What Should My PS Include? What Academics? Why Law? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I recently read Anna Ivey's _The Ivey Guide to Law School Admissions_ and am now confused as to what a personal statement should include. Ivey says that personal statements are personal, purely, and that mention of your academic career and your interest in law almost invariably reads trite and misplaced. She says that statements of purpose are for that kind of stuff.

However, the TLS guide instructs that you absolutely should be writing about your academics and ambitions with regard to law school.

All my schools are asking for a personal statement, with really broad directive, kind of "Tell us anything you think might be relevant." So, what should I be writing? I don't want to look like I just tacked on some, "I want to be a lawyer because..." as the last paragraph.

Hoping to hear from someone with experience in admissions...

[rinkrat19]

A PS...
1. Introduces a bit of your personality to the person reading it.
2. Illustrates certain positive qualities you possess, with the implication that these qualities will make you a good law student/lawyer.
3. Shows you are a good writer.
4. Shows you can follow the school's directions for writing and submitting the PS.
5. Entertains, or at least holds the attention of, the person reading it.
6. OPTIONAL: Illustrates why you want to go to law school in general/a particular law school.
7. SHOULD NOT be a resume dump.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. So, despite the fact that almost every PS sample I see includes some "what I did at undergrad" and "why law" (especially on this forum), this is not necessary at all?

I apologize if I'm being dense; the inconsistency is strange.

[KMart]

If I was the adcomm at Yale and we met at a bar, what would you tell me in 10 minutes that makes you different than everyone else?

Write that.

OP here. So, despite the fact that almost every PS sample I see includes some "what I did at undergrad" and "why law" (especially on this forum), this is not necessary at all?

I apologize if I'm being dense; the inconsistency is strange.

You don't need why law or what I did at undergrad. I don't have what I did at UG; the resume and transcript clearly states it. I think the application as a whole should answer the why law question. It doesn't have to come from the PS, but often it does - this is why you are seeing inconsistency.

[Anonymous User]

If I was the adcomm at Yale and we met at a bar, what would you tell me in 10 minutes that makes you different than everyone else?

Write that.

OP here. So, despite the fact that almost every PS sample I see includes some "what I did at undergrad" and "why law" (especially on this forum), this is not necessary at all?

I apologize if I'm being dense; the inconsistency is strange.

You don't need why law or what I did at undergrad. I don't have what I did at UG; the resume and transcript clearly states it. I think the application as a whole should answer the why law question. It doesn't have to come from the PS, but often it does - this is why you are seeing inconsistency.

Thank you so much. This helps a lot.

[rinkrat19]

OP here. So, despite the fact that almost every PS sample I see includes some "what I did at undergrad" and "why law" (especially on this forum), this is not necessary at all?

I apologize if I'm being dense; the inconsistency is strange.

My philosophy is that a PS doesn't necessarily need to explain Why Law School, but it should also not leave the reader (who, remember, doesn't know anything else about you) actively wondering "why on earth is this person going to law school when they are clearly born to do X?". So in the type of PS that is centered around a person's passion for violin-playing, for instance, it's probably good to make sure to intersect your topic with the implication that your passion for violin also happens to make you peculiarly well-suited for law school, because reasons.

And no, I don't think you need to list out your undergrad career in your PS. In fact, I'd advise against it, because the second you list out more than maybe 2 (max 3) things, you've pretty much run out of room to write anything but a resume dump list of bullet points. A PS can easily be based around a story of one particular moment in your life, one activity that you do or have done, one person who taught you something, etc.

[ChemEng1642]

I think the application as a whole should answer the why law question.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If nothing in your resume/transcript/other essays have anything to do with law or interests that are commonly associated with law I would try to address this in your personal statement so you don't leave the reader confused as to why this is your career path. If you feel like the "why law" subject has been address adequately somewhere else in your application, you probably don't have to include it.

[Anonymous User]

My philosophy is that a PS doesn't necessarily need to explain Why Law School, but it should also not leave the reader (who, remember, doesn't know anything else about you) actively wondering "why on earth is this person going to law school when they are clearly born to do X?". So in the type of PS that is centered around a person's passion for violin-playing, for instance, it's probably good to make sure to intersect your topic with the implication that your passion for violin also happens to make you peculiarly well-suited for law school, because reasons.

And no, I don't think you need to list out your undergrad career in your PS. In fact, I'd advise against it, because the second you list out more than maybe 2 (max 3) things, you've pretty much run out of room to write anything but a resume dump list of bullet points. A PS can easily be based around a story of one particular moment in your life, one activity that you do or have done, one person who taught you something, etc.

I think the application as a whole should answer the why law question.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If nothing in your resume/transcript/other essays have anything to do with law or interests that are commonly associated with law I would try to address this in your personal statement so you don't leave the reader confused as to why this is your career path. If you feel like the "why law" subject has been address adequately somewhere else in your application, you probably don't have to include it.

Thank you!! So helpful!

[Betty Smith]

The best part about a personal statement is that there is nothing extraordinary about it; it strives on the magic and uniqueness of 'ordinary' fun! It is more like an opportunity to shine high as an individual because of the personal element in it. It is your story, your experience and your narration so make it the way you are. The basic context has to be yours but this don't mean that you can afford to make mistakes and errors. I was never good with English writing and paraphrasing therefore I opted for a professional service SPAM for better clarity and correction. I think this kind of 'Polishing' is required! But YES, the content and context has to be yours. Say something that has never been said before.
I somehow agree with Anna Ivey because the focus of her idea of personal statement is to reflect the 'real' person within you