What should be the topic of the personal statement?
You first should read the law schools’ instructions for writing the personal statement. You must follow these instructions carefully. Typically, the instructions for the personal statement are very general and do not require any specific topic of discussion. Generally, in writing the personal statement, students should be answering the following question: Why law? What is motivating my interest to pursue a career in law? Often times, students address the wrong question in their personal statement – i.e. Why I am qualified to pursue a career in law? The purpose of the personal statement is to give the law school admissions committee information that they cannot find anywhere else in your application. The committee can look at your transcripts and resume to determine your qualifications. Hence, use the personal statement as an opportunity to give the committee insight into who you are and why you are applying. In answering the “Why law?” question, you can refer to a specific event or per
