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I have a few questions about the essays for law school applications:

1) I know personal statements are required, but do individual schools ever have specific topics for these personal statements?

2) Do law schools have supplemental essays in addition to the personal statement like undergraduate college applications had? I mean in addition to optional essays about diversity/why I want to go to their school/etc.

3) A lot of the schools I'm looking at say that their applications become available or applicants are able to submit their applications in early September. Is this when we will be able to see all the topics for the essays? Or can we see the topics before September so that we can start writing them and submit them as soon as the applications go live?

Thanks!

1) Yes they have guidelines occasionally. Best advice is to have a generic template ironed out by September that you can tailor to schools as needed.

2) Yes. These are typically optional addendums that you fill out. Schools that have the why x essays seem to want people to fill those out even though it is not required.

3) You will be able to see that information when the apps go live, not before. That shouldn't be a big deal since you can have your rec letters done by then, your PS well-revised, and generic addendums already written out as well. Applying within a month of the apps going live is still very early.

Great, thanks for your reply!

One follow-up question though.. do the applications have any required essays besides the personal statements? I know you mentioned the optional "why this law school" essays that the schools usually want, but what about other required supplements? I remember undergrads had something requiring you to choose one extracurricular activity and write a 250-500 word statement about it in addition to our personal statements.

Some do, some don't. First that comes to my mind is the Yale 250. But really, just follow what the above TLSer said and you'll be solid for the most part.