Personal statement law school

As you probably already know, the personal statement is one of the most important requirements in your application package for law school.  For many, the personal statement is what will make the difference between getting accepted or rejected by the admissions committee.  For this reason, it’s important to write an excellent essay.  If you are stuck or unsure about how to go about writing your personal statement for law school, then you may be tempted to purchase a ready-to-submit essay from the Internet or any other source.  Before you do that, though, you should be aware that there are numerous dangers involved with purchasing a ready-made personal statement for law school.  Read on to learn more.

Trends regarding sites that sell ready-to-submit essays

In recent years, essay-writing and editing services have experienced an increase in demand.  More people are looking for help with their essays, including personal statements and admission essays.  Today, anyone can go online and find a website offering to help you with composing and editing your personal statement.  Most of these websites offer samples of some of the essays that they have written, so customers can see the quality of the end product.  While these samples may be free, essay-writing and editing services usually come at a premium.  Sometimes, the cost to compose and edit your essay can reach hundreds of dollars, because the writers will try to compose the essay using the personal information that you give them.  In other cases, some websites sell essays that are already completed and ready for submission, but the essay may not be based on your own information.

Dangers of buying ready-to-submit essays

As mentioned above, there are many dangers that are involved with buying ready-to-submit essays.  The first and most obvious danger is that the admissions committee may find out that your personal statement wasn’t actually written by you.  This may lead to your rejection from the law school or, if the essay is plagiarized, you may even get punished under law.  Another danger is that, even if the writers make use of your personal information, the essay may not say much about who you are, what your personality is like, and what makes you a good candidate for the school.  One danger that many people tend to overlook when purchasing ready-to-submit essays is that they are giving their personal information to complete strangers.  You may reveal information about who you are, where you live, your academic and career background, and much more.  As a result, you may be putting your own privacy on the line.  To avoid these dangers, it would be best to get such services from reputable and reliable websites that are willing to work together with you to come up with an original, compelling, and personal admission essay for law school.

Tips in coming up with an original essay

Your best bet when it comes to writing an excellent personal statement is to write an original essay.  While online writing and editing companies can help you with this, you may want to forgo the thought and just compose your own essay.  Here are some helpful tips for coming up with an original essay:

-  Take time to reflect on your life.  Part of writing an original essay that is persuasive, interesting, and compelling is about making deep connections between your character and the events in your life that have helped shape that character.

-  Remember that many law schools are looking for diversity in their students and the student body as a whole.  Think of the things about you that make you unique such as personal experiences or your general background.  Use these to express why you would make a good addition to the school and why you would make a good lawyer.

-  Finally, the best tip for coming up with an original personal statement is simply to be yourself.

Whether you are writing a novel, an essay, a poem, or your personal statement for law school, writer’s block can attack you while working on any type of writing task.  When facing a bad case of writer’s block, your writing task may seem impossible to complete, most especially when you’re under the pressure of writing an excellent personal statement and submitting your application package before the deadline.  If writer’s block is keeping you from starting and completing your personal statement for law school, try not to be so hard on yourself.  Fortunately, there are numerous strategies and techniques for you to try to beat writer’s block and to unleash the writer in you.  Read on to learn more on how to get rid of writer’s block so you can write an excellent personal statement to get into the law school of your choice.

Signs of writer’s block

The first step to getting rid of writer’s block is to identify when you are falling victim to writer’s block and what is possibly causing it.  The most obvious sign of writer’s block is an inability to start on or continue with your personal statement.  Some of the main causes of writer’s block may be excessive stress, procrastination, burn out, perfectionism, and lack of focus and concentration.  It’s important to understand what is keeping you from writing so that you know how to approach the problem.  For example, if you’re struggling to write because you have perfectionist tendencies and your expectations for your personal statement are too high, then you may want to start writing by lowering your expectations and just writing whatever comes to mind.  Aside from these causes and signs of writer’s block, here are some of the effects that writer’s block can have on you:
-  Increased levels of stress, especially when chasing a deadline
-  Frustration or anger toward yourself or your writing task
-  Feelings of inadequacy or inability to write the personal statement

Tips to get rid of writer’s block

Here are some tips to help you beat writer’s block:

-  Tell yourself that you can start your personal statement from any section of the essay.  Most people get stuck because they are too tied up thinking of a grand introduction and first sentence to kick off their personal statement.  Skip this and start with a section that you might be more comfortable writing, then get back to the introduction later on when you’ve warmed up and are starting to beat the block.

-  You may also want to try taking a break.  Before you go on a break though, read through your notes, the personal statement questions, and any other information that has to do with your writing task.  This way, while you are taking a break, you can allow the ideas, concepts, topics, issues, questions, and answers to marinate in your head while on a break.  You may take a walk outside, take a nap, or simply occupy yourself with some other task.  The point is just to relax your mind and allow your mind to make the connections without you consciously thinking about your essay.

-  Make a rough outline or perform a brainstorming exercise to get the ideas out of your mind and onto paper.  Write down any word or idea that you might have concerning your personal statement.  Later, come back to your outline or brainstorming paper and have a go at writing your essay.

-  Finally, perform some sort of writing exercise that is easy, not stressful, and does not have a deadline attached.  You can write about anything at all, even writer’s block itself.  The point is to warm up your brain and to get your “inner writer” on a roll for when you tackle the bigger task at hand — your personal statement for law school.

Discussing in Your Personal Statement Law School How Setting Up a School Organization Has Helped You Develop Skills

Showing how responsible and reliable you are in your personal statement can give you more chances of getting admissions to a prestigious law school.  There are actually various ways to show your potential in your personal statement law school.  One of these is by talking about the activities you have done in the past that highlight your leadership potential and your sense of responsibility and commitment.

Why discussing in your essay how you set up an organization is an excellent idea

Setting up an organization shows that you have what it takes to be a good leader and a responsible team member.  Aside from showing off your best points, talking about how you set up an organization will also give you the chance to talk about the challenges you have faced, the lessons you have learned, and the skills you have acquired when you started your own organization.  Talking about these things will give the impression that you have already faced various hurdles and that you already have developed the potential that would help you survive and find success in law school.

What to include in your personal statement for law school

Because an admissions essay should not be too long, you only have to focus on the topic of setting up organization.  It is not necessary that you talk excessively about the organization.  Rather, concentrate on the obstacles that you have endured and what you did in order to hurdle these obstacles.  You also have to discuss the potentials that you have developed that you think would be important in the career that you want to pursue.

What to avoid in you personal statement

When writing your essay, you also have to be aware of the things that you should avoid.  One of these is to keep away from saying your skills directly.  This may give the admissions committee an impression that you are bragging.  Instead of saying it outright, why not give an example of a situation in which you have exhibited your skills?  You also have to avoid focusing on the organization you set up.  Always remember that the personal statement is still about you, and your organization is only included in order to put you in a positive light.  So you have to make sure that your topic on organization does not monopolize your whole essay.  Another no-no in a personal statement is trying to be very humorous. Although humor can be a very effective ingredient in making an excellent essay, if you are not adept in using it, better avoid it.

Who can help you in your essay

To help you with your essay, you can ask your professors to read it and make suggestions.  You can also approach your team members in the organization to help you brainstorm for the theme if you haven’t started your essay yet.  Just remember to be honest in writing about yourself because the admissions committee can surely see through your lies.  And one more thing you should not forget is never to submit an admission essay to law school without having a pre-law advisor read and critique it.

Photo Credit : Alicia Nijdam

Top 5 Law School Movies That Made You Want to Pursue Law and Come up with a Winning Personal Statement Law School

There is always an inspiration behind every passion.  Whether it is for the creation of an artistic masterpiece or for the pursuit of knowledge, there is a thing that ignites one’s urge.  If you are an aspiring law student, you can have better chances of obtaining admissions to a prestigious law school if you show this passion and inspiration on your personal statement law school.  If you haven’t thought of a topic for admissions essay, why not try writing about what inspired you to pursue a career in law?  To grab the attention of the admissions committee, you can talk about interesting things such as the top five law school movies that inspired you to study law.  If you haven’t seen such inspiring movies, then consider these top five films about law school.

Top five films that can inspire you to attend law school

Cinematography is not just the only criteria that you should use in rating a law school movie.  Another important consideration is the statement that the film has to say about law and justice.  The film should say something enduring and inspiring.

One of the films that meet this standard is the 1959 film “Anatomy of the Murder”.  This film is based on the novel of Michigan Supreme Court Justice John D. Voelker.  The film raises many legal issues concerning trial practice and ethics.

Next in the list is “To Kill a Mockingbird”,which is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee.  The story revolves around the trial of a black man for the crime which he is not responsible for.  The film is set against the backdrop of pre-civil rights era.  In this film, the character of Atticus Finch is really inspiring.  He is a lawyer who made personal sacrifices for the sake of justice.

The “Judges at Nuremberg” is also one of the best movies about law.  This film is basically about the judges and the clashing of their philosophies and principles.  The setting of the movie is 1948 Germany.

“The Paper Chase” is also an excellent law school movie.  This film shows a law school student’s struggle to survive the very competitive academic environment.

The film “The Great Debaters” is also a great movie.  This is about a group of black students who were inspired by their professor to fight the racist Jim Crow laws through the power of words.

How to write about these movies in your personal statement

You have to keep in mind that your personal statement should not be too long.  When you use these movies as your theme, there is no need to write everything about them.  After all, it is not a movie review that you are going to write, but an essay about yourself.  So you only have to include the most important lessons you have learned from these films.  Writing about how these films inspired you to study law is also an effective way to capture the attention of the admissions committee.

Photo Credit : Jesse Michael Nix

Discussing Online Hobbies such as Joining Social Networking Sites in Your Personal Statement Law School

Some online hobbies are not just designed for mere amusement.  Many of these hobbies are actually very useful.  Take for instance social networking.  For some people, social networking is the source of unproductivity at home, in the office, or at school.  Aside from unproductivity, some cite online networking as nothing but an instrument for hackers to commit cyber crimes.  Although networking is viewed by some in a negative light, the advantages of engaging in online networking activity are undeniable.

Advantages of joining networking sites

One of the best known advantage of joining a networking site is you get the chance to meet other people who share your passions or who can share with you interesting things that you haven’t known yet.  If you are going to take a career path in the field of law, joining a networking site is a a good way to establish a network of people whom you can ask for assistance later in your career.  For students, a social networking site can be a big help when you need to communicate with and get information from others who also pursue the same field of study.  Online networking is also a great means for students to share information.

How to write about online hobbies such as networking in your essay

If you are one of the people whose favorite hobby is online networking, then why not include this hobby of yours in your personal statement law school?  Your online networking hobby will make an interesting topic for your personal statement law school.  Although you are going to use your networking hobby as a theme to unify your personal statement, you have to remember that the admissions essay is still about you and not about networking.  You have to concentrate on connecting your networking experiences to the program you have selected.  You can actually talk about how your online networking hobby helps you a great deal and how it strengthens your motivations to enter law school.

What to remember when you write your personal statement

When you write your personal statement, you should make sure that your essay is woven smoothly.  You have to make an effort to make the introduction engaging.  The body and the conclusion should be very interesting.  It is important that you do not deviate away from your theme.  Aside from this, you have to make sure that you proofread and edit your essay to make certain it is flawless before you submit it.  Keep in mind that no matter how interesting your topic or your theme is, if your essay is not free from typographical and grammatical errors, your effort to make the content interesting is useless.

You have to write your personal statement ahead of the submission deadline so you can still have enough time to make revisions.  You should show it to your peers and former professors and ask them to give you suggestions on how to make your essay interesting and flawless.

Photo Credit : blmurch

The Marshall-Wythe School of Law, or more commonly called the William & Mary Law School, was founded in 1779 by Thomas Jefferson and is the oldest existing law school in the US. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the W&M Law School is part of the College of William & Mary, which is the second oldest college in the US next to Harvard University. W&M Law is a public university listed among the top 30 law schools in the US, with their list of notable programs including the Institution of Bill of Rights Law, Election Law Program, and the Human Rights and National Security Law Program. More detailed information about the school’s program offerings, as well as their application procedures, can be found at the school’s website and admissions page.

Columbia Law School is one of the graduate schools of the Ivy League member institution, Columbia University. Columbia Law is located in New York City and is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious law schools in the US. The school has a highly selective and competitive admissions process, and has produced lawyers who have become senators and congressmen, successful businessmen, diplomats and ambassadors, and even former US presidents, such as Franklin Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt. Columbia Law is known for its specialty in intellectual property, international law, and corporate law. To know more about the school’s programs, curricula, and admissions requirements, you can visit their official website at www.law.columbia.edu/ and their admissions page.

Established in 1887 and located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell Law School is one of the graduate schools of Cornell University, and is one of the five renowned Ivy League law schools. Cornell Law offers a wide variety of law degrees and programs, such as JD-MBA, JD-Masters in Global Business Law, LL.M, and JSD. The school’s program offerings include Clarke Program in East Asian Law and Culture, International Human Rights Clinic, Public Interest, International and Comparative Law Program, and an extensive Externships program. Application competition is tough in Cornell Law, so you might want to do your research on the institution by logging on to their official website at www.lawschool.cornell.edu and the school’s admissions page.

The Charleston School of Law or CSOL was founded in 2003, and is one of the only two law schools found in South Carolina. Charleston Law dedicates itself to producing intellectually competent lawyers with high moral character.  The school is host to three student publications that aim to provide a venue for students, law practitioners, lecturers, and legal professionals to discuss topics pertaining to human rights, current social issues, and legal academics: the Charleston Law Review, Federal Courts Law Review, and MALABU, or Maritime Law Bulletin. More information about the school’s course offerings can be found at www.charlestonlaw.org, with information on application procedures listed at the website’s admissions page.

CUNY Law, or the City University of New York Law School, was established in 1983 and specializes in public interest law. As the school’s motto aptly states, Law in the Service of Human Needs, the City University of New York Law School offers a curriculum that is designed to imbibe in students the passion and desire to become lawyers who will serve the disempowered and disadvantaged members of society. The clinics and concentrations that the school offers include International Women’s Human Rights, Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Economic Justice Project, and Community and Economic Development. You can find the full list of courses and clinics offered at CUNY Law at their website, www.law.cuny.edu and information on applications at their admissions page.

The Cleveland-Marshall College of Law is the law school branch of Cleveland State University located in Cleveland, Ohio. Originally established in 1897 and named Cleveland Law School, the institution merged with the John Marshall School of Law in 1946, and since then has adopted the name Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. The school offers a JD degree, five dual degree programs, and LL.M. programs. The Cleveland-Marshall College of Law is also known for being the very first evening law school in Ohio, and one of the nation’s first law schools to accept minorities and women in their academic community.If you’re interested in applying to Cleveland-Marshall Law, check out the school’s admissions page to get the lowdown on the processes and requirements.

Founded in 1976, the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law or Campbell Law is one of the graduate schools of Campbell University and is located in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The school offers a JD-MBA program, as well as the JD-MTIM (Masters in Trust and Investment Management) degree. The JD-MTIM degree is offered to students in association with Campbell University’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business. The Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law aims to produce lawyers who not only possess professional competence, but also social compassion and moral conviction. To know more about the application requirements and procedures, you can visit the school’s official website at www.law.campbell.edu or their admissions page.

The Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law first opened its doors in 1892, and is one of the oldest existing law schools in the US. The Backus School of Law is the law school of Case Western Reserve University and has produced a long line of successful lawyers and politicians who have served in the local and federal government. The school offers several dual-degree programs such as JD-MBA, JD-MSSA (Social Work), JD-MD, JD-MPH (Public Health), and JD-MA in Bioethics. Case Western Reserve Law also offers the LL.M. in U.S. and Global Legal Studies Program. To know more about the school’s course and program offerings, visit their website at www.law.case.edu and the school’s admissions page.

Chapman University School of Law, or commonly referred to as Chapman Law, is a private, non-profit law school established in 1995 and is located in Orange, California. Chapman Law is one of the graduate schools of Chapman University, and offers combined degrees such as JD-MBA, JD/MFA in Film and Television Production, and LL.M. degrees in Prosecutorial Science and Taxation. Chapman Law emphasizes ethics and good citizenship in their legal instruction and training — an aspect of teaching that the institution deems is essential in producing competent lawyers. The school is also a member of the American Bar Association, as well as the Association of American Law Schools. For more information on Chapman Law, you can visit their website at www.chapman.edu/law/ and the school’s admissions page.

Boston College Law School or BC Law was founded in 1929 and is one of the graduate schools of Boston College in Newton, Massachusetts. BC Law is known for its programs in the fields of social justice, human rights, and public interest law. The school is also known for having a highly selective admissions process. The school’s list of notable alumni include US senator John Kerry, Michael S. Greco, former president of the American Bar Association, and countless other prominent lawyers who have become ambassadors, senators, congressmen, judges, and justices. For information on BC Law’s courses, programs, and application requirements, visit the school’s official website at www.bc.edu/schools/law/ or the school’s admissions page.

The Boston University Law School or BU Law is a branch of Boston University which was founded in 1872 by a group of lawyers, educators, jurists, and law teachers with the aim of making quality legal education available to anyone with merit. BU Law offers joint degrees such as JD-MBA, JD-MPH, and JD-MA, in association with the other graduate schools and colleges of Boston University. The faculty at BU Law uses the Socratic method of teaching, which encourages interactive, intellectual dialogue between students and lecturers. To see the complete listing of the programs and courses offered at BU Law, check out the school’s official website at www.bu.edu/law/, and the school’s admissions page.

Brooklyn Law School or BLS was established in 1901 by Norman P. Heffley and William Payson Richardson, with the aim of making legal education accessible and available to women, immigrants, and the less privileged members of society. Located at the heart of New York City, Brooklyn Law School boasts of a diverse student body and a multi-faceted academic community. The school offers joint degrees in association with other colleges and academic institutions; JD-MBA with Baruch College, JD-MA in Political Science with Brooklyn College, JD-Masters in Urban Planning with Hunter College, and tons more. You can find the complete list of courses and programs that BLS offers at www.brooklaw.edu, and more about the school’s application process at their admissions page.

Albany Law School is known as the only law school found within the Capital Region of New York, and is the nation’s oldest independent school of law. Founded in 1851, Albany Law was also the very first law school in the US to publish a student-edited law review, the Albany Law School Journal. Albany has produced countless alumni who have gone on to become successful and distinguished players in their field, such as former president William McKinley, and US Supreme Court Justices David Brewer and Robert H. Jackson. More information about course and program offerings and the application process can be found at Albany Law School’s admissions page.

The American University Washington College of Law  or WCL is located in Washington D.C. and is known internationally for its strong programs in the field of human rights law and public interest work. The Washington College of Law was established in 1896 and is the home of The Business Law Brief and The American Jurist, two student publications which have both been recognized and awarded by the American Bar Association. WCL is known for its focus on public interest law, and provides grant money for students working in the public sector through the Equal Justice Foundation. For more information on the program offerings at WCL, visit the school’s official website at www.wcl.american.edu and the admissions page.

The Appalachian School of Law or ASL is a non-profit law school located at Virginia which was established in 1994 as a tool to jumpstart economic development in the region. ASL offers a three-year Juris Doctor degree program and is known for their focus on leadership and community service. Proof of their dedication to community service is the program’s graduation requirement for students to complete 25 hours of community service per semester. The Juris Doctor curriculum at ASL also emphasizes alternative dispute resolution and professional responsibility. More information about ASL’s Juris Doctor program, as well as the application process and requirements can be found at ASL’s admissions page.