sample law school personal statements

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

Before I decided to pursue a legal career, I had my sights set on a completely different field: architecture. I would probably be in an architectural school right now had I not gone through certain experiences that spurred my interest in law. The first was ten years ago, when my mother was accidentally killed by a drunk truck driver as she was on her way home. This all happened in a quiet little Ohio town that could not have felt safer.

When I saw the police at our doorstep, I instantly knew something was wrong. As the police told me what happened to my mother, I lost consciousness; I felt that my world would fall apart. The following days were some of the most unforgettable ones in my whole life. My family, along with the local police, pursued the drunk driver and filed charges against him. Because me and my family never gave up until justice for my mom was achieved, the drunk driver was soon behind bars. Nevertheless, the event changed my life—it made me realize that life is indeed full of surprises, both good and bad. I put it all behind me and went on to college. I stuck to my first passion and majored in architecture, but like any young adult unsure of what to do, I took random jobs here and there. That is how I came upon my second turning point: a friend of mine invited me to teach in a driving school.

Little did I know that the class would spur a long-overdue healing process. It put me face-to-face with the very thing I had tried to run away from. I was fascinated by the system through which young drivers are equipped with knowledge and skill on how to properly maneuver a vehicle. Teaching in a driving school opened my eyes to the strength of the country’s driver’s education system. At the same time, I was also dismayed at the flaws of the system that resulted into poor drivers, just like the drunk driver that killed my mother. The next semester, I shifted courses, determined to finish and go on to law school.

I haven’t lost my interest in architecture, but perhaps I really was meant for places bigger than an architectural firm. Since learning about civil law and justice, I have felt more focused and more whole than I have ever since that night in Ohio. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that those things happened for a reason. They were meant to spur me into this path, a path where I can play a better role in helping people who have gone through the same things as I have. Though I would not wish it on anyone, I am almost thankful for that experience, as it helped me find my calling.

I intend to go to _____ Law School and specialize in civil law and justice. Eventually I plan on working as a prosecutor in order to help victims of tragic vehicular accidents, and hopefully, do something to change the system so that justice can be served more efficiently. I believe that this school will provide the perfect environment to help me learn the skills I will need in the professional field, and in return, I can share my own experiences to inspire my fellow future lawyers.

Photo Credit : longhorndave

As a young boy, I grew up listening to the classical music that regularly wafted from our living room. Mozart and Bach were my constant companions as I played, did chores, or did my homework. Inevitably, I harbored a love for music and made it my goal to become a musician. I took lessons, learned the sax and the piano, and joined groups here and there. At first, despite my excellent musical education, I felt that I was a struggling musician, getting only a few gigs here and there. However, I never lost hope and persevered until I became a successful musician. Now, at 25, I have toured much of the country with a professional symphony orchestra.

This same confidence and motivation has compelled me to pursue further studies in law. Much of that drive comes from spending my college years studying environmental science, another passion of mine. Music and ecology may sound like two distinct fields—even I could not understand it at first. But if there’s one thing I learned from both interests, it’s that people can achieve great things—both good and bad—if they are properly steered and motivated. Just as an orchestra, under an able conductor, can work together to create a moving masterpiece, I am confident that the world can reverse its current environmental issues if there is a strong enough force to guide them. I believe that an education at ____ School of Law can help me become that force, or at least be a part of it.

The decision to study law came to me on my first job after college, as a researcher for a local wildlife foundation. Every day I read about animals in peril, and the more I read, the more I noticed that man-made conditions are responsible for these creatures’ sad plights. Reading further into the matter, I learned that these conditions only exist because of laws that allowed them to. I figured that if someone genuinely concerned were in a position to stop or reverse such laws, we wouldn’t have the ecological problems plaguing us today. At some point, I decided I could be that someone.

My background in music is responsible for the go-getter attitude behind this decision. Touring with a band has taught me to relate well to others and how to fill my part of the puzzle. Traveling has proved to me that the same fundamental problems exist everywhere, and that it will take a lot of work to turn things around.

I intend to study at _____ School of Law to specialize in environmental law and learn about relevant international policies. I know that I have the passion and motivation to pursue this path; all I need is a sound education to give me the concrete knowledge to back up my goals. I believe that this school has the right culture to keep me motivated.

Photo Credit : tsechuen26

Sample Admission Essay for Law School

Unlike most of my peers, I knew what I wanted long before I stepped into college. I was going to study a degree in Accounting or Finance and work toward having an MBA, perhaps with a few professional stints in between. But halfway through my program—in what seemed like my hundredth class in Accounting—I realized that an education in money wasn’t going to get me far. If I was going to succeed in business, I had to learn about the people and the legal aspects of different business environments.

I earned my degree nevertheless, something I take a lot of pride in considering a college education is largely optional in my family. For my family, having a high school diploma was all the education that is necessary; my parents felt that one has to earn his or her living after that. I come from a working class background, and I grew up watching my brothers take blue-collar jobs right after high school. Perhaps that is what spurred me to seek better opportunities. One day, I told my parents of my plans to go to college, which they supported much to my surprise. Looking back, I think that my parents saw my potential and supported all my extracurricular activities, from the high school math club to the college newspaper and debate society.

I worked part-time at various shops to finance my education. I knew there was more out there for me than minimum-wage employment, but I never regretted taking those jobs because, at that time, they were the only options available to me. These jobs nevertheless got me through college, but more than that, they also made me realize that money did not make or break one’s fate. I was working with people in the same boat as I was—young, hopeful, and struggling to carve out an uncertain future. What spurred us on was not our need for money, but our want of a better life.

After getting my degree in Business Administration and Accountancy, I worked as a finance manager for a large manufacturing firm while preparing for the LSAT and other law school requirements. Fortunately, I was working directly under the supervision of the department head, who was also a lawyer by profession. The job helped sharpen my logical and analytical skills, which made me realize certain parallels between numbers and the law. My job also made me realize that a degree in accounting is a good springboard for a legal career. One of the things I realized during my job was that both lawyers and financial advisers need to be careful with the details, as many decisions are made by looking at the details they provide. I have met many lawyers who were once involved in the world of finance and they all tell me that having a degree in finance is really advantageous in becoming a lawyer. I want to be part of this select group.

That is why I chose to pursue legal studies at the _____ School of Law. I believe that this school has the right environment to foster my interest in business while helping me become socially aware—a skill that can set me apart from the chokingly corporate world of entrepreneurs. With this degree, I plan on becoming a self-made entrepreneur who not only makes money, but also helps my community. I know I did not choose an easy path, but I am ready to take on the challenge.