Trying to act or speak like a lawyer when barely setting foot on law school is a definite no-no. If you think you can score points by making it seem like legalese terms are your second language, then better prepare fpr the thumbs-down. This kind of writing no longer works. You will only come off pretentious and arrogant. Nowadays, the admissions panel focus more on how you clearly convey your message and not how you sugar-coat it.
The main ingredients for disastrous law school personal statements are the following:
Thinking too highly of yourself
Despite your impressive scholastic records, remember that you’re not yet a lawyer or close to being a legal expert. You still have to enter law school to be that and pass the board exam. so don’t go on bragging about your accomplishments as if you’re the best student the law school can ever have. Don’t make it sound like you know it all; entering law school is just the beginning.
Speaking like a court room lawyer
Some may give you “A” for the effort, but this rarely works nowadays. When trying too hard to use legalese terms, you might also run into trouble of using them the wrong way. This may also cause confusion or misinterpretation. With thousands of application essays to look into, what the admissions panel is probably searching for are personal statements that are clearly written, easy to understand, and free-flowing. If they want a thorough discussion of law, they might as well get a copy of the constitution or attend legal hearings themselves.
Beating around the bush
Don’t stress your points into lengthy paragraphs if you can get the right message across in two to three sentences. Every word and sentence should count. Make sure that they’re all connected and do support your main ideas or thesis statement. Your law school personal statement is no place for random thoughts and filler sentences. Don’t just edit twice; read and revise until you get it right.
There are more than a few ways to write your essay. One is to use a metaphor or analogy. You can also start with a quote and share your thoughts or pose rhetorical questions. This will best exemplify your objectivity, logical reasoning, and effective communication skills. Offer solutions to problems or share an interesting anecdote. Sample law school personal statements will offer different writing techniques and insights on what makes a personal statement even more compelling.
