Personal statement law school

The top-ranked law schools in the country, just like other institutions of higher learning, value the importance of grades in evaluating student performance. Recently, the number of students getting high GPAs have been increasing – a phenomenon called grade inflation. In response to this phenomenon, many colleges and universities have raised their grade percentiles to gather just a few chosen students who make it to the top. Since most prestigious law firms take into account the grades and ranking of a potential applicant, raised percentiles ultimately limit some individuals who may have had potential if they only made the cut.

Grade-based law schools

Attending grade-based law schools can be stressful, as the grading system is very harsh, awarding the top ranks only to a number of people. Some grade-based law schools try to combat grade inflation by raising the grade percentile of the class. These law schools instill limits to which certain grades can only be given to a specific percentage of the class.

Fierce competition then ensues among the students, as being in the top percentile, especially during the first year, can make one a viable target of prestigious law firms. This harsh grading system can certainly bring out the best in some, but can be quite stressful to others.

Non-grade based law schools

Non-grade based law schools on the other hand are not much affected by grade inflation. Instead of using the conventional percentage-based system, a non-grading law school such as the Boalt Hall of Berkeley Law ranks students into High Honors (HH), Honors (H), Pass (P), Substandard Pass (PC), and No Credit (NC) based not only on academics but on other factors as well.

Non-grade law schools have more relaxed limits that gives credit to students who may not be doing well in some aspects but are still given credit for other accomplishments in the class. Though these law schools also employ limitations in giving HH and H rankings, students are more at ease as having mostly Pass grades, and getting only a number of Honors will not discount them from landing positions in the top firms.

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Before worrying over passing the application for a certain law school or writing that personal statement law school essay, there are other factors that you have to consider in selecting a law school.

Curriculum

Will a certain law school’s curriculum help you achieve your goal in specializing in a certain field? Though most law schools offer the same set of courses for the first year of study, it is at the second year that you begin to choose which track you want to take. View the curricula of law schools that you want to attend and look for courses or electives that are related to your chosen specialization. I

Faculty and student body

The products of certain law schools are good sources of information regarding the environment in these institutions. Ask for stories, anecdotes, tips, and anything else about a certain law school from people who’ve been there. Faculty and existing students can also offer insights as to the academic environment and techniques of the law school.

Track record or reputation

Going Ivy League may be the easiest way to judge a school by its reputation. However, going to these institutions solely because of their reputation will not sound good in your personal statement law school essay, even if you’re royalty or second-generation. Consider a law school’s reputation for making the best out of its students by checking out national listings and rankings.

Cost of living

Though you may have made it to the best law school in the northwest, you also have to consider the cost of living that studying in that locality can entail. Having a grant or scholarship can do you good, but otherwise, you have to be financially ready to study in places where the cost of living is high.

Employment opportunities

Most law schools have career centers or job placement departments that can help their students find opportunities after graduation. Though you may have stated in your personal statement law school essay that you plan to be a good litigation lawyer or a human rights lawyer, you might not be able to achieve it if the school you went to has very low employment success rates.

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