Shocking Reasons Your Law Personal Statement isn’t Working

Sep 27, 2023

Written By Lewis Ogg

Personal statements are a mainstay of legal applications, offering recruiters an insight into the applicant's character, motivations, and achievements. See the personal statement as an opportunity to demonstrate your personality and interests to whoever will be reviewing your application. Creating a personal connection can make all the difference in getting offered a place, which is why this article will share some guidance on how to make yours as compelling as possible.

Falling to Showcase Genuine Interest

Being a successful lawyer is more than simply having a job; it is a profession and vocation for which its practitioners have a genuine passion. Whether in your law degree or working as a lawyer, there can be no substitute for real interest. Universities know that they place heavy demands on their students, and the people who are best placed to succeed in those environments are those who can enjoy their work.

Recruiters are experts at seeing through the insincere and generic comments that fill many people’s statements. One of the most common examples recruiters repeatedly see is applicants stating that they were ‘excited’ or ‘intrigued’ about a specific legal issue without offering why it was interesting or why it matters to them. As such, if you are going to mention a legal matter, which you should try to do, at least take the time to find one that has a genuine point of interest for you.

Talking about legal issues is not the only way to show your interest; be open with the recruiter about your experiences and what aspect of them drew you towards the law. If you have a specific experience with the law, or you completed some particularly engaging coursework, don’t be afraid to mention why you find it so interesting and why it makes the prospect of studying your course more exciting.

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Lack of Clarity and Focus

When writing, remember that not only do you have a strict word count, but the recruitment team receiving it will have read thousands of similar statements, so make sure to write in a focused and concise manner.

A mistake that many applicants make is trying to cover so much ground that they spread themselves too thin, leaving a product that lacks coherence and depth. To avoid this, try to prioritise your experiences so that the ones you use can be explored in enough depth to be effective.

Making the most of your word count also requires a clear narrative that the recruiter can follow when reading. The simplest way to do this is by keeping it roughly chronological. Remember, like any good narrative, a captivating opening that draws the reader in is the best way to make your statement stand out.

Overusing Clichés and Buzzwords

When writing your personal statement, remember you could be one of thousands of similar applications, so your aim is to separate yourself from the crowd. Using cliché and tropes is an almost guaranteed way to ensure your application sounds generic and uninspiring.

Typical clichés include phrases like ‘I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was four’, which offer little insight into the practical reasons you want to practise law at that firm. It is important to draw upon your own unique experiences. So, if you have genuinely been interested in pursuing law from a young age, explore what engaged you initially and how that has evolved throughout your education.

The most compelling applications always come from those who can make the recruiter engage with their journey through overt sincerity and interest. Buzzwords and clichés will only make your writing appear less honest and personal.

Neglecting to Show Personal Growth

Recruiters generally are not looking for the finished article; you are looking to pursue further education for a reason. As such, one of the critical skills to demonstrate is your ability to learn and develop over time, showing that you would be an effective student. Showing personal awareness to highlight problem areas and discussing how you addressed them is far more compelling to recruiters than claiming perfection.

Often, applicants will be too inflexible with their writing because they are trying to show ‘complete’ skills and significant legal experiences. However, if you can write honestly about how an experience helped you develop a valuable soft skill, this will be far more compelling than a stock answer. For example, if you worked in hospitality, consider how it developed your client engagement and public speaking skills or what laws were at play when you provided that service.

Ignoring the Importance of Proofreading

As the adage from Suits states, ‘you must be precise, as the law is a precise endeavour’. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes are some of the most common reasons why applications are rejected. Regardless of how strong your application is, accuracy is an integral part of the law.

The most common mistakes come from trying to rush an application with typos, incorrect tenses, or missing punctuation, all being easy to overlook when you are over-eager to submit the application. Also, I would not recommend copying and pasting passages from online examples or ChatGPT. It probably won’t pass the plagiarism software and it will never beat what you could do yourself.

There are many simple ways to avoid unnecessary mistakes: using a grammar checker, re-reading the statement aloud, or passing it on to a friend or teacher to proofread.

The Importance of Seeking Feedback

It is vital that you seek constructive criticism from others, whether that be mentors, teachers, or sixth-form support staff. There is a wealth of admissions and legal knowledge around you, so make sure to use it effectively.

However, getting feedback is only the first step to improving. Effectively implementing that advice is just as important. Every time you receive guidance, you should look to revise content, refine language, and make general improvements. If you follow these three steps each time, your application will be steadily shaped into the most compelling and engaging statement it can be.

Conclusion: Maximising Your Personal Statement

A personal statement is one of the few opportunities you will have to control how an admissions team perceives you, so do not waste that chance with careless SPAG errors or falling into generic clichés.

Remember, no personal statement is ever perfect on the first try. They slowly become better with systematic revision and development. Don’t become frustrated with constructive criticism; be positive that with it, you are one step closer to impressing the university of your dreams.

Law Personal Statement