Personal Statements: Law School Application Tips | Widener Law Commonwealth in Harrisburg, PA

Application Tips with Dean Benfield

Widener Law Commonwealth's Former Associate Dean of Admissions and Administration discusses what applicants should include in their personal statements.

The Personal Statement is your opportunity to tell the admission committee something about yourself that is not included elsewhere in your application materials. What are you passionate about? Provide specific examples of your strengths and your leadership abilities. Include information about any obstacles you have overcome – financial, educational, etc. The Personal Statement is also a writing sample, so be sure to proof and edit the document, read it out loud to make sure that it flows. There should be no typos in the document. Take the time to have others read and review the statement. Gimmicks typically do not work. Write in clean concise prose. Do not use the third person. Write a statement so strong that when the reader finishes it they say, “I don’t care about this person’s LSAT, I want them in my class!”

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