Stetson Law Admissions Blog

Law school is hard — and can even be described as grueling. Tell any attorney about your dream to go to law school and they will reflect on their horror stories from the first year, the bar exam or even their notorious property professor.

Personal Statements are often thought of as the core of a law school application. Even if you have perfect grades and a perfect LSAT score, a poorly written personal statement will leave doubts about your ability to effectively communicate. Also, you may come across as arrogant because admissions will see you did not take a requirement seriously. This does not make you look good and might overshadow your high marks.

Before we begin, take a moment to recognize yourself for all the great things you have accomplished so far. Thank yourself for being you. Now, I have a sneaking suspicion that you did not actually take a moment for self-gratitude. That’s O.K. However, I encourage you to do this because it will help you get the application process started.

You may have read my Top 8 Most Common Mistakes When Writing a Personal Statement blog. These mistakes focused mostly on grammar issues, inattention to detail and the result of poor editing. Here are a few additional tips focused on what not to say in the statement itself.

If you are applying to law school, you are likely aware of the many steps involved in the process.  The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) has even created a helpful infographic to describe what to do and when. 

We get a lot of questions about what we look for in applications to law school. Students perceive the application review process as a great mystery to be solved…cracked even! Books, articles and blogs have been written for nervous readers who hope to get an insider tip that opens the door to their dream school.

While making a decision may be the job of an accountable individual, most of us consult trusted advisors, or a mentor with experience before we decide. But how do you find the right mentor or the right advisor? There are lots of voices in your life, and it’s a good idea to organize an “inner circle” who will help you on your career path. Who you put on that team is a bigger decision than it may seem.

Many applicants have something in their file they need to explain. It could be a medical situation that adversely affected the GPA or an illness that impacted the first LSAT score and resulted in a retest. That explanation may take a paragraph or even two pages. Many personal statement instructions include page limits and topic guidelines. So, how can you convey important information to your law school to help place your GPA, LSAT or life story in the proper context when most schools don’t allow for interviews?

By Molly Kaelin, Candidate for Juris Doctor, 2020, Stetson University College of Law

Applications are everything. Since you are applying to Stetson Law, you are hardworking, driven, and brilliant. Your mission now is to show the admissions office how great you are. How do you avoid making a mistake on your law school admissions application? Follow our top 10 suggestions by admissions counselors.

Taking the Law School Admission Test, commonly known as the LSAT, is one of the most important steps toward earning your J.D. Your LSAT score is a major factor in whether or not a law school will accept you, so a strong score is critical. And if you’re planning to apply for fall admissions, now is the time to start prepping for the LSAT.