The goal of the personal statement in a law school application is to present a compelling argument for why you are a worthy candidate for admission. Brainstorming, outlining, revising, receiving feedback and proofreading are essential steps in the writing process.
Do not rush the brainstorming step. Before even meeting, I ask applicants I work with at Stratus Prep to complete an extensive brainstorming questionnaire. Only then are we prepared to discuss how to integrate the most compelling material into an essay.
You can replicate some of that work by creating a chart with “Experiences” on one side and “Reflections” on the other.
[Learn how to polish the personal statement for a law school application.]
Under the Experiences heading, list key memories and accomplishments. Be sure to include a spectrum of personal, academic and professional moments. I recommend at least three for each category.
Use the Reflections heading to ruminate on how each of these experiences have shaped you. Consider ways you were challenged to change your perspective or develop new insights. Finally, review your reflections for similar themes.
For example, maybe you notice you prefer clear guidelines both in your professional work and interpersonal relationships, or perhaps have exhibited a fondness for the unknown across a variety of situations. Circle examples that you sense most belong together, even if you aren’t sure yet how they fit.
On a fresh page, delve into these examples more fully. Write what you think these experiences mean, including how they demonstrate qualities that will make you a strong law school student. This brainstorming work will help you develop a thesis, which I’ll define as the key concept or idea that your essay will set out to explore.
Having a thesis in a personal statement invites the reader to have a stake in the essay. A narrative that’s grounded by an idea the writer is attempting to understand is what makes an essay different from a diary entry.
In terms of the law school personal statement, there are several advantages to allowing a thesis to inform your writing process.
[Find out what not to do in a personal statement.]
1. A thesis helps you avoid a resume in prose. The most common pitfall I see in early personal statement drafts is relying on cover letter speak. In such a draft, the writer will state her accomplishments along with an assertion of skills gained. For example: “As a paralegal, I managed case documents, which taught me organizational skills and the importance of meeting deadlines.” There isn’t really an exploration of an idea here.
Compare the following: “As a paralegal, I managed case files for trusts and estates clients and appreciated the clearly defined statues of this transactional work, but my fondness for rules and regulations was challenged when I undertook a pro bono asylum case. The petitioner was a young boy from Columbia who fled his country after witnessing a gang murder. Although we filed all the required documents to support his claim, because being a criminal witness was not a protected class, the boy’s petition was denied. I saw that clear guidelines and legal requirements do not always result in just outcomes.”
In the latter example, the writer is wrestling with her own evolving understanding of the benefits and limitations of clear legal rules. By exploring an idea, she is forced to discuss what her position as a paralegal means to her on a deeper level than she could convey in a resume or cover letter.
Keep in mind that the admissions committee will already have a copy of your resume. Your letters of recommendation can explain the responsibilities and skills you might typically present in a cover letter. A thesis-driven personal statement, therefore, will offer the admissions committee a refreshing insight into your experiences.
2. A thesis creates an organizing principle. Another pitfall of early personal statement drafts is a lack of structure. Because the applicant does not know why he or she is writing, the essay moves haphazardly from topic to topic. A thesis, on the other hand, requires the writer to present coherent evidence to support the ideas being explored. This is where outlining can be incredibly valuable.
[Know how personal statements and diversity statements differ in law school applications.]
First, think about what experience best establishes the idea you want to explore. Then, show how the next experience adds another dimension to that idea. Finally, shift by presenting a third experience that complicates or illuminates the idea.
Here’s an example: An applicant opens her essay with an experience from her tumultuous upbringing to explain why she finds predictability comforting. Then, through her academic work, demonstrates how her studies as a communications major taught her the value of clarity in a broader context, which is also what appealed to her about the practice of law. However, she complicates her initial idea by admitting an occasion when clearly defined rules and regulations did not comfort her. The essay’s structure was essential to the exploration of the idea.
The ability to write about a complicated idea in an organized way is a valuable skill for any attorney.
3. A thesis demonstrates your mind at work. A successful personal statement will add dimension to your application. It should do more than communicate what you have done. A thesis will allow you to present not simply who you are, but how you think. After all, the sharpness of your intellect and how you understand the world around you is what ultimately makes you a compelling law student.
Having trouble brainstorming ideas for your personal statement? You can reach me at lawadmissionslowdown@usnews.com.
More from U.S. News
Do’s, Don’ts for Building a Law School Application List
10 Law Schools With the Most Full-Time Applications
Rise in Firm Hiring Offers More Opportunities for Law Students
3 Ways a Thesis Strengthens a Law School Essay originally appeared on usnews.com
