Law School Personal Statement Requirements

Law School Expert Blog

LAW SCHOOL PERSONAL STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Do you need a new personal statement for each law school you apply to? Probably not. (Except for the University of Florida Levin College of Law and the University of Colorado-Boulder). 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 for each 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.

(Rank based on 2015 U.S. News Data)

RANK

SCHOOL

LINK TO REQUIREMENTS

1

Yale

Yale  Law School Personal Statement

2

Harvard

Harvard Law School Personal Statement

2

Stanford

Stanford Law School Personal Statement

4

Columbia

Columbia Law School Personal Statement

4

University of Chicago

University of Chicago 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

Duke University

Duke University Law School Personal Statement

8

UC Berkeley (Boalt)

UC Berkeley (Boalt) Law School Personal Statement

8

University of Virginia

University of Virginia Law School Personal Statement

11

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

 

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Law School Personal Statement

 

12

Northwestern University

Northwestern University Law School Personal Statement

13

Cornell University

Cornell University Law School Personal Statement

14

Georgetown University

Georgetown University Law School Personal Statement

15

University of Texas-Austin

University of Texas-Austin Law School Personal Statement

16

UCLA

UCLA Law School Personal Statement

17

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University Law School Personal Statement

18

Washington University

Washington University Law School Personal Statement

19

Emory University

Emory University Law School Personal Statement

20

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

University of Minnesota Law School Personal Statement

20

USC

USC Law School Personal Statement

22

George Washington University

George Washington University Law School Personal Statement

22

University of Alabama

University of Alabama Law School Personal Statement

22

University of Iowa

University of Iowa Law School Personal Statement

22

University of Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame Law School Personal Statement

26

Arizona State University

Arizona State University Law School Personal Statement

26

Boston University

Boston University Law School Personal Statement

28

University of Washington

University of Washington Law School Personal Statement

29

William and Mary Law School

William and Mary Law School Personal Statement

30

UC Irvine

UC Irvine Law School Personal Statement

31

UC Davis

UC Davis Law School Personal Statement

31

University of Georgia

University of Georgia Law School Personal Statement

31

University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School Personal Statement

34

Boston College

Boston College Law School Personal Statement

34

Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University Law School Personal Statement

34

Fordham University

Fordham University Law School Personal Statement

34

Indiana University-Bloomington

Indiana University-Bloomington Law School Personal Statement

34

Ohio State University

Ohio State University Law School Personal Statement

34

University of North Carolina

University of North Carolina Law School Personal Statement

40

University of Colorado-Boulder

University of Colorado-Boulder Law School Personal Statement

41

University of Illinois

University of Illinois Law School Personal Statement

42

George Mason University

George Mason University Law School Personal Statement

42

University of Arizona

University of Arizona Law School Personal Statement

42

University of Utah

University of Utah Law School Personal Statement

42

Washington & Lee University

Washington & Lee University Law School Personal Statement

46

Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University Law School Personal Statement

47

University of Maryland

University of Maryland Law School Personal Statement

47

University of Florida

University of Florida Law School Personal Statement

47

Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University Law School Personal Statement

50

Florida State University

Florida State University Law School Personal Statement

 

RANK

SCHOOL

LINK TO REQUIREMENTS

51

Tulane University

Tulane University Law School Personal Statement

52

Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University Law School Personal Statement

52

Temple University

Temple University Law School Personal Statement

52

University of Richmond

University of Richmond Law School Personal Statement

52

University of Tennessee-Knoxville

University of Tennessee-Knoxville Law School Personal Statement

56

Baylor University

Baylor University Law School Personal Statement

56

Georgia State University

Georgia State University Law School Personal Statement

56

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Law School Personal Statement

59

Case Western Reserve

Case Western Reserve Law School Personal Statement

59

UC Hastings Law School

UC Hastings Law School Personal Statement

59

University of Houston

University of Houston Law School Personal Statement

59

University of Missouri-Columbia

University of Missouri-Columbia Law School Personal Statement

63

Seton Hall University

Seton Hall University Law School Personal Statement

63

University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut Law School Personal Statement

63

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky Law School Personal Statement

63

University of Miami

University of Miami Law School Personal Statement

67

University of Denver

University of Denver Law School Personal Statement

67

University of Kansas

University of Kansas Law School Personal Statement

67

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

University of Nevada-Las Vegas Law School Personal Statement

67

University of Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma Law School Personal Statement

71

American University Washington College of Law

American University Washington College of Law Personal Statement

71

Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University Law School Personal Statement

71

University of New Mexico

University of New Mexico Law School Personal Statement

71

University of San Diego

University of San Diego Law School Personal Statement

75

Loyola Marymount

Loyola Marymount Law School Personal Statement

75

University of Arkansas-Fayetteville

University of Arkansas-Fayetteville Law School Personal Statement

75

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Yeshiva University

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Yeshiva University Personal Statement

78

Brooklyn Law School

Brooklyn Law School Law School Personal Statement

78

Chicago Kent College of Law

Chicago Kent College of Law Personal Statement

78

Loyola University – Chicago

Loyola University – Chicago Law School Personal Statement

78

University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh Law School Personal Statement

82

St. John’s University

St. John’s University Law School Personal Statement

82

University of Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati Law School Personal Statement

82

University of Hawaii

University of Hawaii Law School Personal Statement

82

University of Oregon

University of Oregon Law School Personal Statement

82

University of Tulsa

University of Tulsa Law School Personal Statement

87

Northeastern University

Northeastern University Law School Personal Statement

87

Rutgers-Newark

Rutgers-Newark Law School Personal Statement

87

St. Louis University

St. Louis University Law School Personal Statement

87

SUNY Buffalo Law School

SUNY Buffalo Law School Personal Statement

87

Syracuse University

Syracuse University Law School Personal Statement

87

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire Law School Personal Statement

87

Villanova University

Villanova University Law School Personal Statement

94

Lewis & Clark

Lewis & Clark Law School Personal Statement

94

Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University Law School Personal Statement

94

Michigan State

Michigan State Law School Personal Statement

94

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University Law School Personal Statement

94

University of Louisville

University of Louisville Law School Personal Statement

94

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi Law School Personal Statement

94

University of South Carolina

University of South Carolina Law School Personal Statement

94

West Virginia University

West Virginia University Law School Personal Statement

 

RANK

SCHOOL

LINK TO REQUIREMENTS

102

Florida International University

 

Florida International University Law School Personal Statement

102

Indiana University—​Indianapolis (McKinney)

Indiana University-Indianapolis Law School Personal Statement

102

Rutgers UniversityCamden

Rutgers University—Camden Law School Personal Statement

105

Marquette University 

Marquette University Law School Person Statement

105

 Stetson University

Stetson University Law School Personal Statement

105

Wayne State University

Wayne State University Law School Personal Statement

108

Catholic University

Catholic University Law School Personal Statement

108

University of Wyoming

University of Wyoming Law School Personal Statement

110

Gonzaga University

Gonzaga University Law School Personal Statement

110

Howard University

Howard University Law School Personal Statement

110

University of Maine

University of Maine Law School Personal Statement

113

Creighton University

Creighton University Law School Personal Statement

113

CUNY Queens College

CUNY Queens College Law School Personal Statement

113

Drake University

Drake University Law School Personal Statement

113

Seattle University

Seattle University Law School Personal Statement

113

University of Montana

University of Montana Law School Personal Statement

118

 Duquesne University

Duquesne University Law School Personal Statement

118

Mercer University

Mercer University Law School Personal Statement

118

Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University Law School Personal Statement

118

Willamette University

Willamette University Law School Personal Statement

122

DePaul University

DePaul University Law School Personal Statement

122

Hofstra University

Hofstra University Law School Personal Statement

122

University of Baltimore

University of Baltimore Law School Personal Statement

122

Vermont Law School

Vermont Law School Personal Statement

122

Washburn University

Washburn University Law School Personal Statement

127

Chapman University

Chapman University Law School Personal Statement

127

Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University Law School Personal Statement

127

Drexel University

Drexel University Law School Personal Statement

127

New York Law School

New York Law School Personal Statement

127

Quinnipiac University

Quinnipiac University Law School Personal Statement

127

University of Akron

University of Akron Law School Personal Statement

127

University of Idaho

University of Idaho Law School Personal Statement

127

University of Missouri-Kansas City

University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School Personal Statement

135

Loyola University New Orleans

Loyola University New Orleans Law School Personal Statement

135

University of Arkansas-Little Rock

University of Arkansas-Little Rock Law School Personal Statement

135

St. Thomas University

St. Thomas University Law School Personal Statement

138

Albany Law School

Albany Law School Personal Statement

138

Pace University

Pace University Law School Personal Statement

138

University of North Dakota

University of North Dakota Law School Personal Statement

138

University of San Francisco

University of San Francisco Law School Personal Statement

142

University of Memphis

University of Memphis Law School Personal Statement

142

University of Toledo

University of Toledo Law School Personal Statement

142

William Mitchell College of Law

William Mitchell College of Law Personal Statement

145

 Hamline University

Hamline University Law School Personal Statement

145

Ohio Northern University

Ohio Northern University Law School Personal Statement

145

University of Dayton

University of Dayton Law School Personal Statement

145

University of South Dakota

University of South Dakota Law School Personal Statement

149

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City University Law School Personal Statement

149

Samford University

Samford University Law School Personal Statement

149

Southern Illinois University–Carbondale

Southern Illinois University–Carbondale Law School Personal Statement

149

South Texas College of Law

South Texas College of Law – Law School Personal Statement

149

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University Law School Personal Statement

 Last 50 schools are listed in alphabetical order.

 

SCHOOL

LINK TO REQUIREMENTS

 

Appalachian School of Law

Appalachian School of Law Personal Statement

 

Arizona Summit Law School

Arizona Summit Law School Personal Statement

 

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Personal Statement

 

Ave Maria School of Law

Ave Maria School of Law Personal Statement

 

Barry University

Barry University Law School Personal Statement

 

California Western School of Law

California Western School of Law Personal Statement

 

Campbell University

Campbell University Law School Personal Statement

 

Capital University

Capital University Law School Personal Statement

 

Charleston School of Law

Charleston School of Law Personal Statement

 

Charlotte School of Law

Charlotte School of Law Personal Statement

 

Elon University

Elon University Law School Personal Statement

 

Faulkner University

Faulkner University Law School Personal Statement

 

Florida A&M University

Florida A&M University Law School Personal Statement

 

Florida Coastal School of Law

Florida Coastal School of Law Personal Statement

 

Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University Law School Personal Statement

 

Inter-​American University

Inter-American University Personal Statement

 

John Marshall Law School

John Marshall Law School Personal Statement

 

Liberty University

Liberty University Law School Personal Statement

 

Mississippi College

Mississippi College Law School Personal Statement

 

New England Law School

New England Law School Personal Statement

 

North Carolina Central University

North Carolina Central University Law School Personal Statement

 

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University Law School Personal Statement

 

Northern Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky University Law School Personal Statement

 

Nova Southeastern University

Nova Southeastern University Law School Personal Statement

 

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Personal Statement

 

Regent University

Regent University Law School Personal Statement

 

Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University Law School Personal Statement

 

Southern University

Southern University Law Center Personal Statement

 

Southwestern Law School

Southwestern Law School Personal Statement

 

St. Mary’s University

St. Mary’s University Law School Personal Statement

 

St. Thomas University

St. Thomas University Law School Personal Statement

 

Suffolk University

Suffolk University Law School Personal Statement

 

Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University Law School Personal Statement

 

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Thomas Jefferson School of Law Personal Statement

 

Touro College

Touro College Law School Personal Statement

 

University of Detroit Mercy

University of Detroit Mercy Law School Personal Statement

 

University of Puerto Rico

University of Puerto Rico Law School Personal Statement

 

University of the District of Columbia

University of the District of Columbia Law School Personal Statement

 

University of the Pacific

University of the Pacific Law School Personal Statement

 

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso University Law School Personal Statement

 

Western Michigan State University Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Western Michigan State University Thomas M. Cooley Law School Personal Statement

 

Western New England College

Western New England University Law School Personal Statement

 

Western State University

Western State College of Law at Argosy University Personal Statement

 

Whittier Law School

Whittier Law School Personal Statement

 

Widener University

Widener University Law School Personal Statement

Unranked

Belmont University

Belmont University Law School Personal Statement

Unranked

University of La Verne

University of La Verne Law School Personal Statement

Unranked

University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth

University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth Law School Personal Statement

15 Responses

  1. Ann, I keep trying to contact you and submit the form but it won’t let me. I want to know more about your services. I have been on your blog for hours and find it extremely helpful. I also have read your book and it is so useful!

  2. Hi Ann! I loved your book. Could definitely use some help with personal statements. Please let me know more about your services. Loving your website!

  3. Hi Ann,

    I was wondering whether I (as a white, upper middle-class woman) should write a diversity statement. I think there are things that might make me stand out among typical applicants (I’ve directed a major documentary film project, for example, which isn’t something I plan to include in my personal statement), but I don’t know whether something like this is inappropriate to include in a diversity statement or if I should just hope they notice that in my resume. Thanks!

    1. Hi Sarah, I don’t think I’d write a diversity statement about that – I think i’d leave it to the resume unless the documentary was on a diversity-related issue.

  4. Hi Ann,

    I took the LSAT about 2 years after undergrad and applied to a private school in 2008 (when everyone apparently was applying) and didn’t get in. I have a 2.8 GPA and an LSAT score of 157. The low GPA was due to some personal issues (death of my best friend, death of my grandfather, and coming out to my parents). I was battling major depression but didn’t withdraw from school when I probably should’ve.

    In any event, I’ve been working as a paralegal since then and have tons of trial experience, am in the courtroom on a weekly basis with my supervising attorney, and am truly ready to reapply. I have to take the LSAT again and get new letters of recommendation. I doubt I can get any great LORs from my university as it’s been 10 years, so I’m thinking one from my boss and one from a current District Judge would be good. Thoughts on a third?

    Also, what angle do you think I should use in the personal statement, as I feel like I should explain my GPA but also include how I battled through some tough times and came through in a positive light.

    I appreciate your help!

    1. Kassie,
      Thanks for reaching out. I assume you’re planning to retake the LSAT?
      Professional letters of rec are going to be perfect for you. I can’t comment on personal statement topics on the blog format – I just don’t know you well enough.

  5. Hi Ann,

    I was hoping for a second opinion on interpreting Colorado Boulder’s statement instructions. It says no more than 1000 words, but the prompt has a second optional part. Do you think Part 1 + Part 2 = 1000 words, or can they be two separate statements of 1000 words each (2000 total)? I’m leaning towards the former option, but would like a second opinion.

    Thanks!

  6. Hi Ann,

    I just wanted to ask what is considered a “low” or “competitive” gpa for law schools just so I can adjust my expectations re where I should apply. I transferred to UCSB from a community college. I graduated from UCSB with a degree in Poli Sci and GPA of 3.43 not including the grades I got from community college where I got a GPA of 3.88. I only have 1 “C” and it is from an Econ class. My grades, however, is somewhat inconsistent because I went through a traumatic brain injury during my senior year. I havent taken the LSAT but so far I am testing on the high 150s and very low 160s.

    Also, I am planning to write my personal statement about coming into the united states when I was 16 and learning english as a second language. But I am not sure whether I should write my diversity statement about being a member of LGBT or about being a recent cancer survivor (It says in your book that diversity statement can be about overcoming obstacles)

    1. Xander, first, YAY GAUCHOS! Second, it sounds like you have a lot to write about and a lot of meaningful experiences to share in your applications. You can check the 25th percentile GPAs for the schools you’d like to attend to gauge what those schools consider “low”.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *