Law School Personal Statement - Begin With the End in Mind

Law School Personal Statement: Begin With the End in Mind

I love working with law school applicants. I always get a kick out of learning what drives students to go that extra mile and shoot for their reach schools. I've heard it all. I once worked with a student who told me:

"I'd cut off my thumb if it meant I'd get into a Top 14 Law School..."

???!!!

Maybe you're not that committed to this, but that's ok. Stick with my law school admissions articles, and we'll get you there without losing any body parts along the way.

You've successfully started your journey towards getting into your reach schools. 

Millions of students struggle while starting their law school applications, but now that you’re over that bump in the road, you can move on.

However, I want you to know that wanting to get into your reach schools is one tiny step.

A more complicated decision is to choose a specific law school personal statement topic.

You're at the beginning. In order to truly set yourself up for a successful law school personal statement, you must have a clear picture of where you want to go.

Without a clear end goal, you’ll likely make decisions that will side-track you.

No race can be run without a finish line.

The finish line is known before the race even starts.

Imagine a race without a finish line. There would be runners all over the place, some downtown, some at the movie theater, some near the finish line, and others who gave up. 

The runners didn’t know where they were going, so naturally they didn’t end near the finish line.

You've got to have a clear purpose.

If you have an idea of you want to become and where you want to go, you’ll make better decisions based on the desired end result.

This is a concept coined by Stephen Covey; he calls it “Living with the end in mind.”

Concentrating on end goals allows you to be single-minded in your purpose. You won’t make decisions that jeopardize your end goal.

Think about it, if you know that you want to get into your reach schools, you’ll make decisions now that will support your end desire.

Instead of wasting time on Facebook, you’ll focus on learning what you need to know to write a killer law school personal statement.

Knowing your end goal helps to shape your everyday decisions.

For example: 

When faced with the decision of staying out after midnight or spending that time on law school personal statement, the student who's committed to getting into reach schools chooses to focus on apps WAY before the deadlines... and parties later ;)

Considering this question now will better shape your law school personal statement. Having a clear idea of what you want provides more opportunities to be bold.

I had a student named Michael who knew he wanted to get into a top-14 law school . Because Michael knew what he wanted, it seemed like the world was his oyster.

This world opened for him in ways it didn’t for other students. He had multiple internships, research opportunities, and glowing letters of reference from teachers and mentors.

Because he was single-minded in his goal, he didn’t get distracted with questions like:

-Do I have enough extracurriculars?

-How many law schools should I apply to?

-Should I be worried that my LSAT score / GPA is not too great?

Opportunities would fall into his lap continuously. These opportunities supported his goal to get into a top law school where he is today (at NYU Law).

When it comes to legal careers, it’s hard to define your goals. I completely understand this because I didn’t always know what I wanted to do either!

Some of my later articles will address how you can use your experiences to choose a law school personal statement topic that will help you stand out from the crowd of other apps:

YOUR ACTION STEP

Define your end result.

To help you do that, start by answering this question:

“What do I want my reach schools to know about me?”

I suggest writing this on a piece of paper. When you write down your goals on a piece of paper, your chances of actually completing the goal increase significantly.

If your answer is, “I don’t know,” don't worry. I'll be helping you more with this in the coming weeks.

-Steve

Recommended Resources: 1. Law School Admissions Coaching Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement. 2. Law School Admissions Guide I've written a concise guide to the law school admission process with tips on completing every aspect of your applications from start to finish. It's a small price to pay for a whole lot of guidance, and it's short enough that you'll actually read the whole thing. 3. Law School Admissions Cheat Sheet Quick-reference guide for the law school personal statement, the "Why X?" essay, and the law school résumé. (You can also get it with the LSAT Cheat Sheets.)

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How to explain why you’re transferring in your application

Any student applying to a new school might feel nervous about writing their law school personal statement. Finding the right words to express the ways you’re unique can seem challenging at best, and sometimes, even overwhelming. But for transfer students, writing the law school personal statement may feel especially scary. After all, you might feel as if you’re risking it all by leaving a great opportunity behind.

However, if you’ve thought about transferring, it’s probably because you know there’s an even better opportunity out there for you elsewhere. Are you thinking of transferring? You’re not alone. 1. Acknowledge the Change You might feel compelled to downplay the transfer, but you should instead use your essay as an opportunity to acknowledge the change. Transfer admission officers will need to know why your previous institution didn’t work for you to help them decide whether their school will be a good fit.  2. Use Supplemental Essays to Explain If you choose not to highlight the transfer in your main essay, definitely mention it in a supplemental essay. The “why this law school” supplemental essay provides transfer students a special opportunity to explain their decision to switch schools. 3. Don’t Criticize or Expose Weaknesses While you should provide a clear reason for transferring schools, you don’t want to shame another institution or expose any personal weaknesses. Avoid talking badly about professors, student body, or any other aspects of a law school, and don’t cite any of your own flaws or shortcomings as the reason for the change, either. 4. Consider Listing One of These 4 Reasons Oftentimes, students choose to transfer for one of the following four reasons:  a. A specific program  b. Social environment  c. Available internships  d. Class size If one of these reasons applies to you, be sure to explain it in your essay. Show the admission officer why this particular aspect has such an impact on your law school experience.  5. Learn from Examples A great way for transfer students to develop well-written law school application essays is to view some examples from students who have already done it successfully. Take a look at these law school personal statement examples. If you’re a transfer student seeking guidance with the law school personal statement, remember you’re not alone. In fact, you might even have an advantage over some other students. After all, you already got into one school and have some idea what admission officers are looking for! Of course, everyone can benefit from a little extra help. If you’re in need of assistance, just reach out. Until next time, Steve

Recommended Resources: 1. Law School Admissions Coaching Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement. 2. Law School Admissions Guide I've written a concise guide to the law school admission process with tips on completing every aspect of your applications from start to finish. It's a small price to pay for a whole lot of guidance, and it's short enough that you'll actually read the whole thing. 3. Law School Admissions Cheat Sheet Quick-reference guide for the law school personal statement, the "Why X?" essay, and the law school résumé. (You can also get it with the LSAT Cheat Sheets.)

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Law school personal statement rumors

There are a lot of rumors about the law school personal statement going around. Alumni, other law school applicants, and yes – sometimes even pre-law advisors – are guilty of spreading information that might not be entirely true. For students applying to law school, it can be difficult to determine what’s true and what’s not.

While some mistruths are more innocent than others, there’s one lie about the law school personal statement that’s seriously dangerous to believe: Your law school personal statement doesn’t matter if you have a good GPA and LSAT score. Yikes! This is totally untrue. And think about it: not only is it false, but it doesn’t really make sense, does it? If all law schools looked at were LSAT scores and GPAs, then why would there be a law school personal statement in the first place?  An extraordinary law school personal statement can increase your chances of getting into a school – especially if you don’t have remarkable grades and LSAT scores. But even if you do, the law school personal statement is still important. You can bet that admissions officers will still certainly read it, so not putting effort into your law school personal statement will backfire. Some of the students who have come to me for help have outstanding GPAs and LSAT scores, as well as a wide variety of extracurricular activities. When they first reach out to me, they typically think these factors are enough to get them into their top choice law school, and that the law school personal statement is really only supplemental. Yet, for students with their sights set on top-notch schools, the law school personal statement is much more than that. Take my student Michelle, for example. She wanted to get into Yale, which was certainly a “reach school” for anyone! Between her grades, LSAT scores, and work experience, it certainly seemed like she had strong-enough credentials to have a decent chance at getting into her top-choice school. When she came to me for help, I had to explain to her that the law school personal statement was more than just a “supplement” to her application. It was her opportunity to show admissions officers something more than just numbers and facts. It gave her the chance to showcase a bit of her personality, and what made her unique as an applicant. With that new perspective, Michelle wrote an outstanding essay that helped her get into her top choice, Yale Law School! So, no matter what, don’t believe the lie that the law school personal statement isn’t important. It’s important for everyone, even if you have excellent grades and LSAT scores. Until next time, Steve P.S. Now that I’ve shown you just how important the law school personal statement is, you can make sure you’re on track to writing an excellent one of your own. Take a look my list of the questions every law school personal statement should answer for a little extra help from me!

Recommended Resources: 1. Law School Admissions Coaching Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement. 2. Law School Admissions Guide I've written a concise guide to the law school admission process with tips on completing every aspect of your applications from start to finish. It's a small price to pay for a whole lot of guidance, and it's short enough that you'll actually read the whole thing. 3. Law School Admissions Cheat Sheet Quick-reference guide for the law school personal statement, the "Why X?" essay, and the law school résumé. (You can also get it with the LSAT Cheat Sheets.)

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Writing the law school personal statement

Students often ask me, “What makes a perfect law school personal statement?” The answer is hard to put into words, because it’s different for each applicant. There’s no “magic formula” for a powerful law school personal statement. However, there are five qualities that every PS should have. And, chances are, if you have these five qualities in yours, it’s going to be an excellent law school personal statement.

Let me share the five-must have elements: 1. A Compelling Opening Simply put, your opening shouldn’t be boring. It should make the reader feel like they’ll miss out on something great if they don’t keep reading! To do this, set the scene for them. Make them feel like they’re not just reading your PS, but they’re actually a part of it. 2. Descriptive Details The way to ace the “show, don’t tell” approach to essay-writing is to include details. Here’s an example: instead of saying that your science labs were fun but challenging, use details to show how they were fun but challenging. State that students rarely scored higher than a B, but you learned how certain compounds interacted with one another and used the scientific method to prove your theories. 3. An Example of Grit One of the must-have qualities of any law school personal statement is a demonstration of drive and determination. Which circumstances have you had to overcome to succeed? Show your reader how you’ve excelled despite facing challenges.  4. Proof You’re a Good Candidate Which unique qualities would make you a desirable student at the law school of your choice? Don’t simply provide a laundry list of your qualities or extracurriculars. Instead, showcase what makes you truly unique by tying it into the overall message you’re delivering in your law school personal statement.  5. A Powerful Closing The closing of your law school personal statement is just as important (if not more so) than your opening. You should leave your reader with a strong lasting impression of you. If you feel like your law school personal statement falls flat at the end, take another look. How can you find a powerful way to tie it all together at the end of your essay? Keep in mind that this is not simply a “checklist.” Weaving each of these elements into your law school personal statement can be challenging! If you’re having difficulties, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Take a look at my law school admissions articles. And remember, it’s always okay to walk away and come back to it again with fresh eyes! Talk soon, Steve P.S. Even though I share a lot of facts with you about the law school personal statement, I also still hear mistruths from time to time. There’s one particular lie that’s very dangerous to believe, and some of the students I’ve worked with in the past have almost gotten caught up in it. I’ll share it in my next article, so be sure to take a look!

Recommended Resources: 1. Law School Admissions Coaching Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement. 2. Law School Admissions Guide I've written a concise guide to the law school admission process with tips on completing every aspect of your applications from start to finish. It's a small price to pay for a whole lot of guidance, and it's short enough that you'll actually read the whole thing. 3. Law School Admissions Cheat Sheet Quick-reference guide for the law school personal statement, the "Why X?" essay, and the law school résumé. (You can also get it with the LSAT Cheat Sheets.)

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Answering law school personal statement questions

When you’re applying to law school, it’s not always easy to track down the answers you need. Even though you have pre-law advisors, websites, and perhaps even friends you can ask about the process, each application is different. More importantly, each student is different. Your law school application experience is entirely unique and won’t be exactly the same as your friends’ or your siblings’.

For this reason, it can feel challenging to learn the “right” way to do things. You may have questions, and it might feel like the answers are out of reach.   That’s where I come in. As you may have guessed by now, I specialize in the law school personal statement. And chances are, if you have a question, I have an answer for you. (Even if I don’t have it right away, I’ll find it!) For now, here are three of the most common questions I get asked about the law school personal statement: 1. I don’t even know where I want to go to school. Should I still start my law school personal statement? Yes! Even if you don’t know exactly where you want to go – and aren’t sure which essay topic you’ll write about – you’ll find many schools ask similar questions. For this reason, if you start brainstorming ideas by taking a look at common topics, you’ll be way ahead when you eventually do decide on a school. 2. How long should my law school personal statement be? First off, it’s important to precisely follow the instructions on the application. If it has a maximum word count, don’t go over it. But your word count shouldn’t fall too far under that maximum, either. If you’re not using up most of the allotted words, you’re probably not getting your point across. Aim to be just below the maximum word count - never over it!  3. When should I start the law school personal statement? You might think my answer would be, “as soon as possible!” But realistically, you shouldn’t start it too early. Thinking about the law school personal statement too far in advance might be counterproductive. You’ll have a more developed perspective by the time you’re ready to seriously start applying to law school.  For this reason, I recommend that you don’t start brainstorming topics any earlier than 5-6 months before you submit your law school application. Definitely don’t wait any longer than 3-4 months before submitting your application to start your essay. You’ll need ample time to generate ideas, actually write an essay draft, and get feedback so you can edit it. Do you have any other questions about the law school personal statement I haven’t covered here? If so, I’d be happy to answer them! Just reach out. Until next time, Steve P.S. My next article is one you won’t want to miss. I’m going to share the five must-have elements for an incredible law school personal statement, so keep an eye out!

Recommended Resources: 1. Law School Admissions Coaching Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement. 2. Law School Admissions Guide I've written a concise guide to the law school admission process with tips on completing every aspect of your applications from start to finish. It's a small price to pay for a whole lot of guidance, and it's short enough that you'll actually read the whole thing. 3. Law School Admissions Cheat Sheet Quick-reference guide for the law school personal statement, the "Why X?" essay, and the law school résumé. (You can also get it with the LSAT Cheat Sheets.)

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Why law school applications are stressful (and how to fix it)

There are a few big reasons why applying to law school is so stressful. For one, there are deadlines. Knowing you have to complete a task by a specific date can cause alarm. That’s a problem, because the closer you get to your deadline, the more pressure you’ll feel, and the more your creativity will be impacted. (That’s why I always recommend starting the law school application as early as possible – see my advice for beginning the law school application process.)

Another cause of stress comes from not knowing how to write the perfect law school personal statement. But you’ve come to the right place, and by now, you’ve probably collected lots of insights from my articles about how to craft a brilliant PS all your own. So, cross this stressor off your list, too. Even if you need more help, you can always reach out to me. But there’s one final aspect of the law school admissions process that causes stress, and unfortunately, it’s not one that we can solve. There’s no way to tell just how much your law school personal statement matters compared to, say, your LSAT score or GPA. And it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon. Admission officers even say that transparency is impossible, because each student and law school has unique qualities. So, part of the stress of applying to law school is simply coming to terms with the unknown aspects of the process. We’ll never be able to know for sure to what degree each law school – or even how much each admission officer – weighs your law school personal statement over other factors. But one thing is for sure: the law school personal statement does matter. Google “How much does the law school personal statement matter” and it will yield all sorts of conflicting results. Don’t bother reading them. Like I said, at present, there’s no way to quantify exactly how much it matters. But consider this: I’ve seen dozens of success stories from students whose LSAT scores and GPAs could have been better. They had their sights set on competitive schools, and perhaps their general application alone wouldn’t have been enough to help them get into these top universities. Yet, they used the law school personal statement as an opportunity to show admissions officers that they’re more than numbers and grades. I bet you’re more than that, too. Shouldn’t you use the opportunity to show your law school of choice that you’re more? For now, we can’t erase the unknowns. But what we do have the power to do is write the best possible law school personal statement for the greatest chance at getting accepted. Think of it this way: the law school personal statement could matter even more than we realize in admissions decisions. If that’s the case, it’s not worth leaving anything up to chance. Write an incredible law school personal statement, submit it, and then ease your mind knowing that you did the best you possibly could in applying to your top-choice law school. That’s how you avoid stress, even in the face of unknowns. Until next time, Steve P.S. I’ll share with you another thing that matters: closely following the application’s directions. Some students get so wrapped up in their law school application essays that they accidentally overlook critical factors like word count and other requirements. Don’t make these simple mistakes. Always take the time to triple-check the prompt to make sure you’ve fulfilled all of the requirements completely.

Recommended Resources: 1. Law School Admissions Coaching Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement. 2. Law School Admissions Guide I've written a concise guide to the law school admission process with tips on completing every aspect of your applications from start to finish. It's a small price to pay for a whole lot of guidance, and it's short enough that you'll actually read the whole thing. 3. Law School Admissions Cheat Sheet Quick-reference guide for the law school personal statement, the "Why X?" essay, and the law school résumé. (You can also get it with the LSAT Cheat Sheets.)

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