Personal Statement

Law schools require applicants to write a ( Law Personal Statement Handout.doc )personal statement as part of the application. The purpose of the personal statement is to gather additional information about the applicant outside of their academic performance, LSAT score, and extracurricular activities.

The most important consideration in writing personal statements, no matter what the topic, is the impression applicants create of themselves. The personal statement is an opportunity for an applicant to distinguish themselves from all the other applicants.

Some law schools will have additional essay requirements or optional questions. The Office of Preprofessional Advising recommends that applicants, if appropriate, answer all optional essay questions. Additional essays give the admissions committee more information about their applicants. Failure to submit optional essays may result in an applicant being viewed as uninterested in the school.

An advisor in the Office of Preprofessional Advising are available to provide feedback on personal statements for ALUMNI/AE ONLY. Please e-mail the personal statement as an attachment to preprofessional@columbia.edu with the subject “LASTNAME, FIRST NAME Personal Statement Law” and indicate availability to discuss the essay (in person, over e-mail or via telephone call) three to five days later.

Tutors in the Undergraduate Writing Program are also available to assist CURRENT undergraduates in writing their personal statement. The service is FREE and is highly recommended, as the Office of Preprofessional Advising cannot read personal statements for current students.

During the fall, the Office of Preprofessional Advising and the Undergraduate Writing Program co-sponsor a personal statement workshop. The workshop is open to students and alumni/ae applying to law school that year. Applicants will receive an e-mail invitation.