Law Personal Statement Guide

Your Guide to Writing an Excellent Personal Statement

How to write a great personal statement for Law

In this handy guide, we will provide some useful hints and tips to help you tailor your personal statement and increase your chance of securing a place on your desired law degree.

What is a personal statement?

Your personal statement forms part of your UCAS application, and is sent to all of the institutions you are applying to. The aim is to convince the reader that you are the perfect candidate to study/practise law, and it should be personal; about your interests, your background, your aspirations, and the reason you want to study Law at university.

Tip: Although you are encouraged to talk about the LLB as a whole, don’t mention specific features – such as a specific placement or year abroad – unless it applies to all of the courses you are applying to via UCAS.

What skills should a Law student demonstrate?

Verbal communication skills

One of the most important skills of a lawyer is ‘advocacy’: being able to communicate, advise, persuade. Can you include any examples of activities that have enhanced your communication skills? Or worked with others and offered informed advice?

Written communication skills

A good understanding of grammar and sentence structure is essential when studying a law degree and entering the legal profession. Your personal statement is evidence of how much attention you pay to this: don’t underestimate the importance of proof reading!

Developing a convincing argument

Putting forward an informed argument – both written and verbal – are skills that you will further develop whilst at university and throughout your legal career. Can you include any examples that demonstrate this? For example, public speaking, debating, or constructing an essay with pros, cons and conclusions.

Research skills

This links in nicely with the above point – to develop a convincing legal case, or progress on to specialise in a specific legal area – efficient and detailed research is an essential skill. Can you demonstrate any examples of research included in any of your current qualifications?

Volunteering

Volunteering at university is a great way of increasing your career prospects and expanding your legal knowledge. If you have any examples of volunteering or work experience – Law related or not – include them, and expand on the skills learnt. It’s worthwhile noting that Pro Bono Work (which involves offering free legal advice) is often an activity that both students and practising lawyers are involved in. Often, such work is conducted in a Law Clinic – where students and professionals offer free legal advice to members of the public, to help combat cuts in legal aid and also give something back to the local community.

Extra reading and exploration

An interest in wider research, or current affairs is desirable – some areas of the law have remained unchanged in 400 years whilst others may have changed since last month. But remember: be specific, name a text, particular case – and be sure you are genuinely engaged with it, you could be asked for more information at interview.

Tip: We’ve compiled a list of resources for students to engage with before beginning their studies at university. These resources may help with this aspect of the personal statement, helping you further understand terminology and think beyond the curriculum.

Personal Statement FAQs

What should I include in my opening paragraph?

• Your opening paragraph should include something punchy, to attract the reader’s attention: it should reflect your background and experiences, and why they have influenced you to study Law at degree level
• Examples may include: an area of Law that interests you, a relevant book you may have read and found interesting, a poignant and applicable news article/topic of late
• If relevant, indicate a linked career goal (for example, working as a solicitor, barrister, or within the criminal justice system)
• If you’re finding it difficult to make a start, leave your opening paragraph until last.

Tip: Most law degrees will cover seven core elements of law, including Contract Law, Criminal Law, Land Law, Equity and Trusts, EU Law, Law of Tort and Public Law.

Popular module choices within our LLB include law relating to medical treatment, human rights, family, the environment, trade, employment, and media.

How do I include my current studies?

• Discuss how your qualification(s) prepares you for a Law degree. If you are already studying Law, start here. If not – don’t worry, most qualifications include skills that are transferrable to Law
• Be specific and show an intellectual interest – which authors / modules / theorists / debates interest you? Why might this help you with your law degree?
• Show how you have read beyond the curriculum

Tip: We’ve compiled a list of resources for students to engage with before beginning their studies at university. These resources may help with this aspect of the personal statement, helping you further understand terminology and think beyond the curriculum.

How do I include my extra-curricular activities?

• When it comes to extra-curricular activities, do not simply list your achievements: state the skills that you learnt on your work experience or during your volunteering, explain how you have developed since being part of a sports team. Work to expand on why you feel these extra activities are applicable to studying a law degree – and, remember, it’s not about quantity here: it’s about quality.
• In terms of supra-curricular activities – that is what you’ve done to learn outside of the classroom – again, be detailed and apply your learnings to the skills needed for a law degree. Tell us about any summer schools you’ve been a part of and what you learnt, any debates you’ve been involved in, what you’ve learnt from watching TED Talks.
• Both extra-curricular and supra-curricular activities demonstrate that you are proactive – think of how this might relate to a legal profession.

Tip: During your degree, you may wish to get involved with opportunities such as competitions, mock client interviewing, mooting, or debating – all of which require a dedication of time beyond the realms of your studies.

Where do I start?

• Begin by drafting bullet points, utilising the above pointers. Don’t worry about making sentences cohesive and structured to begin with – focus on the points you wish to make
• Once you have your pointers, plan your structure and work out where each point will be placed. We’d recommend the following:
  • Opening Paragraph
  • Your Current Studies
  • Career Aspirations and Work Experience
  • School/ College Achievement/Extra-Curricular Activities
  • Conclude

  Edit and refine: hone your draft down to an eligible piece, and get advice.