a law school personal statement writing service

a law school personal statement writing service

The Art of Crafting a Compelling Law School Personal Statement

1. Introduction to the Importance of a Personal Statement in Law School Admissions

The personal statement can often serve as the deciding factor in law school admissions, especially in cases where an applicant is not a “front-line candidate” based on their LSAT score and grades. In these cases, a personal statement will carry the application and, resultantly, allow the applicant to pursue a legal profession. The best personal statements will captivate the reader and distinguish you from other law school applicants. Admission committees assign a substantial weight to personal statements: a personal statement is the first writing sample read by the committee. It is the first opportunity to exhibit writing ability. Indeed, a great personal statement can help mitigate weaknesses in an application, such as a low LSAT score or a spotty undergraduate record.

The very term “personal statement” means just that: an essay that communicates the writer’s personality. This is, in part, because techniques that work in fiction and poetry, such as imagery and tone, exist in all good writing, including the form you are asked to use. Moreover, writing is itself a deeply introspective task. When we formulate our ideas on paper, the thoughts become clear and can be refined. Using writing as a means for discovery almost ensures a creative and cogent essay. To write your personal statement, you are expected to think honestly and critically about your character, your background, the people you’ve encountered, as well as the experiences you’ve had and their influence on your decision to go to law school.

2. Key Elements of a Strong Law School Personal Statement

First and foremost, don’t fixate on whether or not they’ll enjoy reviewing your submission. Personal statements, when constructed thoughtfully, can be very enjoyable to read. Both the excitement and hunger for legal education should shine through in your positive tone and authentic verve. Not every reader will wholeheartedly endorse each facet of any given submission, but genuine written enthusiasm is and always will be contagious. Thus, an effective personal statement serves as a prodigious and distinct sales pitch. It should inform law schools “of your core abilities, your commitment to growth, and your potential contribution to the legal community.”

In addition, an outstanding personal statement features a refined and specific topic, strategic structure, professional appearance, and polished language. The incorporation of examples, details, values, and tones, along with point of view and resolution should indulge readers and express fully that which it is meant to. Each part of the personal statement, including the introduction and conclusion, should feature sentences that are so earnestly zestful readers cannot help but be compelled or deeply moved. To give credit to a certain former Yale Law School Dean, an exceptional personal statement is simply a strong plea with the potential to enlighten. Refrain from capitulating to a spirit of resigned or artificial politeness. In short, advocates must be vigilant and witty.

Its power is enhanced by specificity, something truly unique to and fundamental about you as an applicant. Such a story should be made manifest through the telling of a demonstrable skill or quality clearly relevant within the legal milieu. Authenticity is key, as it can enhance elegance, efficacy, and clarity, thereby resonating with readers. The truly compelling quality of a personal statement can hinge on its forthright narrative voice.

3. Strategies for Effective Storytelling and Self-Presentation

Your personal statement must not only tell a story in your own voice but must also do so in an engaging and persuasive way. The narrative should ideally feature you as the main character; it serves as an opportunity for you to showcase traits and abilities that are not reflected in the rest of your application, such as your values, motivations, and problem-solving abilities. When elaborating on a particular instance or inclination, be sure to explain the importance of the motif. You could elaborate on the manner in which a part-time job had you bear witness to so much injustice that you knew you had to do something about it.

If there seems to be the potential to add dramatic tension into your statement, do so. For example, a person at a keynote address sternly informing you that “A university education is a privilege” can instantly paint a vivid picture. A convincing make-believe tale, which can even be based on facts, can also effectively illustrate your character for the reader. The year I grew up on a dairy farm, where seven-days-a-week work under harsh rural circumstances left me with no time or resources for socializing or engaging in extracurricular programs, for instance. Instead of just relaying facts about yourself, think about how you can present the story in such a fashion that it will truly captivate and engage your reader. One thing everyone enjoys is a unique perspective; therefore, you should strive to present yourself and your personal story in a way that no one else can. Notice the moments when an applicant has stepped back from his or her specific environment and given explanation and insight into their experiences.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Personal Statement Writing

First, it highlights why certain topics or approaches to personal statement writing can render the final product uncompelling and ineffective. Using these warnings as signals to avoid these shortfalls, the section indicates that an impressive personal statement avoids clichés, sidesteps vague and unsupported claims, and makes significant material of personal relevance and impact readily visible.

Finally, this final section of the tutorial identifies several common faults in personal statement writing that can turn the heads of admissions readers in a negative direction. It warns readers to avoid using uninspiring topics, solely boasting about their A-plus résumés, and focusing attention on errors and weak points. The section also signals readers’ attention toward a post that provides instruction on writing diversity statements as part of applications to law school. As the introductory paragraphs of the tutorial suggest, the creation of a personal statement can explicitly address how an applicant is a good fit for the programs to which they apply. It ends by relaying some candidate topics that the writers of admissions staff have seen time and again, and the role that improving version essay products can have in helping applicants avoid these potential pitfalls when writing their personal statements.

5. Guidelines for Seeking Professional Assistance in Personal Statement Writing

V. Seeking professional assistance in personal statement writing

Law school hopefuls should seek professional assistance when encountering the following scenarios:

1. The individual completed their draft, paid for professional editing services, and were told that grammar looked good, but no critique was given to ensure that the examples within the statement were quality, or an indication as to whether the story shared was enough to warrant further discussion with the admissions committee.

2. The individual refuses to share their draft with anyone they know because they worked hard on it and they feel too close to it. They say not because they are insecure about their skills as a writer, but because they poured their story into it and don’t feel comfortable asking the opinions of close friends and family members.

3. The individual is unable to identify what is worth sharing in their personal statement and/or struggles to come up with an idea to write about that won’t come across as trite to the admissions committee.

4. The individual wrote a draft but isn’t a skilled writer and would like to work with someone who can re-write their personal statement with their voice and submit more focus on why they are pursuing a JD and why they’d be a good fit for legal academia.

5. The individual has to write about overcoming significant professional or personal barriers and has worked hard to bury the outcomes of those events and would like to give the admissions committee a fuller picture of who they are as a professional and person, but needs help with the narrative.

For those who are leaning towards hiring a professional to assist them, there are certain criteria to consider in finding the right professional to work with. Professionals can only assess the promise of your personal statement or provide an accurate fee quote after they have had a chance to review the following: your personal statement. Please visit the “Resources for Prospective Clients” page for more information about guidelines for submission. To schedule a consultation call, or use the contact form located here. Types of professional assistance offer.