first draft PS-please review and comment thx!
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:52 pm
i intentionally left out names for anonymity
if a 1L/2L, etc could comment that would be cool, but i'd be happy if other 0Ls could chime in too.
personal statement
"As early as I can remember, I have been interested in the law and serving and helping others. The funny thing is, in between always assuming the role of “cop” or “security” when playing with others as a child, or being a clueless college freshman taking a pre-law course for fun, I never planned on pursuing the practice of law as a career. Yet, as I reflect on my life experiences, it doesn’t seem so unusual that I’m on the path towards law school, and I couldn’t envision myself anywhere else. If I had to choose several influences that have helped me get here, I would most definitely choose my father, one of my undergraduate professors, and my current position and employer.
My father, ______, has served as a community service officer with the local police department since 1997, when I was just 7. Throughout the years, seeing his selfless dedication day in and day out to serving the community has amazed me. Numerous times, he was summoned to deal with late night incidents, and yet hours later he was back at work for his normal shift, and not once did he complain. Perhaps what awes me the most is his ability to transcend cultural and language barriers to be a liaison between the criminal justice system and the Hmong community. Early in his career, he was the only one in the department who could speak and translate for the Hmong, Lao, and Thai community, and more importantly, bring the law into terms that could be understood by first-generation immigrants who did not have experience with the American justice system. In the same way, I hope to be able to transcend any barriers and serve the community I am in through the legal system. The examples I’ve noticed from my father’s career are ones I will cherish and seek to mimic, and I only hope I may make an impact as important and strong as he has.
Also instrumental in piquing my interest in law was __________, one of my undergraduate professors at the ________. On a whim, I took a class focusing on law and society, and then, unforeseen to me at the time, ended up taking several more classes with Dr. ______. Her classes were never easy, but they were enjoyable. She demanded much in preparation and in-class work, and taught pre-law courses in a way that caught my attention and interest. She didn’t just teach the law as old, historical concepts without importance; rather, we were challenged to consider how the law impacted society at the time, and how it continues to have relevance today. At some point, something clicked in my head and I realized law was something I could see myself pursuing. I can say without a doubt that I would not be applying for law school today had I not come under the instruction of Dr. _____.
Working in a legal support role has also provided clarity and insight into what lawyers actually do, and motivation to pursue it further. As a Legal Administrative Assistant at ___________, I am often the first point of contact for legal issues. Many times, I see something and wonder how awesome it would be to help with it. Nonetheless, the bigger picture I’ve noticed is that not all organizations, especially nonprofits, are as fortunate as others to have excellent legal counsel. In speaking to a friend on the board of an organization seeking 501(c)(3) status, he mentioned how he wishes they had someone to provide legal advice and counsel. Through my experience working at __________ and exploration of nonprofit law, I am confident this is the career path I want to take, and the type of legal work I want to pursue.
If I was told several years ago that I would be applying to law school now, I wouldn’t believe it. However, I am grateful for the people and experiences that have shaped my future plans and career path. Without them, I would not be aspiring to be the best I can be, and I would not be applying to the University of Wisconsin Law School. I sincerely believe my hopes, dreams, and experiences will contribute meaningfully to the law school community, and I am confident the University of Wisconsin Law School will provide world-class instruction and allow me to flourish as a student and future attorney."
addendum below. background: i have ok grades (sub-3.0 gpa), but in most of my poli sci/pre-law courses i earned A's (class averages were probably C's). i am attempting to play up these courses and the required skills against my overall record. am i trying too hard to compare undergrad to law school?
As you consider my academic performance and GPA, I ask that you give special consideration to my performance in upper level Political Science and pre-law courses. I believe my excellent performance in these classes is a more proper measure of my aptitude for success in law school than what my GPA may suggest. Several of these courses were structured similar to law school courses; we were required to brief 2-3 cases and be prepared to discuss them each class period, and the courses utilized the Socratic Method. Exams and midterm assignments were always issue spotting questions, and an ability to write clearly and think critically about prior law in relation to the question was crucial to success. Though undergraduate courses do not match the difficulty of law school courses, I am confident you will find that I have the skills necessary to be successful at your law school, regardless of what my GPA may be.
if a 1L/2L, etc could comment that would be cool, but i'd be happy if other 0Ls could chime in too.
personal statement
"As early as I can remember, I have been interested in the law and serving and helping others. The funny thing is, in between always assuming the role of “cop” or “security” when playing with others as a child, or being a clueless college freshman taking a pre-law course for fun, I never planned on pursuing the practice of law as a career. Yet, as I reflect on my life experiences, it doesn’t seem so unusual that I’m on the path towards law school, and I couldn’t envision myself anywhere else. If I had to choose several influences that have helped me get here, I would most definitely choose my father, one of my undergraduate professors, and my current position and employer.
My father, ______, has served as a community service officer with the local police department since 1997, when I was just 7. Throughout the years, seeing his selfless dedication day in and day out to serving the community has amazed me. Numerous times, he was summoned to deal with late night incidents, and yet hours later he was back at work for his normal shift, and not once did he complain. Perhaps what awes me the most is his ability to transcend cultural and language barriers to be a liaison between the criminal justice system and the Hmong community. Early in his career, he was the only one in the department who could speak and translate for the Hmong, Lao, and Thai community, and more importantly, bring the law into terms that could be understood by first-generation immigrants who did not have experience with the American justice system. In the same way, I hope to be able to transcend any barriers and serve the community I am in through the legal system. The examples I’ve noticed from my father’s career are ones I will cherish and seek to mimic, and I only hope I may make an impact as important and strong as he has.
Also instrumental in piquing my interest in law was __________, one of my undergraduate professors at the ________. On a whim, I took a class focusing on law and society, and then, unforeseen to me at the time, ended up taking several more classes with Dr. ______. Her classes were never easy, but they were enjoyable. She demanded much in preparation and in-class work, and taught pre-law courses in a way that caught my attention and interest. She didn’t just teach the law as old, historical concepts without importance; rather, we were challenged to consider how the law impacted society at the time, and how it continues to have relevance today. At some point, something clicked in my head and I realized law was something I could see myself pursuing. I can say without a doubt that I would not be applying for law school today had I not come under the instruction of Dr. _____.
Working in a legal support role has also provided clarity and insight into what lawyers actually do, and motivation to pursue it further. As a Legal Administrative Assistant at ___________, I am often the first point of contact for legal issues. Many times, I see something and wonder how awesome it would be to help with it. Nonetheless, the bigger picture I’ve noticed is that not all organizations, especially nonprofits, are as fortunate as others to have excellent legal counsel. In speaking to a friend on the board of an organization seeking 501(c)(3) status, he mentioned how he wishes they had someone to provide legal advice and counsel. Through my experience working at __________ and exploration of nonprofit law, I am confident this is the career path I want to take, and the type of legal work I want to pursue.
If I was told several years ago that I would be applying to law school now, I wouldn’t believe it. However, I am grateful for the people and experiences that have shaped my future plans and career path. Without them, I would not be aspiring to be the best I can be, and I would not be applying to the University of Wisconsin Law School. I sincerely believe my hopes, dreams, and experiences will contribute meaningfully to the law school community, and I am confident the University of Wisconsin Law School will provide world-class instruction and allow me to flourish as a student and future attorney."
addendum below. background: i have ok grades (sub-3.0 gpa), but in most of my poli sci/pre-law courses i earned A's (class averages were probably C's). i am attempting to play up these courses and the required skills against my overall record. am i trying too hard to compare undergrad to law school?
As you consider my academic performance and GPA, I ask that you give special consideration to my performance in upper level Political Science and pre-law courses. I believe my excellent performance in these classes is a more proper measure of my aptitude for success in law school than what my GPA may suggest. Several of these courses were structured similar to law school courses; we were required to brief 2-3 cases and be prepared to discuss them each class period, and the courses utilized the Socratic Method. Exams and midterm assignments were always issue spotting questions, and an ability to write clearly and think critically about prior law in relation to the question was crucial to success. Though undergraduate courses do not match the difficulty of law school courses, I am confident you will find that I have the skills necessary to be successful at your law school, regardless of what my GPA may be.