PERSONAL STATEMENTS-A DEAN'S VIEW

This article is based on a conversation I had with Collins Byrd, Assistant Dean of Admissions, University of Iowa's College of Law, on September 8, 2006 at the Black Pre-Law Conference.

The personal statement is the second most important document other than your LSAT score; it is the one chance you get to tell the law school who you are in your own words. It should be viewed as a substitute for the job interview, and like employers, law school admissions committee members are reading personal statements seeking certain specific experiences and/or qualities. Those experiences/qualities include work experience, extra-curricular activities, career focus, motivation, interpersonal skills, empathy, and problem-solving skills.

Do not focus on all seven experiences/qualities in your personal statement, and do not try to tell the reader everything that has happened to you since your were born. Instead focus on one to three of the experiences/qualities. In discussing those experiences/qualities keep three things in mind. First, inform the reader why a certain experience/quality is a strength. Second, inform the reader how you acquired that experience/quality. Third, how is that experience/quality going to help you to succeed in law school.

Treat the personal statement as a serious undertaking and do not focus on nonsensical things like your spring-break experiences, unless those experiences involved helping Hurricane Katrina victims or something similar. Make sure the personal statement is written in a clear, concise, and efficient manner containing no grammatical mistakes.

Understand this, a great personal statement will probably not get you into law school if you have terrible LSAT and GPA scores, but a terrible personal statement will prevent you from being admitted even if you have great LSAT and GPA scores. For this reason, stay away from discussing controversial subjects in your personal statement. There are probably many things that have happened in your life that are good topics for a personal statement without focusing on something controversial.

Follow the instructions for the personal statement as they are given and do not get creative. If the instructions do not provide a page limit, limit the personal statement to no more than three pages. Take at least two weeks to write it. More specifically take about 90% of that time, or about 13 days, thinking about what you are going to write, and about 10% of that time, or about 1 day, writing it.

The underlying message you want the reader to take away from your personal statement is that you are capable of managing the grind of law school, that you are motivated and will persevere, and that you will follow rules.

Other related articles on this website include Personal Statements and Recommendations: One Important Tip .

Good luck with your personal statement!

Michael Santana
michael.santana@lawboost.com