that involved constant learning. So, I applied for an observership at my local hospital. I had to cross “doctor” off my list of post-graduate career options when I fainted in the middle of a consultation in the ER.

I had to go back to the drawing board and reflect on my choices. I decided to stop trying to make an emotional decision and focus on the data. So, I looked at my transcript thus far, and it quickly became clear to me that I had both an interest and an aptitude for business and technology. I had taken more courses in those two fields than in any others, and I was doing very well in them. My decision was reaffirmed when I spent the summer interning at a digital marketing firm during my senior year in college and absolutely loved my experience.

Since graduating, I have been working at that same firm and I am glad that I decided to major in business. I first started as a digital advertising assistant, and I quickly learned that the world of digital marketing is an incredibly fast-paced sink-or-swim environment. I didn’t mind it at all. I wanted to swim with the best of them and succeed. So far, my career in advertising has been challenging and rewarding in ways that I never could have imagined.

I remember the first potential client that I handled on my own. Everything had been going great until they changed their mind about an important detail a day before we were supposed to present our pitch. . I had a day to research and re-do a presentation that I’d been preparing for weeks. I was sure that I’d be next on the chopping block, but once again all I had to was take a step back and look at the information that I had. Focusing on the big picture helped me come up with a new pitch, and after a long night, lots of coffee, and laser-like focus, I delivered a presentation that I was not only proud of, but that landed us the client.

Three years and numerous client emergencies later, I have learned how to work under pressure, how to push myself, and how to think critically. I also have a much better understanding of who I am and what skills I possess. One of the many things that I have learned about myself over the course of my career is that I am a fan of the law. Over the past three years, I have worked with many lawyers to navigate the muddy waters of user privacy and digital media. I often find myself looking forward to working with our legal team, whereas my coworkers actively avoid them. I have even become friends with my colleagues on the legal team who also enjoy comparing things like data protection laws in the US and the EU and speculating about the future of digital technology regulation.

These experiences and conversations have led me to a point where I am interested in various aspects of the law. I now know that I have the skills required to pursue a legal education and that this time around, I am very sure about what I wish to study. Digital technology has evolved rapidly over the last decade, and it is just now starting to become regulated. I believe that this shift is going to open up a more prominent role for those who understand both digital technology and its laws, especially in the corporate world. My goal is to build a career at the intersection of these worlds.

Law school personal statement example #12

The first weekend I spent on my undergrad college campus was simultaneously one of the best and worst of my life. I was so excited to be away from home, on my own, making new friends and trying new things. One of those things was a party at a sorority house with my friend and roommate, where I thought we both had a great time. Both of us came from small towns, and we had decided to look out for one another. So, when it was time to go home, and I couldn't find her, I started to worry. I spent nearly an hour looking for her before I got her message saying she was already back in our dorm.

It took her three months to tell me that she had been raped that night. Her rapist didn't hold a knife to her throat, jump out of a dark alleyway, or slip her a roofie. Her rapist was her long-term boyfriend, with whom she'd been in a long-distance relationship for just over a year. He assaulted her in a stranger's bedroom while her peers, myself included, danced the night away just a few feet away.

I remember feeling overwhelmed when she first told me. I was sad for my friend, angry on her behalf, and disgusted by her rapist's actions. I also felt incredibly guilty because I had been there when it happened. I told myself that I should have stayed with her all night and that I should have seen the abuse - verbal and physical harassment- that he was inflicting on her before it turned sexual. But eventually, I realized that thinking about what could, should, or would've happened doesn't help anyone.

I watched my friend go through counseling, attend support groups, and still, she seemed to be hanging on by a thread. I couldn't begin to imagine what she was going through, and unfortunately, there was very little I could do to help her. So, I decided to get involved with the Sexual Assault Responders Group on campus, where I would actually be able to help another survivor.

My experience with the Sexual Assault Responders Group on campus was eye-opening. I mostly worked on the peer-to-peer hotline, where I spoke to survivors from all walks of life. I was confronted by the fact that rape is not a surreal unfortunate thing that happens to a certain type of person. I learned that it happens daily to mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends. I also learned that most survivors try to manage this burden on their own, afraid of judgment and repercussions and fearful of a he-said-she-said court battle.

I am proud to say that I used my time in college to not only earn an education, but also to advocate for survivors of sexual assault. I protested the university's cover-up of a gang rape that took place in one of the fraternity houses on campus. I spearheaded a 'no means no' campaign to raise awareness about consent on campus. I also led several fundraising campaigns for the Sexual Assault Responders Group that allowed us to pay for legal and mental health counselors for the survivors who came to us for support.

One of the things that this experience helped me realize is that sexual assault survivors often do not know where to turn when the system tries to tell them that it'd be best to just keep quiet and suffer in silence. My goal is to become one of those people that they can turn to for counsel and support. I believe that a law degree would give me the knowledge and tools that I need to advocate for survivors on a more significant scale.

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Law school personal statement example #13

I grew up in two different worlds. My world at home was full of people of various skin tones and accents. It was small, loud, and often chaotic in the best ways. I remember walking home and getting to experience music from across the world before I got to my apartment building. Loud reggaeton and afrobeat were always playing somewhere in the distance. Aunties and uncles usually stopped by unannounced and slipped money in your palm when they hugged you goodbye. And the smell of fried plantains was almost always present.

My other world was in school. It was a much quieter, more organized world with white hallways, navy blazers, and plaid skirts. It was full of people who did not look or sound like me and teachers who thought my hair was "interesting." It was also full of great books and engaging debates about everything from foreign policy to the influence of Jazz on hip hop.

I lived in these two worlds because I was born and raised in Xtown, but I went to a private school in a much richer neighborhood. I loved both of my worlds, but I hated that I had to act differently in both of them. When in school, I had to "code switch" to sound like I belonged there. When I was at home, all the people who shared the interests I was developing in school were either working or in college, so I had no one to talk to about them.

My words never felt more divided until I started considering a career in law. I remember telling one of my uncles that I wanted to become a lawyer and his response was, "So you want to become the man, huh?"

I wasn't surprised by his response, or at least I shouldn't have been. One of the things that I know for sure about the first world I lived in is that many of its inhabitants do not trust the law. I had believed this for so long simply because of the conversations that I would hear around me. However, in my second world, I was learning about all of these great freedoms and rights that the law was designed to give all Americans, and I wanted to bring those to my community.

I started working on this during the summer before my final year of high school. I got an internship with the legal aid office in my neighborhood and spent three months learning from people who, like me, had grown up in Xtown and wanted to help people. During my time in the legal aid office, I understood that the people in my community did not trust the law for two main reasons: 1. They did not understand a lot of it, and 2. It had been used against people like us many times.

I remember one particular case that Ms. Sharma - the lawyer I was learning from then and who still mentors me today - handled that summer. It was the case of a young mother who had received a notice of eviction from her landlord two days after refusing his advances. The man claimed that she violated her contract because she made homemade shea butter that she sold on Etsy. Ms. Sharma had me look through her rental agreement. After she confirmed that I was right in determining that the young mother had not violated her contract, she contacted the landlord to advise him that what he was doing was intimidation and sexual harassment.

My experiences in the legal aid office with Ms. Sharma opened my eyes to the disgusting behavior of human beings, but it also gave me the opportunity to see that the law was my opportunity to use what I learned in my second world to help the community that I was raised in. I returned to school with a new motivation that followed me to college. In addition to completing my bachelor's degree in sociology and African American studies, I spent most of my college years participating in legal internships and community outreach programs.

I believe that these experiences have given me the foundation I need to be a successful law student and, eventually, a lawyer who can truly be an advocate for members of his community.

Law school personal statement example #14

One day, my parents noticed that the other children in my age group had been speaking and communicating, but I had not. At first, they thought that my lack of speech was just me being shy, but eventually, they realized that on the rare occasions that I did speak, my words were practically incomprehensible. It wasn't long before they took me to a specialist who diagnosed me with a severe phonological disorder that hindered my ability to verbalize the basic sounds that make up words.

I started going to speech therapy when I was three years old. I saw numerous speech therapists, many of whom believed that I would never be able to communicate effectively with others. Lucky for me, my parents did not give up on me. I went to speech therapy thrice a week until the 8th grade, and I gave every single session my all. I also spent a lot of time in my room practicing my speech by myself. My efforts paid off, and even though I didn't become a chatterbox overnight, I could at least communicate effectively.

This was a short-lived victory, though. A year later, my speech impediment was back, and my ability to articulate words was once again severely limited. This complicated matters because it was my freshman year of high school, and I was in a brand-new school where I did not know anyone. Having been bullied in middle school, I knew first-hand how vicious kids can be, and I didn't want to be the butt of any more jokes, so I didn't try to speak at school. I knew that this was preventing me from making new friends or participating in class and that it was probably not helping my impediment, but I was not ready to face the fact that I needed to go back to speech therapy.

Eventually, I stopped resisting and went back to speech therapy. At the time, I saw it as accepting defeat, and even though my speech improved significantly, my self-confidence was lower than it had ever been. If you ask any of my high school classmates about me, they will likely tell you that I am very quiet or timid – both of which are not true, but they have no way of knowing otherwise. I barely spoke or interacted with my peers for most of high school. Instead, I focused on my studies and extracurricular activities that didn't involve much collaboration, like yearbook club and photography.

It was only when I was getting ready for college that I realized that I was only hurting myself with my behavior. I knew I needed to become more confident about my speech to make friends and be the student I wanted to be in college. So, I used the summer after my high school graduation to get some help. I started seeing a new speech therapist who was also trained as a counselor, and she helped me understand my impediment better. For example, I now know that I tend to stutter when stressed, but I also know that taking a few deep breaths helps me get back on track.

Using the confidence that I built in therapy that summer, I went to college with a new pep in my step. I pushed myself to meet new people, try new things, and join extracurricular organizations when I entered college. I applied to and was accepted into a competitive freshman leadership program called XYZ. Most of XYZ's other members were outgoing and highly involved in their high school communities. In other words, they were the complete opposite of me. I didn't let that intimidate me. Instead, I made a concerted effort to learn from them. If you ask any of my teammates or other classmates in college, they will tell you that I was an active participant in discussions during meetings and that I utilized my unique background to share a different perspective.

My experience with XYZ made it clear to me that my speech disorder wouldn't hold me back as long as I did not stand in my own way. Once I understood this, I kept pushing past the boundaries I had set for myself. I began taking on leadership roles in the program and looking for ways to contribute to my campus community outside of XYZ. For example, I started a community outreach initiative that connected school alumni willing to provide pro bono services to different members of the community who were in need.

Now, when I look back at my decision to go back to speech therapy, I see it as a victory. I understand that my speech impediment has shaped me in many ways, many of which are positive. My struggles have made me more compassionate. My inability to speak has made me a better listener. Not being able to ask questions or ask for help has made me a more independent critical thinker. I believe these skills will help me succeed in law school, and they are part of what motivates me to apply in the first place. Having struggled for so long to speak up for myself, I am ready and eager for the day when I can speak up for others who are temporarily unable to.

“ You talk too much; you should be a lawyer.”

I heard that sentence often while growing up because Congolese people always tell children who talk a lot that they should be lawyers. Sometimes I wonder if those comments did not subconsciously trigger my interest in politics and then the law. If they did, I am grateful for it. I am thankful for all the experiences that have brought me to this point where I am seeking an education that will allow me to speak for those who don’t always know how to, and, more importantly, those who are unable to.

For context, I am the child of Congolese immigrants, and my parents have a fascinating story that I will summarize for you:

A 14-year-old girl watches in confusion as a swarm of parents rush through the classroom, grabbing their children, and other students start running from the class. Soon she realizes that she and one other student are the only ones left, but when they both hear the first round of gunshots, no one has to tell them that it is time to run home. On the way home, she hears more gunshots and bombs. She fears for her survival and that of her family, and she starts to wonder what this war means for her and her family. Within a few months, her mother and father are selling everything they own so that they can board a plane to the US.

On the other side of the town, a 17-year-old boy is being forced to board a plane to the US because his mother, a member of parliament and the person who taught him about the importance of integrity, has been executed by the same group of soldiers who are taking over the region.

They met a year later, outside the principal’s office at a high school in XXY. They bonded over the many things they have in common and laughed at the fact that their paths probably never would have crossed in Bukavu. Fast forward to today, they have been married for almost two decades and have raised three children, including me.

Growing up in a Congolese household in the US presented was very interesting. On the one hand, I am very proud of the fact that I get to share my heritage with others. I speak French, Lingala, and Swahili – the main languages of Congo – fluently. I often dress in traditional clothing; I performed a traditional Congolese dance at my high school’s heritage night and even joined the Congolese Student Union at Almamatter University.

On the other hand, being Congolese presented its challenges growing up. At a young age, I looked, dressed, and sounded different from my classmates. Even though I was born in the US, I had picked up a lot of my parents’ accents, and kids loved to tease me about it. Ignorant comments and questions were not uncommon. “Do you speak African?” “You’re not American! How did you get here?” “You don’t look African” “My mom says I can’t play with you because your parents came here to steal our jobs”. These are some of the polite comments that I heard often, and they made me incredibly sad, especially when classmates I considered my friends made them.

My parents did not make assimilating any easier. My mother especially always feared I would lose my Congolese identity if they did not make it a point to remind me of it. She often said, “Just because you were born in America doesn’t mean that you are not Congolese anymore.” On one occasion, I argued that she always let me experience my Congolese side, but not my American side. That was the first time she told me I should be a lawyer.

Having few friends and getting teased in school helped me learn to be comfortable on my own. I Often found refuge and excitement in books. I even started blogging about the books I read and interacting with other readers online. As my following grew, I started to use my platform to raise awareness about issues that I am passionate about, like climate change, the war in Congo, and the homeless crisis here in XXY. I was able to start a fundraising campaign through my blog that raised just under $5000 for the United Way – a local charity that helps the homeless in my city.

This experience helped me understand that I could use my skills and the few tools at my disposal to help people, both here in America and one day, maybe even in Congo. I realized that I am lucky enough to have the option of expanding that skillset through education in order to do more for the community that welcomed my grandparents, uncles, aunties, and parents when they had nowhere else to go.

The journey was not easy because while I received immense support and love from my family for continuing my education, I had to teach myself how to prepare and apply to college. Once there I had to learn on my own what my professors expected of me, how to study, how to network, and so much more. I am grateful for those experiences too, because they taught me how to be resourceful, research thoroughly, listen carefully, and seek help when I need it.

All of these experiences have crafted me into who I am today, and I believe that with the right training, they will help me become a great attorney.

Law School Personal Statement Example #16

During my undergraduate studies, in the first two years, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my career. I enjoyed doing research, but I found that I became more interested in presenting the research than the process of contributing to it. I spoke to most of my science professors to ask if I could participate in their research. I worked in biology labs, chemistry labs, and in psychology classrooms working on a variety of projects that seemed meaningful and interesting. I gained new perspectives on study habits and mental health; the influence of music on the human mind; and applications of surface tension. I noticed that I was always taking the lead when we were presenting our findings to peers and research groups. I enjoyed yielding questions and addressing the captivating the audience with engaging gestures and speech. This was what led me to consider a career in law.

I always thought that I would become a scientist, so when I discovered that there were aspects of law that could be considered “scientific”, I was all ears. Still during my second year of undergraduate studies, I wanted to join an environmental awareness group, but noticed there weren’t any active. So, I took it upon myself to create my own. I wanted to do cleanup projects across the city, so I mapped out parks and areas that we could walk or drive to. I advertised my project to other students and eventually gained approximately fifteen students eager to help out. I was struck by the pollution in the water, the negligence of park maintenance. I drafted a letter to the municipal government and petitioned for a stricter environmental compliance approach. I wanted to advertise fines to hold polluters accountable, as there were hardly any to enforce the rules. A letter was returned to me stating that the government would consider my request. I felt a sense of gratification, of purpose; I discovered that I had the ability to enact change through policy. This drew me closer to the prospect of building a future in law, so I looked at other avenues to learn more.

I still wanted to find a way to bring together my love of science and discourse/communication. As a science student, I had the privilege of learning from professors who emphasized critical thinking; and they gave me a chance to learn that on my own. I took an internship as an environmental planner. There, I helped present project ideas to various groups, updating demographic/development information, and managing planning processes. I engaged in analytical thinking by looking at maps and demographic information to develop potential plans for land use. It was also the experience I was looking for in terms of a balance between science and oral communication. Using data analysis, I spoke to other planners and review boards to bring ideas together and execute a plan.

Through science, I learned how to channel my curiosity and logical thinking; as an advocate, I learned how to be creative and resourceful. Presenting research findings and being questioned in front of a group of qualified researchers, having to be sharp and ready for anything, taught me how to be more concise in speech. Developing an advocacy group dedicated to improving my community showed me what it lacked; it opened my eyes to the impact of initiative and focused collaboration. I was eager to begin another science project, this time with the environment in mind. It was titled “determining and defining the role of sociodemographic factors in air pollution health disparities”. I compiled and summarized relevant research and sent it over to a representative of the municipal government. In a couple of weeks, my request to increase advertising of fines in public areas was agreed to.

This Juris Doctor/Master in Environmental Studies program will allow me to continue deepening my knowledge of environmental law. With my goal of developing a career in environmental affairs, overseeing policies that influence land protection/use, I know that this program will give me the tools I need to succeed. With my experience working with large groups, I also believe I will fit into the larger class sizes at your institution. I understand the value of working together and how to engage in healthy discourse. With your Global Sustainability Certification, I will equip myself the expertise I need to produce meaningful change in environmental policy.

Here's how a law school advisor can help you with your application:

Law School Personal Statement #17

Growing up in a poor neighborhood, what my friends used to call “the ghetto”, I was always looking for my way out. I tried running away, but I always ended up back home in that tiny complex, barely enough room to fit all my brothers and sisters with my parents. My dad was disabled and couldn’t work, and my mother was doing her best working full-time as a personal-support worker. There was nothing we could do to get out of our situation, or so it seemed. It wasn’t until years later when I started my undergraduate degree that ironically, after I found my way out, that I began looking for a way to come back. I wanted to be a voice for people living in those bleak conditions; hungry, without work. Helpless.

Getting my degree in social work was one of the best decisions of my life. It gave me the tools to lobby for solutions to problems in poor communities. I knew my neighborhood better than anyone because I grew up there. I had the lived experience. I started working with the local government to develop programs for my clients; the people living in those same neighborhoods. We worked to provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, and medical treatment—all things sorely lacking. My proudest moment was securing the funds and arranging surgery for my father’s bad hip and knees. I’m currently working on a large project with one of the community legislators to lobby for a harm reduction model addressing addiction in our communities.

With five years of experience as a social worker, I knew it was time for a career change when I learned that I could have more influence on public opinion and legislative decisions as a social-security disability lawyer. I knew firsthand that people victimized from racism, poverty, and injury needed more help than they were currently allotted. I knew that, from becoming and advocate and communicating with influential members of the local government, that I could do more with a law degree helping people attain basic needs like disability benefits, which are often denied outright.

This desire to help people get the help they need from local programs and government resources brought me to Scarborough, a small town outside of Toronto. I was aware of some of the issues afflicting this community, since I’d handled a few clients from there as a children’s disability social worker. Addiction and homelessness were the two main ones. I worked with children with ADHD or other physical/mental disabilities impairing their ability to attend school and function normally. I helped many of them get an IEP with the details of the special services they require, long overdue. I made sure each child got the care they needed, including special attention in school. Also noticing that so many of these families lacked proper nutrition, I organized a report detailing this finding. In it, I argued that the community needed more funds targeting lowest income families. I spoke directly with a legislator, which eventually got the city on board with developing a program more specifically for the lowest income families with residents under 18.

My goal has always been to be a voice for the inaudible, the ignored, who’ve been victimized by inadequate oversight from the ground up. Many of these groups, as I’ve witnessed firsthand, don’t have the luxury of being their own advocates. They are too busy trying to support their families, to put food on the table for their children. I’ve realized that it isn’t quite enough to work directly with these families to connect them with resources and ensure they get the support they need. Sometimes the support simply doesn’t exist, or it isn’t good enough. This is why I’m motivated to add a law degree to my credentials so I can better serve these people and communities. As a future social-security disability lawyer, I want to work with local governments to assist clients in navigating an assistance system and improving it as much as possible. This program will give me the access to a learning environment in which I can thrive and develop as an advocate.

Law School Personal Statement #18

“You’re worthy and loved”, I said to a twelve-year-old boy, Connor, whom I was supervising and spending time with during the Big Brother program at which we met. A few tears touched my shoulder as I pulled him into me, comforting him. He was a foster child. He didn’t know his parents and never stayed in one place longer than a few months; a year if he was lucky. I joined the program not expecting much. I was doing it for extra credit, because I wanted to give back to the community somehow and I thought it would be interesting to meet people. He confided in me; he told me that his foster parents often yelled at each other, and him. He told me he needed to escape. I called Child Protective Services and after a thorough investigation, they determined that Connor’s foster parents weren’t fit for fostering. He was moved, yet again, to a different home.

I wrote an op-ed detailing my experience as a Big Brother. I kept names anonymous. I wanted people to know how hard it was for children in the welfare system. Many of them, like Connor, were trapped in a perpetual cycle of re-homing, neglect, and even abuse. He and other children deserve stability and unconditional love. That should go without saying. I sent the op-ed to a local magazine and had it published. In it, I described not only the experience of one unfortunate kid, but many others as well who saw their own stories being told through Connor. I joined a non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to quality education for young people. I started learning about disparities in access; students excluded by racial or financial barriers. I was learning, one step at a time, how powerful words can be.

With the non-profit organization, I reached out to a few public schools in the area to represent some of our main concerns with quality of education disparities. Our goal was to bring resources together and promote the rights of children in education. We emphasized that collaboration between welfare agencies and schools was critical for education stability. Together, we created a report of recommendations to facilitate this collaboration. We outlined a variety of provisions, including more mechanisms for child participation, better recruitment of social service workers in schools, risk management and identification strategies, and better support for students with child protection concerns.

The highlight of that experience was talking to an assembly of parents and school faculty to present our findings and recommendations. The title of the presentation was “The Power of Words”. I opened with the story I wrote about in the op-ed. I wanted to emphasize that children are individuals; those trapped in the welfare system are not a monolith. They each have unique experiences, needs, and desires they want to fulfill in life. But our tools to help them can be improved, more individualized. I spoke about improving the quality of residential care for children and the need to promote their long-term development into further education and employment. Finally, I presented a list of tools we created to help support a more financially sustainable and effective child welfare system. The talk was received with applause and a tenuous commitment from a few influential members of the crowd. It was a start.

Although I lost contact with Connor, I think about him almost every day. I can only hope that the programs we worked on to improve were helping him, wherever he was. I want to continue to work on the ground level of child welfare amelioration, but I realize I will need an education in law to become a more effective advocate for this cause. There are still many problems in the child welfare system that will need to be addressed: limited privacy/anonymity for children, service frameworks that don’t address racism adequately, limited transportation in remote communities, and many more. I’ve gained valuable experience working with the community and learning about what the welfare system lacks and does well. I’m ready to take the next step for myself, my community, and those beyond it.

Assuredly, but this length varies from school to school. As with all important details of your law school application, thoroughly research your specific schools’ requirements and guidelines before both writing and editing your personal statement to ensure it fits their specifics. The average length is about 2 pages, but don’t bother drafting your statement until you have specific numbers from your schools of choice. It’s also a good idea to avoid hitting the maximum length unless absolutely necessary. Be concise, keep economy of language in mind, and remain direct, without rambling or exhaustive over-explanation of your ideas or experiences.

You should keep any words that aren’t your own to a minimum. Admissions committees don’t want to read a citation-heavy academic paper, nor do they respond well to overused famous quotes as themes in personal statements. If you absolutely must include a quote from elsewhere, be sure to clearly indicate your quote’s source. But in general, it’s best to keep the personal statement restricted to your own words and thoughts. They’re evaluating you, not Plato! It’s a personal statement. Give them an engaging narrative in your own voice.

Admissions committees will already have a strong sense of your academic performance through your transcripts and test scores, so discussing these in your personal statement is generally best avoided. You can contextualize these things, though—if you have an illuminating or meaningful story about how you came to receive an award, or how you enjoyed or learned from the work that won you the award, then consider discussing it. Overall though, it’s best to let admissions committees evaluate your academic qualifications and accomplishments from your transcripts and official documents, and give them something new in the personal statement.

When you first sit down to begin, cast a wide net. Consider all the many influences and experiences that have led you to where you are. You’ll eventually (through editing and rewriting) explain how these shape your relationship to a career in law, but one of the best things you can give yourself during the initial drafting phase is a vast collection of observations and potential points for development. As the New England School of Law points out in their, “just write!” Let the initial draft be as messy as it needs to be, and refine it from there. It’s a lot easier to condense and sharpen a big draft than it is to try to tensely craft a perfect personal statement from nothing.

Incredibly important, as should be clear by now! Unlike other specialties, law schools don’t usually conduct interviews with applicants, so your personal statement is in effect your one opportunity to speak with the admissions committee directly. Don’t let that gravity overwhelm you when you write, but keep it in mind as you edit and dedicate time to improving your initial drafts. Be mindful of your audience as you speak with them, and treat writing your personal statement as a kind of initial address in what, hopefully, will eventually turn into an ongoing dialogue.

There are a variety of factors that can make or break a law school personal statement. You should aim to achieve at least a few of the following: a strong opening hook; a compelling personal narrative; your skills and competencies related to law; meaningful experiences; why you’re the right fit for the school and program.

Often, they do. It’s best for you to go to the schools you’re interesting in applying to so you can find out if they have any specific formatting or content requirements. For example, if you wanted to look at NYU law or Osgoode Hall Law School , you would find their admissions requirements pages and look for information on the personal statement.

There are lots of reasons why a personal statement might not work. Usually, applicants who don’t get accepted didn’t come up with a good strategy for this essay. Remember, you need to target the specific school and program. Other reasons are that the applicant doesn’t plan or proofread their essay. Both are essential for submitting materials that convince the admissions committee that you’re a strong candidate. You can always use law school admissions consulting application review to help you develop your strategy and make your essay stand out.

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Law School Personal Statement

Home » Law School Applications » Law School Personal Statement

Word Limit for Personal Statements

Personal statement structure.

If you signpost your argument, then stick to that structure.
Paragraph when you can, no one wants to read huge blocks of text.
Stick to two or three points and discuss them in-depth rather than discussing many shallow points.
Use evidence to back up every statement that you make.

What You Should Include in Your Personal Statement

Explain why you want to study law or become a lawyer. What motivated you to apply to law school ?
Explain in what ways you are capable of studying law and succeeding in it. What skills or experiences do you have that make you the right person for law school?
If you have some legal experience, definitely mention it. It does not matter how remote or obscure it is, you should still include it.
Be unique! Application committees go through many applications, and if you can make yourself stand out from the crowd, do it.
Do not forget to be personal! Did you have an experience that sparked your interest in law, or did you experience a tragedy that made you want to change the world? Being personal allows application committees to get to know you a lot more than just reading through your work experience.

What You Should NOT Include in Your Personal Statement

Do not use slang.
Do not write too casually. This is a formal personal statement.
Do not use contractions. For example, instead of “don’t”, write “do not”.
Write in short sentences because no one likes to read never-ending run-on sentences.
Only include relevant information. It is excellent that you travelled Costa Rica on your gap year, but if that doesn’t support any of the points that you are making, do not include it.

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Feb 09, 2018

Written By AllAboutLaw

Example law personal statement

Below is an example personal statement for law written by a student that was successful in gaining admission to law school for the LLB in Law and Human Rights degree. Remember, this is an example personal statement for law, not ‘your’ personal statement…

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The law personal statement

Law touches almost every aspect of our life and is constantly evolving to keep up with current society, to which we all belong.

I want to study law to help people overcome inequity, as well as developing a sound understanding of the laws which govern us by harnessing the powers of analysis, criticism, persuasion, problem solving, oral and written communication.

In the summer I went on a rugby tour to South America. It helped me to develop both as a rugby player and as a person. The tour of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay gave me a unique insight to another culture and way of life.

Living with families for the majority of the tour allowed me to understand their values and society.

While I was there I came to understand the huge divide between the rich and poor, and the injustice in society found throughout South America.

I have a part-time job at a busy local restaurant, where I have worked for over two years in a lively kitchen. Working has developed me in several ways: I have increased confidence, excellent communication skills , the ability to work under pressure, and the skills necessary to work as part of a team.

Gradually over the last two years my responsibilities have increased, as I am responsible for the wages of junior members of staff during my shift, as well as having to make sure the kitchen is clean, organised and secure at the end of each shift.

I am a currently a prefect, having been selected by our Head of Sixth Form for additional responsibilities.

I assist students in the lower years with their school work, prevent any issues that may arise between class hours and contribute regularly to events held at school.

This has considerably improved my interpersonal skills , as I am required to interact with personnel of all ages, whether younger students or visitors to the school.

I have been a member of the school rugby teams for six years, and I currently play wing for the school first XV.

I have recently been awarded senior school colours, which adds to my previously awarded junior school colours for commitment to school rugby throughout my school career.

The team have enjoyed a successful tour to South America, and managed to get to the quarter-finals of the Daily Mail Vase Cup. Ultimately, I wish to become a prosecutor at the International Criminal Courts .

I see university as a way for me to learn the processes of law required for such a position and to help me grow as an individual.

I feel the added responsibility that university brings will put me in good stead when eventually seeking employment, possibly in a foreign country as well.

Writing your own personal statement

This example personal statement for law must not be replicated. This would be classed as plagiarism and most admissions tutors are aware of this website!

To find out more about the universities and courses you can apply to, head over to our LLB Course directory .

Law Personal Statement

Example Law Personal Statement Structure
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Law personal statements

Law degree personal statement example (2z) Oxford, Warwick offers, reviewer comments

This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. There are lots more examples in our .

Law has been one of the most relevant, interesting and necessary areas of life throughout the ages- it has kept order, helped build civilisations and in the wrong hands caused atrocities. While reading Lord of The Flies, the degeneration of law and order and the island’s descent into chaos showed me just how important the law is in daily life.

In England and Wales the law often relies on statutes and cases from the Middle Ages and its arcane nature is part of the appeal for me- The recent case of three MP’s trying to use Article Nine of the Bill of Rights 1688 to privilege their expenses and therefore protect them from prosecution only increased my interest in the overlapping and contradictory nature of our laws.

My interest in Law has been long-held. I was an eager barrister aged 13 participating in the Junior Mock Trial Competition run by the Citizenship Foundation. Last year I again played the role of barrister, this time in the Bar National Mock Trial Competition, writing my own cross-examinations and speeches; an experience I found highly enjoyable.

I attended court as a member of the public over the summer, watching the trial of Raymond Scott who was being prosecuted for the theft of a First Folio, and I was fascinated at how the court was adjourned for half an hour while the barristers argued over the defendant’s job description as a ‘rare’ bookseller.

I have completed work experience in a solicitors’ firm, and I intend to pursue more work experience in barristers’ chambers in the coming months, to experience what life at the Bar properly entails. Whilst there I took full advantage of the firm’s extensive law library and I also attained first-hand experience of applying the law by assisting a paralegal. Both have further heightened my interest in the law; coupled with my love of reading I feel this makes me well-suited to studying it at degree level.

I like to keep abreast of developments in the law- I currently subscribe to The Economist and I check Legalweek and other online news sites daily- I have recently followed DPP Keir Starmer’s proposals to introduce the US system of degrees of homicide. Implementing this in the UK would appear to both simplify and complicate the legal system, although third-degree murder will allow for a better distinction between the intention to harm and kill.

My choice of subjects at AS give me a good skill set for Law- History develops analytical skills, while English Literature has developed my love of literature into a good understanding of language; interpreting meanings of texts, similar to statutory interpretation. Politics has helped me gain a strong understanding of the context of laws- an example being the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, passed due to media pressure with an election due the following year.

I have demonstrated my capacity for independent and intensive study by currently undertaking the Extended Project Qualification. I changed my topic to whether degrees of murder would be better for the UK, as it gives me a chance to independently study the law in depth, alongside my A2 course.

I am a hardworking and reliable person- I sat on the School Council for three years, and I also attended the Sea Cadets for two years. The variety of people and backgrounds I encountered while in the Cadets has made me friendly and dependable. I also achieved the highest rank I could, showing my commitment to activities and work I undertake.

At university I would like to expand my knowledge of civil law- my main interest is in the criminal law, and a chance to study both in equal depth would be incredibly valuable. I am currently particularly interested in defences to criminal proceedings and the status of UK law with regard to the superior nature of EU Treaties and regulations. A Law degree is vital to training to be a barrister and a strong degree is essential at the pupillage stage, increasing my desire to excel at a renowned university.

Universities Applied to:

Oxford (M100 Law) - Offer (AAA) Firm
Newcastle (M101 Law) - Offer (AAA)
UCL (M100 Law) - Offer (AAA)
Warwick (M100 Law) - Offer (AAA) Insurance
Northumbria (M100 Law) - Offer (ABB)

Grades Achieved:

EPQ Level 3 - C
Critical Thinking (AS) - C
English Literature (AS) - B
Law (A2) - A
Politics (A2) - A
History (A2) - A*

Reviewer comment:

Excellent opening paragraph which goes into detail about the applicant's interest in law and explains it.
Great section on work experience which is written well and communicates interest and discusses relevant arguments.
Good size of extra-curricular section
Excellent final paragraph which ties the statement together and shows an interest in a future career.
Too much A-level content
Some strange punctuation
Some words are incorrectly capitalised
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Law School Personal Statement Template

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A law school personal statement is an essay that applicants submit as part of the admissions process, offering a narrative account of their background, skills, experiences, and motivation for pursuing a legal education. The personal statement allows the admissions committee to assess an applicant’s writing ability, critical thinking skills, and suitability for their law program.

A template provides a clear structure for the personal statement, ensuring that applicants include all crucial information and present it logically. It guides writers to effectively personalize their narrative, highlighting their unique strengths and experiences.

This free personal statement for law school template offers detailed personal reflection through dedicated prompts and placeholders and helps in crafting a narrative that’s both genuine and comprehensive. The structure helps you ensure a consistent flow from personal experiences to future goals, reflecting your fit with the law school’s ethos.

Comprehensive Overage

The template covers various aspects of an applicant’s profile—academic, professional, and voluntary—ensuring a well-rounded portrayal. It provides placeholders for specifics about how your interest in law began and grew, which highlights a progression in commitment.

Detailed Demonstration

Instead of merely stating your skills, placeholders encourage you to demonstrate them through examples from internships, jobs, or activities. Placeholders also guide you to cite specific areas of law you are interested in, which reflects a focused understanding of the field.

Alignment with Law School Values

A section is included in the template to show how to align your experiences and values with the mission of the law school, which helps you demonstrate that you are a good fit.

Future Goals

You can articulate your long-term goals and how the law school will facilitate you achievement in dedicated spaces in the template. A space is also provided for you to reflect on your broader vision and the role you see for yourself in contributing to legal and social progress.

Motivational Factors

The template has a specific section for you to share personal attributes that make you a unique candidate. The instructions in the template encourage you to include examples like community service, advocacy, or justice, which can show a commitment to social responsibility.

Forward-Looking Statements

The template concludes with a forward-looking statement that portrays your enthusiasm for joining the law school and growing within its community.

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COMMENTS

Law personal statements
Submitted by: Anonymous. "I am a person keen on challenges. Law will provide me with the kind of constant challenge I have always craved, while..." Law degree personal statement example (2j) Submitted by: Anonymous. "My love of law stemmed from a dislike of geography and severe stage fright.
How to write a personal statement
Firstly, you want a strong opening introducing yourself. The middle section can then be split into three sub-sections: your course choice, education experience and your wider experiences (e.g. extracurricular activities and work). Then conclude with a concise summary of the points you've made. Whilst the whole statement needs a good deal of ...
Successful Personal Statement For Law At Oxford
Welcome to UniAdmissions, the first world's Oxbridge preparatory school with an Oxbridge success rate of 57% and with over 500+ UniAdmissions students placed at Oxford and Cambridge. Our Law Premium Programme prepares you for every part of your application, including your Personal Statement, through one-to-one tuition sessions, intensive ...
How to Write A Standout Law Personal Statement
The personal statement is a piece of writing which you send off with your UCAS application to different universities. It's capped at 4,000 characters (so will often end up running for about one side of A4), and serves as the best way to differentiate yourself from other applicants to the most competitive courses.
Writing a law personal statement: expert advice from universities
Laura Charleton, director of recruitment and admissions at Kent Law School says: "There are two main things I need from a personal statement. Firstly, I want to gain a real sense of who the student is, as a person. Secondly, I want to know why they wish to study law and why they believe they will be suited to it.
Law Personal Statement Examples
Browse our range of Law personal statement examples. Gain inspiration & make sure you're on the right track when writing your own personal statement. ... Universities in Clearing Find Clearing courses at UK Unis. Clearing Hub Your complete guide to Clearing 2024. ... Imperial College Business School . Ranked 1st in the world QS Online MBA 2024 ...
Drafting a UK Law School Personal Statement
Applying to a UK law school is a significant step toward a rewarding career in law. Among the various elements of the UCAS application process in the UK, the personal statement stands out as a unique opportunity to showcase your individuality, motivation, and suitability for a legal education.
Successful Cambridge Law Personal Statement
We have developed an 80-page E-Book filled with expert Personal Statement Advice. Inside, you'll find guides on planning and writing your personal statement, as well as our full collection of 25+ Successful Oxbridge Personal Statements. Download our FREE 80-page. Personal Statement starter guide.
Law Personal Statement
A law personal statement is part of the UCAS application process when applying to study law. A personal statement for the Learning Practice Course (LPC) is submitted to the Central Applications Board (CAB) when applying to LPC training to become a solicitor, having already completed an undergraduate law degree (or conversion course).
How to Write a Law Personal Statement
If you're applying to study an undergraduate Law course in the UK then you'll know that Law is a notoriously competitive field. According to the Legal Cheek, over the past three years, Law applications in the UK have increased by over 17,000. One area that can help you particularly stand out is your UCAS personal statement. Your personal statement is a crucial part of your Law application.
How To Write Your Law Personal Statement
Writing the personal statement is itself an opportunity for you to demonstrate skills which the study of law would require. Principle #2. Namely, the ability to make a coherent case (in this case, for your admission), to follow a clear structure and to express yourself concisely. A fun approach you could take is to think of your personal ...
10 Tips for Personal Statement For Law School
With that in mind, read these 10 top tips for a law personal statement that is engaging, appropriate and effective: the perfect start to the path to success in law school application. 1. Enthusiasm: keen but not cliched. Your law school personal statement is your opportunity to show off your desire to be a law student.
Law Personal Statement
A law personal statement is a document submitted by applicants to law schools or legal positions to showcase their qualifications, experiences, and motivations for pursuing a legal career. It is an essential component of the application process and provides admissions committees with an insight into the applicant's personality, academic ...
Cambridge Law School Personal Statement Examples
How to Write a Law School Personal Statement for Cambridge Law. ... Canada, the UK & Australia with unlimited support & bold guarantees. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. Test names and trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders.
Law Personal Statement Examples
Law Personal Statement Example 16. When the teacher said to stop debating, I understood that law is what I wanted to do for my career. Law Personal Statement Example 17. My aspiration to study law comes from an appreciation I had of the subject stemming from my fathers' current and previous businesses.
Law Personal Statement Example 115 (Russell Group/Oxbridge)
This personal statement is unrated. With a blindfold across her eyes, Lady Justice represents the objectivity of the justice system. In a generation where the gender pay gap persists and minorities face discrimination decades after the introduction of equalities legislation, I wonder whether perhaps an all-seeing symbol would be more appropriate.
Law Personal Statement Guide
Your personal statement forms part of your UCAS application, and is sent to all of the institutions you are applying to. The aim is to convince the reader that you are the perfect candidate to study/practise law, and it should be personal; about your interests, your background, your aspirations, and the reason you want to study Law at university.
Expert tips on writing a great personal statement for law
Connect it to law. Your personal statement should explain why you want to study law specifically: "Be clear about why you would like to study law. Write about what motivates you to study law over other subjects," advises Natalie. "Think about what purpose a law degree will serve in your personal and professional development.
18 Law School Personal Statement Examples That Got Accepted!
Law School Personal Statement Example #1. When I was a child, my neighbors, who had arrived in America from Nepal, often seemed stressed. They argued a lot, struggled for money, and seemed to work all hours of the day. One day, I woke early in the morning to a commotion outside my apartment.
Writing a Personal Statement for Law
This section is for anything that is not specifically related to your interest in law. This part should be short, a maximum of 1/3 of your PS. It can include things from school/college as well as in your free time (including a part time job). For school/college, you may want to talk about peer mentoring, prefects.
Law School Personal Statement
For UCAS personal statements, it is essential to use the entire word limit that you are allowed. When applying through the Central Applications Board, you can write up to 10000 characters, which is around 1200 words. However, a 1200 words personal statement is quite lengthy, and it is preferable to aim for around 700 words.
Example law personal statement
The law personal statement. Law touches almost every aspect of our life and is constantly evolving to keep up with current society, to which we all belong. I want to study law to help people overcome inequity, as well as developing a sound understanding of the laws which govern us by harnessing the powers of analysis, criticism, persuasion ...
Law degree personal statement example (2z) Oxford, Warwick offers
This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. ... I am currently particularly interested in defences to criminal proceedings and the status of UK law with regard to the superior nature of EU Treaties and regulations. A Law degree is vital to ...
Law Personal Statement 13
Law Personal Statement. My attraction to law originates from my interest in justice and rewards. Human behaviour is always alternating and law is able to constantly focus on the rights of people and the bettering of society. Human rights is a challenge we face currently and law has continuously throughout time been able to rightly justify the ...
Law School Personal Statement Template
A law school personal statement is an essay that applicants submit as part of the admissions process, offering a narrative account of their background, skills, experiences, and motivation for pursuing a legal education. The personal statement allows the admissions committee to assess an applicant's writing ability, critical thinking skills ...

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Be clear about why you’re choosing law

Back everything up with examples from your life

Keep your personal statement personal

Swerve the clichés

Don’t worry about writing the wrong thing

Make the bigger connections

Include any legal work experience on your personal statement

If you can’t get formal work experience, consider visiting your local court

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How To Draft a Meaningful UK Law School Personal Statement

Drafting a UK Law School Personal Statement

Reflect on your experiences

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What is the average length of a law personal statement?

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