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I haven't had any dramatic life changes. I haven't had to deal with intense hardships. I haven't been dramatically inspired by much. Sure I have small everyday inspirations but nothing life changing. What am I supposed to write about.

Biggest learning experience
What made you go to law school
Why you'd make a good lawyer
Biggest accomplishment

If you can't answer at least one of those questions, maybe take a year off before applying.

You don't need to write about a life-changing event...

Honestly, your PS would be about the smallest, most minute thing that has ever happened to you. You just need to find some way to make it relevant to your ability to succeed in law school/why you want to go to law school.

I feel ya sista (i'm assuming based on the username, apologies if i'm wrong). I've gone through so many drafts of different topics I can't even keep them straight. Are you aiming for the thanksgiving deadline?

FryBreadPower wrote:Honestly, your PS would be about the smallest, most minute thing that has ever happened to you. You just need to find some way to make it relevant to your ability to succeed in law school/why you want to go to law school.

This x1000

I had the same issue as you, and was stuck for quite a long time. But then literally out of nowhere, I incorporated my shitty part time retail job and some experiences that came along with it and have the seal of approval from my pre-law advisor after he read it.

llachans wrote:Biggest learning experience
What made you go to law school
Why you'd make a good lawyer
Biggest accomplishment

If you can't answer at least one of those questions, maybe take a year off before applying.

I (slightly) disagree-- you don't necessarily have to answer these questions directly to have a successful personal statement. Adcomms read thousands upon thousands of "Why law school" and "Why I want to be a lawyer" essays and, I'm sure, can do without some.

What they do want to see, however, is how you present yourself. You can even consider it a matter of self-marketing-- it's more about what you can bring to the table rather than directly answering "Why law school".

However, it is helpful to talk about accomplishments and learning experiences, but it's not about these events themselves but how you've matured from them and how you are able to present this in writing.

For more info:

http://theadvancededit.com/admissions/h ... nt-part-1/

Hmm thanks guys,

It seems like the main idea is that I need to basically convey my reasons for law school? So I can pick any small event or any small thing in my life and use it as a medium to get this point across?

I'm not aiming for Thanksgiving (wish I were) concentrating on Dec LSAT for now and then I'm going to write this in December and get my apps in before break. Tight schedule =\

Kibbles,
When you wrote about your part time job, were you also using those experiences to convey why you'd make a good lawyer? Or were you trying to get a different point across?

Just like the Admissions committee will be looking at pieces of paper, I have no idea who you are or what you look like. I just see your post in this thread and your username.

We don't know what you look like, nor your background, who you are. We have no idea what you went though, personal struggles, etc. Your job in the personal statement is to illustrate in a set number of words who you are as a person.

EVERYBODY has a story to tell. You don't have to discuss anything mindblowing like creating dams for citizens of third world countries so that they can have access to clean water or anything. Your story can be as simple as you explaining the challenges you experienced accomplishing your undergrad to learning more about yourself working a part time job at a retail store. idk

hopefully you see where i am going with this.

there is an article provided in this site somewhere that says you should sit down and type on the computer (or write on paper) for thirty minutes about ANYTHING that comes to your mind. Your mind will start to flood the paper/document with so much information and inspiration. it works trust me.

swtlilsoni wrote: It seems like the main idea is that I need to basically convey my reasons for law school?

I don't think this is the case. It'd be better to use a small story to show how you've developed leadership, academic potential, drive, whatever - and I think it naturally follows that those are characteristics that'd be helpful in law school and professionally.

I struggled with the same problem - I've been fortunate enough to lead a very nondescript life. I ended up writing my PS about a (slightly unorthodox) hobby that I was passionate about, and focused on the positive attributes it brought out in me. I never once mentioned why I was interested in law. Both acceptances I've received so far have come with a positive comment about my PS. Moral of the story: your PS can be successful even if your life has been relatively bland so far. You don't need to have survived overwhelming hardships or accomplished something really special to have something interesting to say.
I'd be happy to look over any ideas or drafts if you PM me.

shoot, i dont even think the law PS needs to BE about law school. mine certainly wasnt. it was more about me (so a bit introspective), but woven into an interesting story. essentially, it was an intriguing narrative that could 1) get their attention (as they will be skimming thousands of these) and 2) get them to know who i was better.

You could write about how US News should include quality of personal statements in their rankings.

Have you read any of the example essays in the personal statement section of TLS. They can be a great starting point for ideas or direction.

It can be a struggle to figure out 1.) What you want to say about yourself 2.) how you want to say it. I would also argue that those two points are not mutually exclusive, and it can often be problematic trying to weave style and content together.

Try experimenting with a stream of consciousness (i.e., just write and write and don't really try to go back and edit, just spit thoughts out on a page). Talk about the personal statement with family, friends, and mentors, they may have useful suggestions