why berkeley law essay

why berkeley law essay

Writing a Persuasive Berkeley Law Essay

1. Introduction

An argument does not have to be a burning issue, but it must be a debatable topic. It can be an issue that affects an entire community or an issue that only relates to an individual. An essay can be used to present an argument with the aim of convincing the audience to take a certain course of action or to sway the reader to accept the writer’s viewpoint. In order for the writer to convince the reader of his or her point of view, he or she must research the topic and educate the reader on an issue. This can be done by stating a point of view and supporting it with evidence. The evidence can be in the form of statistics and facts, examples, an anecdote, or reasons. The writer must build a case using facts and logic, as well as examples, expert opinion, and sound reasoning. The writer should present all sides of the argument but must be able to communicate clearly and without equivocation why a certain position is correct.

Persuasive writing is a form of writing in which the writer uses words to convince the reader that the writer’s opinion is correct in regard to an issue. Persuasive writing is a written form of an oral debate, written with the purpose of convincing the reader to agree with the writer’s opinion. The act of trying to persuade automatically implies more than one opinion on the subject can be argued. The idea behind a persuasive essay is to help the student pass their ideas onto the audience. This can be done in the form of an expository essay, a cause and effect essay, a compare and contrast essay, or a satirical essay.

2. Highlighting Academic Excellence

A good grade in a more prestigious university degree can be an indicator of a higher level of academic satisfaction. If you have studied a lesser-known degree or a course at a smaller learning institution in comparison to a more prestigious one, it may be necessary to put into context the level of your academic achievement. The grade point average system is wide and varied. Some countries use a scale that does not translate easily to other countries with different systems. Be specific when translating your marks to the Berkeley Law standard. An approximate GPA conversion can be found on the Admissions page, and a more detailed evaluation of foreign study for the purpose of admission can be sought in the LLM and SJD Admissions section under ‘How to Apply’. If you feel that there is a disparity between your degree and grade and what you are capable of, it may be necessary to attach an addendum to your resume explaining this.

Another approach may be to examine your academic journey to date. In considering what student to admit, Berkeley Law seeks to find students with a rich and varied life experience. This experience is often reflected in a student’s academic journey. Life events change the way we think and can be mirrored in a student’s success and approach to their study. If you feel that your academic journey reflects a change in thought and approach that makes you unique and adds to the academic community, consider reflecting on this in your application.

Begin by focusing on the extent of your academic success. When applying to the University of Cambridge in 1721, philosopher George Berkeley noted his many academic achievements. Imitating what he so humbly did, list your academic achievements to date. Remember the list needs to be concise and relevant. The reader does not need to know that you came first in your primary school sporting event. List any relevant academic awards, scholarships, and grants you have received.

To highlight your academic excellence is practically stating the obvious for someone who has gained entry to Berkeley. However, there are several key strategies to show this in the best light.

3. Showcasing Personal Qualities

Answer the question that the core question asks. By doing so, decision makers will be able to clearly quantify each answer as good, adequate, or inadequate. This will help simplify the decision process regarding the strength or weakness of specific answers. By stating today’s lawyering and yesterday’s lawyering as the core question, the desired and undesired qualities for a Berkeley Law student (yesterday and today) clearly show that good answers will present an ample platform for legal success.

– Clearly state the core question. – Get to the point quickly. Because the personal statement will be less than double-spaced pages, it is crucial to address the question in a straightforward manner. Detailed evidence of law school qualifications is not necessary, but rather the focus of the essay should clearly be on the significance the experiences revealed about the applicant. – Because there is no interview component of the application, the personal statement serves as the ideal forum for revealing the qualities and abilities that make a good candidate.

Responses to the academic and professional prompts for the personal statement should give the Admissions Committee a better sense of the individual in their own words. Because there are no interview opportunities available, the personal statement takes on added importance. It will provide insight into the kind of student you are, the contributions you hope to make at Berkeley Law, and the impact you hope to have in the legal profession. Following are some suggestions for writing an effective personal statement:

4. Demonstrating Commitment to Social Justice

When trying to show your commitment to social justice, you must explain your experiences within various communities and your efforts to try and make a change. This does not necessarily have to be a formal organization or association. This community could be anything from your family to your school, your religion, or a cultural group. One should elaborate on any form of practical work that has been done in order to help better the community. This could be tutoring or mentoring children to help them reach their full potential, engaging in activities against discrimination, or charity work. One should emphasize their leadership qualities and abilities and how they have utilized this in their efforts. One should explain any obstacles that may have been faced and the ability to overcome them. Finally, it should be expressed how their experiences have shaped their perspective on the world and the future they see in trying to make a change. This is the most important part of the application, so it is essential to give sufficient thought and time to reflect on your experiences and what social justice means to you.

Demonstrating commitment to social justice is very important to any application to UC Berkeley School of Law. There are many ways to show that you are committed to social justice within your community. You must first ask yourself, “What is social justice?” Social justice is defined as a state or doctrine of egalitarianism. This means fair treatment of people regardless of their race, gender, nationality, etc. This is relevant to all communities as there is much inequality and oppression in the world today. Social justice is committed to making a change and trying to create a much equal world. Equal opportunity should be given to everyone, and a person committed to social justice will aim for this goal.

5. Conclusion

American legal education has plenty of critics, inside and out. The students most satisfied with their law school choice attend for reasons having little to do with a quest for the best available education. Many teachers and scholars wish to be better equipped to advance justice and provide leaders for many sectors of society through research, teaching, and public service, and to instill a strong sense of purposive citizenship in students counted among the nation’s future decision makers. These ideals give content to the claim that the legal profession is a helping profession. They remain distant from the prevailing reality for most law students and faculty, but if a critical mass of legal educators and law trained professionals ever made a serious attempt to steer the law to a better place, it would be a potent force for beneficial change.

Students must learn to treat law as an open-ended set of problems, not a vocation, and must be prepared to defend their solutions from all comers. They learn to pull the law in the direction of their moral compasses as skilled lawyers marshaling evidence to persuade a judge or jury. It is a difficult and uncertain path, requiring an acute sensitivity to the demands of sound public policy as well as the pressure of the moral, political or economic imperatives driving change. Happily, many of the nation’s top law schools now involve students in clinical projects, field placements, or policy research, enabling them to “learn what they do not know” in a fashion that is both personally rewarding and good for the public.