This is especially important for the written part of your application. The last thing you want to do is put more stress on yourself when you need to write an exceptional law school personal statement.
So, what’s the ideal time to begin writing the law school personal statement? The answer may not be what you think.
The general time frame I recommend for the students I work with to start their first draft is 3-4 months before they plan to submit their law school application. But that doesn’t really answer the question of when the best time to write the law school personal statement is.
So, while the perfect time is different for everybody, here’s how I help my students discover the best time for them:
• It’s After You’ve Done Some Brainstorming
One thing that doesn’t work for most students is diving right into the law school personal statement without first doing some brainstorming. It’s a good idea to sit down and come up with some creative ideas about personal experiences you’ve had that impacted your education or outlook on life. Do this days or even weeks before you actually plan to write your first draft to give yourself ample time to build on your initial thoughts.
• It’s When You Have No Other Obligations
Pick a time when you have no looming responsibilities weighing on you. Finish your school, any necessary chores, or other obligations before sitting down to write. Some students even find it helpful to clean their whole rooms before getting started, because they need a clutter-free environment to focus. If that’s what it takes, fine – but be sure to recognize the differences between procrastinating and supporting the creative process.
• It’s After You’ve Completed The Rest of the Application
Your law school personal statement needs to say something different about you than what’s listed in other parts of your application. Tell admission officers something they won’t find out about you from your LSAT scores, GPA, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. Doing these portions first will help you to avoid repeating yourself.
• It’s DEFINITELY Not Right Before the Due Date
Lastly, but most importantly, it’s absolutely imperative to avoid putting your law school personal statement off until the last minute. If you find the deadline is quickly approaching, ignore all the recommendations I shared above and simply sit down and write. Even if it’s not the best writing you’ve ever done, you’ll at least have a starting point you can work with.
Ultimately, the best time to write the law school personal statement is the time that’s right for you. If possible, I recommend blocking off at least a couple of hours and telling family members that you’ll be busy for that period.
(Hint: turning off the Internet connection might help with distractions.)
Your first draft might not take several hours, but in case you find yourself on a roll, you’ll have plenty of time to keep going after you get started!
Until next time,
Steve
P.S. If you feel like you’re doing well while writing your law school personal statement and then all of a sudden you become stuck, don’t panic. Walk away from your laptop or computer for a while. Give it a few minutes, hours, or even a couple of days before you come back to it again. The advantage of starting 3-4 months before you have to submit your application is that you can take a few “mini breaks” without worrying about your deadline.
P.P.S. If you’re not an “early bird” with your law school applications, that’s ok, too. I can still help in the final months and weeks (even the final week). Just reach out. I’d love to help you get into your dream school, even if it means working on your law school application essays at the last minute.
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