The personal statement is one of the most important sections of your application. This is your opportunity to present yourself as a positive addition to the school. Law schools do not provide the opportunity for personal interviews. Your personal statement is a written interview with the committee and it is a demonstration of your writing ability. The ability to write well is an important characteristic of an attorney. Therefore, your personal statement is the only opportunity you have to present your personal and academic strengths.
Tips for the Law School Personal Statement
- Why do law schools want a personal statement?
- They don’t conduct personal interviews.
- They want to learn about, and gain insight into, YOU.
- They want a writing sample in addition to the LSAT sample (some law school reps compare the two).
- How long should it be?
- Follow the guidelines or requirements of the individual school. When in doubt, 1.5 spacing is acceptable (not single spacing); 2-3 pages in length is standard.