General essay writing tips

Sample Law School Essays

Perhaps the most difficult part of applying to law school is writing the perfect essay. Your grades and test scores are the most important part of your application, but your personal statement is your chance to set yourself apart from the crowd. You’ll want your essay to be both memorable and relevant. Here are a few tips for writing the perfect personal statement:

This section contains two sample law school essays:

1. 
   All The Way
   
2. 
   Taking the Long Way
   

1. 
   You will probably only need to write one personal statement, but you will want to tweak it for each school to which you apply. There should be a few subtle differences in what each school requires in a personal statement.
   
2. 
   Your final essay should end up about two or three pages, double-spaced. For your first draft, try to write at least four pages, leaving yourself room to cut.
   
3. 
   Don’t worry about being “unique.” Instead, tell your story authentically and sincerely. Your goal is to present the best version of yourself, not to be the most interesting person in the world.
   
4. 
   Ask for feedback. The more time you spend on your personal statement, the harder it becomes to spot any mistakes. Ask for feedback from professors, friends, family members, and anyone else whose judgement you trust.
   
5. 
   Avoid flowery or overly complicated prose. Good law students--and good lawyers--use direct, concise prose. Remove extraneous words and make sure your meaning is clear.