Using a sample law school personal statement: How to Identify Bad Sample Law School Personal Statements from the Good Ones
Sample law school personal statements are one of the best tools for writing your own application essay. You are not supposed to revise them and turn them in, but they’ll give you ideas you may not have come up with on your own. But while sample law school personal statements are all over the Web, not all of them are actually helpful. In fact, many people still commit common personal statement mistakes after reading a dozen admission essay samples. It’s your job to know what sets bad sample law school personal statements apart from the good ones. Here are some things you should watch out for.
Sample law school personal statements with spelling and grammar mistakes
Law is a field where the smallest word slip can send your whole argument down the drain. Admissions panels expect you to have a good grasp of grammar and get your point in a clear and concise manner. Even with a perfect LSAT score, a less-than-perfect application essay can give away your weakness. Sample law school personal statements with grammatical slips, typos, and other technical mistakes are probably written by amateurs and may not be very reliable.
Sample law school personal statements with weak introductions
According to the University of California at Berkeley, law school officials can make their judgment only seconds into your admission essay. This means that your introduction can make or break your entire application. Sample law school personal statements should hold your interest longer than the first paragraph. Watch out for words like “worthwhile,” “meaningful,” and “dynamic”—these words are empty and don’t really say much. Instead, narrate your experience and show them what makes it worthwhile, meaningful, or dynamic.
Sample law school personal statements with opinions
The Boston College guide puts it best: Your admission essay should be an image of you. Law school personal statements are a statement of purpose, not a position paper. Avoid sample law school personal statements that start with opinions or discussions of current issues. Instead of offering your take on various social issues, tell them how such issues have affected you and influenced your decision to study law.
Sample law school personal statements with legal jargon
Some sample law school personal statements use legal terms just for the sake of doing so. Law schools aren’t impressed with jargon; after all, it’s their job to teach you that. Your academic ability is measured by your LSAT and transcripts, not your knowledge of Latin phrases. If you have to talk about a legal experience, don’t be afraid to speak in your own language.
Remember, not all sample law school personal statements will give you a viable statement of purpose. It’s still your job to screen sample law school personal statements to see which ones can actually help. After all, law school personal statements are not just about how well you write, but also how well you can defend your point—no matter how small.
