sample law school personal statements

The practice of law involves doing different tasks that some people can see as either routine or very taxing. For those with a legal degree, the good news is that there are others avenues if you are at your wits’ end for having practiced litigation for the past two decades. There is a group of other jobs you can look into, and here are some of the principal ones:

In the courts

You may not need to do litigation, but the courtroom can still be your workplace. Lawyers in clerkship jobs do research and recommendations.

Public service

Indeed, politics could be another step for attorneys who are tired of the traditional legal work. Choosing to work in the public sector can be rewarding, especially if money is not an important matter to you. Graduates of law school who wish to work in the public sector find fulfillment and satisfaction helping several people on their legal problems every day.

In-house legal counsel

Big entities and corporations hold their own legal divisions to attend to everyday tasks pertaining to legal matters. The responsibilities of an In-House Counsel do not have to entail high-profile issues. Administrative duties can also be assigned to the members of a company’s legal department. A Counsel In-House often works hand-in-hand with Finance or the Human Resources of his or her company.

The act of legislating

Lawyers can choose to work with a senator or other members of legislative bodies. The legislative lawyer would do research or draft bills which have enactment potential. Needless to say, those in this kind of work would be exposed to a lot of politics, and he or she could later on become a famous personality if he or she gets involved in a very big political issue.

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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

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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.

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