| What do Law Schools look for in application essays? | | | | motivation to getting into the law school. |
| The admissions committee at any law school looks at | | | | Did you decide on a whim, or because you made a |
| your application (which includes transcripts, LSAT | | | | drunken bet with your friend that you could get into |
| scores, recommendations, and personal statement), | | | | law school. Or maybe you want to impress your |
| they essentially seek the answer to one single | | | | family, or perhaps its been a lifelong dream of yours |
| question: Can this person succeed at this school, and | | | | to be an attorney. |
| will he actually make a good lawyer upon graduating? | | | | In other words, your reasons for getting into law |
| However, as the admissions committee members get | | | | school, thus, have to be strong enough to support |
| to your essay, their focus shifts from objective to | | | | your application. A drunken bet with friends will not |
| subjective analysis. For instance, often admissions | | | | actually cut it, nor will an artificial reason like |
| officers say that they look to the essays to feel | | | | impressing family/girlfriend/etc. |
| that they've come to know a real human being, his | | | | The law school wants to know that you really want |
| personality and character. In this subjective setting, | | | | to get inside, that you really want to be a lawyer. |
| officers often say that they look for someone they | | | | Your single, individual goal in the essay, thus, is to |
| feel that they know, understand, and most | | | | prove to the admissions officer that you belong to |
| importantly, spend three years of the law school | | | | their school, that you've worked hard to get this far, |
| with. | | | | and that you'll continue doing so once you get inside. |
| These are the three essential ingredients of a | | | | That you're committed, motivated to be Juris Doctor |
| successful law school admission essay: | | | | from your chosen law school. |
| 1. Writing/Communication Skills | | | | 3. A Real Person |
| A no-brainer when it comes to admissions essays. As | | | | As mentioned earlier, above anything, the admissions |
| an attorney, you are expected to have above-par, | | | | committee members seek out character and |
| even exceptional communication skills. | | | | personality in the essay. In other words, the |
| The admission essay, thus, is a perfect platform to | | | | committee members want to believe that they are |
| showcase these skills. | | | | reading the personal statement of a real, live human |
| Of course, your essay doesn't have to appear as the | | | | being. |
| work of a future Pulitzer prize winning author, but as | | | | The admissions committee has never seen you. They |
| a future lawyer, judge, or politician. The ability to | | | | haven't ever spoken to you. Whatever they know |
| present ideas skillfully is the essential to success in | | | | about you is what is recorded in your transcripts, |
| the legal profession, and good writing is a very | | | | factual information in your application, and most |
| strong indicator of these communication skills. | | | | importantly, what is written in your personal |
| At the J.D. level, good writing skills are expected in a | | | | statement. |
| candidate. A typo, a single grammatical mistake, a | | | | The personal statement, thus, becomes the window |
| factual error - little, oblivious mistakes could cost you | | | | to your personality, your character. Its the way you |
| a spot at a law school. While a beautifully written | | | | communicate with the admissions officer, woo him, in |
| essay won't singularly get you inside a law school, a | | | | fact. When asked, admissions officers will often give |
| poorly written one might cost you the admission. | | | | you varied advice (be honest, be unique, etc.), that all |
| The admissions officer basically looks at the essay | | | | essentially means one thing: Be Yourself! |
| and asks: Does the candidate have a strong | | | | This is, in a way, the exact same advice you would |
| command of the English language? Solid writing style | | | | be given while dating. |
| and organizational abilities? | | | | Imagine the plight of the admissions officers: |
| Provide the answer to these questions, and you'll | | | | thumbing through countless stacks of essays, all |
| have one foot inside the college door. | | | | boring, all penned down mechanically. Then, when he |
| 2. Motivation | | | | comes across a beautifully crafted essay that speaks |
| The admissions committee expects your essay to | | | | to him, connects to him, interests him, you can be |
| answer an obvious question: Why? | | | | sure that he will start leaning in your favor. |
| Why do you want to apply to this college and not | | | | Combine all these elements, and you'll have a winner |
| that college? Why do you think you'll make a good | | | | of a law school admissions essay on your hands, one |
| addition to our student body? Why do you think | | | | that can charm the hardest of admissions committee |
| you'll make a good lawyer? | | | | and bag you a seat at that law school you've been |
| In other words, the committee is looking for your | | | | eying since your undergrad days. |