If you’ve decided to apply to law school, you’ve most likely heard about the personal statement required by the Admissions Committee. The personal statement is an excellent way of showing your personality, your interests and your capabilities to the Committee, and therefore make you stand out from the other applicants. Here are some tips and tricks to help you write a personal statement that will make the Committee remember YOU:
- What makes you stand out: If you’re an athlete, an artist, if you’ve won any big competitions or if you do anything unique, mention it and use it to your advantage! For instance, in my personal statement, I mentioned I was a national level athlete and that I believed the different skills I gained while practicing my sport would allow me to succeed as a law student (eg. perseverance, self-discipline, time management and organization). Use this to “show off” what you’re capable of, but ensure not to sound cocky or give the impression you think you’re better than everyone else.
- Show, don’t tell: You have to show the Committee members what you’re capable of, not simply tell them. In this sense, if you’re saying you have excellent time management skills, this doesn’t provide any concrete information. However, if you demonstrate your capability of balancing work, extracurriculars, volunteering, sports teams while maintaining outstanding grades, this will substantiate how you’re capable of managing a very demanding workload; similar to the one a law student has.
- Show them who you are: Don’t be afraid to reveal your personality! For example, if you like joking around, it’s okay to use some humor in your statement. You can demonstrate you have a funny or goofy side. With that in mind, be sure not to write a hilarious statement as it could give the wrong impression that you’re not serious or mature enough for this program. It’s all about moderation.
- Law/debate experience: If you have experience working in a law firm or if you’ve been involved in debate clubs, use this! Show the Committee that your past experience has given you great insight and that it has truly motivated you to study law. If you don’t have any experience in this field, you can mention any other work or volunteer positions that inspired you to apply to law school.
- Now that you got their attention, they want to know why you want to attend THEIR law school: Every applicant will explain why they want to attend law school. Yet, not everyone will give great reasons as to why they want to attend the specific law school they’re applying to, and THIS is what the Committee is looking for. You should research the faculty’s specialties, associations, organizations and internship opportunities to demonstrate why their opportunities interest you, as well as how THEIR University would be a great fit for you, and what you would bring to their faculty.
Just remember, be yourself and have fun with your personal statement; it’s your time to shine! You can consider the personal statement as being a written interview, so impress the Admissions Committee, be creative and convince them that you would be a great fit for one another!
Author:
Kalie Rhéaume
J.D. Candidate (2025)
University of Ottawa | Faculty of Law