Getting admitted to Columbia University law school
August 25th, 2008

A longtime member of the Ivy League, Columbia University Law School is one of the most prominent law schools in the United States, having consistently ranked in the top five in the annual reviews by the US News & World Report. Columbia has also produced several prominent alumni, including eight Supreme Court Justices and two former Presidents.
History of Columbia University Law School
Columbia University appointed James Kent as its first law professor in 1793. However, formal teachings were suspended in the early 1800s due to lack of funding. It was only in 1858, when the law school was formally established, that interest in legal studies was revived. Around the same time, King’s College officially became Columbia University.
Academic prestige
Columbia University Law School is well respected in several areas of law, most notably in corporate law, intellectual property law, criminal law, critical race theory, and legal philosophy. It is also known for its diverse Juris Doctor curriculum and thorough coursework.
Getting into Columbia University Law School
Columbia University Law School has one of America’s most selective admission standards. For the Juris Doctor program, documents required include a biographical information sheet, a personal profile sheet, two recommendation letters, a resume, and the law school admission essay (also called the personal statement, statement of purpose, or application essay). The standard requirements for law schools also apply; a student must pass the LSAT and show good academic records. The application fee for the program is $70.
Writing a Personal Statement for Columbia University Law School
This law school requires a detailed essay that includes your background, the program of study you prefer and reasons for choosing it, and academic interests. Your personal statement should not exceed three double-spaced pages.
Reading sample law school personal statements online is a good idea. By reading sample law school personal statements, you’ll learn how to effectively write your own. Read several sample law school personal statements and look at the different writing styles used. These sample law school personal statements should only be used as general guides when writing your law school admission essay, which is also known as a statement of purpose. Aside from your LSAT scores, your admission essay is also an important aspect of your law school application.
Avoid copying passages from sample law school personal statements because it defeats the whole purpose of writing your own admission essay. Check out the site of the law school you’re applying to and see if they offer sample law school personal statements. Take your time in reading sample law school personal statements. Unlike a college application essay, writing a law school admission essay may take months. So prepare yourself by reading sample law school personal statements. The Internet offers various websites that has free sample law school personal statements. When looking for sample law school personal statements, stick to sample law school personal statements that can help you write persuasively and creatively. Many sites that offer sample law school personal statements also include things to avoid when writing your own. Other sites offer specific sample law school personal statements for various fields in the study of law.
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