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Law School Personal Statement

Your personal statement is an opportunity to present yourself as more than an LSAT score and GPA. The personal statement sets you apart from other candidates. It is also a sample of your ability to express thoughts clearly and cogently.

The Process

Possible topics

If the school does not specify a topic (and many don’t, but always check) here are a few ideas to help you brainstorm:

Things to Watch for when Writing and Editing

Formatting your Personal Statement

Introduction

Detailed Body Paragraphs

Relevant, each contributing/supporting to your main idea

Conclusion

Top Mistakes Made in Personal Statements

Many law schools have sections on their admission pages/blogs that contain guidelines and/or samples of personal statements. Print resources for writing personal statements:

101 Law School Personal Statements That Made a Difference by Dr. Nancy L. Nolan

Law School Essays That Made a Difference, 6th Edition (Graduate School Admissions Guides) by the Princeton Review