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I haven't started writing my PS but have been brainstorming about it lately, I would like to write something about my experience with children, since it is one of my passions. I have a feeling that what i write is going to be directed towards a specific field of law - child advocacy/children's rights, even if I don't mention it in the essay. I really think that it is a good topic, but at the same time i don't want to narrow my options, especially it's not a big area of law. I'm also quite intersted in doing international law, and what to tie in my international background in the PS, but I simply don't know how to incorporate both. Any advice/suggestion?

xqhp82 wrote:I haven't started writing my PS but have been brainstorming about it lately, I would like to write something about my experience with children, since it is one of my passions. I have a feeling that what i write is going to be directed towards a specific field of law - child advocacy/children's rights, even if I don't mention it in the essay. I really think that it is a good topic, but at the same time i don't want to narrow my options, especially it's not a big area of law. I'm also quite intersted in doing international law, and what to tie in my international background in the PS, but I simply don't know how to incorporate both. Any advice/suggestion?

What about child advocacy in foreign countries? There is so much that goes on with kids (international adoptions, child trafficking, ect) that you might be able to tie your social problems within the US to any number of other countries. Just a suggestion, but it could work.

yea thats actually a very reasonable suggestion...not sure how i can do it yet but thanks!

It's ok to have a narrow PS focus. It's not like it's going to lock you into a particular field for law school.

Focus on writing the most coherent and narrative personal statement you can, and having a focus is a great thing. Law schools understand desires, and that desires change, so it should be fine.

booboo wrote:Focus on writing the most coherent and narrative personal statement you can, and having a focus is a great thing. Law schools understand desires, and that desires change, so it should be fine.

The PS I wrote for my "reach" for this upcoming cycle (yes, it's already written ) talks about my particular interest in a specific field of law which happens to be one they specialize in-- thus my interest for applying. I didn't see anything really wrong with that, fairly narrow or not. I think it answers the 'Why XYZ school' when you can give them valid reasons like programs.

OmbreGracieuse wrote:

booboo wrote:Focus on writing the most coherent and narrative personal statement you can, and having a focus is a great thing. Law schools understand desires, and that desires change, so it should be fine.

The PS I wrote for my "reach" for this upcoming cycle (yes, it's already written ) talks about my particular interest in a specific field of law which happens to be one they specialize in-- thus my interest for applying. I didn't see anything really wrong with that, fairly narrow or not. I think it answers the 'Why XYZ school' when you can give them valid reasons like programs.

yes i can see some good things about it - the schools that specialise in that feild would certainly appreciate my focus. but what do you think about those that arent? would my interest in something that's not their strongest put them off?

edit: you're done with your PS so early?! respect!

aznflyingpanda wrote:It's ok to have a narrow PS focus. It's not like it's going to lock you into a particular field for law school.

+1

This was exactly the logic I used when writing mine.

OP it sounds like you have an opportunity to connect your passion and past experience with why you want to study law. I think that is exactly what you want to do with a PS. Run with it.

It's probably difficult to write convincingly about international law unless you have a specific professional endeavor in mind. "International Law " is a bit vague and needs a lot of defining for one's personal statement.
What is the objective of your personal statement? To get the admissions officers to like you? To know you? To want to admit you? To set out personal goals? Once you decide on a goal, then the parameters & content of your personal statement should be much easier to define & to construct.

xqhp82 wrote:yes i can see some good things about it - the schools that specialise in that feild would certainly appreciate my focus. but what do you think about those that arent? would my interest in something that's not their strongest put them off?

I ask the same.

xqhp82 wrote:
yes i can see some good things about it - the schools that specialise in that feild would certainly appreciate my focus. but what do you think about those that arent? would my interest in something that's not their strongest put them off?

edit: you're done with your PS so early?! respect!

Thanks! I am hoping to be one of the first people with an application in on opening day (for many reasons). I don't want the schools to have to wait for anything.

You could talk about a specific program they do have that interests you... but you know there are many reasons someone might pick a school. Location, proximity to family, familiarity with the area, the atmosphere of the school, the reputation. You don't HAVE to say it's because of a program.

Someone made a reference to "international law" being vague. I actually want to be an attorney for the United States Central African Republic embassy. I did not say this specifically in my statement, but talked about wanting to work in the embassy system (I gave reasons why).

I think as long as they know you know what you want to do, they will be okay with it. You are, after all, choosing to go to their school.

i agree that international law is vague, i personally still aren't sure how many different subdivisions are under this umbrella term, so it's probably best that i keep the PS revolving around what i enjoy doing/learning etc. My thought is to tie in how my international background could strengthen/give a new dimension to what i'd like to do. the first poster's idea about including issues like child trafficking seems to do this job well.