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It has been addressed in PS's before, so the topic is fine. Just don't describe anything in detail. Talk about how it affected you, then talk about how you overcame it and describe how you've changed for the better. Give concrete examples of how you changed, and if you've helped others, give examples. Talk about the past only as a means to show who you are now, not just as a recounting of the awful things that happened to you.

Definitely agree that it can be done, but I'd say that this is a topic that you're really going to hit or miss on. An issue like this can be a catalyst for an extremely powerful statement, but anything short of excellence will be a rough read. Broaching an uncomfortable subject requires justification, and failure to strongly establish that justification may give you something worse than just a boring and mediocre personal statement.

That's my worry, at least. But you've got an easy solution in that you're on a semi-anonymous forum filled with people who won't know anything beyond your story, much like the admissions staff. Post it or PM it to some people once you finish and see what they think. If you really think that you've got something here, it's at least worth a test-run.

Don't do it. It's too easy to mess up and if you are accepted you will have to go to law school with a bunch of admin people who you bump into in the hallways who know your most intimate details. Write an "overcoming X" essay that you would still be comfortable sharing with a room full of people in person.

I think this could definitely work. But whatever you do, don't dwell on the details - focus on you, and reserve the storytelling for the positive story of how you became who you are right now. You want to spend as little time possible talking about the incidents, and you really don't want to go for 'shock value' as that may prejudice admissions officers against you. Another tip I read somewhere is to try to analyze both the effect this had on you and also how this can effect people in general.

Good luck!

I was considering writing my PS about the same topic, but I decided against it. I know that no school would ever *say* that they discriminate based on sexual assault, but the fact is they might. Many survivors have PTSD from the incident(s), and this could be a liability to the school. I know it sounds terrible, but I know of people who have had to avoid mentioning their anorexia or other mental disorders in statements because the school might worry that they'll become a liability. Not sure how true it is, but something to consider.