• The Personal Statement
• A Few Pointers

The Personal Statement. Most law schools require you to submit a "personal statement," usually limited to 500 words or fewer. The instructions are generally quite broad: "Write a statement about yourself," or "In two pages or less, tell us something about yourself." A few schools ask more specific questions; some (such as Yale) ask for two statements.

The personal statement is understandably a source of stress for many students. The good news is that it's not just you -- nobody knows how to write a "statement" about themselves in fewer than 500 words!

A Few Pointers. Opinions differ as to what constitutes the best approach to this essay, so it's hard to offer much guidance here. In general, though, try to keep these ideas in mind:

• Originality. Try to guess the top 3 most common personal statement topics and then avoid those themes. In particular, skip the "Why I want to be a lawyer" dissertation -- instead, tell an original story or relate an original experience that is not inconsistent with a desire to attend law school. This is just another way of saying "show don't tell," but it's important. Many personal statements look like a string of clichés, and nobody wants to read that. Plus, law schools get a bazillion personal statements about how the applicant wants to go to law school because law is a force for change, law can make a difference in people's lives, underserved communities need lawyers as champions, public interest law is a noble form of service, etc., etc. It will not help you to write such an essay, no matter how well written it may be! There is only one exception to this rule: alumni/ae who have been away from academia for many years may wish to address the "why law?" question directly (more advice for alumni/ae).
  
  
• Avoid Corny or Flashy Tricks. Don't write an epic poem about your quest to enter law school; don't draw a picture as your personal statement; don't write in stream-of-consciousness style; don't write a short story in which you're on trial and the admissions committee is the jury…. You get the idea.
  
  
• Keep It Personal. It's called a "personal" statement for a reason! Many, many students try to impress admissions officers with essays on philosophy, Russian politics, the need for prison reform or whatever. Don't bother! An extremely well-written essay on current events or an academic subject might win awards but it will NOT get you into law school. Stick to subjects that are personal to you. Here's a test: if your friend or roommate can read your essay and say, "yep, that sounds like you," then you're on the right track.
  
  
• Don't Recycle Your Resume. Some students make the mistake of devoting their personal statement to summarizing their accomplishments. Your personal statement can certainly concern something impressive you've done, but don't let it just recycle your resume. Think of your personal statement as an opportunity to add something new to your application file. If it helps free you from worrying that your accomplishments won't be clear, you can simply include a copy of your resume in your application -- even if the school doesn't ask for it! Use your personal statement to give the admissions committee an idea of who you are beyond your resume.
  
  
• Contribution to the Law School Community. Remember: law school admissions officers are looking for interesting students who will make their school a more vibrant community for other students and staff. They're looking for diversity in interests, backgrounds and experience. Think about your personal statement as a chance to step outside of the GPA/LSAT numbers in your application and illustrate why you have the kind of background and experiences that will make their school a better place for other students.
  
  
• Make It Easy to Read. Write clearly. Use declarative sentences in the active voice wherever possible. Organize each paragraph around a topic theme or idea, like you would in a closely argued paper for a tutorial. Do not try to distinguish your essay with its physical features -- use a regular font (e.g., Times New Roman), ordinary margins, white paper, etc.

The Harvard Law Dean of Admissions has given students a few very valuable tips for the personal statement. First, he prefers statements that focus on the past, rather than the future. He wants to hear what you have done, not what you might do in the future. In light of that, two of the best questions to ask yourself when writing your personal statement are "what are your 3 biggest accomplishments?" and "what is the thing that is most important to you?" This will get you well on your way to writing a statement that is interesting, personal, and of the appropriate scope.

You should feel free to discuss different approaches and share drafts with your pre-law tutor. You can upload a copy of your personal statement on your personal page for your tutor to review. Whatever approach you choose, don't forget to leave time for extensive revision!