Top Law Schools

I have been thinking really hard about why I want to go to law school and what sets me apart from everyone else... I feel like I may have come up with a PS but would like to run the outline by before I go all for it.. When I talked to my friends and family about what would make a good lawyer, they all said the same thing.. My ability to always be rational and level headed. I am their go to person because I look at situations logically and rarely get my emotions involved. I am never at the center of an issue but instead am the outside person who helps mediate situations big and small.

Basically, I want to talk about these personality traits and about my first experience in a courtroom. I've always had an interest in law and expanding my education, but it was in the courtroom that I fell in love with the idea of trial law and that with the personality traits that I possess I could become a great trial lawyer some day and maybe eventually a judge.

Would this be an effective PS or a stupid idea?

I don't think it's a good idea. I feel you would come off as very self-righteous. What was your first courtroom experience? Why were you there? That might be an interesting topic.

Godric32 wrote:I don't think it's a good idea. I feel you would come off as very self-righteous. What was your first courtroom experience? Why were you there? That might be an interesting topic.

That's what I was a little worried about.. Also don't want them to say "so what?" Like everyone else going to law school has the same mentality. I was there for a research project for my business law class. We were required to sit in on a few court cases and just learn the ins and outs of trials. It was a child abuse case and the poor girls lawyer just stunk. He was so unorganized and I felt like he was doing a poor job representing her. That was when I thought that with the right education I could totally become a kick ass lawyer and represent girls like her in such a better manner.

this is a fantastic idea

darth lulz wrote:this is a fantastic idea

Can't tell if you're being serious or not and if so which idea are you referring to? My OP or my experience at the court house? Would it be bad to discuss that I felt like the lawyer wasn't an adequate representation for the client?

super serious

both would really make you look unique

darth lulz wrote:super serious

both would really make you look unique

Maybe start with the courtroom experience and then delve into how my personality traits would make me an effective trial lawyer?

OK fine I was being sarcastic. These are not unique ideas; come up with something more interesting/compelling.

darth lulz wrote:super serious

both would really make you look unique

Don't snark.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

darth lulz wrote:super serious

both would really make you look unique

Don't snark.

curious how many people completely B.S. their topic and come up with a fabricated story that works? lol

I don't think its an AWFUL idea.... but it's def super super average.

Plenty of non law students are capable of rational thought and level headedness... also who are your family and friends to tell you what constitutes a good lawyer... are they themselves lawyers?

Plenty of pre-law students have also done some type of courtroom program... so again super average.

Very few P.S's are amazing and help you stand out, those that are generally involve incredible life experiences or overcoming something that's insane - and even those all read more or less the same.

The trick is to make sure it's not a bad PS, because that can hurt, but a good one will rarely make a difference.

You can def right a P.S on this topic, and it can come out pretty well... but don't expect it to boost you over your numbers and def don't expect it to get you noticed, unless you've got some especially extenuating circumstances that you're not talking about.

gnomgnomuch wrote:I don't think its an AWFUL idea.... but it's def super super average.

Plenty of non law students are capable of rational thought and level headedness... also who are your family and friends to tell you what constitutes a good lawyer... are they themselves lawyers?

Plenty of pre-law students have also done some type of courtroom program... so again super average.

Very few P.S's are amazing and help you stand out, those that are generally involve incredible life experiences or overcoming something that's insane - and even those all read more or less the same.

The trick is to make sure it's not a bad PS, because that can hurt, but a good one will rarely make a difference.

You can def right a P.S on this topic, and it can come out pretty well... but don't expect it to boost you over your numbers and def don't expect it to get you noticed, unless you've got some especially extenuating circumstances that you're not talking about.

Thank you! I'm starting to seriously question every single response I read on TLS because I can't tell if they are serious or just being jerks.. So I appreciate your actual help.

My other topic idea is about overcoming an illness that i've had since I was 16 and how I didn't let it stop me from pursuing my dreams to become a lawyer.. Basically talk about how its shaped me to always keep trying even when times are dim and when doctors said they couldn't figure it out I still persevered. Then wrap it up about how these characteristics I've developed will help me tackle any hurdle I face. I know I'm sure many people have written the same type of story but this is one of the only experiences that has really defined me and shaped me so far in life.

I think this would be a better topic than the courtroom one. I don't think it's bad, but saying that the lawyer who was defending the girl was awful or unprepared would just make you look bad. Who are you to judge if they were good or bad?

Anonymous User wrote: My other topic idea is about overcoming an illness that i've had since I was 16 and how I didn't let it stop me from pursuing my dreams to become a lawyer.. Basically talk about how its shaped me to always keep trying even when times are dim and when doctors said they couldn't figure it out I still persevered. Then wrap it up about how these characteristics I've developed will help me tackle any hurdle I face. I know I'm sure many people have written the same type of story but this is one of the only experiences that has really defined me and shaped me so far in life.

Anonymous User wrote:

gnomgnomuch wrote:I don't think its an AWFUL idea.... but it's def super super average.

Plenty of non law students are capable of rational thought and level headedness... also who are your family and friends to tell you what constitutes a good lawyer... are they themselves lawyers?

Plenty of pre-law students have also done some type of courtroom program... so again super average.

Very few P.S's are amazing and help you stand out, those that are generally involve incredible life experiences or overcoming something that's insane - and even those all read more or less the same.

The trick is to make sure it's not a bad PS, because that can hurt, but a good one will rarely make a difference.

You can def right a P.S on this topic, and it can come out pretty well... but don't expect it to boost you over your numbers and def don't expect it to get you noticed, unless you've got some especially extenuating circumstances that you're not talking about.

Thank you! I'm starting to seriously question every single response I read on TLS because I can't tell if they are serious or just being jerks.. So I appreciate your actual help.

My other topic idea is about overcoming an illness that i've had since I was 16 and how I didn't let it stop me from pursuing my dreams to become a lawyer.. Basically talk about how its shaped me to always keep trying even when times are dim and when doctors said they couldn't figure it out I still persevered. Then wrap it up about how these characteristics I've developed will help me tackle any hurdle I face. I know I'm sure many people have written the same type of story but this is one of the only experiences that has really defined me and shaped me so far in life.

Well major props for combating your illness man, and you can write a statement on this as well. Unfortunately, A-LOT of people are writing about topics like this.

Personal statements - and i'm by no means an expert, but i've been on this forum for a while - are generally placeholders. They are there, to make sure that you've done it, they'll be read by ad-coms to see you've got basic grammar and whatnot - but again they don't generally care too much bc if they realllly want to check that, they'll look at your LSAT writing sample to see what you write like before you get peoples help on it -and that'll be it.

A few school that REALLY value holistic's - really basically Yale and Berk - might take someone with poorer numbers or a compelling narrative because of that experience, since they want that diverse class, other schools just wont care.

Also a compelling narrative doesn't substitute for a bad GPA/LSAT.... if you've got a 3.5 and a 165, but you have an AMAZING story, chances are you're not getting in to the top schools. LS is 90% numbers, 5% L.O.R's and 5% is PS, Resume, and how the ad-com is feeling that day.

gnomgnomuch wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

gnomgnomuch wrote:I don't think its an AWFUL idea.... but it's def super super average.

Plenty of non law students are capable of rational thought and level headedness... also who are your family and friends to tell you what constitutes a good lawyer... are they themselves lawyers?

Plenty of pre-law students have also done some type of courtroom program... so again super average.

Very few P.S's are amazing and help you stand out, those that are generally involve incredible life experiences or overcoming something that's insane - and even those all read more or less the same.

The trick is to make sure it's not a bad PS, because that can hurt, but a good one will rarely make a difference.

You can def right a P.S on this topic, and it can come out pretty well... but don't expect it to boost you over your numbers and def don't expect it to get you noticed, unless you've got some especially extenuating circumstances that you're not talking about.

Thank you! I'm starting to seriously question every single response I read on TLS because I can't tell if they are serious or just being jerks.. So I appreciate your actual help.

My other topic idea is about overcoming an illness that i've had since I was 16 and how I didn't let it stop me from pursuing my dreams to become a lawyer.. Basically talk about how its shaped me to always keep trying even when times are dim and when doctors said they couldn't figure it out I still persevered. Then wrap it up about how these characteristics I've developed will help me tackle any hurdle I face. I know I'm sure many people have written the same type of story but this is one of the only experiences that has really defined me and shaped me so far in life.

Well major props for combating your illness man, and you can write a statement on this as well. Unfortunately, A-LOT of people are writing about topics like this.

Personal statements - and i'm by no means an expert, but i've been on this forum for a while - are generally placeholders. They are there, to make sure that you've done it, they'll be read by ad-coms to see you've got basic grammar and whatnot - but again they don't generally care too much bc if they realllly want to check that, they'll look at your LSAT writing sample to see what you write like before you get peoples help on it -and that'll be it.

A few school that REALLY value holistic's - really basically Yale and Berk - might take someone with poorer numbers or a compelling narrative because of that experience, since they want that diverse class, other schools just wont care.

Also a compelling narrative doesn't substitute for a bad GPA/LSAT.... if you've got a 3.5 and a 165, but you have an AMAZING story, chances are you're not getting in to the top schools. LS is 90% numbers, 5% L.O.R's and 5% is PS, Resume, and how the ad-com is feeling that day.

I've never really had my sights on a T-14 school.. which probably makes me not the ideal poster for the TLS website.. The highest ranked school that I'll be applying to is UCLA.

I think I'll probably pass on the illness topic. Though it was an important factor in my life, I don't want it to define me..

Honestly.. this sounds bizarre, but I've thought of a different idea.. I've recently read a book for one of my leadership classes called Good to Great by Jim Collins. The book talks about the different traits of CEO's who have produced "great" companies. One of the main traits the author pointed out is humility. I have had such a struggle coming up with something to write about because I am a humble person. I have always valued this trait about myself but it hasn't been the greatest for writing this essay. Every rough draft has come out like crap because I feel so awkward and weird talking about why I am better than everyone else. Therefore, I'm thinking about writing about this experience as a whole and how my humility has really shined through and how I believe that this is a great trait and value that every successful lawyer and leader should posses and how their law school needs more students who have this personality trait.

First of all, you're getting slightly neurotic about your ideas for PS submissions. Honestly most are for giving a nice to have third dimension to your profile, but it won't be a game changer for 99% of the applicant pool.

Next, stop worrying so much about what topic will take you across the line. Even the fact that you're pointing out how you're not aiming high makes me think your numbers are subpar and you're hoping you can write some transcendent PS to change the ADCOM minds. Remember that LSAT/GPA will win out regardless of topic of PS.

All of this being said, you can still write a good quality PS if you figure out your best qualities and present them in a way that makes you intriguing to someone who has never met you. You point out humility and level-headedness...these are great things, but how are you going to show it in a positive light that shows you as a truly positive member of a community?

Take the time to think about who you are, figure out what your best qualities are, and find a quality anecdote to showcase these qualities. No one type of person is predisposed to a quality PS, you just have to be honest with yourself, figure out your strengths, and find a way to highlight them.

Stop focusing on finding the "perfect" topic, and focus on finding the RIGHT topic.

Ramius wrote:First of all, you're getting slightly neurotic about your ideas for PS submissions. Honestly most are for giving a nice to have third dimension to your profile, but it won't be a game changer for 99% of the applicant pool.

Next, stop worrying so much about what topic will take you across the line. Even the fact that you're pointing out how you're not aiming high makes me think your numbers are subpar and you're hoping you can write some transcendent PS to change the ADCOM minds. Remember that LSAT/GPA will win out regardless of topic of PS.

All of this being said, you can still write a good quality PS if you figure out your best qualities and present them in a way that makes you intriguing to someone who has never met you. You point out humility and level-headedness...these are great things, but how are you going to show it in a positive light that shows you as a truly positive member of a community?

Take the time to think about who you are, figure out what your best qualities are, and find a quality anecdote to showcase these qualities. No one type of person is predisposed to a quality PS, you just have to be honest with yourself, figure out your strengths, and find a way to highlight them.

Stop focusing on finding the "perfect" topic, and focus on finding the RIGHT topic.

Honestly, before TLS, I thought UCLA was a top school.. Though I knew it wasn't THE best, I definitely thought it was up there. I watched my sister go there and graduate with a great job. It's not that I haven't aimed high, I just thought I was aiming high with UCLA until I found this website.. oops.

Anonymous User wrote:

Ramius wrote:First of all, you're getting slightly neurotic about your ideas for PS submissions. Honestly most are for giving a nice to have third dimension to your profile, but it won't be a game changer for 99% of the applicant pool.

Next, stop worrying so much about what topic will take you across the line. Even the fact that you're pointing out how you're not aiming high makes me think your numbers are subpar and you're hoping you can write some transcendent PS to change the ADCOM minds. Remember that LSAT/GPA will win out regardless of topic of PS.

All of this being said, you can still write a good quality PS if you figure out your best qualities and present them in a way that makes you intriguing to someone who has never met you. You point out humility and level-headedness...these are great things, but how are you going to show it in a positive light that shows you as a truly positive member of a community?

Take the time to think about who you are, figure out what your best qualities are, and find a quality anecdote to showcase these qualities. No one type of person is predisposed to a quality PS, you just have to be honest with yourself, figure out your strengths, and find a way to highlight them.

Stop focusing on finding the "perfect" topic, and focus on finding the RIGHT topic.

Honestly, before TLS, I thought UCLA was a top school.. Though I knew it wasn't THE best, I definitely thought it was up there. I watched my sister go there and graduate with a great job. It's not that I haven't aimed high, I just thought I was aiming high with UCLA until I found this website.. oops.

UCLA is a relatively great school, and that's not what I meant at all. What I meant was that you seem focused on the PS overcoming some other deficiency. If you look at UCLA's medians vs. lower T-14, they're remarkably similar. The point is you need to remember how important LSAT/GPA are, and with that in mind, write a good PS to give yourself a third dimension that can't be seen anywhere else in your app.

Don't become overly neurotic about your topic, write something that shows your positive qualities, refine it until you can't refine anymore, and go forth in confidence that what you submitted presents you in the best light possible.