Law School Personal Statementa Advice No.6 - J

6. Things to Remember Once You Begin:

1. Write about aspects of yourself readers can’t get from the other parts of your application.

2. Personalize as much as possible with specific, meaningful stories and experiences.

3. Talk about yourself but also discuss how you influence others.

4. Be creative. Use metaphors and analogies. These make extra neurons fire as the mind plays with the levels of resonance.

5. If you are fluent in another language, mention it. This is a strong card. Play it.

6. Discuss topics that build your credibility. Your reason for applying should not be that you have wanted to be a lawyer since you were five. What kind of credibility does a five-year-old have?

7. Try to show you have as many of the following qualities as possible: Intellectual ability, analytic ability, imagination, motivation, maturity, organization, teamwork, leadership, self-confidence, oral communication skills, written communication skills, and career potential.

8. Don’t depress your audience. Everyone loves a happy ending.

7. Inside Secrets You Should Know:

1. The law school professors will be reading your personal statement closely and will immediately be able to spot good writers, with polished ideas, elegant structure, and no errors.

2. Admissions committees have read hundreds of personal statements. They can spot a good one in about two seconds.

3. Use recent stories before older, personal experiences over academic, strongest arguments before weaker. End strong.

4. A strong introduction and conclusion are essential.

5. People can think faster than they can read, so they are able to think about other things when they read your personal statement. Ideally, your essay will grab their attention so that they focus solely on you.

6. Lawyers write professionally. You must demonstrate exceptional writing skills.

7. Lawyers are master orators. They must know the skills of persuasion. Your essay must be able to persuade your audience to admit you. Use your rhetorical choices to show you have considered the art form.

8. Community service is imperative for advantaged applicants and those interested in public service.

9. The admissions committee is looking for those who have had “cross-cultural” experience: those who have put themselves in another environment that is out of their comfort zone and excelled, enjoyed it, learned about another culture, and learned to fit in.

10. What you’ve done needs to be impressive and have impacted many people.

11. The admissions committee is looking for future leaders in the public and private sectors, and those who value social power. They are not looking for naïve idealists.

12. If the school were a store, you should go in knowing what you want, why you want it, and that you’re getting the best deal for your time and money. It is rare for an applicant to have taken the time to research the school, the program, and what he or she wants from it and why he or she wants that one experience. Present yourself strongly. Know what you want. Be clear about it, and simple, but smart.

13. Admissions committees are impressed when you can mention one of their school’s individual strengths and how that would benefit you. Showing that you would take advantage of the school’s strengths as a means to achieve your end shows the committee you are motivated.

source: http://www.top-law-schools.com/statement.html

0-9 & A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y

J

Jack Johnson - Sitting, Waiting, Wishing, Flake (Live), Let It Be Sung

Jamelia - Superstar

James Blunt - Goodbye My Lover (Ost. Brokeback Mountain), High, Wisemen, You're Beautiful

James Morrison - You give me something

Janet Jackson - Call on Me(feat. Nelly), So Excited

Jason Mraz - Geek in the Pink, Curbside Prophet (Live), You and I Both, The Remedy

Jennifer Ellison - Bye Bye Boy

Jennifer Lopez - Get Right, I'm Real (Remix) feat. Ja Rule, Que Hiciste

Jennifer Love Hewitt - Barenaked

Jesse McCartney - Beautiful Soul, Because You Live, The Best Day of My Life (Live), Right Where You Want Me, Just So You Know

Jessica Simpson - I Think I'm in Love With You, These Boots are Made for Walking, A Public Affair, With You , I belong to me, Angels

Jet - Are you gonna be my girl

Jewel - Again and Again

Jibbs - Chain Hang Low

Jim Jones - We fly high

Joan Osborne - One of Us

Joey McIntyre - Stay The Same

John Legend - Save Room

John Lennon - Imagine, Woman

Jojo - Leave (Get Out), Too Little Too Late, Not that kinda girl, Baby it's you, How to touch a girl

Jonas Brothers - Year 3000

Josh Groban - To Where You Are, You Raise Me Up

Joss Stone - Tell Me 'Bout It

Juanes - A Dios le Pido, La Camisa Negra

Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River, Like I Love You, Sexy Back, Senorita, My Love (feat. T.I.), What goes around comes around