Personal Statement tips | Law Careers | Advice

As law is officially the most popular degree subject at university, it is important that your law personal statement shines above the rest. Given the difficulties associated with writing a good and interesting personal statement, we have decided to take a look at what things should be considered when preparing a personal statement.

First things first, there is no ‘textbook’ format or structure. The most important aim of the personal statement is to get a cross an accurate picture of yourself to the reader and there are many ways that this can be done. When writing a personal statement, it is best to begin by writing down a summary of what you hope to convey to the reader. Do not try to perfect the structure or grammar at the start, just get all of your ideas down on paper.

Here is a rough outline of what you could cover. - Why have you selected the course and university - Why does that area interest you - What experience you have of that area (previous study, work experience, etc) - Why you do intend to go to university or college - Details of any interests or hobbies that might be looking upon favourably - Any awards, achievements or prizes that demonstrate your skills - Positions of responsibility that you have held

Once you have managed to commit a few things to paper, the next stage to writing a personal statement is to start working the information into a simple structure. University admissions officers are often expected to read through hundreds of personal statements so it is important that you are concise, to the point and to do not waffle.

Here is an example structure below.

Section one: Why I want to study the subject and why

Section two: What have I done that demonstrates my interest in the subject

Section three: Any awards or achievements I have that detail my qualities

Section four: What interests do I have outside school

Section five: Why do I want to go to university and what I do want to achieve

The next stage in writing a personal statement is to expand on your notes and get the bulk of it down on paper. At this stage, don’t worry about going over the allotted amount of words. It is always easier to trim something down than to pad it out. Don’t worry about filling the whole section either.

If you can convey yourself effectively in a fairly short piece then that is fine. Once you have finished the first draft of your personal statement, let is breath for a few days. Writing a personal statement can be an intense process and it is important to not let things ‘go stale’. By leaving it for a few days, you will be able to assess what you have done far more effectively. Following your initial revisions, now it’s time to ship it out to friends and family.

Don’t be sensitive! If they spot any mistakes be sure to take them on board and work them in. Also, make sure to utilise your school tutor. They have most likely been checking personal statements for years and will be very adept at spotting any obvious errors you have made.

One of the biggest issues students initially have with writing a personal statement is having to ‘talk up’ themselves. Be under no illusions, if you don’t sell yourself no one else will. Considering that university places are more competitive than ever, it is important that you are prepared to talk about yourself in a positive light.

03-10-09