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Quinnipiac University Law
Quinnipiac University Law

    Law School Application: Personal Statements

    Personal Statement - Tips

    Admission to law school is competitive and applicants to a particular school may have similar grades and LSAT scores. The personal statement is your opportunity to differentiate yourself, make an impression, show your diverse interests, and explain why you are a strong candidate for admission.  Since the personal statement is such a crucial part of the application, here are some tips on how to write a personal statement:
    • Start early.
    • The statement establishes an application theme – what is your theme? If you have varied experiences which seem scattered, find a common thread.
    • Make it personal – let your personality shine.  Ask yourself: what diverse or unique characteristics do you bring to law school?
    • Do not recapitulate your resume.  Include in your personal statement anecdotes and stories so the admissions committee can learn something about you that is not apparent from the other pieces of information you provided.
    • What passion do you bring to law school?  What will you do at law school and beyond?  What will you get out of a law school education?
    • Weaknesses may be mentioned – but do not dwell on the shortcomings.  They are best left to be addressed in a brief addendum to the application if necessary.  Your personal statement should highlight your strengths.  Mention weaknesses to the extent that you faced an adversity and that you learned from and overcame it.
    • Focus your writing.  Do not ramble. Try not to cover too many subjects.
    • Avoid fancy vocabulary and legalese.  Lawyer jokes and stereotypes can be cliché in law school personal statements.  Humor can be effective (although sometimes difficult to get across in writing).
    • Make sure you follow the instructions.  Some schools want a general personal statement and some may ask a more specific question.  Answer the question asked.
    • If you tailor the statement to each law school be certain that the appropriate statement goes to each school.
    • Brevity and conciseness are the hallmarks of good (legal) writing – practice them early.  Write clearly and coherently.
    • Unless specified by the school, use a standard font (12 point, Times New Roman).  Stay within the word or page limit set out in the application.  If one is not included, a good rule of thumb is 1.5 – 2 pages or approximately 750 words.  If your essay is longer than that, condense. Quinnipiac Law has a 750 word limit for the personal statement.
    • Imagine you are the reader – is your final statement interesting, unique and reflective of who you are?
    • Proofread, proofread, proofread!
    • Have multiple people review your personal statement.  Include someone who knows you personally as they will be able to determine if your statement is a true and complete reflection of who you are.  Also include someone who can review the statement for grammar and can give you feedback based strictly on reading the essay.  Perhaps also give to a third individual who does not know you at all.  When they have finished, ask them what they came away with from reading the statement.  If that is not the idea of yourself you are trying to get across, think about revising the statement.
    • Be genuine.  Admission committees have read a lot of personal statements over the years.  They can easily tell when you are putting forth a puffed-up version of yourself.  If a school does not offer interviews (which most do not), this is your only chance to introduce yourself.  Make sure you are showing them the real you and what a great addition you will be to their class.
      Writing an Effective Law School Personal Statement

      Admission to law school is competitive. Many applicants have similar GPAs and LSAT scores, so your personal statement is your best chance to stand out. It is your opportunity to make a memorable impression, highlight your unique experiences, and explain why you are an exceptional candidate. 

      General Approach
      • Start early. Give yourself time to reflect, draft, and revise. 
      • Establish a theme. Identify a central idea or common thread that ties your experiences together, even if they seem unrelated at first. 
      • Make it personal.    Share experiences, perspectives, and characteristics that set you apart. Let your personality shine. 
      • Do not recapitulate your resume. Use anecdotes and specific stories -- not a repeat of your resume -- to reveal aspects of yourself not evident elsewhere in your application. 
      • Highlight your passion. Explain what excites you about law school, how you will contribute, and what you hope to achieve. 
      Addressing Challenges 
      • Acknowledge weaknesses briefly. Your personal statement should highlight your strengths. If needed, mention weaknesses only to show resilience and growth. More detailed explanations belong in an addendum. 
      Writing Style
      • Stay focused. Avoid rambling or trying to cover too many topics. 
      • Keep it clear and concise. Brevity is a hallmark of strong legal writing
      • Avoid clichés, jargon, and excessive vocabulary. Avoid humor as well, as it can be taken differently by different people and you will not know who will be reading your personal statement. 
      Following Instructions
      • Answer the prompt. Some schools ask for a general statement; others pose specific questions, and many schools will ask "why law." 
      • Tailor thoughtfully. You do not need to customize your personal statement for each school, but if you do, double-check that you've sent the correct version. 
      • Adhere to the directions. Unless otherwise noted, use 12-point font Times New Roman and stay within 1.5-2 pages (about 750 words). Quinnipiac Law's limit is 750 words. 
      Final Checks
      • Put yourself in the reader's shoes. Is your statement engaging, authentic, and reflective of who you are? 
      • Proofread relentlessly 
      Seek Multiple Perspectives
      • Someone who knows you well (for authenticity).
      • Someone who can review grammar and clarity.
      • Someone who doesn't know you (to see what impression you get).
      Be genuine. Admission committees recognize inflated portrayals. If the school doesn't interview, this may be your only introduction -- make it real and memorable. 

      AI Usage. Adhere to the school's AI policy. Most schools allow the use for grammar checks, etc. However, most schools will be able to tell if it was used and to what extent. 

      Contact Us

      Please note our mailing address differs from our physical address. Please address all mail to 275 Mount Carmel Avenue, LW-ADM, Hamden, CT 06518.

      203-582-3400
      law@qu.edu

      370 Bassett Road
      North Haven, CT 06473

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