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Over word count for personal statement?

How serious is it to be over the word count for a PS? One of my apps says “750 words OR 3 pages” and my PS is 2 and a half pages but 850. Do I need to cut it down or am I good?

How to Write a Stand-Out Personal Statement

Every component of your law school application is important, but your personal statement is your chance to individualize your application. It allows you to distinguish yourself with Admissions representatives by expressing what makes your journey to law school unique. But how do you even begin to put your dreams and aspirations on paper? How can you ensure that your personal statement is impressive and memorable? Here are some tips:

1. Follow directions.

The law school you’re applying to has likely provided guidance for writing your personal statement. Read the application instructions and make note of any guidelines about word count limits, document spacing, submission method, and other requirements. The school will also give direction on what to address in your statement. For example, in addition to requesting information on your background, experience, special circumstances and interests, we ask that applicants specifically answer why they are interested in attending Maryland Carey Law.

2. Structure your writing around a central topic or theme.

Whether you are writing about something that happened in your personal life or professional career or discussing why you want to go to law school, construct your narrative with a clear and concise storyline. Think about the points you’d like to make and identify a common thread that weaves those points together—that’s how you’ll arrive at your central topic or theme.

You’ll want to reveal that theme in an engaging introductory paragraph that previews the points you’ll discuss. Your subsequent paragraphs should develop each of those points. Finally, your personal statement should end with an authentic closing paragraph that drives your main theme home.

3. Ask someone to review your statement.

Once you have drafted your personal statement, it’s time to read it over and have at least one other person review it, too. When editing your statement, in addition to meticulously checking for spelling and grammar mistakes, consider the following questions:

• Does the statement provide a strong sense of why I want to attend law school?
• Did I demonstrate knowledge about the law school I’m applying to and why we are a great fit?
• Have I followed all the instructions carefully?

The personal statement allows your voice to be heard and adds character to your law school application. It is often the only impression the Admissions Committee has of you. Lawyers are writers at their core, so it is important to make an excellent first impression on this front.

Keep these tips in mind as you write, and attend one of Maryland Carey Law’s virtual  Personal Statement Writing Workshops  for more hints and hands-on help with crafting your statement.

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Tips For Law School Personal Statements: Examples, Resources And More

Updated: Mar 22, 2024, 4:48pm

Tens of thousands of undergraduates pursue law school every year, and the competition for admission is fierce.

When it comes to admissions, your law school personal statement is not as impactful as your LSAT scores or undergraduate GPA. Still, a personal statement can be the deciding factor when competing with other applicants.

In this article, we discuss how to write a law school personal statement that demonstrates why you belong in a Juris Doctor (J.D.) program.

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What Is a Law School Personal Statement?

A law school personal statement is a multi-paragraph essay or narrative highlighting the reason you are pursuing a J.D. degree . This essay is an opportunity to share your identity with an admissions committee—beyond just transcripts and test scores.

Personal statements are typically two to four pages long. Most law schools do not provide specific prompts for applicants’ statements, but some do. Either way, the content of your statement should leave a strong impression.

Why Do Law Schools Ask for Personal Statements?

Law schools receive a high volume of applications and typically do not contact applicants for interviews until after reviewing their applications. As a result, personal statements largely act as a substitute for the applicant interview process.

Your personal statement serves as a writing sample that shows your ability to communicate ideas effectively. In addition to demonstrating your ability to write well, a personal statement can give an admissions committee a clear picture of your motivations for attending law school and indicate how well you might fit into their program.

If you’re wondering how to become a lawyer , law school is the first step—and your personal statement is important to the law school application process.

How To Write a Law School Personal Statement

Writing a law school personal statement can be a challenging part of the application process, involving hours of planning and drafting. However, with solid brainstorming and prewriting strategies, you can craft an effective personal statement that illustrates how you are a strong candidate for law school.

Picking What to Write About

If your prospective school does not provide a prompt, choosing what to write about can be frustrating and time-consuming.

Start with a serious brainstorming session to get your ideas on paper. Give yourself the license to explore every experience or idea before deciding on your final topic.

Consider spending time jotting down every idea that falls into the following categories:

• Life events or experiences that motivated you or changed your perspective
• A meaningful personal achievement and what you learned from it
• How you became interested in the law
• Your passions and how they contributed to your individual goals

Structuring Your Law School Personal Statement

The structure and method you use to craft your statement is important. It might be tempting to follow a rigid formula and write a personal statement that methodically unpacks your reason for attending law school, your qualifications and the relevance of your extracurricular engagements. However, some of the most effective personal statements are crafted through a narrative approach.

Well-written narratives are engaging and illustrate why law school would benefit your career path. Your essay should exhibit your dedication and passion for the law and highlight the relationship between your values and your target law school. By creating a narrative with a common theme woven throughout, you can captivate your reader while informing them of your qualifications and goals.

Rather than overtly telling the reader why you should be accepted into law school, a narrative allows its audience to make connections and engage at a personal level. Your anecdotes and specific examples should reveal the traits you want the admissions committee to see and appreciate.

What Makes a ‘Good’ Law School Personal Statement?

Law school admissions teams read hundreds, even thousands of personal statements, so it’s important to write one that stands out. Ultimately, a good law school personal statement engages the reader, provides a unique perspective and demonstrates why you would make a good candidate for law school.

Choose a Unique Topic

A personal statement is exactly that: personal. Crafting a memorable narrative is paramount and dependent on your story and unique life experiences, especially since reviewers read so many personal statements with similar stories and themes.

Unfortunately, certain topics can come across as cliche. This is not to say that your lived experience of overcoming adversity or your time spent volunteering to help those in need is undervalued. However, those narratives have motivated thousands of aspiring attorneys to pursue law—meaning they have appeared in thousands of law school personal statements.

Give Specific Examples

Once you’ve selected a topic, take time to unpack the examples you plan to share and how they tie into the “why” behind your pursuit of law school. General statements are not only boring to read but lack the depth of meaning required to make an impact. Specific examples are critical to creating interest and highlighting the uniqueness of your personal experience.

According to law school admissions consultant and founder of PreLawPro, Ben Cooper, “It is always great to have a story that speaks for you. A story that demonstrates certain qualities or a key lesson learned is always more compelling than simply saying, ‘I am dedicated, responsible etc.’ ”

Be Personal and Reflective

Law schools want to see critical thinking skills and deep reflection in applicants’ personal essays. Before you write, consider a few questions. Is your story unique to you? What was the primary conflict in your story? How did you develop over time? How does this story reflect who you are now and how law school suits you? Take time to ponder what challenges you’ve overcome and what events and experiences have shaped your worldview.

Common Pitfalls for a Law School Personal Statement

Before you invest hours writing an essay just for it to fall flat, make sure you’re aware of the most common pitfalls for law school personal statements.

Failing To Follow Instructions

Law schools set specific formatting and length guidelines. Reading comprehension and attention to detail are key skills for law school success, so failing to meet these expectations could count against your application or even result in an automatic rejection.

Length and formatting requirements vary among law schools. For example, if a school expects no more than two pages, 11-point font, 1-inch margins and double spacing, make sure to format your personal statement precisely according to those specifications. We advise tailoring your personal statement to each individual school to avoid violating any formatting requirements.

If a law school asks you to answer a specific prompt or write multiple essays, make sure to follow those instructions as well.

Not Revising And Proofreading

Nothing screams a lack of effort, interest and commitment like an unpolished personal statement. Admissions teams will quickly notice if you skip proofreads and revisions, even if the content of your essay is exceptional.

This step entails much more than running a spelling and grammar check. You must ensure that the order of information is purposeful and logical. Each word you use should be intentional and add value to the story you are trying to tell.

Revising an essay is not a one-person job. Have others provide feedback, too. Your peers and mentors are a great place to start, as long as they give objective feedback.

Also ask people you do not know to provide feedback. You might start with your university’s writing center . Writing centers employ trained writing tutors who are skilled in providing feedback across disciplines. A writing center tutor will not proofread your essay, but they assist in making it reach its full potential.

Using Flowery Or Overly Academic Language

The voice and tone of your personal statement should flow naturally and reflect who you are. This doesn’t require flowery or overly academic language, which can make your essay sound more obtuse and less personal.

As we stated earlier, your personal statement should use specific examples and stories to generate interest and reveal why you want to attend law school and become a lawyer.

Likewise, you should avoid using excessive legal language or famous quotes in your statement. Admissions reviewers are academics, so if you use a term improperly, they will catch it. Use language that you feel comfortable with, without being too informal, and allow your narrative to convey your intended themes and ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Law School Personal Statements

What is a good personal statement for law school.

A good personal statement for law school is original, engaging, truthful and well-structured. When composing your personal statement, take time to reflect on your life experiences and how they led you to pursue a legal career. Follow each school’s required format, make sure to proofread carefully and use natural-sounding language.

How much does a law school personal statement matter?

Law school admissions committees typically place more emphasis on your LSAT performance and undergraduate academic record—including your GPA and the rigor of your course of study—but a personal statement can still have a powerful impact on the success of your application. A strong essay can help you stand out from the crowd, and conversely, a clichéd, poorly written or incorrectly formatted essay can hurt your chances.

Do law schools fact-check personal statements?

Assume that law school admissions officers may fact-check any verifiable information in your personal statement. They may not know if you are presenting your motivations for applying or your career plans honestly, but they can—and will—check whether, for example, you participated in a particular student organization or attended a specific conference.

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Brandon Galarita is a freelance writer and K-12 educator in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is passionate about technology in education, college and career readiness and school improvement through data-driven practices.

Brenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accolades in California and North Carolina. Since 2018, she has worked in the higher-education web content space, where she aims to help current and prospective students of all backgrounds find effective, accessible pathways to rewarding careers.

Ben Cooper the founder and CEO of PreLawPro, a law school admissions and career consulting firm. He is a former international lawyer who spent much of his legal career as a litigator in London’ financial district. After leaving private practice he oversaw the Pre-Law program at Baylor University, where he taught college classes on the legal profession, law school admissions, careers, and academic success. He has also helped students explore careers in diplomacy, intelligence and national security. After almost a decade of working with college students and young professionals, Ben has helped hundreds of law school applicants gain admission to law schools all over the country. Ben also coaches and mentors college students and young professionals (across a broad range of industries) as they navigate their education and careers.

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How to Write A Standout Law Personal Statement

A law personal statement is essential when applying to enrol on an LLB law course as an undergraduate or an LLM degree as a postgraduate. Get advice and tips on writing good law personal statements.

Our Guide to Law Personal Statements

• Find out the word count and the right structure
• See how universities use personal statements
• Learn how to write and structure your statement
• Get more top tips on writing a knock-out statement

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You’ll need to write a law personal statement if you’re applying for the LLB or other types of law degrees via UCAS . You will also have to write one if you’re applying to study law at postgraduate level.

What is a Law Personal Statement?

The personal statement is a piece of writing which you send off with your UCAS application to different universities . It’s capped at 4,000 characters (so will often end up running for about one side of A4), and serves as the best way to differentiate yourself from other applicants to the most competitive courses. In short, it’s the personal statement which is the truly ‘personal’ part of your application. This is your chance to grab the attention of the admissions team, who will often use the personal statement as the easiest way to pick between candidates with other similar metrics (e.g. predicted A Level grades which meet the entry requirements ). Other universities ( Oxbridge specifically ) place even more emphasis on your personal statement, using it as a way to decide who to invite to interview (and then as a source of discussion during interviews). Put simply, it’s an important part of your application.

For law specifically, a subject which is known to be both competitive and highly academic, the personal statement is even more crucial. The University of Law have a page outlining some law personal statement tips , but this article seeks to present our views on some of the most crucial elements of a successful personal statement for studying law at university – from what you should do to what you shouldn’t, structure, content and more, this article will get you well on your way.

How Universities Use Your UCAS Law Personal Statement

If a lot of students applying for law degree courses have achieved the basic entry requirements, university admissions teams use UCAS law personal statements to decide who is more suited to their learning programme. Some universities take this a step further with, for example, with the LNAT , which is taken into consideration alongside your personal statement. 

Some law schools will read every personal statement and score them. They then use this score alongside your qualifications and grades to decide whether to offer you an interview. Other law universities don’t give as much consideration to personal statements and will only use them to decide between students who have borderline entry requirements.

Law schools may refer to your personal statement on results day if you don’t get the grades you need. A good personal statement could be the difference in securing a university place if you don’t get the grades you hoped for.

Planning Your Statement

Plan a clear structure.

First thing’s first, you’re going to need a clear structure. There are a few reasons for this. First, having a clearly planned out structure before you start writing will limit the amount of ‘waffle’ you could accidentally end up putting into your writing (more on that in our next point). Second, a clear structure allows your reader (those university admissions teams) to enjoy the personal statement more by increasing the smoothness of the reading experience associated with a well thought out body of text (remember, they’ll be reading hundreds, if not thousands, of these). Third, you’re applying to study law – the personal statement is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that you can produce well planned, structured writing (as is crucial for any humanities subject). The theme of the personal statement serving a dual purpose (presenting the content itself but also showcasing your writing abilities) will come up again throughout this article – it’s super important to bear in mind.

There is no one-size-fits-all structure that your personal statement should take, and you should allow yourself to be guided largely by the content you’re looking to present. It is a good idea, however, to feature a particularly catchy opening leading into an introductory section, a main body (structure however best suits the content) and at least a line or two of concluding material at the end.

Leading on from our last point, being concise is key. Not only does this allow you to demonstrate your clarity of writing (as all law students and aspiring lawyers need as a key skill ), but it also increases the amount of content (or explanation of that content) you’re able to pack into 4,000 characters. For example, have you written ‘on the other hand’? ‘Conversely’ is 2 words/7 characters shorter, and serves the exact same purpose. Also consider whether you’re repeating yourself. Conciseness is best achieved by proofreading.

Manage Your Tone

Throughout your personal statement, it’s best to take a relatively formal tone. Your content is the part that allows your personality and individualism to shine through. Also avoid humour – it’s simply too risky without knowing the preferences of the individual whose desk your personal statement will eventually land on.

Need Help With Your Statement?

Get Expert Guidance

Writing Your Statement

Proofreading is essential for a personal statement, and you’ll likely go through many rounds of drafts. Having concise writing is key (see the point above), but even more important is the fact your personal statement needs to avoid any errors in spelling or grammar. These are easily correctible and may reflect badly on you as a student applying to an essay-based subject at university. It’s fine if you personally struggle with spelling or grammar – see our next point for a way to combat that.

Get Feedback

Your personal statement, while being innately ‘personal’, is best improved by showing it to a range of people. Although there will naturally (and sadly) be a difference in the quality of assistance you will receive based on the quality of your sixth form/college, be proactive in seeking out the best people possible to read over it and give you feedback. Are there any teachers at your school who studied on the university course you now find yourself applying to? Can you find current students/alumni of that course on LinkedIn and ask if they’d be willing to spare a few minutes to glance over it for you? The more input you get (from people who have more experience than you on this topic), the more secure you’ll feel in defending why you’ve written what you have.

Capital Letter Checks

If you’ve successfully followed the tips above, you’re likely to have a personal statement with a great deal of specific references in it. There’s an easy way to roughly check this – visually scan down your personal statement and see how many capital letters there are. If you’ve got very few, it’s likely that you may have included a fair amount of ‘waffle’. If you can spot quite a few capital letters, that’s a sign that you’ve probably included the specifics – great job! Where ‘I’ve read many legal books’ might throw up a red flag, ‘I’ve read X and Y books’ means you’re on a great path.

Get to Know Your Course

Demonstrate your interest by improving your understanding

Perfecting Your Statement

Keep it personal.

Attempting to present a broad overview of your degree’s content (e.g. trying to do a broad sweep of UK legal history) is useless, impossible, and ultimately pretty boring to read. It also means you’ll end up with something that skims the surface of many things. Remember, this is a ‘personal’ statement. The best way to approach it is to drill down deep into one or two particular niches that interests you (again, rather than skimming the surface of a huge range of topics). This keeps your personal statement fresh and interesting to read for the admissions team. Have you developed an interest in a particular piece of legislation that’s just come out? You could spend a paragraph going into some detail here – and the contents of that paragraph are what comes next.

Show – Don’t Tell

This is one of the most important pieces of advice possible. Once you’ve found a particular area of interest to talk about in your personal statement, you need to back that up with specific, tangible examples. Some people will also advise that you try and keep this content relatively recent in order to demonstrate an engagement with world affairs. Although not compulsory, this can still be a useful avenue to explore. ‘I’m really interested in the new Online Safety Bill’ is generic, proves very little, and could apply to anyone. ‘My interest in the new Online Safety Bill led me to read X book and watch X documentary, after which I considered X issues’ is specific to you, demonstrates a tangible interest in these topics, and is simply far more interesting to read. This idea of constantly building on what came before allows you to demonstrate a thread running throughout your essay (helping your structure present itself as clear in the process). This is where you’ll often hear people say that your personal statement needs to ‘flow’.

The range of things that you could ‘show’ is vast – books related to your course are a great starting point. If you know one of your top choice universities employs a particularly prominent member of faculty, perhaps you’d be interested to have a look at their writing and include that too. Other such content could include documentaries, conferences, events, or work experience. Now your personal statement is looking far more personal.

Academic vs Extra-Curricular

Balancing the proportion of academic to extra-curricular content in your personal statement is not an easy task, especially when you’re likely to hear that certain top universities like Oxbridge heavily favour the former. Law is also an intensely academic subject. With that in mind, it’s only natural to place a heavy emphasis on the academic side. However, if you’ve got extra-curricular content which you feel you could successfully link to your degree course in some way (e.g. ‘For my swimming club, I researched current health and safety regulations to make sure we are compliant’ – ‘I am in a swimming club’, conversely, doesn’t hold much value), then do feel free to include that too.

In short, while writing law personal statements may appear a challenge, following our top tips will allow your application to excel. Be clear, be specific, be you.

Watch this video from Solent University Law School, Southampton, which is packed with great tips on how to write a strong personal statement for law.

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Application Toolkit: Written Statements

On this webpage, you will find our advice and guidance for approaching the two written statements in the application.

Beginning with the application for Fall Term 2024 enrollment, we now require that all applicants submit a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective. Although it is no longer an application component, much of the advice we shared about the personal statement may still be useful to applicants as they develop their Written Statements. We have preserved that information on this toolkit for your reference.

Changes to the J.D. Application Components

Instructions

Every applicant must submit both a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective, responding to the prompts below. Each Statement must be one to two pages in length, using double-spacing, one-inch margins, and a font size that is comfortable to read (no smaller than 11 point). We expect every applicant to use at least one full page for each Statement.

Statement of Purpose : What motivates you to pursue law? How does attending law school align with your ambitions, goals, and vision for your future?

Statement of Perspective : The Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand who you are as an individual and potential Harvard Law School student and graduate. Please share how your experiences, background, and/or interests have shaped you and will shape your engagement in the HLS community and the legal profession.

Blog Advice

• Visit the Admissions Blog
• View All Written Statements Blog Posts

Changes to the J.D. Program Application Components

August is here, and that means the J.D. Admissions Office is finalizing our application for the 2023–2024 cycle before it opens on September 15. One exciting change for this year: we have reworked our essay requirements and prompts.

August 4, 2023

Should you include a “why Harvard” statement in your application?

Each year at this time, we receive questions about how applicants should express interest in Harvard Law School. Include a “Why Harvard” essay? Talk about HLS in the personal statement? Maybe an addendum on this topic? The answer to all these questions is the same: no, that’s not necessary.  Let’s start with the separate “why

December 2, 2022

Overrated/Underrated Part 3

Continuing our Overrated/Underrated series, this week, we shift our focus to highlight some of the overrated approaches that we recommend applicants avoid as they craft their applications. 

November 17, 2021

Overrated/Underrated Part 1

The J.D. Admissions team recently came together to offer their thoughts on some underrated and overrated approaches that applicants might take towards their HLS application. We hope you’ll find some of these nuggets useful.

September 9, 2021

Real Talk: The Personal Statement

For our first entry in the Real Talk series, Associate Director Nefyn Meissner shares advice on approaching the personal statement.

August 6, 2020

Personal Statement Advice

The personal statement is “an opportunity to give the Admissions Committee a better sense of who you are as a person and as a potential student and graduate of Harvard Law School.” But what does that mean to us?

November 6, 2018

Podcast Advice

Navigating law school admissions with miriam & kristi.

Miriam Ingber (Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Yale Law School) and Kristi Jobson (Assistant Dean for Admissions at Harvard Law School) provide candid, accurate, and straightforward advice about law school admissions — direct from the source. They will be joined by guest stars from other law schools to discuss application timing, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and more.

• View All Episodes

Written Statements Workshop

Our Statement Workshop provides applicants with straightforward advice on how to craft essays with a reflective activity and guiding questions to consider.

We do understand mistakes happen. You are more than welcome to upload an updated document through your status checker. We will review the new material alongside what has been previously received.

Note that when you complete your application and hit “submit”, the information contained in your application may not be altered or deleted in any way by you as an applicant or by us as an admissions team.

Yes. Reapplicants will need to submit new written statements with their application.

We ask that transfer candidates also address the reason(s) for applying for transfer enrollment. Please visit our Transfer Applications Components for more information.

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How Long Should My Law School Personal Statement Be?

Although much of the law school application process has been standardized, there are still some aspects of it that change from school to school. One such aspect is the length of the law school personal statement.

• Typical Recommended Length of a Law School Personal Statement

How Many Pages Should a Law School Personal Statement Be?

How to find the word count of your law school personal statement, formatting law school personal statements, how long does it take to write a personal statement for law school, what makes a good law school personal statement, personal statement example for law school, what is the typical recommended length of a law school personal statement.

These examples show that there is great variety in both length requirements and in specificity in describing those requirements.

• Harvard has strict requirements for the length and formatting of personal statements: 2 pages maximum, 11pt minimum font size, 1-inch margins, double spaced
• Columbia asks for two double-spaced pages “using readable fonts and margins”
• UC Berkeley asks for a personal statement that is “ideally four, double-spaced pages”
• Georgetown states: “There is no minimum or maximum length. We do not feel that an applicant’s personal statement should be limited.”

As you can see, depending on the law school you are applying to, you can expect to write 500 -1,000 words for your law school personal statement.

Most applicants apply to ten or more schools, and it is unfeasible to write a different version of one’s personal statement for each school one applies to. Instead, we recommend that you write two versions of your personal statement: a 2-page version and a 3+ page version. These two versions, with some minor modifications, will satisfy all length requirements.

Two pages is the most common length requirement for law school personal statements but we suggest you start by writing the three-page version, finalizing it, and then pare it down to a two-page version if necessary. The process of paring down the essay may be painful and may take several hours over a couple of sittings, but it is much easier than writing two different essays.

General guidance suggests that 250 words equal 1-page double-spaced. If you need to meet a word count requirement in your law school personal statement, use the instructions below to find the word count. 

Google Docs

To find the word count of your law school personal statement using Google Docs, navigate to the Tools Tab and select Word Count .  A pop message will appear showing you how many pages, words, and characters your personal statement contains. 

Microsoft Word

To find the word count of your law school personal statement using Microsoft Word, navigate to the Review Tab and select Word Count .  A pop message will appear showing you how many pages, words, characters, paragraphs, and lines your personal statement contains.

Formatting for law school personal statements can be overlooked but are critically important. Your ability to follow formatting rules is one of the first indicators to admission officers that you have the ability to follow the rules.

Remember that there is an actual human being at the other end of this process, and he or she will not appreciate reading an essay that is cramped or significantly different in format from the other components of your law school application.

[ RELATED: How to Format Law School Personal Statement ]

Law school applicants should plan to spend time brainstorming their topic, developing outlines, writing, proofreading, and revising their personal statements before submitting them. It can take law school applicants 2-4 weeks to write a good personal statement.

[ RELATED: What Not To Do With Your Law School Personal Statement ]

• Follow each school’s instructions to the letter. We mentioned Harvard’s requirements above: 2 pages, 11pt minimum font size, one-inch margins, double-spaced. If they spent the time putting together those requirements, they don’t want you to deviate from them.
• Don’t play games with margins, font size, etc. First of all, it’s obvious to the reader that you have changed the document properties to fit more words into less space. Second, it’s just less pleasant to read. 
• Keep it brief. When no length is specified, only consider writing something longer than three pages if you have something truly compelling to say.
• Use a header. Create a header that includes your full name and LSAC number, and indicates that the document is your personal statement. Do this for every written component of your application, not just your personal statement, and make sure it’s on every page of the document.

[ RELATED: How To Write a Great Law School Personal Statement ]

Note: To maintain the integrity and authenticity of this project, we have not edited the personal statements, though any identifying names and details have been changed or removed. Any grammatical errors that appear in the essays belong to the candidates and illustrate the importance of having someone (or multiple someones) proofread your work.

On December 19, 1996, at the age of five, I lost five close family members in a house fire. The oldest victim was my 10-year-old aunt, Donna Scott. She and I grew up together, living in my grandmother’s apartment in the [housing projects] in South Central Los Angeles. After losing Donna and my other family members in the fire, I became depressed. Suddenly, being the only child in my grandmother’s home, without any other children to talk to or play with, I developed imaginary friends. Because I talked to these “friends,” my grandmother advised my mother to find a psychiatrist for me. My mother, however, ignored my grandmother’s advice because she understood my behavior as a coping mechanism for the trauma I had experienced. After Donna’s death, I felt a profound sense of emptiness; yet, over time, I filled that void by helping others.

I believe the best way I can help people is through the legal system. I chose this route when I began noticing the injustices occurring in my community. When my friends and family interacted with authorities, they were often treated unfairly. Unfortunately, many people in my South Central Los Angeles community did not understand their rights and did not know how to represent or stand up for themselves. My uncle Edward, Donna’s younger brother, was falsely convicted on the basis of planted evidence. If only my uncle had known his rights and how to seek effective legal representation, he would probably not have a felony on his record today. My uncle’s situation showed me that ignorance of one’s rights can lead to prejudicial treatment in the American legal system, and I realized that educating the members of my community would make them less vulnerable. I will work to expose such injustices and focus on corrective measures for all Americans because no one deserves unfair treatment.

Disenfranchised Americans receive unequal treatment in the legal system when they are accused of crimes and when they are victims of crimes. During my internship at the Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS) in Washington D.C., I discovered the case of Jason Smith, a fourteen-year-old African American boy who was brutally murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in Louisiana in June of 2011. This case was not processed in a timely manner because one of the alleged murderers was the son of a former FBI agent. Once I knew that this case coincided with the CRS’ goal to resolve community tensions and conflicts, I submitted a written report to the Acting National Director of the division, [… who] reviewed the report and informed me that no one in the CRS Headquarters or regional offices had been aware of this incident. She forwarded my report to the regional director in Louisiana to further research the case because the hate crime had occurred within that jurisdiction. I later learned that the Civil Rights Division was investigating the murder.

The Jason Smith case particularly interested me because my younger brother, Kevin, was the same age as Jason when Jason died. When I look at Kevin and see his bright future, it saddens me to know that a child’s murder can go unnoticed. I feel relieved and gratified that I could make a difference by highlighting the injustice of Jason’s murder. Jason and my uncle’s situation reinforced my commitment to the practice of law. As an attorney, I will expose and speak out against injustices. By providing closure for families experiencing injustices and making the legal process comprehensible to those who are unfamiliar with it, I will help bridge the justice gap between socially marginalized individuals and the larger American society. I want to help the disenfranchised feel less excluded from the mainstream world. I can contribute to this by helping ensure that everyone receives effective legal representation.

My involvement with the Jason Smith case at CRS helped me realize that my work in the legal system can effect real change in the lives of people from underprivileged communities. The [target law school’s legal clinic] will provide me with the foundation that I need to become an outstanding advocate. Participating in this clinic will improve my knowledge of civil procedures and enable me to provide legal services to underrepresented communities. My cultural sensitivity and open-mindedness will make it easier for clients from these communities to open up and enable me to effectively communicate with them. My leadership ability, organizational skills, and tenacity make me a resource to the [law school’s] community. Additionally, my discipline and dedication, along with my desire to make my Aunt Donna proud, will motivate me to persevere through the rigors of law school. I will contribute my commitment to success, my ability to work with diverse groups, my inner-city urban perspective, and most importantly, my optimism to the [law school].

[ READ ANOTHER: Law School Personal Statement Example ]

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How long should your Personal Statement be? Top 50 Law Schools PS Length and Optional Essay Instructions

The following are the instructions for the Personal Statement length and Optional Essay instructions that are contained within each application.

PS: No stated page limit

Other essays: Required 250 word statement on any topic

PS: Maximum 2 pages with 11pt font, 1” margins, double spaced

Other essays: Optional diversity statement

PS: About two pages

Other essays: Optional diversity statement (“brief”)

PS: 2-4 pages suggested

Other essays: N/A; include diversity information in PS

PS: 2 pages double spaced

Other essays: Optional diversity statement, optional “Penn Core Values,” optional essay about experience on a team — all 1 page maximum double spaced

Other essays: Optional addenda (open-ended, multiple addenda accepted)

UC Berkeley

PS: Maximum 4 pages double spaced

PS: No page limit

Other essays: Optional “Why Duke,” optional diversity statement

Other essays: Supplemental essays — 8 options, choose 1 or 2 (or none). Should be about one page, 11pt font, double spaced, but no more than 2 pages. Topics: (1) Say more about your interest in the University of Michigan Law School. What do you believe Michigan has to offer to you and you to Michigan? (2) Describe your current hopes for your career after completing law school. How will your education, experience, and development so far support those plans? (3) If you do not think that your academic record or standardized test scores accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, please tell us why. (4) Describe a failure or setback in your life. How did you overcome it? What, if anything, would you do differently if confronted with this situation again? (5) Describe an experience that speaks to the problems and possibilities of diversity in an educational or work setting. (6) What do you think are the skills and values of a good lawyer? Which do you already possess? Which do you hope to develop? (7) How might your perspectives and experiences enrich the quality and breadth of the intellectual life of our community or enhance the legal profession? (8) Describe your educational experiences so far. What kinds of learning environments, teaching methods, student cultures, and/or evaluation processes lead you to thrive, or contrariwise, thwart your success?

Northwestern

PS: Recommended 1-3 pages double spaced

Other essays: Optional “Why Northwestern,” optional diversity statement — choose neither, one, or both. Length should be one or two paragraphs.

PS: Maximum 2 pages 11pt font double spaced

Other essays: Optional diversity statement. Short answer (2-3 sentences) “Why Cornell” in app

Other essays: Optional diversity statement, optional 250 word response from four prompts: (1) One of the core values of Georgetown Law is that students and faculty learn from each other. As you imagine yourself as a member of the Georgetown Law community, what is one lesson that you have learned in your life that you will want to share with others? (2) What do you regret not doing? (3) What is the biggest ethical challenge you have ever faced and how did you handle it? (4) Fill a 5 1/2″ long by 2 1/2″ wide box in any way you’d like. (See online paper form for an example.) (5) Prepare a one-minute video that says something about you. Upload it to an easily accessible website and provide us the URL. (If you are using YouTube, we strongly suggest that you make your video unlisted so it will not appear in any of YouTube’s public spaces.) What you do or say is entirely up to you. Please note that we are unable to watch videos that come in any form other than a URL link.

Other essays: Optional diversity statement, maximum 3 pages 11pt font double spaced

PS: Maximum 2 pages 12pt font

Other essays: Optional diversity statement, optional “programmatic contribution” essay about specializations/joint degrees, optional public interest essay

PS: Maximum 2 pages

PS: Approximately 1-3 pages

Other essays: N/A

PS: Maximum 2 pages double spaced

Other essays: Optional diversity statement (maximum 300 words)

PS: 2-5 pages double spaced

PS: 2-4 pages 12pt font double spaced

PS: Approximately 2 pages

William & Mary

PS: No stated page limit (“brief”)

Other essays: Optional essays for applicants that have a special interest in the Institute of Bill of Rights Law, Center for Legal and Court Technology, Election Law Program, Law Library, Public Service Admission Ambassador, Special Education Advocacy, Veterans Benefits, and Virginia Coastal Policy Fellowships

U Washington

PS: 700 word maximum

Other essays: 500 words maximum on one of three prompts: (1) If you were asked to create a non-profit organization, what would be the organization, its mission, and its purpose; (2) How would you define “global common good”? Provide an example of how you have contributed to the “global common good”; or (3) What life events or experiences have had the greatest influence in shaping your character and why?

Other essays: Optional “Why Notre Dame” essay, optional diversity essay

PS: Approximately 2 pages double spaced

PS: 2-3 pages

Indiana U Bloomington

PS: Suggested length of 500 words

Arizona State

PS: Generally 2-3 pages

Other essays: Optional diversity statement, optional essay on leadership, optional essay on public interest dedication

PS: Maximum 4 pages 10pt font double spaced. MUST include why you want to enter the legal profession and why you want to attend UNC specifically

U Wisconsin Madison

PS: 2-3 pages 12pt font double spaced 1” margins

Wake Forest

Boston College

PS: 2-3 pages double spaced

PS: Maximum 2 pages 12pt font double spaced

PS: 2-4 pages double spaced

PS: Approximately 2-3 pages double spaced

Other essays: Required “Why SMU” (1 page double spaced), diversity statement (2-3 pages double spaced) optional but required for scholarship consideration

U Colorado Boulder

PS: Maximum 1,000 words

Other essays: Optional diversity statement (maximum 500 words)

Washington & Lee

PS: Maximum 3 pages 12pt font double spaced

Other essays: Optional diversity statement, optional ethical dilemma essay (500 words maximum)

PS: Maximum 500 words

Other essays: Optional diversity statement (maximum two pages 12pt font double spaced)

George Mason

Other essays: Required “Why George Mason” (maximum 250 words), optional diversity statement

PS: Suggested 2-3 pages double spaced

Other essays: Required “Why Tulane,” optional diversity statement

PS: Maximum 750 words

Other essays: Optional diversity statement – approximately 250 words

PS: NO personal statement — “Academic Admissions Statement” that focuses on academic interests and experiences. Maximum 4 pages 12pt font double spaced

Other essays: Optional diversity statement, maximum 2 pages 12pt font double spaced

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How long should a law school personal statement be.

Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 03/03/23

As you complete your law school application, you’ll have several questions, including “how long should a law school personal statement be?” To find the answer to this question and related ones, read on!

A well-crafted personal statement can set you apart from other applicants and demonstrate your potential to become a successful law student and lawyer. It should provide insight into your personal and professional goals, your passion for law, and what you hope to contribute to the legal field.

Considering how important your personal statement is, it may seem necessary to write several pages explaining why you’d be the best law school candidate. However, law school committees expect personal statements to be concise, to the point, and relatively short. 

While the exact length of your personal statement will depend on the schools you’re applying to, this guide will provide you with some direction on how long your personal statement for law school should be and how to keep it short but sweet!

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be for Law School?

Admissions committees have to read thousands of personal statements per application cycle. To ensure the committee can do so in a timely manner, personal statements are typically limited to around 500-750 words.

How Many Pages Should Your Law School Personal Statement Have?

Many law schools do not have rigid word count limitations but instead ask that the statements do not exceed a certain page length. This is most commonly two to three double-spaced pages, but can sometimes be four. 

To give you a better idea of law schools’ personal statement expectations, here are the page length limits for five top law schools :

Your personal statement should give the admissions committee more insight into who you are, what you value, and what you hope to achieve. As such, most students reach their page limits to share all of this information.  

For instance, if you’re applying to Harvard , your personal statement will likely be at least one and a half pages long. This length will help ensure you share your most meaningful experiences with the admissions committee and prove you’re an excellent candidate for law school.

Tips for Writing a Concise Personal Statement for Law School

So, the quick answer to how long your personal statement should be for law school is around two pages double-spaced or close to your page limit. However, meeting your page limit should not involve repeating information, adding unnecessary language to lengthen your essay, or rearing off-topic.

If your school does not have a strict word count, you have more freedom to write a longer personal statement, but you should only do so if you feel it’s necessary. Otherwise, stick to their recommended guidelines.

You want your personal statement to share valuable information in a concise way so that it reads well and effectively communicates your ideas. To ensure your personal statement does just this, follow these tips:

Start By Brainstorming

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your personal and professional experiences, interests, and goals. 

Consider what sets you apart from other applicants and what you hope to achieve with your legal education. Jot down all of your ideas so you can pick the best experiences to talk about.

Narrow Your Topic

For your first draft, ignore the word count. Write your ideas as they come to you so that you have a good foundation and can choose which ideas to keep and which to cut out.

Once you’ve completed your first draft, choose one or two meaningful experiences to center your personal statement around. Do not create a laundry list of your skills and accomplishments, as you will already be submitting a resume with your application. 

Use your story or stories as your focal point. Provide context and depth and relate these experiences to your decision and motivation to pursue a legal career.

Focus on Your Strengths

You want your personal statement to impress the admissions committee. Showcase your unique strengths, accomplishments, skills, and experiences that demonstrate your potential to succeed in law school and as a legal professional. 

Avoid talking about your weaknesses - it will waste valuable space and can work against you. 

Be Specific

Only mention skills or abilities that can be backed up with concrete examples. Avoid any generalizations. Share your specific passions and how you’ve developed them. 

For example, rather than simply stating you’re interested in environmental law , share the exact topics within this area of law that intrigue you and what influenced you to follow this passion. 

Use the Active Voice

Writing in an active voice can make your statement more direct, personal, and engaging. It can also help you avoid wordiness that can confuse your reader.

Keep It Simple

Use vocabulary you are comfortable with! Don’t pull out your thesaurus and try to find the biggest words you can to replace your own. Use simple language that you understand and use regularly to ensure that you do not misuse words or over-complicate your sentences.

Ask for Feedback

Whether you get feedback from your best friend or one of our expert admissions counselors , it’s important to have another set of eyes look over your personal statement to identify areas that need improvement or clarity.

Revise Multiple Times

Don’t be afraid to revise your draft multiple times until you’re absolutely confident it is concise and compelling. Your personal statement is a direct reflection of you and your writing abilities, so spend time perfecting it. 

Start early so that you can take your time with the revisions!

FAQs: Personal Statement Length

In this guide, we focused on answering the question, “how long should a law school personal statement be?” To ensure all of your concerns are addressed, here are the answers to other common questions about personal statements.

1. Are Three Pages Too Long for a Law School Personal Statement?

Three pages may be acceptable, depending on your school’s limit. Most schools ask that students submit personal statements that are between two to four pages long. 

If you choose to write three pages, ensure each sentence is meaningful and adds value to your essay. Focus on quality more than quantity, and don’t feel obligated to meet the maximum page limit.

2. What Is a Good Length for a Law School Personal Statement?

Typically, the best law school personal statements are about two pages long. This gives students enough space to share their most meaningful experiences while being concise.

However, the perfect length depends on your school’s formatting restrictions and the narrative you want to share. If you have had several meaningful experiences that have influenced your decision to pursue law, you may need to write a longer statement. Just ensure you only share relevant details and stay focused. 

3. How Can I Make Sure My Personal Statement Is as Effective as Possible Within the Given Length Limit?

You should begin early so that you have enough time to revise and refine your work before submission. Spend time brainstorming key traits and experiences you want to share and focus on highlighting your strengths. Use concrete examples to illustrate your points and avoid repeating ideas or including unnecessary information.

Use language you’re comfortable with and ask others for feedback on your statement.

Final Thoughts

While most statements are between two to three pages long, use your judgement and school’s expectations when deciding how long your personal statement should be. 

As tempting as it may be to try to include as much information as possible in your personal statement, it's important to focus on crafting a strong and concise statement that effectively communicates your passion, motivations, and potential to succeed in the legal field!

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Personal Statement Word Count Forum

Personal Statement Word Count

Post by scottybared » Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:20 pm

Re: Personal Statement Word Count

Post by rinkrat19 » Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:33 pm

Post by PersuasiveCharm » Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:11 pm

Post by No13baby » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:30 pm

Post by Flash » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:41 pm

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Post by Redclh » Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:39 pm

Post by Seneca » Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:49 pm

Post by theadvancededit » Fri Oct 14, 2011 11:53 pm

Seneca wrote: Do everything you can to cut your PS to follow the instructions. You're so close, there's no reason not to make this final effort. I'm sure that you'll be able to find a way to cut sixteen words without significantly impacting the flow of your PS. Consider posting it here for some input.

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