Law School Personal Statement Requirements

Law School Expert Blog

Here’s the list of Personal Statements for Law Schools:

Do you need a new personal statement for each law school you apply to? No. But do you need to change  your essay slightly for different schools? Probably. To help you figure out what you need to do (because following the directions provided by each school is part of what you are being tested on when you apply to law school – rule following is slightly important for lawyers), we’ve put together a chart with a link to the current personal statement prompt for each law school.
See below for links to each law school’s personal statement requirements and instructions. I am listing it by school ranking because most people apply to schools that are similarly ranked and I thought this would make it easiest for you to find the schools you are looking for. I hope this is helpful!

(Rank based on 2018 U.S. News & World Report Data)

RANK SCHOOL LINK TO REQUIREMENTS
1 Yale Yale Law School Personal Statement
2 Stanford Stanford Law School Personal Statement
3 Harvard Harvard Law School Personal Statement
4 University of Chicago University of Chicago Law School Personal Statement
5 Columbia Columbia Law School Personal Statement
6 New York University New York University Law School Personal Statement
7 University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania Law School Personal Statement
8 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Law School Personal Statement
8 University of Virginia University of Virginia Law School Personal Statement
10 Duke University Duke University Law School Personal Statement
10 Northwestern University Northwestern University Law School Personal Statement
12 UC Berkeley (Boalt) UC Berkeley (Boalt) Law School Personal Statement
13 Cornell University Cornell University Law School Personal Statement
14 University of Texas-Austin University of Texas-Austin Law School Personal Statement
15 Georgetown University Georgetown University Law School Personal Statement  
15 UCLA UCLA Law School Personal Statement
17 Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University Law School Personal Statement
18 Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis Law School Personal Statement
19 USC USC Law School Personal Statement
20 University of Iowa University of Iowa Law School Personal Statement
20 University of Notre Dame University of Notre Dame Law School Personal Statement
22 Emory University Emory University Law School Personal Statement
23 Boston University Boston University Law School Personal Statement
23 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities University of Minnesota Law School Personal Statement
25 Arizona State University Arizona State University Law School Personal Statement
26 Boston College Boston College Law School Personal Statement
26 University of Alabama University of Alabama Law School Personal Statement
28 UC Irvine UC Irvine Law School Personal Statement
28 Washington & Lee University Washington & Lee University Law School Personal Statement
30 George Washington University George Washington University Law School Personal Statement
30 Indiana University-Bloomington Indiana University-Bloomington Law School Personal Statement
30 Ohio State University Ohio State University Law School Personal Statement
30 University of Georgia University of Georgia Law School Personal Statement
30 University of Washington University of Washington Law School Personal Statement
30 University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School Personal Statement
36 Fordham University Fordham University Law School Personal Statement
36 University of Colorado-Boulder University of Colorado-Boulder Law School Personal Statement
36 Wake Forest University Wake Forest University Law School Personal Statement
39 UC Davis UC Davis Law School Personal Statement
39 University of North Carolina University of North Carolina Law School Personal Statement
41 College of William and Mary William and Mary Law School Personal Statement
41 George Mason University George Mason University Law School Personal Statement
41 University of Florida University of Florida Law School Personal Statement
44 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Law School Personal Statement
44 University of Utah University of Utah Law School Personal Statement  
46 Brigham Young University Brigham Young University Law School Personal Statement
46 Southern Methodist University Southern Methodist University Law School Personal Statement
48 Florida State University Florida State University Law School Personal Statement
48 University of Arizona University of Arizona Law School Personal Statement
48 University of Maryland University of Maryland Law School Personal Statement
51 Baylor University Baylor University Law School Personal Statement
51 Tulane University Tulane University Law School Personal Statement
53 Temple University Temple University Law School Personal Statement
54 UC Hastings Law School UC Hastings Law School Personal Statement
54 University of Connecticut University of Connecticut Law School Personal Statement
54 University of Houston University of Houston Law School Personal Statement
57 Seton Hall University Seton Hall University Law School Personal Statement
57 University of Kentucky University of Kentucky Law School Personal Statement
57 University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Nebraska-Lincoln Law School Personal Statement
57 University of Richmond University of Richmond Law School Personal Statement
57 University of Tennessee-Knoxville University of Tennessee-Knoxville Law School Personal Statement
62 Case Western Reserve Case Western Reserve Law School Personal Statement
62 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Rutgers Law School Personal Statement
62 University of Nevada-Las Vegas University of Nevada-Las Vegas Law School Personal Statement
65 Georgia State University Georgia State University Law School Personal Statement
65 Loyola Marymount University Loyola Marymount Law School Personal Statement
65 Northeastern University Northeastern University Law School Personal Statement
65 Pennsylvania State University-Dickinson Pennsylvania State University Law School Personal Statement
65 University of Kansas University of Kansas Law School Personal Statement
65 University of Missouri-Columbia University of Missouri-Columbia Law School Personal Statement
65 Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Personal Statement
72 Pepperdine University Pepperdine University Law School Personal Statement
72 St. John’s University St. John’s University Law School Personal Statement
72 University of Cincinnati University of Cincinnati Law School Personal Statement
72 University of Oklahoma University of Oklahoma Law School Personal Statement
76 University of Denver University of Denver Law School Personal Statement
77 University of Arkansas-Fayetteville University of Arkansas-Fayetteville Law School Personal Statement
77 University of Miami University of Miami Law School Personal Statement
77 University of New Mexico University of New Mexico Law School Personal Statement
77 University of San Diego University of San Diego Law School Personal Statement
77 Villanova University Villanova University Law School Personal Statement
82 Loyola University Chicago Loyola University Chicago Law School Personal Statement
82 Pennsylvania State University-University Park Pennsylvania State University Law School Personal Statement
82 University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh Law School Personal Statement
82 University of Tulsa University of Tulsa Law School Personal Statement
86 American University Washington College of Law American University Washington College of Law Personal Statement
86 University of Oregon University of Oregon Law School Personal Statement
88 Brooklyn Law School Brooklyn Law School Law School Personal Statement
88 Indiana University-​Indianapolis (McKinney) Indiana University-Indianapolis Law School Personal Statement
88 St. Louis University St. Louis University Law School Personal Statement
88 University of South Carolina University of South Carolina Law School Personal Statement
92 IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law Chicago-Kent College of Law Personal Statement
92 Syracuse University Syracuse University Law School Personal Statement
92 Texas A&M University Texas A&M University Law School Personal Statement
92 University of Louisville University of Louisville Law School Personal Statement
96 Louisiana State University Louisiana State University Law School Personal Statement
96 Michigan State University Michigan State Law School Personal Statement
96 Stetson University Stetson University Law School Personal Statement
96 West Virginia University West Virginia University Law School Personal Statement
100 Florida International University Florida International University Law School Personal Statement
100 Lewis & Clark College Lewis & Clark Law School Personal Statement
100 Marquette University Marquette University Law School Personal Statement
100 University of Hawaii University of Hawaii Law School Personal Statement
100 University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Law School Personal Statement
100 Wayne State University Wayne State University Law School Personal Statement
106 Catholic University Catholic University Law School Personal Statement
106 Drake University Drake University Law School Personal Statement
106 SUNY Buffalo SUNY Buffalo Law School Personal Statement
109 Albany Law School Albany Law School Personal Statement
109 University of Idaho University of Idaho Law School Personal Statement
109 University of Mississippi University of Mississippi Law School Personal Statement
112 Drexel University Drexel University Law School Personal Statement
112 Gonzaga University Gonzaga University Law School Personal Statement
112 New York Law School New York Law School Personal Statement
112 University of Baltimore University of Baltimore Law School Personal Statement
112 University of Missouri-Kansas City University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School Personal Statement
112 University of Wyoming University of Wyoming Law School Personal Statement
118 Hofstra University Hofstra University Law School Personal Statement
118 Texas Tech University Texas Tech University Law School Personal Statement
120 Creighton University Creighton University Law School Personal Statement
120 DePaul University DePaul University Law School Personal Statement
120 Howard University Howard University Law School Personal Statement
120 Pace University Pace University Law School Personal Statement
120 Seattle University Seattle University Law School Personal Statement
120 University of Montana University of Montana Law School Personal Statement
120 University of St. Thomas University of St. Thomas Law School Personal Statement
127 Cleveland State University Cleveland State University Law School Personal Statement
127 CUNY CUNY Law School Personal Statement
127 Duquesne University Duquesne University Law School Personal Statement
127 Quinnipiac University Quinnipiac University Law School Personal Statement
127 Washburn University Washburn University Law School Personal Statement
132 Santa Clara University Santa Clara University Law School Personal Statement
132 University of Toledo University of Toledo Law School Personal Statement
134 Chapman University Chapman University Law School Personal Statement
134 Mercer University Mercer University Law School Personal Statement
134 University of Akron University of Akron Law School Personal Statement
134 University of Arkansas-Little Rock University of Arkansas-Little Rock Law School Personal Statement
134 Vermont Law School Vermont Law School Personal Statement
139 University of Maine University of Maine Law School Personal Statement
140 Suffolk University Suffolk University Law School Personal Statement
140 University of Memphis University of Memphis Law School Personal Statement
142 Loyola University New Orleans Loyola University New Orleans Law School Personal Statement
142 University of North Dakota University of North Dakota Law School Personal Statement
142 University of South Dakota University of South Dakota Law School Personal Statement
142 University of the Pacific- McGeorge University of the Pacific-McGeorge Law School Personal Statement
142 Willamette University Willamette University College of Law Personal Statement
147 Samford University Samford University Law School Personal Statement
148 Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University Law School Personal Statement
148 Widener University- Commonwealth Widener University Commonwealth Law School Personal Statement
RANK SCHOOL LINK TO REQUIREMENTS
RNP Appalachian School of Law Appalachian School of Law Personal Statement
RNP   Arizona Summit Law School Arizona Summit Law School Personal Statement
RNP   Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Personal Statement
RNP Ave Maria School of Law Ave Maria School of Law Personal Statement
RNP   Barry University Barry University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Belmont University Belmont University Law School Personal Statement
RNP California Western School of Law California Western School of Law Personal Statement
RNP Campbell University Campbell University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Capital University Capital University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Charleston School of Law Charleston School of Law Personal Statement
RNP Elon University Elon University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Faulkner University Faulkner University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Florida A&M University Florida A&M University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Florida Coastal School of Law Florida Coastal School of Law Personal Statement
RNP Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Law School Personal Statement
RNP John Marshall Law School John Marshall Law School Personal Statement
RNP Liberty University Liberty University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Mississippi College Mississippi College Law School Personal Statement
RNP Mitchell Hamline School of Law Mitchell Hamline School of Law Personal Statement
RNP New England Law School New England Law School Personal Statement
RNP North Carolina Central University North Carolina Central University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Northern Kentucky University Northern Kentucky University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Nova Southeastern University Nova Southeastern University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Ohio Northern University Ohio Northern University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Regent University Regent University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Roger Williams University Roger Williams University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Southern Illinois University–Carbondale Southern Illinois University–Carbondale Law School Personal Statement
RNP Southern University Southern University Law Center Personal Statement
RNP South Texas College of Law South Texas College of Law Personal Statement
RNP Southwestern Law School Southwestern Law School Personal Statement
RNP St. Mary’s University St. Mary’s University Law School Personal Statement
RNP St. Thomas University St. Thomas University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Texas Southern University Texas Southern University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Thomas Jefferson School of Law Thomas Jefferson School of Law Personal Statement
RNP Touro College Touro College Law School Personal Statement
RNP University of Dayton University of Dayton Law School Personal Statement
RNP University of Detroit Mercy University of Detroit Mercy Law School Personal Statement
RNP University of La Verne University of La Verne Law School Personal Statement
RNP University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth Law School Personal Statement
RNP University of San Francisco University of San Francisco Law School Personal Statement
RNP University of the District of Columbia University of the District of Columbia Law School Personal Statement
RNP Valparaiso University Valparaiso University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School Personal Statement
RNP Western New England University Western New England University Law School Personal Statement
RNP Western State College of Law at Argosy University Western State College of Law at Argosy University Personal Statement
RNP Whittier College Whittier Law School Personal Statement
RNP Widener University-Delaware Widener University Law School Personal Statement
Unranked Concordia University Concordia University Law School Personal Statement
Unranked Inter-American University Inter-American University Law School Personal Statement
Unranked Lincoln Memorial University Lincoln Memorial University Law School Personal Statement
Unranked Pontifical Catholic University Pontifical Catholic University Law School Personal Statement
Unranked University of Puerto Rico University of Puerto Rico Law School Personal Statement

7 Responses

  1. Hi Anne,
    This is irrelevant to the blog topic, but I am planning to apply to law schools in a couple of years and I was wondering what books you would recommend to beef up my knowledge on the LSATs/law school admission process (besides yours, of course).

  2. Hey Ann,

    Thanks for sharing this listing of the new personal statement of law schools. My wife was looking for the same stuff from past few days. This will be definitely helpful for her.

  3. Hi Ann,

    I have a totally random question but hope you’re able to answer:

    When you apply for C&F in 3L, does the Bar look at ALL your law school applications or just the one for the school you attended? I ask because I realized I might need to amend a date on my resume and (possibly) a C&F thing (it’s pretty minor). Do I need to contact every single law school I have no intention of attending? I have the feeling I’m just being paranoid.

    Thank you for this wonderful resource!

  4. Hello Ann,
    I am presently researching how to write an effective personal statement. Most tutorials emphasized an honest approach regarding personal experience . Experiences which led to the decision of going to law school . My experience however, is that of a criminal past. I am presently in the process of applying for a certificate of rehabilitation, AKA , a governors pardon. Would it be wise to offer up in a general way what my life used to be like , what happened and what its like now?

  5. Hi Ann!

    I understand this blog post is about changing your personal statements relative to particular law schools. I have a question regarding your stance on additional essays or diversity statements that prospective law students submit in addition to the personal statement. According to your book, The Law School Expert, you specifically mention that pre-undergraduate education experiences shouldn’t be included in the Personal Statement- with a few minor exceptions. Does this rule apply to additional essays or diversity statements, in your opinion? Thank you!

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