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I know this is a probably obvious and somewhat trivial question, but should I indent the paragraphs in my personal statement, or just have paragraph breaks with no indention? I am just not sure, stylistically, what law schools would prefer.

lalalawya wrote:I know this is a probably obvious and somewhat trivial question, but should I indent the paragraphs in my personal statement, or just have paragraph breaks with no indention? I am just not sure, stylistically, what law schools would prefer.

There is no way you can be serious. What have you done with every paragraph you have ever written? Do that for your PS.

I warned everyone in my subject header that it was a very stupid, but serious question. I am just over-thinking every single aspect of my application, including my personal statement, so thank you for your response!

lalalawya wrote:I warned everyone in my subject header that it was a very stupid, but serious question. I am just over-thinking every single aspect of my application, including my personal statement, so thank you for your response!

Just for the record, I don't think it was that stupid of a question. I can see where you are coming from.

AreJay711 wrote:

lalalawya wrote:I know this is a probably obvious and somewhat trivial question, but should I indent the paragraphs in my personal statement, or just have paragraph breaks with no indention? I am just not sure, stylistically, what law schools would prefer.

There is no way you can be serious. What have you done with every paragraph you have ever written? Do that for your PS.

I have always, always, ALWAYS hated both double-spacing and indented paragraphs. I recognize that they're MLA standard, but I think they look terrible. My eyes can't track double-spacing and gets lost in all that empty white space. (Ok, if you're marking up something by hand it can be useful, but the 21st century called and would like to introduce you to something called Track Changes. Put down the stone tablet and chisel red pen.) I think indented paragraphs belong in fiction, not reports and essays. And as long as I'm tilting at windmills, 1" margins are ridiculous. We're not using hand-cranked printing presses anymore, wtf is all that wasted paper for?

So I always write everything single-spaced with no paragraph indents and format it "properly" at the very last second, because I can't stand to look at my writing all f'ed up like that.

Screw the MLA, they are Bluebook standard.

Please for the love of god and all that's holy indent your paragraphs and do not put a space between them.

Cupidity wrote:Screw the MLA, they are Bluebook standard.

Doesn't make them look any less retarded.

(And I haven't done any legal writing yet.)

The point you made is the partial reason for my asking. I just know the adcomms would probably appreciate every effort to make their job easier and as you mentioned the "incorrect" format is much easier to read.

Butttt, I guess I will have to go with the correct way.

rinkrat19 wrote:

AreJay711 wrote:

lalalawya wrote:I know this is a probably obvious and somewhat trivial question, but should I indent the paragraphs in my personal statement, or just have paragraph breaks with no indention? I am just not sure, stylistically, what law schools would prefer.

There is no way you can be serious. What have you done with every paragraph you have ever written? Do that for your PS.

I have always, always, ALWAYS hated both double-spacing and indented paragraphs. I recognize that they're MLA standard, but I think they look terrible. My eyes can't track double-spacing and gets lost in all that empty white space. (Ok, if you're marking up something by hand it can be useful, but the 21st century called and would like to introduce you to something called Track Changes. Put down the stone tablet and chisel red pen.) I think indented paragraphs belong in fiction, not reports and essays. And as long as I'm tilting at windmills, 1" margins are ridiculous. We're not using hand-cranked printing presses anymore, wtf is all that wasted paper for?

So I always write everything single-spaced with no paragraph indents and format it "properly" at the very last second, because I can't stand to look at my writing all f'ed up like that.

just write a good essay. however you do it, just make sure it's objectively good. there's no "law school" structure. there's just good essays, and bad essays.

people get into HYS writing essays with atypical structures and atypical topics.

rinkrat19 wrote:

AreJay711 wrote:

lalalawya wrote:I know this is a probably obvious and somewhat trivial question, but should I indent the paragraphs in my personal statement, or just have paragraph breaks with no indention? I am just not sure, stylistically, what law schools would prefer.

There is no way you can be serious. What have you done with every paragraph you have ever written? Do that for your PS.

I have always, always, ALWAYS hated both double-spacing and indented paragraphs. I recognize that they're MLA standard, but I think they look terrible. My eyes can't track double-spacing and gets lost in all that empty white space. (Ok, if you're marking up something by hand it can be useful, but the 21st century called and would like to introduce you to something called Track Changes. Put down the stone tablet and chisel red pen.) I think indented paragraphs belong in fiction, not reports and essays. And as long as I'm tilting at windmills, 1" margins are ridiculous. We're not using hand-cranked printing presses anymore, wtf is all that wasted paper for?

So I always write everything single-spaced with no paragraph indents and format it "properly" at the very last second, because I can't stand to look at my writing all f'ed up like that.

agreed. I hate they way it looks with both double space and indents. too much white space.

bostlaw wrote:

rinkrat19 wrote:

AreJay711 wrote:

lalalawya wrote:I know this is a probably obvious and somewhat trivial question, but should I indent the paragraphs in my personal statement, or just have paragraph breaks with no indention? I am just not sure, stylistically, what law schools would prefer.

There is no way you can be serious. What have you done with every paragraph you have ever written? Do that for your PS.

I have always, always, ALWAYS hated both double-spacing and indented paragraphs. I recognize that they're MLA standard, but I think they look terrible. My eyes can't track double-spacing and gets lost in all that empty white space. (Ok, if you're marking up something by hand it can be useful, but the 21st century called and would like to introduce you to something called Track Changes. Put down the stone tablet and chisel red pen.) I think indented paragraphs belong in fiction, not reports and essays. And as long as I'm tilting at windmills, 1" margins are ridiculous. We're not using hand-cranked printing presses anymore, wtf is all that wasted paper for?

So I always write everything single-spaced with no paragraph indents and format it "properly" at the very last second, because I can't stand to look at my writing all f'ed up like that.

agreed. I hate they way it looks with both double space and indents. too much white space.

I've got some bad news for all you future-lawyers out there. That's how stuff's written. Motions. Memoranda in support. Opinions. Get used to it.

Well dangit, what is the consensus then? No indention with paragraph breaks or indention with no paragraph breaks? Unfortunately, some of my schools require double space so I can't negotiate that.

...I need to get off of this site, next thing you know I am going to be over analyzing my name.

MrKappus wrote:I've got some bad news for all you future-lawyers out there. That's how stuff's written. Motions. Memoranda in support. Opinions. Get used to it.

And here I thought I was going to single-handedly revolutionize standard legal writing style. Curses, another dream crushed.

lalalawya wrote:Well dangit, what is the consensus then? No indention with paragraph breaks or indention with no paragraph breaks? Unfortunately, some of my schools require double space so I can't negotiate that.

...I need to get off of this site, next thing you know I am going to be over analyzing my name.

The consensus is no space between paragraphs, and indented. But you don't have to like it.

rinkrat19 wrote:

AreJay711 wrote:

lalalawya wrote:I know this is a probably obvious and somewhat trivial question, but should I indent the paragraphs in my personal statement, or just have paragraph breaks with no indention? I am just not sure, stylistically, what law schools would prefer.

There is no way you can be serious. What have you done with every paragraph you have ever written? Do that for your PS.

I have always, always, ALWAYS hated both double-spacing and indented paragraphs. I recognize that they're MLA standard, but I think they look terrible. My eyes can't track double-spacing and gets lost in all that empty white space. (Ok, if you're marking up something by hand it can be useful, but the 21st century called and would like to introduce you to something called Track Changes. Put down the stone tablet and chisel red pen.) I think indented paragraphs belong in fiction, not reports and essays. And as long as I'm tilting at windmills, 1" margins are ridiculous. We're not using hand-cranked printing presses anymore, wtf is all that wasted paper for?

So I always write everything single-spaced with no paragraph indents and format it "properly" at the very last second, because I can't stand to look at my writing all f'ed up like that.

Typographically speaking, double spacing is a retarded convention. Margins (which should be more than an inch, not less, for optimal readability on 8 1/2 x 11 paper) are the place for notes, not between lines. Paragraph indents, however, are necessary unless you leave one line (1 pica) between grafs. Standard indent is one em, but I usually find that too small for normal-size paper.

Sadly, typographically illiterate people make the rules; follow them blindly.

Legal writing also has a bunch of annoying formating rules, but you have to harden the fuck up and deal with em'

I had absolutely no idea that this topic was so controversial! How exciting.

Thanks! I guess I will give in to the proper format requirements and indent. Sighhh.