These are all excellent comments, although I do believe that a powerful personal story, if it truly led you to pursue a legal career, can be an effective way to begin your personal statement. The major weakness I am seeing in the law school personal statements I receive is a lack of a specific answer to the question, "Why law?" Many applicants talk about their desire for intellectual challenge, power to help others and ability to support their family financially, but these goals can be achieved by politicians, social workers, doctors, teachers, and almost any profession. I'm much more impressed and convinced if you get to the heart of how you will achieve these goals in a legal setting, that is, why the law is right for you and how you are suited to a career in law. I also disagree with the advice to avoid stating a specialization - law is simply too varied a field with too many specializations to avoid naming a few possibilities. Telling me that you want to become a lawyer in order to protect battered children is excellent, but I want to know how you will accomplish this: as a litigator, a judge or a divorce mediator? Dare to be specific and take a stand. For more advice, visit www.thehonesteditor.com.
Jennifer Millmanof NY10:54AM January 30, 2013
I have a Bachelor Degree from Republic of Moldova, 3.5 GPA. Another undergraduate College course and a Pharmacy Technician Certificate achieved in USA. Very poor LSAT score: 137. Speak 3 languages (Russian, Romanian and English) and I have been in USA only for 5 years. Working as a Legal assistant, have work experience as a manager in a restaurant and for another company. Some work experience as an accountant and pharmacy technician. I have a Company in my name (it is true that I haven't done anything since I open it due to the changes in the Department's of State rules). Have a misdemeanor class A in my record (3.5 years ago). Do I have any chances to get into the South Texas College of Law?
Also, If I claim that I am the owner of my company, which is true, do I ruin all my chances to get financial aid? And since there was no financial activities in my company I don't have any other tax forms besides my W4 so will this create a confusion between admission and financial aid decision process?
Thank you very much for your advice and your time!
Ana
Anaof TX3:51PM January 27, 2013
I'm currently an undergrad student studing law in India. Any thoughts on which is a better bet (for an LLM/PhD)?- Yale , Havard, Columbia & Oxford, Cambridge & LSE. As of now, iv'e still not made up my mind, but am leaning towards public international law/ competition law/ tax laws..
I'm within the top 10 percentile of my batch and hope to remain the same, with a keen interest in mooting .....
If you could also guide me as to what particularly to focus on in my undergrad years, it would be a big help...
Gayatriof NY11:43AM January 11, 2013
I have a 3.96 undergrad.GPA, and I will probably only do mediocre on the LSAT- 155 is my high in practice, and even if I can bring this up some, I'm assuming -5 or so, simply due to nerves, bad morning, etc. on test day. Furthermore, I am a 32 year old high school drop out; I fell behind 5 years due to the dropping out, and another 5 when, after evacuating for hurricane Katrina, I moved from New Orleans to San Francisco, and worked as a drugstore manager. Also, I am a first generation college student. Oh, and I was arrested 3 or 4 times 10-12 years ago, for DUI and marijuana possession. So, first question: Do I even have a shot at getting into a school such as L.S.U?(#85 or so, median LSAT: 158) and second question: Everything good that I've done has merely been a reaction, to fix what has gone wrong, so how can I mention the good without the bad? Third: Law schools really don't care about retail management careers, do they? Should I detail this career at all?
Matt Gof LA9:41PM July 17, 2011
I thank you for the personal response; I would think long and hard about becoming a lawyer. Many professors in law school and partners in law seem to have a need to make personal attacks. I'm just giving my direct opinion.
To respond to what you said in your post. 1) A good LSAT will make up for a mediocre GPA: Going back to my initial post, I mention a high LSAT 3 times before I mention a high GPA. A high LSAT WILL make up for a mediocre GPA. A high GPA WILL NOT make up for a mediocre LSAT. If you can pull a 175 LSAT, you have a good chance of getting into a T14 regardless of your GPA.
2)Real world experience matters: Yes if you invented facebook, microsoft or another multimillion dollar business, are a celeb, professional athlete, or an olympic medalist, or related to a very important person. If you answered no, then I'm sorry noone cares. I was also in the military and unless you have the numerical creds, it wont matter.
While in the real world, highschool drop-outs make it big everday, law school is not the real world. For law school its LSAT> LSAT> LSAT> GPA...everything else on the margins.
I don't have a blog, book to sale or buisness to run. I have no incentive to provide anything but my honest opinion. My opinion is that in law school admissions, nothing but LSAT and GPA really matters. I'm always open to change my mind if the evidence leads me. Sadly, I have never seen any evidence to lead me to the conclusion that I am incorrect.
Pheigs secretsof VA11:05AM December 17, 2010
alot of people turn their lives around, with low gpa's or lsats, apply to law school. and do great.... That doesnt even take into account all the people that get military/work experience after school.... in those cases the resume means everything.
GPA and LSAT scores are the main factors, yes.... but if you ace the lsat and have a mediocre gpa, schools will still take you. not to mention if you have real world experience to offer, like if you have your own business or served as an officer (leadership) in the military.
you should consider using you brain before you spew your useless, oversimplified thoughts to the world.... The world isn't black and white. get over yourself.....
Brandonof CA5:11AM December 17, 2010
This advice is coming pretty late in the cycle considering that much of the advice I've received has been to apply early.
My personal statement broke a few of these rules but I've still been accepted by 3 top 20 schools so far. It might help that I followed steps 1-4 of Ryan's advice.
Jakeof AZ1:15AM December 16, 2010
How to get into law school:
1) Ace LSAT
2) Ace LSAT
3) ACE LSAT
4) High GPA
5-10) ?
11) Personal Statement
People get into law school based on LSAT and GPA (US NEWS doesnt rank schools based on personal statements)
If your LSAT/GPA are low enough to put your statement into question, I would think long and hard about the schools you are applying to (you will be on the wrong end of the curve.) I would also question if law school is the right career choice for you.
Ann K. Levine, Esq., is a law school admission consultant and the former director of admissions for two ABA law schools. Since 2004, she has helped thousands gain admission to law school through her consulting company, Law School Expert. She is the author of the bestselling law school guide, The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert. Ms. Levine graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. Got a question? E-mail her at getinlawschool@usnews.com or follow her on Twitter.
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Jennifer Millman of NY 10:54AM January 30, 2013
Ana of TX 3:51PM January 27, 2013
Gayatri of NY 11:43AM January 11, 2013
Matt G of LA 9:41PM July 17, 2011
Pheigs secrets of VA 11:05AM December 17, 2010
Brandon of CA 5:11AM December 17, 2010
Jake of AZ 1:15AM December 16, 2010
Ryan of VA 11:34AM December 15, 2010