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theadvancededit · Post by **theadvancededit** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:13 pm

If this is what you genuinely want to do with a law degree, then definitely write about it.

It's not the "helping people in the public sector" topic that gets eye-rolls, it's the "by becoming a lawyer, I will save nations and inspire the world" kind of topic.

If you did genuinely derive your want to do public service from helping this kids and that is what truly drives you to go to law school, then write about it. It will be convincing in its own right-- just write about it well and you're good.

kaiser · Post by **kaiser** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:19 pm

I agree that "helping people" isn't necessarily cliche. Its the way in which people write about the topic that make it poor. People talk about upholding justice, and a belief in a system greater than themselves, and it just sounds silly. Yet, if you talk about helping people in your own small, yet meaningful way, it sounds so much more sincere and believable. It doesn't have to be some grand and epic idea to get through to people. It just has to be genuine. In my PS, I talked about how I undertook a project at my job to help out some employees who didn't speak english, and how I got a few policies changed in their favor. In the grand scheme of things, this was very small, but it meant a lot to me, and hopefully meant a lot for the people I helped. People told me it was effective because I didn't play it up to be something bigger than it was. You sound like you did something very meaningful to you. Talk about how it was internally rewarding, but don't get cliche and talk in broad strokes of "changing the world" or else it comes off as silly.

06162014123 · Post by **06162014123** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:45 pm

paratactical · Post by **paratactical** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:49 pm

It's also about vague vs specific. Rather than "I want to help", outline the specific kinds of legal work you think make a difference. Talk about groups, programs, initiatives you believe in.

rinkrat19 · Post by **rinkrat19** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:56 pm

Also consider acknowledging in your PS that you know you won't be "saving the world," just making it better in some specific, small way.

Realism and specifics are key. It's just when people start gushing about how their JD will allow them to right all the world's injustices that it gets silly.

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