Common Law School Admissions Essay Topics

Common Law School Admissions Essay Topics:

Why Law? | How Am I Qualified? | How Am I Unique? | Issue-Based Essays

Note: The below passages were not edited by EssayEdge Editors. They appear as they were initially reviewed by admissions officers.

How Am I Qualified?

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Unlike medical schools, which want to assess specific personal qualities in their applicants, law schools use academic achievement as the primary criterion in evaluating your ability to succeed in law. Thus, you need not be concerned if nothing in your essay directly addresses the issue of why you're qualified for a legal career. However, if you have substantive points to make within this area, you can certainly help your case.

When Goals and Qualifications Intersect

It's most essential to discuss your background and qualifications when these overlap with your current goals. If you've had experience working on a certain issue and plan to continue doing so as a lawyer, you should certainly include the details in your essay. For example, one applicant discussed her interest in international law, tying this interest to several aspects of her background, from her multicultural upbringing to her global work experiences. Her commitment seemed very focused, because she links her goals and qualifications to specific programs that the law school in question offers.

Experiences in Law

Applicants who have worked in firms or other legal offices may want to describe their experiences to demonstrate their relevant abilities. This applicant describes her duties as a paralegal/legal secretary:

"I have done research and court filings, interviewed clients, sat in on depositions, and had the opportunity to become familiar with a wide range of legal documents and procedures. It is work that I love, even on the frequent occasions when it is tedious, frustrating, and anything but glamorous. I like trying to fit together pieces of a puzzle, doing the necessary analysis, facing the challenge that any case poses. I thrive on feeling productive. I find great pleasure in arguing a point, whether verbally or in writing, and am quite adept at doing this."

Note that she cites specific work in which she has been involved, while offering insight into both her skills and interests.

As always, the details you provide will make or break your discussion. But the strength of an Experiences in Law essay depends more than usual on the originality of your experience. The fact is that many people will have similar experiences and even perform the same level of duties. While such an essay can establish your competence, it will be unlikely to make you stand out. Less conventional experiences, however, are certainly worth highlighting. One successful applicant, for example, described his judicial role within an academic community. In discussing both his hands-on work and the philosophical concerns that he had explored, he revealed a perspective that is original and relevant.