sample law school personal statements

The deciding factor on whether or not you are worthy of a slot in law school is not always your pre-law GPA or your recommendation letters. For most admission evaluators, your fate in law school all comes down to one thing: your personal statement. Your personal statement is your final appeal for entry consideration. It is your last chance to prove your worth as a future advocate of justice. Here are some mistakes that you need to avoid when writing your personal statement for law school:

Do not tell what, do explain how.

One mistake that you should never commit when writing your personal statement for law school is to enumerate your achievements and experiences. There is nothing wrong with that really, but admission evaluators are not so much interested on what award you won or what circumstance you faced. They would rather know how you did them. How did you prepare for the contest where you won the award? How did you face the challenges presented by the circumstances? You don’t need a trophy-filled room or a movie-worthy biography to be a great lawyer.

Do not mention anything about money.

It may be true that a career in law will eventually help you afford Italian suits and German vehicles, but that should not be your motivation for getting into law school. Never mention in your personal statement that the “high salary” associated with the job is one of your reasons for pursuing law. While there is nothing wrong with aspiring for financial stability, you should never give the admission evaluators an impression that the only reason why you want to enter law school is to gain financial wealth, not to promote justice or to provide legal service in areas where it matters.

Do not write an exaggerated version of yourself.

Your personal statement is your last appeal to get into law school, but that doesn’t mean that you have to “literally improve” yourself to be impressive. Admissions evaluators have years of experience in reading personal statements and they have a knack for distinguishing honest materials from fabricated ones. Save yourself from embarrassment and stay as honest as possible. You don’t need to be perfect to get into law school and admissions evaluators would rather read about how you deal with your imperfections. Nobody’s perfect so don’t try to be.

Photo Credit : Wilson Alfonso

Are you reading sample law school personal statements because you’re planning to go to law school? Or are you already experiencing the four grueling years? Whatever situation you’re in, movies related to law school and the legal career are break time perks. Such movies are not only interesting but also tell more about what happens in law school. Below are five examples of law-related movies you may watch.

1. Paper Chase

The 1973 film directed by James Bridges is an adaptation of John Jay Osborn, Jr.’s novel. It centers on Hart, a Harvard Law School freshman who becomes the competitor of a Contract Law professor, Charles Kingsfield, Jr. As the story develops the conflict, Hart finds out that the girl he is dating is Kingsfield’s daughter.

Paper Chase is a movie that garnered many positive reviews through its engaging and emotional plot. Hart is played by Timothy Bottoms while Kingsfield is played by John Houseman. The movie is an accurate depiction of law school experience.

2. The Trials of Law School

A must-see for all law school students, The Trials of Law School is about the lives of several University of Oklahoma College of Law students. The students are from different backgrounds and struggle to finish law school with their own hopes, dreams and expectations.

3. The Pelican Brief

Starring Julia Roberts as Darby Shaw, the movie Pelican Brief is based on a John Grisham novel. The movie’s suspense theme narrates how Darby, a law school student, discovers interesting information about the death of two Supreme Court Justices. After doing more research, Darby presents her theories to her law professor, Thomas Callahan. He confides the findings to his friend Gavin Verheek but both are killed after Darby runs away in fear to save her life.

4. Reversal of Fortune

Another law-related movie, Reversal of Fortune is about how a Harvard law professor and his students conducted researches and investigations to gain acquittal for a man convicted of the attempted murder of his wife.

5. Legally Blonde

Legally Blonde is more of a comedy than a serious law-related movie. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde is about how the rich and popular seemingly-dumb-blonde-sorority-president Elle Woods struggled to get into and stay in law school to recover a boyfriend who dumped her. Although she initially faces law school hostility, Elle proceeds with her plan with full determination. She also, eventually, becomes one of the best students in her class and prompts an interesting twist in the plot.

Photo Credit : Yann de la marne

“Where do I start?” You may be asking yourself this question now that you’re at the point of writing
your personal statement. Sure, the many ideas in the sample law school personal statements are
helpful but what’s the best line to start your essay? For guidance, here are tips you can follow to
come up with a personal statement that is not just effective, engaging, interesting and unique but is
also sure to get you accepted into your preferred law school.

Tip 1: Spare enough time to write.

Cramming the writing of a personal statement is a big no-no. You have to spare enough time to
write so that you will be relaxed and will be able to express your ideas as clearly and concisely as
possible.

Tip 2: Think about and list down your ideas about significant moments in your life.

People often have a lot of ideas that they initially want to include in their essays. While many of their ideas are interesting, many are unnecessary for the theme of a personal statement. You may
experience this longing to say many points about yourself in your personal statement but you should
remember to focus on the essentials.

List down your ideas first then sort them out later. Choose the ones that are relevant to the essay
such as what makes you different from most applicants. Are you an immigrant or part of a minority?
What are your career plans? What are your achievements or weaknesses and how have you learned
from them?

Tip 3: Cite reasons for wanting to be accepted to law school.

Make sure that the reasons you cite are yours, are genuine, and are out of a reasonable realization.
Perhaps you may say that your experience as an intern in a legal organization or the legal classes
you have attended made you desirous to pursue a legal career. You may also say what you know about law and law school after reading materials about the field. In addition, you may state what aspect of law is appealing to you.

Tip 4: Organize and outline your ideas.

There is nothing more important than organizing and outlining ideas when writing. Especially in a
persuasive essay like a personal statement, organized and outlined ideas bring the point clearly to
the readers. So focus and arrange your ideas logically. Make every word count in your personal statement because law schools require a maximum number of words. In addition, the first sentence or paragraph of your personal statement must get the reader’s attention and sustain it until the end.

Tip 5: Edit and revise.

To show the admissions committee how much of an expert writer you are, you must edit your personal statement. Typographical and grammatical errors are unacceptable so edit with a keen eye. Ask a writing expert, a friend or a teacher to read your essay and provide constructive criticism. Finally, if you have to rewrite, do so to make your personal statement satisfactory and pleasing to read.

Photo Credit : robertnelson

Other than worrying about the LSAT, personal statements, sample law school personal statements,
and law school application forms, a student has to think about how to fund his or her law school education. Getting a law degree costs quite a lot but, fortunately, law schools offer scholarships to qualified students. Here are some of the scholarships you may want to apply for when you go to law school.

ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

The deserving students of the American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited law schools may enjoy a yearly scholarship provision of $5,000. The students may also ask for a renewal of the provision for
another two years if academic performance requirements are met.

American Counsel Association Scholarship

The deans of different law schools submit student nominations for scholarships to the American
Counsel Association every year. Qualified law students, third years in particular, are granted
scholarships based on their financial need and academic standing.

Cabaniss, Johnston Scholarship

Students who study in ABA-accredited law schools and who live in Alabama may be awarded the
Cabaniss, Johnston Scholarship. The Alabama Law Foundation, as sponsor, selects qualified students who are in their second year in law school and have a financial need. Students, in addition, must be dependable, conscientious, dedicated and involved in civic activities.

Carl A. Vergari Scholarship

The Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County,
Inc. awards the Carl A. Vergari Scholarship to
students who live in Westchester County, are studying at accredited law schools, and have very
good academic standing.

Erie County Bar Association Scholarship

Students applying for the scholarship must request for an application form from the Erie County Bar
Association or fill up an online application form. Qualified applicants are students enrolled in accredited law schools, who have a financial need and who live in Erie County, Pennsylvania.

Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship

US citizens who want to study law may apply for the Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. scholarship. It is sponsored by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and is given to students who have a financial need, a good academic standing, an interest in community service and cultural diversity, and leadership skills.

Samuel Krugliak Legal Scholarship

The scholarship is sponsored by the Krugliak Wilkings Griffiths & Dougherty Co., L.P.A. Qualified students are those who intend to practice law in the Stark County and who are enrolled at ABA-accredited law schools. In addition, applicants must be current or previous residents in Stark counties, Columbiana, Mahoning, Summit, Carroll, Wayne, Tuscarawas, or Holmes.

Wally Davis Scholarship

Hispanic law students who reside in or are from Orange County, California may apply for the Wally Davis Scholarship sponsored by the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association. Qualifications for freshman applicants include at least a 3.0 GPA while second to fourth years must be part of the better-performing half of their batch.

Photo Credit : ronocdh

So you’ve read sample law school personal statements, written your admission essay, got into law school and graduated. But you realized you don’t want to pursue a career in law. What are you going to do?

Well, you’re not really lost. With a law degree, you still have a lot of career options. In fact, because you’ve undergone four years of college and another four years of law school, you’re more qualified for various jobs than many of the other applicants. You just need to know your interests and skills to discover the career that’s right for you.

Here are some career options for a law school graduate:

1. Education career

Who else is better equipped to teach legal subjects than someone who has at least a bachelor’s degree in law? You can effectively apply all that you’ve learned in law school especially with the skills in analysis, persuasive communication, research, and writing you have developed during those four grueling years in law school.

Some subjects a law school graduate may teach in college or law school are law and economics, law and society, law and history, law and psychology, legal studies, business ethics, environmental policy, intellectual property, and criminal justice. You, as an educator, may also pursue a master’s degree in law or a doctorate in Juridical Science to be more effective in your career.

2. Entertainment and media careers

Believe it or not, entertainment and media careers are also an option for law school graduates. In fact, there are some Hollywood actors and actresses who spent a few years in law school and later pursued an acting career. One example is Gerard Butler who played King Leonidas in the movie “300″ and the Phantom in the movie remake of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of The Opera.” But of course, an entertainment career applies only if your heart is in acting.

On the other hand, law school graduates like you may use your research skills in some media careers. Examples of possible occupations are legal editor, law correspondent, legal newspaper publisher, legal publisher account representative, sports agent, literary agent, or publishing house acquisitions editor.

3. Administration and management careers

Many large companies are looking for qualified persons who can perform jobs like foundation executive, grants management specialist, unclaimed property administrator, management analyst, or program analyst. Having a broad knowledge of the law and various legal issues gives you leverage for such positions.

4. Environmental career

If you have a background in science or studied the sciences during college, you may work as an environmental consultant, environmental advocate, environmental protection specialist, environmental policy analyst, or hazardous waste management consultant. You may also opt for positions like safety and occupational health specialist, technological program hazards specialist or coastal zone resources manager.

5. Other careers

Further suggestions are careers in:

- Financial services
- Journalism and research
- Real estate
- Human resources and employment
- Law enforcement
- Criminal justice
- Insurance and risk management

Photo Credit : Marshall Astor – Food Pornographer

A kick-ass personal statement may get you a slot in the law schools of your choice no matter what your grades are. But for your personal statement to be effective, you may need to read some sample law school personal statements and use them as guides. You must also cite a few realistic, genuine and agreeable reasons for wanting to enter law school. For your reference, below are the top five acceptable reasons for deciding to study law:

1. “I loved the type of work I had to do when I worked as an intern at a legal organization.”

This first reason is, perhaps, one of the most effective and acceptable reasons an applicant may cite in his or her personal statement. The admissions committee looks favorably upon applicants who, out of their interest in the field, worked to get some experience in a legal organization. Getting an early work experience and observing lawyers do their jobs help prepare a person for law school and the career itself.

2. “Researching about careers both legal and non-legal made me realize that a legal career is ideal
for me.”

Researching about different careers and the one you prefer most shows the admissions committee
that you’ve done your homework. By researching, you become knowledgeable about the hard work
the careers entail and the benefits you will enjoy. You will also show the admissions committee that
you are like a lawyer–that is, someone who makes logical conclusions based on valid reasons and evidences.

3. “I read many materials about law and have a desire to help solve people’s legal problems.”

This reason shows that you are very interested in the field to the point that you often read what you can about law. But more than your interest in the field, the reason shows that your are focused on implementing solutions and putting what you have learned into action.

4. “I learned about the legal career by interviewing lawyers and I want to do what they do.”

By interviewing real lawyers, you get three benefits. One is that you get your information about the legal career from a credible source. Another is that you get as much answers as the questions you ask. You get to know the ins and outs in the field and the good and bad experiences of a lawyer. Finally, by interviewing lawyers, you get to show the admissions committee that your research skills are adequate.

5. “The law school classes I have attended made me more inclined to have a legal career.”

Law school classes are, in fact, one of the avenues for you to see if a legal career is right for you. Experience in law classes allows you to directly see how well you perform and how the subject becomes fulfilling to you.

Photo Credit : umjanedoan

In high school, I was a big track star—banners were put up for me, my coaches adored me, and my parents showed off my trophies to anyone who would look. I was the kind of kid you would expect to play for a big university and eventually go pro. I knew it wasn’t going to happen—I come from a working class family and the plan was to take a blue-collar job at my aunt’s local diner and help out my two sisters as they continue high school.

But I enjoyed the fame nonetheless, and it was nothing short of culture shock when I took on my first job, fresh out of high school and still not over my own glory days. While the rest of my peers went off to college and pursued their own dreams, I worked as a food server for my aunt’s local diner. There were no banners, no stadium lights, no fanfare—just work to be done and money to be earned. One of the servers there was Annie. She had been at the job for years and had no plans of leaving. As I got to know her, I realized that she stayed so long not because she was contented, but because she didn’t have the drive to seek something better. There could not have been a more effective way to shatter the dreams of a 17-year-old girl.

My turning point came when Annie came up to me and asked me where I planned to go after the job. I could not answer; I’d figured I’d work there as long as I had to, and I hadn’t further than that. But she wouldn’t have it. I was too young to settle for something so small, she said. The world is waiting. Grab it. So I did—I found a local college, managed a partial scholarship, and kept my job on a part-time basis to pursue a degree in community development.

Luckily, my school turned out to have a strong sports program, and I eventually found myself in the track team. My natural talent pushed me to become that star athlete again, but the drive I got from my diner days pushed me to become a star student as well. As I took on my classes, I found myself increasingly interested in the law and how big a role it actually plays in the world of sports. I earned my degree in three years, a feat few athletes at my school have accomplished, and went on to work in various community sports programs.

A couple of years after I resigned from the diner, I found out that Annie, the fellow server who motivated me to get out of my diner job, was killed in a tragic car accident. Since Annie’s death, I became more convicted in pursuing a degree in law. Every time I step into one of my classes in college, I remember Annie who lost the drive to become better, never knowing what destiny can bring her if she only had the courage to seek her life’s passion, until her death.

I decided to study law because I believe it will help me serve my community better. I specifically chose the _____ School of Law because of its active athletic community, which I believe will help me stay focused on my goals. Ultimately, I want to become a competent sports manager and help young students realize that there’s always something better waiting.

Photo Credit : Southern_Comfort