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Lets say you were some sort of crazy person and that you had this idea about what you wanted to do with your legal career. For instance, lets say that you are really interested in space, space travel, technology and science but you sucked at Math and a legal profession was much more suited to your strengths. Furthermore, you believe that the private space industry is really about to explode (thanks, for instance to new budget allocations over at NASA) and that you would really like to get involved in crafting the legal frameworks that will govern space travel and industry. Would you ever talk about these desires, or are would you seal them up in a dark hole and never discuss them again? I mean, if this is your real motivation for going to law school, would you even dare mention it on your personal statement or would that be suicide? It seems that if you included this in your PS, it would certainly make you stand out. Not to mention, when you are write about something that you are honestly passionate about, it definitely affects the quality of your writing. But then again, you might seem like a nut, chasing totally unrealistic dreams.

Edit: For the sake of this scenario, lets assume that rest of your numbers make you a relatively good candidate for a T14.

thomas85 wrote:Lets say you were some sort of crazy person and that you had this idea about what you wanted to do with your legal career. For instance, lets say that you are really interested in space, space travel, technology and science but you sucked at Math and a legal profession was much more suited to your strengths. Furthermore, you believe that the private space industry is really about to explode (thanks, for instance to new budget allocations over at NASA) and that you would really like to get involved in crafting the legal frameworks that will govern space travel and industry. Would you ever talk about these desires, or are would you seal them up in a dark hole and never discuss them again? I mean, if this is your real motivation for going to law school, would you even dare mention it on your personal statement or would that be suicide? It seems that if you included this in your PS, it would certainly make you stand out. Not to mention, when you are write about something that you are honestly passionate about, it definitely affects the quality of your writing. But then again, you might seem like a nut, chasing totally unrealistic dreams.

Edit: For the sake of this scenario, lets assume that rest of your numbers make you a relatively good candidate for a T14.

I would leave it out. I think it is sort of like religion, if you get the right adcomm they will love it, but you could get someone who absolutely hates it. Best to stick with things that don't stick out so much you could be seen as naive at best or crazy at worst.

rando wrote: I would leave it out. I think it is sort of like religion, if you get the right adcomm they will love it, but you could get someone who absolutely hates it. Best to stick with things that don't stick out so much you could be seen as naive at best or crazy at worst.

That sucks. I know you are probably right, but I hate the idea of being forced into writing a less than honest PS. It means I have to cook something else up that is inevitably going to sound a little trite and fail to communicate the passion that I believe makes me a strong candidate. I think space in particular carries such a huge nerd/screwball stigma that it is difficult to discuss it seriously.

thomas85 wrote:

rando wrote: I would leave it out. I think it is sort of like religion, if you get the right adcomm they will love it, but you could get someone who absolutely hates it. Best to stick with things that don't stick out so much you could be seen as naive at best or crazy at worst.

That sucks. I know you are probably right, but I hate the idea of being forced into writing a less than honest PS. It means I have to cook something else up that is inevitably going to sound a little trite and fail to communicate the passion that I believe makes me a strong candidate. I think space in particular carries such a huge nerd/screwball stigma that it is difficult to discuss it seriously.

Ha. well it doesn't necessarily mean you have to write something less than honest. You must have some other experiences to recall. Whatever it was that got you into the idea that you wanted to be a lawyer can work. Even in the realm of NASA etc. ("I realized there was so much more to the law than just Perry Mason..." You can still be honest without showing them your crazy. (kidding).
I wouldn't worry too much because PS generally only hurt you. In rare circumstances a good PS can really demonstrate your softs that don't come across on paper, but something crazy will only serve to ding you.

I'd try a draft leaving it in, I think it could work. Show it to an advisor at your UG or post it on TLS. I bet it wouldn't come off as any less realistic than a lot of other goal-oriented PSs, and it would stand out.

beef wellington wrote:I'd try a draft leaving it in, I think it could work. Show it to an advisor at your UG or post it on TLS. I bet it wouldn't come off as any less realistic than a lot of other goal-oriented PSs, and it would stand out.

Yeah, thats probably what I will end up doing.

Once some dude asked if he should write his personal statement about doing softcore gay porn. This idea isn't much better, put it back in the crazy box.

D. H2Oman wrote:Once some dude asked if he should write his personal statement about doing softcore gay porn. This idea isn't much better, put it back in the crazy box.

Its getting pretty full...

I think it is both genius and suicide, depending on the school. I don't know if I would necessarily mention you were doing it for the space boom, or because you are bad at math, however I would definitely talk about doing 'space' law (no clue what you would call that). I think you could tie it into some kind of childhood experience- most people I know at one point have laid on a merry-go-round staring at the sky. I think if you are confident with your statement, and you like it, then go for it. I think though that going too over the top could hurt you.

OmbreGracieuse wrote:most people I know at one point have laid on a merry-go-round staring at the sky. I think if you are confident with your statement, and you like it, then go for it. I think though that going too over the top could hurt you.

I've never even been on a merry go round.

--OP: if you actually have anything in your life which could reasonably associate with this dream you have, then do it. Otherwise you will just come off as unfocused or unrealistic.

A faculty member at UNLV (who I saw a non-application related, work function) touted the school's "Space Law Program" to me. True story. I just tried to google it and got nothing. But I don't think this person was kidding.

Anyway, might be the perfect place for you!

I think it sounds awesome. I disagree with the person who said it's like religion. It isn't polarizing in the same way. Who can argue that space tourism is a legitimate burgeoning industry, one where legal issues haven't been hashed out?

It's not like you're saying you think that world governments are about to disclose what they know about UFOs and the extraterrestrial presence and you want to go into interspecies law. That you should never mention to anyone.

You should write two statements and apply to a bunch of schools and see how it pans out, at least for our benefit I would discuss how are you going to get a specialty in this sort of thing (I'm thinking you should study aviation stuff, apply to NASA?). UNLV's mystery program aside, schools don't really have space law classes, I don't think. So talk about where you want to go and how you're going to get there. Also if you can discuss any relevant court cases where space issues/jurisdiction is discussed, it will make a skeptical reader see that this is a grounded topic (npi).

All that said, I wouldn't use this PS for my dream school. And don't mention the space elevator.

LOLZ don't talk about legal theory........ and any theory.......... talk about yourself... somehow...... it is........ a personal...... statement.............................................................................................. adcoms despise reading something involving theory of any sort.

/thread.

Use it in a four page tailored personal statement to apply to Berkeley. They have strong IP/International law programs both of which seem relevant to the future field of space law. That place is such a craps shoot anyway that to get accepted you need to have a funky angle.

Ole Miss touts the school as being a leader in Space Law in some promotional material I got. It even had a story from a student that was very interested in Space Law and was directed to a faculty member who was a leader in the field. True Story.

Between the Space Law, the cost, the women and the weather, sounds like Ole Miss is the place for you pal

I would leave it in. Adcommies don't expect you to have any realistic vision of the legal job market. It's interesting, and you'll probably be able to write a convincing essay.

http://www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu/

They even have a journal. I feel this is a no brainer.

GordonBombay wrote:http://www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu/

They even have a journal. I feel this is a no brainer.

Gordon Bombay, you might have just influenced this guy's life as much as the failed triple deke influenced yours.

thomas85 wrote:

D. H2Oman wrote:Once some dude asked if he should write his personal statement about doing softcore gay porn. This idea isn't much better, put it back in the crazy box.

Its getting pretty full...

It's rather odd to consider an interest in the legal aspects of astronautical engineering or astrophysics crazy.

I thought this post was going to be Deliverance-esque. Why does t
TLS always fail me?

Personal statements usually won't make or break you if they're not too outrageous. I think you'd be better of discussing your enterprising spirit instead of some long diatribe about a almost nonexistent field of law.

erniesto wrote:I thought this post was going to be Deliverance-esque. Why does t
TLS always fail me?

Personal statements usually won't make or break you if they're not too outrageous. I think you'd be better of discussing your enterprising spirit instead of some long diatribe about a almost nonexistent field of law.

I think the assumption here is that the OP is going to write primarily about himself using this context. There's no reason to think discussing an enterprising spirit is inconsistent with discussing an interest in a particular field.

quickquestionthanks wrote:

GordonBombay wrote:http://www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu/

They even have a journal. I feel this is a no brainer.

Gordon Bombay, you might have just influenced this guy's life as much as the failed triple deke influenced yours.

You're not even a has been... you're a never was...

It sounds kind of awesome to me. My fear would be that whenever "Space Law" issues arise, the parties involved would opt for the Harvard Law grad who did his undergrad at MIT. Which would be a bummer since I do commend them for finding a totally new niche like this. And seriously, everyone I've known who has gone to Ole Miss has loved it.

GordonBombay wrote:

quickquestionthanks wrote:

GordonBombay wrote:http://www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu/

They even have a journal. I feel this is a no brainer.

Gordon Bombay, you might have just influenced this guy's life as much as the failed triple deke influenced yours.

You're not even a has been... you're a never was...

It sounds kind of awesome to me. My fear would be that whenever "Space Law" issues arise, the parties involved would opt for the Harvard Law grad who did his undergrad at MIT. Which would be a bummer since I do commend them for finding a totally new niche like this. And seriously, everyone I've known who has gone to Ole Miss has loved it.

That's actually a pretty good point. Well OP if you can get into Harvard, wear thick socks.

quickquestionthanks wrote:

GordonBombay wrote:

quickquestionthanks wrote:

GordonBombay wrote:http://www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu/

They even have a journal. I feel this is a no brainer.

Gordon Bombay, you might have just influenced this guy's life as much as the failed triple deke influenced yours.

You're not even a has been... you're a never was...

It sounds kind of awesome to me. My fear would be that whenever "Space Law" issues arise, the parties involved would opt for the Harvard Law grad who did his undergrad at MIT. Which would be a bummer since I do commend them for finding a totally new niche like this. And seriously, everyone I've known who has gone to Ole Miss has loved it.

That's actually a pretty good point. Well OP if you can get into Harvard, wear thick socks.

Nice.

I would love to be PMmed with your PS when it is finally written out- I would love to read a PS about space law. It seems so different; I'd love to hear what you have to say.