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\nTake some time to think about what makes you special. Law schools look for diversity, and that doesn\u2019t just mean ethnic or gender diversity; they want to find an interesting blend of people with unique backgrounds and experiences. If you\u2019re diverse in one of the traditional ways\u2014usually, this means that you\u2019re from a race or ethnicity that is underrepresented in the student body\u2014then you can absolutely discuss that in your application. But you can look for other ways that you would increase the diversity of the student body as well. Are you an athlete, a musician, or an entrepreneur? Have you participated in meaningful volunteer work, overcome a significant challenge like a serious chronic illness, climbed a mountain, or written a novel? None of these things are necessary to the law school admissions process, but they definitely help make an application essay more interesting.
\nThere are many things that you can and should use in your personal statement to present yourself as an interesting, well-rounded person who will not only benefit from a legal education but who will also make the law school a better place in some way. This is your chance to think about what those things might be, and jot them down. Don\u2019t be afraid to think outside the box here, and don\u2019t dismiss any ideas at this stage; just get them down on paper, and deal with them in more detail in Step 2.
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Step 2: Organize<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nLook at the ideas you\u2019ve brainstormed, and pick a few to feature in your essay. You ideally want to create a \u201cbrand\u201d that can be summarized in a few words and will be memorable to the admissions committee. \u00a0Don\u2019t make the mistake of devoting most of your essay to explaining what kind of law you want to practice; frankly, so many people end up practicing in an entirely different area than the one that originally draws them to law school that admissions officers don\u2019t take this too seriously unless it\u2019s backed up by some kind of supporting evidence. Writing about how you want to be a prosecutor because you love Law & Order won\u2019t win you any points; writing about how you want to be a prosecutor because of your experiences interning at a rape crisis hotline and a battered women\u2019s shelter probably will, because that reveals something interesting about you as an individual.
\nYou want to introduce the admissions committee to what makes you unique, then weave your \u201cbrand\u201d throughout the rest of the essay as you explain what has drawn you to law school and how you imagine using your law degree someday. At this stage, you should pick a few of your key attributes and experiences, and try to relate them to the legal education you\u2019re seeking. If there\u2019s something specific about the law school that directly relates to your background, that\u2019s even better; for example, if you want to be a legal advocate for children and the school has a great family law clinical program, talk about why that interests you, backing it up with specific details about yourself. Remember that legal professionals place a high value on organization\u2014a good brief is one that is clearly organized and easy to follow\u2014and since at least some of the people reading and evaluating your essay are legally trained, creating a good outline is crucial; you\u2019ll rely on it in Step 3.
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Step 3: Write<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nEven though organization is key to the final product, it can be stifling when you first start to write. So if there\u2019s one idea that seems less daunting to write about than another, start there. The trick to writing is getting that first word, sentence, or paragraph on the page; after that, everything seems to follow more easily. The beauty of the digital age is that computers allow us to rearrange and edit as much as we want, so take advantage of that; starting with the body of your essay, for example, and then creating the introduction and conclusion later, is much easier for some people.
\nRemember how you spent time thinking about your \u201cbrand\u201d? Now is when you need to make that work for you. In each section of your essay, bring in references to who you are and how you will enhance the law school\u2019s student body. Instead of just saying that you are diligent and compassionate, say that your experience training to run a marathon taught you the value of consistent hard work, and the time you spent volunteering with Habitat for Humanity showed you how important it is to empathize and help the less fortunate members of society. Find ways to make the things that you\u2019ve done support your contention that you\u2019ll bring something great to the law school. And remember, it doesn\u2019t have to be perfect yet; you\u2019ll probably be coming back to Step 3 at least once after you\u2019ve worked through Step 4.
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