• Oxbridge Law 24/25 Entry
  • Non-Oxbridge Law 24/25 Entry
  • Oxford PPE 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge Economics 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge Modern Languages 24/25 Entry
  • Cambridge Land Economy 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge Psychology 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge English 24/25 Entry
  • Oxford Human Sciences 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge History 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge Geography 24/25 Entry
  • Cambridge Philosophy 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge Classics 24/25 Entry
  • Cambridge Architecture 24/25 Entry
  • Cambridge HSPS Programme 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge Medicine 24/25 Entry
  • Oxford Biomedical Sciences 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge Engineering 24/25 Entry
  • Cambridge Natural Science 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge Maths 24/25 Entry
  • Oxbridge Computer Science 24/25 Entry
  • Oxford Physics 24/25 Entry
  • Oxford PPL 24/25 Entry
  • Cambridge Veterinary Science 24/25 Entry
  • Oxford Chemistry 24/25 Entry
  • Oxford Biology 24/25 Entry
  • Oxford Biochemistry 24/25 Entry
  • Non-Oxbridge Medicine 24/25 Entry
  • Non-Oxbridge Dentistry 24/25 Entry
  • IMAT Medicine 24/25 Entry
  • Can’t Find Your Subject?
  • Law Interview Programme
  • PPE Interview Programme
  • Economics Interview Programme
  • Oxbridge Medicine Interview Programme
  • Natural Science Interview Programme
  • Engineering Interview Programme
  • Maths Interview Programme
  • Dentistry Interview Programme
  • Medicine MMI Interview Programme
  • Our Guarantee

Our Students

Student Success Stories

  • University Access Scheme
  • New Tutor Application Form
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • How Does It Work?

Enrol on a UniAdmissions Programme by the 21st June and enjoy a £500 reduction on your fees. Schedule your consultation here today.

Secure your place on a UniAdmissions Programme by Friday, 21st June, and enjoy a £500 reduction on your enrolment fees. Schedule your consultation here today.

  • +44 (0) 208 068 0438
  • [email protected]

SCIENCE PROGRAMMES (25/26 ENTRY)

HUMANITIES PROGRAMMES (25/26 ENTRY)

GET STARTED

Can't find your subject?

OXFORD TESTS (25/26 ENTRY)

CAMBRIDGE TESTS (25/26 ENTRY)

MEDICINE TESTS (25/26 ENTRY)

View Our Free admissions guides & resources

How UniAdmissions Cracked The Oxbridge Formula

Applying for Oxbridge is an opportunity seldom approached correctly. So how do you enter the top 16% of a strong cohort of applicants that get an offer? Discover how UniAdmissions get 2/3 of our students in.

How To Stay Motivated During Your A-Level Exams

With A-level exam season in full swing, we've put together 6 useful tips and tricks to stay motivated and achieve those expected grades.

Inside The UniAdmissions Portal: The UA Advantage

UniAdmissions students have access to the world's first dedicated Oxbridge admissions preparation platform, and this guide will help you discover exactly how the Portal will help you get your offer.

Discover all guides

ABOUT UNIADMISSIONS

Learn about who the world's first Oxbridge prep school are.

Learn about the Portal; the heart of our Programmes.

UniAdmissions' Foundation

The Foundation is our charitable arm to support disadvantaged students.

Students & Tutors

Discover who a UniAdmissions student is and our admissions criteria.

Learn about our high-performing Oxbridge tutors.

We're proud of our alumni. Read about their journey with UniAdmissions here.

Admissions Resources

Free Admissions Guides

Visit our Learning Centre and read our in-depth free guides.

We are the world's biggest Oxbridge application publisher. Learn more here.

Teachers Learning Hub

Learn about how to help your students get their place at Oxbridge.

Get Started

  • Access Student Portal
  • Oxbridge Programmes
  • Open Day Webinar
  • Tutor Application Form
  • Common Questions
  • Download Our Prospectus

Successful Personal Statement For Law At Oxford

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Chloe Hewitt

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Law applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Law Course at Oxford offers a world-class opportunity to develop a diverse set of skills which you will be able to apply in many different situations.

Read on to see how this candidate managed to secure an offer from a world-class department.  

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxford Law comprehensive Programme will help you perfect your Personal Statement.

When you enrol in our  Oxbridge Law Premium Programme , you’re getting the best possible support for all aspects of your application. Your tutor will give you actionable feedback on your Personal Statement drafts, with insider tips on how to improve and make your  Personal Statement Oxbridge quality  for the best chances of success.  

Discover our Premium Programmes today to learn how you can enrol and triple your chances of success .

Law Personal Statement

Law is a set of rules and guidelines imposed upon a society which reflect its moral consciousness, guided and guarded by the judiciary. I believe everyone has the right to be judged objectively by their own laws. I am fascinated by the process of examining legal arguments, by how the outcome of a case hinges on presentation of the evidence and by the law’s status as the ultimate arbiter of ‘justice.’ It is this desire to study the analytical process and underlying principles of jurisprudence that motivates me to study law academically.

Preparing for my extended project, I studied Plato’s Republic and how his analyses of different societies are relevant to modern Britain. Examining the common flaws between our own society and those depicted in Republic made me appreciate the subtlety of the law in its present-day form: many of Plato’s proposed solutions to these flaws undermined what are viewed today as personal rights. This led me to reflect on how laws protect us, and also how their intricacies create a doctrine to which people adhere, both complying and incorporating it in their own morality.

Investigating Plato’s ideal political system, I considered the contrast between how his laws were devised and their status in our own society. Plato’s ‘Guardians’ (not unlike our own judiciary) were relied on both to codify and interpret the law. While their decisions were considered to be benevolent, society was expected to conform to laws dictated by a separate class. The situation in the UK is quite different: statute law, as well as case law, often reflects current popular opinion. Sarah’s law (the parents’ right to check the criminal record of any carer for their child) was the direct result of a popular campaign. Whether it is better to have a system of laws that evolve with society or one that is dictated by a separate body is just one example of the ethical questions behind the law that intrigue me.

Seeking experience in the area of law that first attracted me, I assisted a criminal barrister in a Bristol chambers, including client interviews for petty offences and note taking in Crown Court, where we were prosecuting an alleged serial attempted rapist. The defendant’s decision to dismiss his lawyers to defend himself brought home the need for a professional intermediary to ensure fair interaction of the individual with the protocol of the law. Examining case files while shadowing a Queen’s Counsel specialising in public and taxation law, I was struck by how even the most powerful individual or company is still bound to observe the law. I sought exposure to corporate and commercial law with a local solicitor, where I worked through a practical example of employment law to determine whether a client had a case. This close reading of legal documents was a rewarding and stimulating experience, confirming my commitment to study law.

Captaining rugby teams at school (now 1st XV), club and county level, I have learned how to listen and how to lead; understanding and incorporating others’ opinions or feelings in my interaction was key to encouraging progress for the individual or group, to motivate them and help them achieve their own potential. I developed these skills further mentoring in French and as a Sports Ambassador for local primary schools.

Rugby is like society: there are fixed laws that define the game and how it is played, but they are constantly tested by the flair of the players. As a result, the referee must both interpret and enforce the application of those laws; in Plato’s terms, he is both guardian and auxiliary. The application of the law to dynamic situations and how different outcomes might be achieved depending upon points of interpretation has fascinated me for years.

I am strongly motivated to study the law’s mechanics and with this passion, combined with the necessary determination and underlying skills, I will relish the task of appreciating and mastering law as an intellectual discipline in its own right.

Access "The Big Book Of Oxbridge Applications" For FREE

Your Personal Statement is only one step in your Law application, so discover everything you need to know in The Big Book Of Oxbridge Applications , available for free here! Through over 350 pages , you will find:

  • 28 example Oxbridge Personal Statements
  • Over 40 admissions test practice questions
  • Interviews with Oxbridge students and graduates
  • Additional downloadable resources

Fill in your details below to claim your digital copy today!

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is an impressive personal statement in many regards and was clearly well received. The student opens with a definition of law, but then goes on to interpret what they understand it to mean, and by doing so has given some insight into their personality and understanding. It is clear from the outset that the student’s interest is an academic one, and this will gain them favour from top academic institutions if sustained. The discussion of the student’s extended project is given a clear legal dimension, and the student competently makes cross-links, which display their strong grasp of sources of UK law- having a current example to underline this point. In this instance, the discussion of work experience complements the academic interests well because of the way the statement is structured – by saving work experience till later, the student made clear that their primary focus is academic and intellectual, but they do have a commitment to engaging with the subject at a practical level.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

Having two paragraphs about rugby probably gives the sport more attention than is necessary. Moreover, while the student has endeavoured to present all their skills as relevant to law, the links can read as somewhat tenuous, particularly in the sporting examples. Replacing one of these paragraphs with one about some wider reading in a purely legal area of interest (as opposed to reading as part of the extended project) would have been a more beneficial addition.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This is an extremely strong personal statement. The student clearly gets across their interest in studying law, but more than this it is unquestionable that their interest is in studying law as an academic discipline rather than practicing law as a career once they have graduated. Structurally the statement flows well, and covers sufficient facets of the student’s activities and interests to explain why they want to study law and why they would be successful in doing so. The only real improvement to be made would be to add discussion of a time the student engaged in academic reading or research into a legal topic beyond what is required of them in their studies.

This Personal Statement for Law is a good example of demonstrating motivation and development which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

There are plenty more successful personal statements and expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

Successful personal statement for economics at cambridge, successful personal statement for land economy at cambridge, successful personal statement for chemistry at oxford, successful personal statement for geography at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at cambridge, successful personal statement for engineering at cambridge, successful personal statement for philosophy at cambridge, successful personal statement for veterinary medicine at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychological and behavioural sciences at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychology at oxford, successful personal statement for history at oxford, successful personal statement for physics at oxford, successful personal statement for cambridge mathematics and physics, successful personal statement example for computer science at oxford, successful personal statement for english at cambridge, successful personal statement for oxford english language and literature, successful personal statement for medicine at oxford university, successful personal statement for modern languages at oxford, successful personal statement for engineering at oxford, successful personal statement for natural sciences (biological) at cambridge, successful personal statement for economics & management at oxford, successful personal statement for ppe at oxford, successful personal statement for law at cambridge, successful personal statement for dentistry at king’s college london, successful personal statement for medicine at cambridge.

The World’s First Oxbridge Preparatory School

Welcome to UniAdmissions, the first world’s Oxbridge preparatory school with an Oxbridge success rate of 57%  and  with over 500+ UniAdmissions students placed at Oxford and Cambridge.

 Our Law Premium Programme prepares you for every part of your application, including your Personal Statement, through one-to-one tuition sessions, intensive courses, and more. 

Discover our Law Premium Programme for comprehensive admissions support by booking a free consultation or clicking the button below to enrol and triple your chances of success .

UniAdmissions students placed at Oxford And Cambridge

Continue learning about Oxbridge...

Ai writing & ucas personal statements: what you need to know.

When it comes to writing in the 2020s, AI-Generation has become one of the most important issues for many industries,…

Oxbridge Personal Statements: A Complete Teacher’s Guide

As a teacher, you will support students with their UCAS Personal Statements every year, but what about Personal Statements for…

UCAS Personal Statements Are Changing in 2025

On January 12th 2023, UCAS announced that the traditional Personal Statement would be replaced by a multi-question form for university…

Writing an Economics and Management Personal Statement for Oxford? If so, you’re in the right place! In this post, we…

Successful Personal Statement For Computer Science At Oxford

Read through a successful Computer Science Personal Statement for Oxford with a full analysis by Oxbridge Tutors. Find out why…

Student’s Experience of the Oxford Law Interview

Law graduate Sophia Paraskeva looks back on her Interviews at the University of Oxford.

The Secrets to Oxbridge Admission.

  • We cracked the Oxbridge formula . Find out what we discovered here.
  • Looking for application support? Don't work with a random tutor. This is what you need to know first.
  • Get up-to-date Oxbridge advice with our webinars. Follow our Open Days led by our experts and stay updated.

Law Quick Links

How would you like to speak to an Admissions Consultant?

Username or email  *

Password  *

Forgotten password?

[email protected]

+44 (0)20 8834 4579

How to Write a Great Law Personal Statement for Oxford

Applying to study law at Oxford University can be nerve-wracking. Writing a law personal statement for Oxford is one of several things to submit as part of your UCAS application , this guide will give you some tips on writing a standout piece.

Want to receive regular information tailored to you? Sign up here.

Before you write, it would be useful to look up the selection criteria page for Law on the university website. This page tells you exactly the qualities the admissions team looks for in a candidate. These qualities include your motivation to study law; reasoning ability; and communication. Also, it would be helpful to note that knowledge of the law is not necessary for admissions.

It is vital that you understand what the course you are applying for entails. For example, the Law (Jurisprudence) programme at Oxford, which is a BA equivalent to an LLB, is slightly different from an LLB at another university. While it prepares you for legal practice, the emphasis is on the theoretical aspect of any law subject, e.g. contract law and tort law. It is important that you show a genuine interest to study law in-depth at the university level.

Bearing in mind the qualities they are looking for, a large portion of your law personal statement for oxford should focus on your academic interests and any relevant achievements. There is no use in listing all sorts of achievements, only list an achievement that helps to demonstrate a quality relevant to studying law at Oxford. This can be winning a debate competition or participation in a political society at college, which helps to demonstrate your interest in the law and transferable skills such as analytical and reasoning ability.

If you have not studied law at A-Levels , do some research on the areas of the law that fascinate you. The admissions team is mostly interested in whether or not you have the potential to succeed in the course. Make sure you write about things that can demonstrate the qualities they are looking for in a candidate. These can be anything that you have done in high school, college or life experiences that show your motivation to study law. Writing about work experience is only recommended if it is relevant to legal study.

It is common to write about your ideal next step following a law degree to let them know how you will make use of the course. Most candidates write about their career aspirations, such as becoming lawyers, politicians and parole officers. Don’t worry if you haven’t figured out a defined career goal yet. As mentioned above, the most important thing is to show what interests you academically and what motivates you to study law.

Writing Style

The right tone is as important as the content you put in your personal statement. The best thing to do is to write straightforwardly, and not to sound overly complicated or pretentious. Also, make sure your use of sentence structure and punctuation is appropriate. It is better to write one idea per sentence and one major idea to any given paragraph. How careful you are in your writing shows how much you care about your application.

What Not to Do

When you get invited to an interview at Oxford, the tutor might ask you to expand on a few things from your personal statement. It is important that everything you write is genuine so you can discuss the topics in more detail at the interview.

Also, it is not recommended to list anything that is already covered in another section on your application (e.g. grades), you will only be wasting word count when you can talk about something else.

Finally, don’t try to sound like someone you are not, the best thing to do is to be yourself!

After completion

Once you have written the first draft of your law personal statement for oxford, put it aside and take a break. When you read it again with fresh eyes, it will be easier to spot any grammatical errors and think of ways to improve your work. Don’t forget to let someone else read over your personal statement. The best person to proofread your work would be your college tutor or parents.

Still not sure whether Oxbridge Law is for you? Read our free Expert Insights into Oxford and Cambridge

  • Studying at Oxford Law School 
  • Studying at Cambridge Law School

Studying Law

Application Advice

If you're an aspiring lawyer and want tailored advice on applying to university, navigating different pathways into law, or anything else law-related - we can help!

Save 20% on all the best LNAT prep, with our LNAT Prep Packages.

Personal Statement Reviews

Get your Personal Statement reviewed so you can create a knock-out UCAS application.

How well do you know the LNAT? Take our quiz to find out!

PREVIOUS ARTICLE

How to Write a Good Law Personal Statement Conclusion

NEXT ARTICLE

How to Write a Great LLM Personal Statement

You may also like.

  • The UK Government’s Carbon Plan: Unlawful and Contentious
  • Understanding the New Single-Sex Toilet Law in England
  • EA and FIFA Split: 1 Year On, Examining FIFA’s Own-Goal
  • Royal Mail Takeover Bid Nears Completion

Loading More Content

  • Ask a question Ask
  • go advanced Search
  • Please enter a title
  • Please enter a message
  • Your discussion will live here... (Start typing, we will pick a forum for you) Please select a forum Change forum View more forums... View less forums... GCSEs A-levels Applications, Clearing and UCAS University Life Student Finance England Part-time and temporary employment Chat Everyday issues Friends, family and work Relationships Health News Student Surveys and Research
  • post anonymously
  • All study help
  • Uni applications
  • University and HE colleges
  • University help and courses
  • University student life

Postgraduate

  • Careers and jobs
  • Teacher training
  • Finance and accountancy
  • Relationships
  • Sexual health
  • University and university courses
  • Universities and HE colleges
  • Life and style
  • Entertainment
  • Debate and current affairs
  • Careers and Jobs
  • Scottish qualifications
  • Foreign languages
  • GCSE articles
  • A-level articles
  • Exam and revision articles
  • What to do after GCSEs
  • What to do after A-levels
  • When is A-level results day 2024?
  • When is GCSE results day 2024?
  • Studying, revision and exam support
  • Grow your Grades

Revision and exam discussion

  • All GCSE exams
  • All A-level exams

Revision tips

  • Top vloggers for revision help
  • Best video resources for revising GCSE or A-level English
  • Best places online for maths revision
  • How to use past exam papers for revision

Preparing for an exam

  • How to study effectively for your exams
  • Handling revision and exam stress
  • What to expect from an exam
  • Seven things to do in the last week before an exam
  • How to handle exam nightmares

Finding motivation

  • Getting past procrastination
  • It's not too late: 10 ways to kick-start your revision
  • How to revise when you're feeling lazy
  • All universities
  • Applying through Ucas
  • Student finance
  • Personal statement
  • Postgraduate study
  • Uni accommodation
  • University life
  • All uni courses
  • Apprenticeships
  • Arts and humanities courses
  • Stem courses
  • Social science courses

Universities by region

  • North of England
  • South of England
  • Greater London
  • Distance learning
  • International study

University guides and articles

  • All university articles
  • Applying to uni articles
  • Personal statements

Personal statement examples

  • University open days
  • Studying law at university
  • Student life at university
  • Careers and jobs discussion
  • Apprenticeships discussion
  • Part-time and temp jobs
  • Career forums by sector
  • Armed forces careers
  • Consultancy careers
  • Finance careers
  • Legal careers
  • Marketing careers
  • Medicine and healthcare careers
  • Public sector careers
  • Stem careers
  • Teaching careers
  • General chat
  • Relationships chat
  • Friends, family and colleagues
  • Advice on everyday issues
  • General health
  • Mental health
  • UK politics
  • Educational debate

Undergraduate

  • Postgraduate Master’s Loan
  • Postgraduate Doctoral Loan
  • Disabled Students’ Allowances
  • Taking a break or withdrawing from your course

Further information

  • Parents and partners
  • Advanced Learner Loan

Law personal statements

Scroll down this page to find a collection of real personal statements written by students applying to study economics and related courses at university.

Plus, over on The Uni Guide, we've also got advice from universities on what they want to see in a law personal statement . 

Among the tips shared by admissions experts: back up everything with examples from your life; focus your statement on yourself, not your grades; show your interest outside the classroom; cover relevant work experience.

Law personal statement examples - top rated by students

We have lots of law personal statement examples that you can read through. To help you find the best ones, we asked students to vote for which they found the most useful. 

The following personal statements are those that were the most highly rated.

law concept graphic

Law degree personal statement example (2z) Oxford, Warwick offers Submitted by: Anonymous "Law has been one of the most relevant, interesting and necessary areas of life throughout the ages- it has kept order, helped build civilisations..."

law concept graphic

Law degree personal statement example (3k) applicant advice Submitted by: Anonymous "Law as an academic discipline offers the ability to answer some of the biggest questions facing society today. Moreover, the law..."

law concept graphic

Law degree personal statement example (3b) Cambridge, Nottingham offers Submitted by: Anonymous "The diverse and multifaceted nature of the law, as well as the fact that it has an impact on so many different aspects of society is..."

law concept graphic

Law degree personal statement example (1x)          Submitted by : Anonymous "Without the law, society will cease to exist as we know it. It is of vital importance, and protects individuals from the major power of..."

law concept graphic

Law degree personal statement example (2a)          Submitted by: Anonymous "My interest in law stems from the knowledge that it affects every aspect of our lives, despite our often being oblivious to it..."

law concept graphic

Law personal statement example          Submitted by: Anonymous "I first realised I wished to study law whilst reading a newspaper, when it suddenly occurred to me that every article..."

law concept graphic

Law degree personal statement example (1o) international applicant Submitted by: Anonymous          "I am a person keen on challenges. Law will provide me with the kind of constant challenge I have always craved, while..."

law concept graphic

Law degree personal statement example (2j)          Submitted by: Anonymous "My love of law stemmed from a dislike of geography and severe stage fright. Unaware of the life-changing decision..."

law concept graphic

Law degree personal statement example (3b) Cambridge, Nottingham offers Submitted by: Anonymous "The diverse and multifaceted nature of the law, as well as the fact that it has an impact on so many different aspects of society..."  

law concept graphic

Law degree personal statement example (1n) work experience          Submitted by: Anonymous "While the law may be too ungainly and inefficient a vehicle to directly change the world, it offers a unique opportunity..."

Full list of law personal statement examples

More help with your personal statement.

You can find personal statement examples for other courses by using this subject list, or by returning to our personal statements by subject page.

Other useful links

  • Applying to university

The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group.

  • Main topics
  • GCSE and A-level
  • Revision & exams
  • Life and relationships

Get Started

  • Today's posts
  • Unanswered posts
  • Community guidelines
  • TSR help centre
  • Cookies & online safety
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy notice

Connect with TSR

© Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved

The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd.

Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB

oxford law personal statement sample

  • AI Content Shield
  • AI KW Research
  • AI Assistant
  • SEO Optimizer
  • AI KW Clustering
  • Customer reviews
  • The NLO Revolution
  • Press Center
  • Help Center
  • Content Resources
  • Facebook Group

Positive Oxford Law Personal Statements to Try

Table of Contents

To be accepted into the renowned Oxford University Law program, students are required to submit a Personal Statement (PS).

Many applicants worry that their personal statement will not be good enough, and they will not get in as a result. However, with the right guidance, it is possible to write a PS which showcases your unique skills and passion for law.

In this article, we provide some tips on how you can create positive  Oxford law personal statements .

How to Draft Your Oxford Law Personal Statements

When writing your personal statement, there are a few things to remember.

Focus on Why You Want to Study at Oxford

Do you have any special reason for choosing Oxford? Be sure to include it. Make sure to focus on why you want to study law at Oxford specifically. The admissions team wants to see that you have done your research and understand what makes the program unique. 

Highlight Relevant Experience and Achievements

You should also highlight any relevant legal experience or academic achievements demonstrating your ability to undertake rigorous coursework. For example, It could be your experience with a particular type of law. It could also be your academic achievements in a subject related to law or legal structure or your internship experience.

brown wooden fence with blue and green wooden signage

Showcase Personality Traits

Finally, don’t forget to showcase your personality traits. Your personality is the most important thing about you! So let them see what makes you the unique candidate you are. The admissions team wants to know what makes you stand out from other candidates ! 

Keep the following tips in mind when writing your personal statement. 

Examples of Oxford Law Personal Statements

Here are a few examples of personal statements you can use in your application for a law program at Oxford.

I am interested in studying law at Oxford for several reasons. The first is that Oxford has an outstanding reputation as one of the world’s leading universities when it comes to legal education. Furthermore, the tutors at Oxford are highly respected professionals who have significant experience in the legal field. This would provide me with an excellent learning environment in which to develop my skills and knowledge. 

Another reason why I am keen on studying law at Oxford is because of its unique focus on critical thinking and analysis. These are essential skills for any lawyer, as they allow them to examine complex legal cases from all angles. Spending three years immersed in this type of intellectual environment would be extremely beneficial for my future career prospects. 

Finally, I should mention that I have always been fascinated by law due to its ability to impact so many areas of our lives. It influences everything — from business dealings and contractual agreements right through to human rights issues and international relations. Studying law at Oxford would give me the opportunity to explore all these different aspects further. It will help me gain a deeper understanding of how this fascinating subject works.

There are a number of reasons for my interest in studying law at Oxford. I have always been fascinated by the legal system and how it operates, both in the UK and around the world. My current studies have given me a good grounding in key legal concepts, which I would like to build on at Oxford. 

Being able to think critically about complex legal problems is something that really appeals to me. And I believe that Oxford’s renowned teaching faculty will give me access to first-class resources and mentoring. The opportunity to study law alongside students from all over the world would be invaluable. This is in addition to being part of one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

I first became interested in studying law while completing my undergraduate degree at Cambridge University. I had the chance to learn from some of the world’s most eminent legal minds, who instilled in me a love of legal analysis. Since then, I have gone on to work as a lawyer-advisor for an international NGO, where I gained invaluable experience managing complex legal cases. 

What appeals to me about Oxford specifically is its renowned faculty combined with its focus on critical thinking and originality. In addition, Oxford also offers excellent opportunities for extracurricular activities like mooting, which will give me vital practical skills necessary for my law career. 

Given all this, it would be an honor if you could consider my application to study Law at Oxford University.

If you like the samples above, you can create something similar or better. Thanks to the new Hey INK tool , you can now ask the AI to write different types of content. The tool works with a high level of precision.

Positive Oxford Law Personal Statements to Try

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

Explore All Write Personal Statement Articles

How to draft meaningful length of law school personal statement.

Are you confused on how to write a law school personal statement? One of the essential elements of your application…

  • Write Personal Statement

Effective History and International Relations Personal Statement to Try

Are you considering studying history and international relations? Or you may be curious about what a degree in this field…

Guide to Quality Global Management Personal Statement

Are you applying for a global management program and want to stand out from the crowd? A well-written personal statement…

How to Draft Better Examples of Personal Statements for Residency

Achieving a residency can be a massive accomplishment for any aspiring medical professional. To secure your spot in one of…

Tips for Drafting a Free Example of Personal History Statement

A personal history statement can be crucial to many applications, from university admissions to job search processes. This blog will…

Writing Compelling Dietetic Internship Personal Statement

Applying for a dietetic internship is a rigorous process and requires submitting a personal statement, which is an essential part…

Oxbridge-Mind

Law Personal Statement – A Strong Introduction

law personal statement Oxford

When applying to study Law , the personal statement is your first chance to catch the eye of the admissions tutors. This is the initial section of your Oxbridge law personal statement , so create a good first impression! When writing your personal statement Oxford tutors will be grabbed first by the introduction. However, it’s all about balance in introductions…

  • Attract the reader’s attention while staying away from cliches.
  • Sound enthusiastic, but not obnoxious.
  • Set the tone for the rest of your message, but don’t provide too much information.

Law Personal Statement Oxford Example

“Law is my life’s ambition; I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was a child.” I would be glad for the chance to study law at your amazing university, and I want to express my specific qualifications for a spot in law school in this statement.”

This law Oxford personal statement introduction is clichéd and lacks the appropriate tone. It’s crucial to seem enthusiastic, but you don’t want to come across as arrogant, so use a more reasonable tone. It’s also vital not to come across as arrogant or arrogant; portray oneself in a positive manner while being humble (remember, you haven’t begun studying law properly yet!)

oxford law personal statement sample

“Law strikes a compromise between the requirement for clarity, which necessitates sharp lines, and the necessity for flexibility to the variety and complexity of social life. This conflict fascinates me, and I wish to explore it further through the study of law, evaluating its current condition and considering the prospect of future reform.”

law personal statement examples oxford

This Oxford law personal statement foreword provides a personal perspective and thought. This is effective since it is unlikely to be similar to any of the other statements the instructor has read that morning. It also displays this person’s interest in the law without mentioning it explicitly, as well as their curious and inquiring nature. Furthermore, it establishes a trend that we hope will be continued throughout the statement.

oxbridge personal statements

TOP INTRODUCTION TIP → Striking the right balance between being passionately enthusiastic and cliche with quotes and conversations

This is your chance to demonstrate why you want to be a lawyer. It is critical that you show enthusiasm for the topic; when writing your law personal statement, Oxford instructors want to know that studying law excites and intrigues you. This will help you become a motivated law student who is eager to learn. Some candidates, however, exaggerate in their attempts to convey their zeal. This may come out as trite, but tutors will be able to spot fake excitement. So, stay true to yourself!

Consider the following points:

  • What drew you to the field of law?
  • Why are you interested in taking a legal course?
  • The subjects that interest you the most and why you love applying the abilities acquired through a law degree
  • What do you hope to do with your degree in the future?

Things to stay away from

  • Metaphors that are cheesy
  • Nonserious anecdotes or flashbacks (for example, “when I was younger…” or “after seeing Suits…”).
  • Strong adjectives and hyperbole (e.g. I absolutely love law, it is extremely enlightening and incredibly diverse)

law personal statement Oxford example

The introduction to your Oxford Law Personal Statement!

It’s critical to nail the start of your Oxbridge law personal statement. It’s all about attracting the attention of the reader, showing passion, establishing the tone for the remainder of the personal statement, and avoiding clichés. Before submitting, you should revise and rewrite the opening several times, especially after finishing the rest of your personal statement to ensure consistency and flow. If you need some support, our Oxbridge law interview tutoring programmes can help you by assisting you in writing a stand-out personal statement.

For more advice, check out our other guides, such as writing about law personal statement work experience .

At Oxbridge Mind, we can also help you with other areas of the law school application such as preparing for the LNAT with our expert LNAT tutors . Contact us today to see how we can help.

→ What is a law personal statement?

A law personal statement is a document submitted by applicants to law schools or legal positions to showcase their qualifications, experiences, and motivations for pursuing a legal career. It is an essential component of the application process and provides admissions committees with an insight into the applicant’s personality, academic background, and professional goals.

→ What are some tips for writing a strong introduction for an Oxbridge law personal statement?

To write a strong introduction, applicants should start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention, provide a brief overview of their background and experiences, highlight their motivation for pursuing a legal career, and explain what they hope to achieve by attending law school or pursuing a legal career.

→ What are some examples of effective hooks for a law personal statement introduction?

Effective hooks introduction can include personal anecdotes, quotes, statistics, or questions that relate to the applicant’s experiences or motivations. A good example would be to start with a story about how you overcame a legal challenge, a quote from a famous lawyer that inspired you, or a question that reflects your curiosity about a specific area of law.

→ Should applicants include their academic achievements in the introduction of a law personal statement?

While academic achievements are important, the introduction should focus on the applicant’s personal and professional experiences, motivations, and goals. Applicants can highlight their academic achievements in other parts of the essay or application, but the introduction should focus on what makes them unique and passionate about pursuing a legal career.

→ Why is a strong introduction crucial for a law personal statement?

The introduction is the first impression that the admissions committee will have of the applicant. Therefore, it is essential to make it engaging, memorable, and persuasive. A strong introduction can captivate the reader’s attention, set the tone for the rest of the essay, and make the applicant stand out from the competition.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Personalised 1-1 tuition, tailored to your LNAT needs by our expert tutors

A comprehensive online course to boost your LNAT preparation! Written by our LNAT experts

Prepare for your interview with the help of our expert Oxbridge tutors, who will personalise your sessions according to university and college

  • FREE Applying to Oxbridge Course
  • FREE Applying to Law Course
  • FREE LNAT Past Papers

oxford law personal statement sample

BrightLink Prep

[2024] 4 Law School Personal Statement Examples from Top Programs

oxford law personal statement sample

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field.

In this article, I will discuss 4 law school personal statement samples. These statements have been written by successful applicants who gained admission to prestigious US Law schools like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford. The purpose of these examples is to demonstrate how prospective applicants like yourself can artfully integrate their passion, skills, and pertinent experiences into a captivating narrative.

* To further guide you on your law school application journey, I will not only present these personal statement samples but will also provide my expert review after each one. This includes an analytical feedback, a graded evaluation, and a detailed discussion of any identified weaknesses and strengths within the personal statement. Through this comprehensive analysis, I aim to provide a clearer understanding of what makes a compelling law school personal statement.

In the process of composing these personal statements, the applicants have drawn upon valuable insights from several of my previous writings on the subject. Furthermore, you are encouraged to utilize my prior works as a resource to aid you in crafting your own personal statement.

In those posts I’ve discussed the  art of constructing a captivating personal statement , and I’ve highlighted the  pitfalls to avoid  to ensure your law school essay leaves a positive impression.

I’ve also shared valuable tips on  structuring your personal statement for clarity and readability, not to mention  how to create a powerful opening  that grabs attention from the start. And let’s not forget about maintaining brevity while effectively telling your story, as well as offering a vast range of  personal statement examples  from different fields for reference.

And yes, do not forget to explore my  8-point framework  that anyone can use to self-evaluate their law school personal statement. Complementing this, I’ve also created a  7-point guide  to help you steer clear of potential traps and missteps in your personal statement.

I encourage you to explore these topics in depth, as they will be useful while we explore the sample personal statement for law schools.

In this Article

1) Research the Law School

2) outline your law school personal statement, 3) write a compelling introduction, 4) showcase your achievements and interests in law, 5) articulate your motivations for pursuing law, 6) highlight unique qualities for the legal field, 7) addressing potential weaknesses or gaps, 8) craft a persuasive conclusion, my in-depth feedback on sample 1, my in-depth feedback on sample 2, my in-depth feedback on sample 3, my in-depth feedback on sample 4, why do law schools require a personal statement, does every law school require a personal statement, what should you avoid in a law school personal statement, can i use the same personal statement for all law schools, should i put my name on my law school personal statement, should you brainstorm your law school personal statement, how to write a personal statement for law school.

Writing a personal statement for law school requires thorough research, a well-structured outline, and a captivating introduction. The following steps will guide you in crafting a coherent and compelling narrative that effectively showcases your journey and aspirations in the field of law. For a more detailed post, follow this ultimate guide on how to write a personal statement .

Begin by immersing yourself in extensive research about the law school you are applying to. Explore the institution’s website, paying close attention to its mission, curriculum, faculty expertise, and any unique offerings such as clinical programs or specialized courses. Familiarize yourself with the admission requirements and tailor your personal statement to highlight relevant qualifications.

Immerse yourself in the law school’s culture and gain insights from faculty members, current students, or alumni. Attend informational sessions or open houses to gather additional details. Reflect on how the law school aligns with your career goals in the legal field and incorporate this understanding into your personal statement, showcasing your dedication and suitability.

Before delving into writing your personal statement, create a comprehensive outline of its content. Begin with a captivating introduction , which could include a compelling anecdote, an impactful quote, or a statement that highlights your passion for the law.

For example: “Ever since I witnessed the transformative power of the law in securing justice for the vulnerable, I have been driven to pursue a legal career that upholds the principles of equity and fairness.”

Next, outline your academic achievements and relevant experiences, such as internships, research projects, or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your commitment to the field of law. Emphasize the skills you have developed and the honors you have received.

Articulate your motivations for pursuing a legal education, sharing your aspirations and long-term goals. Highlight unique strengths, such as critical thinking, analytical abilities, or effective communication skills. If necessary, address any potential concerns or gaps in your application, explaining the situation and showcasing your ability to overcome challenges.

Conclude by reiterating your passion and qualifications for the legal profession and express your enthusiasm for joining the law school. This structured approach will ensure a coherent and persuasive personal statement.

Begin your personal statement with a captivating introduction that immediately grabs the reader’s attention. Consider starting with an engaging anecdote, a thought-provoking quote, or a personal experience that sparked your interest in the law.

For instance: “In a world where justice often hangs in the balance, I recall the moment I witnessed a courtroom’s transformative power. The eloquence of the attorneys, the weight of their arguments, and the profound impact on the lives of those involved compelled me to pursue a legal career.”

Briefly introduce the central theme of your personal statement, whether it’s your passion for advocating for others, your commitment to upholding justice, or your desire to make a positive impact through the law. A compelling introduction sets the tone for the rest of your personal statement.

In your personal statement, focus on highlighting your academic and professional accomplishments that showcase your preparedness for law school. Discuss relevant internships, research projects, or academic achievements that demonstrate your commitment to the field.

For example: “During my internship at XYZ Law Firm, I had the privilege of working alongside experienced attorneys, analyzing complex legal cases and conducting in-depth legal research. This experience solidified my passion for legal advocacy and honed my ability to navigate intricate legal frameworks.”

Illustrate key achievements, such as publications, successful legal cases, or leadership roles within legal organizations. Explain how these experiences have shaped your interest in law and contributed to your growth and expertise in the field.

Clearly articulate your motivations for pursuing a legal education. Share personal experiences, challenges, or encounters that have fueled your desire to make a difference through the law.

For example: “Growing up in a community where access to justice was limited, I witnessed firsthand the disparities in legal representation. These experiences instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility to advocate for those who have been marginalized by the legal system.”

Outline your career goals and aspirations, illustrating how obtaining a legal education aligns with your vision. Discuss how the law school’s program, faculty, and resources will contribute to your growth and help you achieve your professional objectives.

Highlight personal qualities and attributes that make you well-suited for a legal career. Emphasize traits such as critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, research skills, or effective communication.

For instance: “My ability to analyze complex legal issues, combined with my unwavering commitment to pursuing justice, has enabled me to approach legal challenges with both empathy and determination.

Provide concrete examples that demonstrate how these qualities have positively impacted your academic or professional experiences. Showcase how these qualities align with the values and expectations of the law school, presenting a strong case for your fit within the legal community.

Address any weaknesses or gaps in your application candidly. If you encountered obstacles or faced academic challenges, briefly mention them, focusing on what you have learned and how you have grown as a result.

Demonstrate resilience and determination by highlighting subsequent achievements or steps you have taken to overcome difficulties. Showcase how these experiences have strengthened your commitment and prepared you for the rigors of law school.

Your conclusion should effectively summarize the key points of your personal statement. Recap your passion for the law, the skills you have acquired, and your future ambitions within the legal field.

For example: “Driven by an unwavering commitment to justice and armed with a solid foundation in legal research and advocacy, I am ready to embark on this transformative journey in law school.”

Express your enthusiasm for contributing to the legal profession, emphasizing how your unique perspective and experiences will enrich the law school community. Conclude with a confident and concise statement that demonstrates your readiness to excel in their program and make a meaningful impact in the field of law.

Sample 1: NYU, UCLA, and Duke

Variations of this personal statement got accepted at nyu, ucla, and duke..

One day, I decided to quit home, leave my parents behind and move to a small rural town called Leiah after being inconsiderately and incessantly forced to marry a cousin. It was a bold step, but I did not want to be like other women in my country who do not fight for their rights. While living in solicitude in Leiah, I stumbled upon a poor old man sitting beside a piece of furniture that would define his existence. Lying limply on a street corner, the old man had only one helping hand – the crippled furniture.

Coming from a privileged background, I saw for the first time the disparity between the haves and have-nots. Nothing, however, seemed more unlikely when I first arrived. Constrained by their poverty, these rural people took what jobs they could find, working for long hours in the field and finally retrieving their broken houses and furniture for respite. They were outrageously overworked and underpaid but never brought any bitterness home. At that time, I realized how blessed I was, and they were not.

Inspired by these experiences, I decided to use my education and connections to bring change to the lives of these people of Leiah. By collaborating with an NGO for money and resources, I started giving out basic amenities and finances to set up cheap livable houses for these people. I didn’t stop there – I joined a maternity home in Leiah as a public liaison officer and helped the clinic with legal and administrative issues. By understanding the numerous Federal and State laws regarding Health Care, I better equipped myself at work. After tireless efforts, I handled several cases of women and children who suffered abuse, violence, and neglect.

I wanted to discuss these experiences because I believe that, as an ever-present factor during many of these four formative years, these incidents played a significant role in shaping the adult I have become. Ten years ago, I would never have foreseen that I could become a powerful vehicle for others’ growth by living in a village. The experience has helped me develop a heightened sensitivity for those who have struggled to fit into our society. As a result, I decided to move back to the city after several years and pursue further education in law and political science. During these academic years, I was actively involved with various community service projects and as an investigator in law firms, allowing me to interact with troubled and disadvantaged youth and the mentally disabled.

I have long been interested in law as an academic discipline, and working in rural areas has confirmed that my academic interests would extend to the real-world application of legal principles. To this end, I purposefully chose jobs that provided very distinct perspectives on law practice. As a legal assistant, I became acquainted with both the advantages and disadvantages of private practice. As a member of the human rights commission, I investigated how non-profits worked at a larger scale to improve the lives of the underprivileged. Moreover, helping in DIL (development in literacy) has offered me a glimpse of how the law may be used constructively in the public sector. I am currently working as a member of the Michigan chapter on fundraising that will take place next year in LA. All these positions have equally impressed upon me the unique potential of the law to make a direct, positive impact on people’s lives.

Working as a legal consultant, I was initially turned off by the formal language, which permeated all writing and discourse (“Aforementioned • legalese had heretofore proven incomprehensible”). As one unfamiliar with the jargon, I found the law to be pretentious and distant. Gradually, however, I began to sort out the shades of difference between a “motion in limine” and a “56(f) motion.” Finally, I understood the law as a vast set of rules which could, with intelligence and creativity, genuinely be used on behalf of values such as fairness and justice.

In addition to my primary assignment on an antitrust case, some exposure to pro bono work further convinced me that law has a vital role in our society. I am also avidly involved in extra-curricular activities. For example, I went to India to attend my father’s book launch (a writer) organized by Ghalib Council, Delhi. By collaborating and bonding with the people of India, I could impart brotherhood and literacy since I found Indian people more educated than us. My society needs education and health, and I want to work in these areas when I return.

As with my experience at a law firm, I soon realized the practical application of the laws written here. Unlike most of the public, who see only the final version of a bill, being part of the health legislative process has forced me to examine all sides of any given issue. Although politics can make this process agonizingly slow and inefficient, my work here has given me a greater appreciation for how laws affect our constituents back home.

Given my skills, I am convinced that health law presents the single greatest chance for me to make a difference, both in the lives of individuals and in terms of influencing the broader fabric of society. Moreover, I am confident that my insistence on looking beyond those first impressions has provided me with an exciting opportunity to apply and study at UCLA Law.

The woman in my society is an artisan and a tradesperson. She’s an economist and a doctor. She is also a fisherwoman and a craftsperson. She’s a mentor, nurturer, parliamentarian, and cultivator. She’s brimming with life and capability, but she waits for what justly belongs to her: the right to a superior life.

Here is a brief review and rating of this personal statement based on different aspects:

  • Hook and Introduction (4.5/5): Your introduction is powerful and immediately hooks the reader. It shows strength, courage, and determination.
  • Background and Motivation (4.5/5): You’ve done a great job of illustrating your background and motivation, which stem from your experiences in Leiah. You could add more about how these experiences triggered your interest in law.
  • Relevance and Competency (4/5): You have demonstrated a clear path from your experiences to your interest in law, but a more explicit discussion about the legal skills you have developed and how you applied them would make this section stronger.
  • Passion and Personal Drive (5/5): Your passion for law, social justice, and helping others is palpable and will make a strong impression on the admission committee.
  • Program Fit and Future Goals (3/5): Your statement is currently lacking in specific references to the law school you’re applying to, making it difficult to assess fit. Discussing how the program aligns with your career goals and what aspects of the program particularly attract you would strengthen your application.
  • Conclusion (4/5): Your conclusion is effective in tying together your experiences and your desire to study law. However, a clearer expression of your readiness for law school and how you plan to contribute to the law school community would enhance this section.

Now, let’s delve deeper into each part of your statement:

  • Introduction: Your introduction is powerful and impactful. The raw honesty about your decision to leave home and confront societal norms hooks the reader immediately. It tells us you are strong, independent, and willing to make hard choices. One suggestion would be to more directly link this bold decision to your interest in law—did it spark a desire for justice, or a passion for advocating for others who are oppressed?
  • Background and Challenges: You effectively depict the stark contrast between your privileged upbringing and the poverty-stricken lives of the people in Leiah. Your empathy is palpable, and it showcases your character and capacity for understanding others’ situations. To provide more context, you could elaborate on the societal and cultural norms that were challenged by your experiences in Leiah and how these experiences shaped your view of law and justice.
  • Transferable Skills: You talk about your role as a public liaison officer and how it familiarized you with Federal and State healthcare laws. This shows you’ve already been using legal skills in a practical environment, a strong point in your favor. Perhaps expand on the specific skills or competencies you gained during this period, such as negotiation, critical thinking, or public speaking, and how they will be beneficial in a law school environment.
  • Passion and Goals: Your experiences, such as working with NGOs and maternity homes, indicate a strong passion for social justice. The goal of using law to improve the lives of the underprivileged is noble and will resonate with law schools. It might be beneficial to discuss specific areas of law you are interested in (e.g., human rights, public interest law) and how you see yourself contributing in these areas in the future.
  • Relevant Experiences: Your varied experiences, from community service to law firm investigation work, provide you with a wealth of practical experiences, all very relevant to your law school journey. Perhaps you could add more detail about how these experiences solidified your desire to study law and how they shaped your perspective on legal practice.
  • Specific Interest in the School: The personal statement does not mention a specific law school or its program. Including a paragraph detailing why you are interested in the specific school you are applying to, and how its program aligns with your career goals, could strengthen your application. Discuss the school’s specific courses, faculty, or values that attract you.
  • Conclusion: While your conclusion effectively ties together your experiences and future law goals, it could be more direct in expressing your readiness to face the challenges of law school and contribute to the school community.

Your personal statement is already compelling, but adding more context to your experiences and making clear links between your past, present, and future in the context of law could further enhance it. Remember, specificity is key—whether it’s about the skills you’ve gained, the experiences that shaped your interest in law, or the specific school you’re applying to.

Sample 2: Northwestern, Vanderbilt, and UC Berkeley

Variations of this personal statement got accepted at northwestern, vanderbilt, and uc berkeley..

Unlike many, my passion for acquiring a law degree is neither a childhood fantasy of fighting a case in a courtroom nor a preconceived notion of myself as a lawyer. Instead, I recognize that a law degree would enable me to advance my career as a taxation lawyer.

I had to skip schooling during 4th and 5th grade and instead studied at home. This was due to the financial difficulties stemming from my mother’s cancer treatment, which put a significant financial burden on us. Additionally, as a female from an agricultural and rural family, I faced family pressure to attend a public school instead of a private one. But I did not succumb to these pressures. Instead, I persevered in studying and investing in getting myself private education through partial financial support from my older brother and by working part-time as a writer and content curator. Six months before my high-school graduation, my mother succumbed to her illness and passed away. She spent the last eight years of her life bedridden. The loss was immeasurable, but life had to move on.

I first set my sights on becoming a lawyer when I interned at a law firm during the summer break following my high school graduation. Throughout this internship, I annoyed my supervisors by writing long-winded legal documents even when they asked for a few sentences – this was because of the writing habits I had developed as a content writer. With time, I started to write better legal reports, but my attention was increasingly turned toward tax law. With the guidance and counseling of my supervisors, I applied to an undergrad law program. I spent the next several years understanding the Federal Reserve’s proposed Income Tax Ordinance, including exemptions from income tax and withholding tax.

Throughout this time, I continued to work part-time with various firms, hospitals, and non-profits as a volunteer, legal advisor, and editor. Upon graduation, I applied for the position of legal advisor at the Monthly Atlantic. My current job entails researching and reporting for the newspaper on appropriations bills and export legislation. I also write daily summaries of major contracts awarded by the Federal Government. I am also primarily responsible for supporting discrete legal issues by advising the organization, drafting undertakings, and structuring remedies for the relevant issues.

I am excited but also apprehensive as I try to explain legal jargon to an informed general audience, some of whom may know more about these policies than I do. For example, recently, I had a significant challenge in understanding and decoding the budget proposals of the Federal Reserve, by section 42 of the MOPA Act, 1956 (the Act), in which the entire income of the Federal Reserve and its subsidiaries is remitted to the federal government. After thoroughly going through the provisions, I learned there are still some provisions in the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, Sales Tax Act 1990, and Federal Excise Act 2005, attracting the application of taxes and duties.

Too often, I need more legal knowledge to fully grasp bills that control how companies do business overseas, the limits to which government agencies can go to collect covert intelligence, or the amount of funding an agency can receive in a given time. On the one hand, these limitations have yet to do much to impair me in my current position. I am called to turn out several short stories daily on various topics without going into significant detail. However, I would like to advance to more complex and challenging assignments one day. I fear I will be able to do so if I acquire more expertise than I can within the confines of my deadline-driven job. It is a belief shared by several of my colleagues and many of the senior legal consultants at the newspaper that those who hold advanced degrees in law, business, and related disciplines are at an edge. A law degree would put me in a better position to join their ranks, mainly if I could attend school while continuing to work as a legal advisor in taxation-related instances.

Given my circumstances and interests, a graduate degree in taxation law from UC Berkeley is my ideal choice. In addition, I have an acquaintance that is currently enrolled at Berkeley Law school. His generous feedback has convinced me that this program would also fit my needs considering its flexible schedule and emphasis on tax law.

  • Hook and Introduction (5/5): The hook and introduction effectively capture the reader’s attention and provide a clear understanding of your unique motivation for pursuing a law degree. The personal anecdote about your internship and your writing habits adds interest to the narrative and sets the stage for the rest of the personal statement.
  • Background and Motivation (4.5/5): The background section effectively outlines the challenges you faced during your education and personal life, showcasing your resilience and determination. It helps the reader understand the context in which your passion for law developed. The motivation behind your interest in taxation law is well-explained, highlighting how your experiences and skills have guided you towards this specific field.
  • Relevance and Competency (4/5): You effectively demonstrate your competence by discussing your experiences as a legal advisor, writer, and content curator. The mention of your work with firms, hospitals, and non-profits further strengthens your case. However, it would be beneficial to provide more specific examples or achievements that highlight your skills and expertise in taxation law.
  • Passion and Personal Drive (4.5/5): Your passion for taxation law shines through in your personal statement. The enthusiasm you express for writing legal reports and your desire to tackle more complex assignments demonstrate your genuine interest in the field. The mention of your colleagues and senior legal consultants’ belief in the value of advanced degrees in law further emphasizes your commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.
  • Program Fit and Future Goals (3/5): While you express your interest in pursuing a graduate degree in taxation law from UC Berkeley, the personal statement lacks specific details about why this program is a perfect fit for your goals. Providing more information about the program’s strengths and how they align with your aspirations would strengthen this section.
  • Conclusion (4/5): The conclusion effectively wraps up your personal statement and reinforces your commitment to pursuing a law degree. It restates your interest in UC Berkeley and highlights the feedback you received from an acquaintance at the institution. However, it could be enhanced by briefly summarizing your key strengths and accomplishments and how they will contribute to your success in the program.
  • Introduction: The introduction of the personal statement effectively hooks the reader by highlighting your unique motivation for pursuing a law degree with a focus on taxation law. The mention of it not being a childhood fantasy and instead recognizing the degree as a means to advance your career sets the tone for the rest of the statement.
  • Background and Challenges: The section detailing your background and the challenges you faced is compelling. The explanation of having to skip schooling due to financial difficulties resulting from your mother’s cancer treatment adds depth to your personal story. It showcases your resilience in overcoming obstacles and your determination to pursue education despite the circumstances. The mention of facing family pressure to attend a public school instead of a private one further emphasizes your determination and ability to make your own choices.
  • Transferable Skills: While you mention working part-time as a writer and content curator, the transferable skills gained from this experience could be further elaborated upon. Explaining how your writing skills, attention to detail, and ability to analyze information have prepared you for the demands of the legal field would strengthen this section.
  • Passion and Goals: Your passion for law and taxation law is effectively conveyed throughout the personal statement. The explanation of your interest developing during your internship at a law firm, where you consistently wrote legal documents, showcases your dedication and enthusiasm. The mention of your desire to tackle more complex assignments and the belief shared by colleagues and senior legal consultants that advanced degrees are advantageous demonstrate your long-term goals and commitment to professional growth.
  • Relevant Experiences: The inclusion of your various volunteer and advisory roles, as well as your current position as a legal advisor at the Monthly Atlantic, highlights your practical experience in the field. However, providing more specific examples or accomplishments from these experiences would enhance this section and further illustrate your competence and expertise.
  • Specific Interest in the School: While you express an interest in pursuing a graduate degree in taxation law from UC Berkeley, the personal statement lacks specific details about why this program is a perfect fit for your goals. Adding more information about the program’s strengths, faculty, or specific courses that align with your interests would strengthen this section.
  • Conclusion: The conclusion effectively wraps up the personal statement by restating your commitment to pursuing a law degree and emphasizing your interest in UC Berkeley. However, it could be strengthened by summarizing your key strengths, experiences, and goals and how they align with the school’s offerings.

Overall, your personal statement effectively conveys your passion for taxation law, your determination to overcome challenges, and your commitment to professional growth. Strengthening the sections on transferable skills, providing more specific examples of relevant experiences, and including more specific details about the school’s fit would enhance the overall impact of the statement.

Sample 3: Georgetown

Variations of this personal statement got accepted at georgetown..

My desire to apply to law school is not rooted in a childhood fantasy of arguing a case before a packed courtroom. I have never seen myself as a trial attorney, ala Perry Mason or Nora Lewin on Law & Order. However, a legal education would enable me to advance my career as a writer and analyst specializing in national security and global trade issues.

I first set my sights on becoming a writer when I learned my letters. But, of course, mastering the ABCs may have been a long way from winning the Pulitzer. Nevertheless, this minor detail did not prevent me from completing three “novels” and my version of Genesis before the age of seven. Throughout elementary and junior high school, I annoyed my teachers by writing 10-page themes whenever they asked for a few sentences. Later, as a high school and college student, I continued writing, though my attention was increasingly turned toward other subjects. Ultimately, one of my professors directed me on a path that would combine my background in writing with government and policymaking. With her help, I secured an internship with a government contractor. As a result, I spent the spring and summer writing copy for websites that the company managed for the government while taking additional classes at university.

In February, I accepted a full-time job as a researcher at Washington Post, where I am now an assistant editor. My current job entails researching and reporting on defense appropriations bills and export legislation, as well as writing daily summaries of major contracts awarded by the Department of Defense and other defense ministries worldwide. With enthusiasm but some trepidation, I attempt to decode pages of legal jargon for an educated lay readership, many of whom I suspect know more than I about such policies. But, too often, I lack the legal knowledge to fully grasp bills that control how companies do business overseas, the limits to which government agencies can go to collect covert intelligence, or the amount of funding an agency can receive in a given length of time.

On the one hand, these limitations have yet to do much to impair me in my current position. I am called to turn out several short stories daily on various topics without going into significant detail. However, I would like to advance to more difficult reporting assignments one day. I fear I will be able to do so if I acquire more expertise than I can within the confines of my deadline-driven job. I also would like to It is a belief shared by several of my colleagues, as well as many of the senior writers and editors at my company who hold advanced degrees in law, business, and related disciplines. A law degree would put me in a better position to join their ranks, mainly if I could attend school while continuing to work as a journalist.

Given my circumstances and interests, Georgetown University Law Center, with its top-ranked intellectual property and international law programs, is my ideal choice. In addition, I have a colleague that is currently enrolled in the Georgetown evening law program. His generous feedback has convinced me that this program would also fit my needs considering its flexible schedule and emphasis on legal writing.

Your personal statement presents a compelling narrative that effectively communicates your passion for writing, your current profession, and your interest in furthering your education in law to augment your skills and understanding. Here are a few suggestions to improve it further:

  • Specifics: While you mention you would like to join the ranks of your colleagues who hold advanced degrees in law and related disciplines, it would be beneficial to include specific examples of how having a law degree could have or will benefit you in your current role.
  • Motivation: You’ve done a great job discussing your professional path and how you hope a legal education will benefit your career. Still, it would help if you were to discuss any personal reasons or experiences that have led you to want to study law. Personal narratives often make an applicant more relatable and can help the reader understand your motivation better.
  • Intention: You may want to further discuss how you plan to apply your law degree to your current career or future aspirations.
  • Completion: Towards the end, it seems there is a sentence that is not completed: “I also would like to It is a belief shared by several of my colleagues…”. You might want to revise this sentence to make your statement clearer.
  • Why Georgetown: While you have discussed that Georgetown University Law Center is your top choice, consider elaborating on why Georgetown, in particular, is the perfect fit for your career goals, apart from its flexible schedule and the fact that your colleague is enrolled there. You could mention specific courses, professors, or the university’s ethos, for example.

Your personal statement is already quite strong, and these suggestions are only meant to fine-tune your narrative further.

Sample 4: Harvard Law

Variations of this llm personal statement got accepted at university of pennsylvania, oxford university, and harvard law school..

I grew up in a middle-class family in Malaysia, where discipline and responsible behavior were the only doctrines taught. At school, I maintained 100% attendance without exception – a feat that my parents and I take pride in. My parents’ utmost involvement throughout my growing years always made me outshine my peers. Though my school grades were average, I represented my school in many activities ranging from debates and dramatics to being a soccer team captain for the entire house.

I have always had complete freedom from my parents until I had to choose a career. A STEM career was my parents’ priority, but for the first time, I differed from my family and chose Social Sciences. I was told that career prospects were bleak and that I was making the wrong decision, but I persisted. While majoring in social sciences, I met a mentor, Dr. Anonymous, a top economist. He challenged me intellectually, which helped me become a better thinker.

Subsequently, I secured the second position in college. My life turned around as people started to value my opinions, and at that time, I discovered my passion, “to speak.” I was chosen as the Coordinator for a Student Leadership Program, where I was mainly responsible for teaching empathy to hundreds of students from elite schools.

At the same time, at age 17, I met the chief editor of the New York Times, who invited me to host the “Youth Forum,” a program to highlight young people’s perspectives on existing social issues. With 55 episodes spanning over 2.5 years, I questioned youth’s role in our turbulent political, social, and economic system. The show gained popularity and performed exceptionally on TRP scores, with viewership growing to over 500,000.

At college, I met another mentor, Justice Anonymous of the Federal Court of Malaysia, who allowed me to attend court sessions as an observer of cross-questioning sessions. In addition, I socialized with lawyers at many forums, including the Court’s Cafeteria, where all appreciated my love for the field. In my 5th semester, I took a course on U.K. Constitutional Law, where I learned about the history of the U.K. Constitution. In the session on “Parliamentary Sovereignty” and “Britain’s relationship with the European Union,” the professor gave me new energy to research further about the steps in forming its Constitution. The more I read, the more I appreciated the perseverance of the founding fathers and the strong foundation England and Wales is built on.

A few years back, I attended the Oxford University Experience-Summer Course for Teens, Summerfuel. The program helped me with experiential learning about what college life is like. During my stay, I had plenty of opportunities to experience English life outside the classroom. Here, in a session, I narrated the first paragraph of the declaration of independence and asked, “whether all men are equal?”. To this, the professor appreciated my enthusiasm for constitutional law.

On my return to Malaysia, I had new energy to question the existing constitutional norms of Malaysia and kept comparing the constitutions of both countries and analyzing the factors that led to present-day turbulence in Malaysia. It is evident through the literature and historical precedence that the Constitution of Malaysia has been used maliciously to favor the powermongers. This indicates the lack of sincerity and dedication of the leaders who have formed this country.

Sadly, very few competent constitutional lawyers exist in the country that also happened to have played in the hands of powerful politicians who manipulated the Constitution to favor their vested interests. Therefore, I decided to take a career in this area as I aspire to be one of the few upright constitutional lawyers. I want to be amongst those who have shaped law and politics in Malaysia. Not amongst those who played in the hands of the powerful.

I want to choose Oxford Law for several reasons. Its tradition for excellence, the unique constitutional law curriculum, the summer program, and the excellent opportunity to meet and network with individuals from different parts of the world. I believe that Oxford law school’s vibrant and diverse community actively affirms my personality of maintaining lifelong relations. These different connections serve as a general resource for the campus community and a source of empowerment for students like me. The diverse setting at Oxford will enable me to investigate and engage in current issues and more profound societal questions. As a result, I will be able to discover how I can positively impact the world around me.

I am looking for an environment that promotes lively debates to complement my active speaking and reasoning traits. I can access well-known professors and discuss legal issues with exceptional young lawyers from more than 35 countries. Oxford offers a culture of collegiality and collaboration, where international students feel comfortable. At Oxford, professors like Dr. Anonymous, who specialize in constitutional law, and courses such as Democracy, Judicial Law-Making, & Constitutional Law can help nurture my skills and move forward in my career.

Professor Dr. Anonymous, a former Lord Justice in Wales, will teach me the value of strategy in litigation. Next, professor Dr. Anonymous and Dr. Anonymous will introduce me to the fabulous world of copyright. Finally, professor Dr. Anonymous will show me the foundations of the England and Wales litigation system. My long-term goal is to teach and practice constitutional law and eventually join politics on the path to becoming a leading politician. I have been inspired by high-achieving lawyers in Malaysia, such as Justice Anonymous, who have shaped Malaysia’s media, politics, and legal practice. I aspire to be the next in line.

Oxford offers a vast clinical & pro bono program via externships ranging from civil practice clinic to Wales Human Relations Commission. These externships indicate that Oxford wants to help all, a notion uncommon in Malaysia. Oxford is a lab for innovation and opportunities, as seen from the example of hundreds of Alumni that Oxford Law has catered to. I firmly believe that Oxford will genuinely appreciate my leadership at every scale and will polish my raw qualities and channel them so that I can apply them in Malaysia. Actual change on the grass root comes through education, and Oxford Law School is the ideal medium to achieve the highest standards.

Overall, your personal statement is impressive and well-articulated, illustrating a journey of personal and academic growth that highlights your passion, determination, and ambition. You make a compelling case for why you are interested in studying law, and specifically constitutional law, at Oxford. The narrative is well structured, and your argument about the need for constitutional reform in Malaysia is compelling and novel. Your professional experiences and extracurricular activities are quite impressive, providing evidence of your initiative and leadership abilities.

However, there are a few areas where your personal statement could be improved.

  • Language & Tone: There are some areas where the tone may come off as overly self-congratulatory, which could potentially turn off some admissions officers. For instance, you could soften the phrase “My parents’ utmost involvement throughout my growing years always made me outshine my peers.”
  • Coherence: The transitions between paragraphs are sometimes abrupt. For example, the transition from your second to third paragraph, where you switch from discussing your choice of Social Sciences to your achievement of securing second position in college, lacks a clear connecting link.
  • Specificity: You could provide more specifics to demonstrate the impact of your work. For example, instead of mentioning that you taught empathy to hundreds of students, it would be helpful to illustrate what this entailed and what results it achieved.
  • Mention of Oxford: The reasons for choosing Oxford Law seem generic and could apply to any top law school. To make your statement more compelling, research more about what is specific to Oxford Law – perhaps a unique program or course, or a faculty member’s work you admire, and express why that appeals to you.
  • Criticizing Home Country: The criticism of Malaysia and its leaders seems a bit harsh, which may not resonate well with some readers. While it’s important to be honest about the issues you see, try to express these thoughts in a more constructive manner, focusing more on potential solutions rather than just pointing out problems.
  • Ending: The statement ends abruptly. It would be great if you could end on a strong note, summarising your aspirations, and how Oxford fits into that journey.

Here is how I would grade your personal statement:

Content: B+ (The content is strong, but it could benefit from more specific examples and better transitions)

Structure: B (The narrative is coherent but could benefit from smoother transitions and a stronger conclusion)

Language & Tone: B (The tone sometimes comes off as self-congratulatory, and the language could be more nuanced in places)

Alignment with Purpose: B+ (Your statement makes a compelling case for why you want to study law at Oxford, but reasons specific to Oxford could be made more clear)

Overall Grade: B+ 

Your personal statement has a lot of strengths, and with a few tweaks, it could be even stronger. I hope this feedback helps you in refining it further!

Law schools typically require a personal statement for several reasons:

  • Understanding You Better: The personal statement provides insights into who you are beyond your academic credentials and achievements. It helps the admissions committee understand your values, personal growth, and unique experiences that might not be evident from your GPA or LSAT scores.
  • Assessing Your Communication Skills: Law is a field that requires excellent written communication skills. A well-written personal statement allows the admissions committee to gauge your ability to articulate complex thoughts, express ideas clearly, and construct logical arguments.
  • Determining Your Commitment: A thoughtful personal statement can demonstrate your dedication to pursuing a legal career. It’s a way for you to express why you want to study law and how you perceive your future in the field.
  • Identifying Diverse Perspectives: Law schools aim to create a diverse and dynamic learning environment. Your personal statement allows you to highlight unique experiences or perspectives that you can bring to the school, thereby contributing to this diversity.
  • Evaluating Your Potential Fit: The personal statement gives the law school an opportunity to determine whether you’ll be a good fit for their institution. This isn’t just about you meeting their requirements, but also about whether the school can meet your academic and career aspirations.
  • Demonstrating Resilience: Personal statements often include narratives that reveal challenges and obstacles you’ve overcome. These stories can demonstrate your resilience and problem-solving skills, traits that are highly valued in the legal profession.

In summary, a personal statement is a tool that allows law schools to evaluate you holistically. It goes beyond objective measurements of academic potential and provides a more comprehensive view of you as an individual.

Almost all law schools in the United States require a personal statement as part of the application process. The personal statement serves as a critical component of your law school application, allowing admissions committees to understand your motivations, experiences, and skills beyond what is reflected in your academic records and LSAT scores.

However, the specific requirements for law school applications can vary from one institution to another. Some schools may have specific prompts or topics they want you to address in your personal statement, while others may offer more freedom in choosing what to discuss. Certain schools might even ask for additional essays or statements to supplement your application.

If you are applying to law schools outside of the U.S., it’s always a good idea to check the specific admissions guidelines for each law school you’re interested in. Remember that meeting all of the application requirements can demonstrate your commitment and attention to detail, which are valuable traits in the legal field.

What is a Good Length for a Law School Personal Statement?

The length of a personal statement for law school can vary depending on the specific instructions provided by each law school.

A common guideline is typically around two to three double-spaced pages, or approximately 500-750 words.

This length is usually sufficient to provide a detailed narrative without overwhelming the reader with too much information. Remember, admissions committees review many applications, so they appreciate concise and compelling personal statements.

It’s very important to adhere to the instructions provided by each law school you apply to. If a specific word or page count is given, make sure you comply with that limit. Failure to do so could give the impression that you either cannot follow instructions or that you lack the ability to express yourself concisely, neither of which will help your application.

Above all, make sure that every word you write is meaningful and contributes to your overall narrative or argument. A well-crafted, succinct personal statement can often be more powerful than a longer one that lacks focus.

Writing a personal statement for law school can be a challenging task. It’s equally important to know what to avoid as it is to know what to include . Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

  • Vague and Cliché Statements: Avoid clichés and general statements that could apply to anyone. Be specific, personal, and honest in your writing. For example, instead of saying “I want to be a lawyer to fight for justice,” show through your experiences and reflections why and how you’re committed to justice.
  • Repeating Your Resume: Your personal statement should not be a recitation of your resume or transcript. It’s an opportunity to share your personal journey, perspectives, and insights that aren’t reflected in other parts of your application.
  • Being Overly Emotional or Dramatic: While it’s important to show passion, avoid being excessively emotional or dramatic. Aim to strike a balance between personal storytelling and professional tone.
  • Off-topic Content: Stay focused on what the prompt is asking, and tie everything back to your interest in law school and your future career. Avoid irrelevant details or anecdotes.
  • Poor Structure and Flow: A disjointed or confusing statement can be difficult to read and may give a negative impression. Plan your statement carefully to ensure it has a clear structure and logical flow.
  • Typos and Grammar Errors: These can give the impression of carelessness. Proofread your statement carefully, and consider having others review it as well.
  • Negativity or Excuses: If discussing challenges or setbacks, focus on what you learned and how you grew from the experience rather than blaming others or making excuses.
  • Making Unsupported Claims: If you claim a particular trait, back it up with concrete examples. For example, instead of just stating that you’re empathetic, share an experience that demonstrates this quality.
  • Controversial Topics: Be cautious when discussing potentially divisive subjects, as you don’t want to alienate the reader. If you do choose to address a controversial issue, be sure to do so respectfully and thoughtfully.

Remember, your personal statement is a chance to present an authentic and engaging narrative about your journey towards law school. It should showcase your unique qualities, motivations, and experiences, demonstrating why you would be an excellent addition to the law school’s incoming class.

While it’s possible to use the same base personal statement for all law schools, it is not generally recommended. This is because each law school may have different prompts or expectations for what they want to see in a personal statement. If you don’t tailor your statement to each school, you might miss an opportunity to show how well you align with that specific program or fail to answer the prompt properly.

Additionally, tailoring your personal statement to each school can demonstrate your genuine interest in that particular institution. For example, you might discuss how a specific program, course, or faculty member at that school aligns with your career goals or academic interests. Showing that you’ve done your research and understand what makes each law school unique can make your application more compelling.

That said, it’s also important to maintain consistency and honesty across your applications. You might have a central narrative or theme in your personal statement that remains the same across all versions, while adjusting specific details or sections to better fit each school.

Remember to carefully review the application guidelines for each law school you apply to, paying special attention to any specific prompts or instructions for the personal statement. It’s crucial to ensure that each statement you submit not only meets all requirements, but also clearly conveys why you are a strong fit for each particular law school. 

In general, it’s good practice to include your name and sometimes your LSAC (Law School Admission Council) number on every page of your personal statement, usually in the header or footer. This ensures that if the pages get separated for any reason, the admissions committee can easily match them back up.

However, each law school might have specific guidelines regarding formatting and what information to include. Always follow the specific directions provided by the school to which you’re applying. If the application instructions don’t specify whether or not to include your name, it’s generally safe to include it to ensure your personal statement is easily identifiable.

Also, it’s always a good idea to include a title for your personal statement, even if it’s just “Personal Statement,” so it’s immediately clear what the document is. If you are sending more than one essay or document (like a diversity statement or addendum), this will ensure that each one is clearly identified.

Prior to initiating the writing process, it is vital to set aside some time to formulate your thoughts. Given that the prompts for law school personal statements are usually quite generic—such as, “Why are you interested in studying law?”—candidates often face uncertainty about the best way to approach their response.

You may find yourself overwhelmed with numerous ideas, or conversely, completely devoid of inspiration. To start off, let’s consider a practical approach you can adopt if you’re grappling with where to begin.

Take a writing pad and respond to the subsequent questions:

  • Why do I want to go to law school? This question helps to clarify your motivation and passion for pursuing law as a career. It can be grounded in an event, an experience, or a specific interest you’ve cultivated over time .
  • What experiences have prepared me for a career in law? These could be academic, work, or extracurricular experiences, where you’ve developed skills that are relevant to a legal career, such as critical thinking, negotiation, or public speaking.
  • How have my past experiences influenced my world view? This can provide context about how you approach problems, deal with adversity, or interact with diverse groups, which are all relevant to a legal career.
  • How does a law degree fit into my long-term career goals? Here, you’re demonstrating an understanding of how a law degree can contribute to your aspirations, showing a commitment to the field.
  • Can I discuss a specific area of law I’m interested in? It’s a bonus if you’re able to tie your experiences and interests to a particular field of law. This shows a depth of understanding and dedication to the subject.
  • Is there a unique perspective or diverse background that I can bring to the law school? Schools value diversity in their student body, as it contributes to the richness of classroom discussions and the overall community.
  • Have I overcome any significant obstacles or challenges in my life that have shaped who I am? This might provide insight into your resilience, determination, and adaptability, which are valuable traits in a lawyer.
  • How have I demonstrated leadership or initiative in the past? Law schools are looking for leaders and self-starters, so any evidence of this will be useful in your personal statement.
  • Can I articulate the values and qualities that will make me a good lawyer? You might think about empathy, integrity, diligence, advocacy, or the desire to serve others and uphold justice.
  • Why am I a good fit for the specific law school I’m applying to? Consider the school’s mission statement, values, programs, faculty, etc. This can show that you’ve done your research and are committed to attending that particular school.

Formulating a compelling law school personal statement requires thoughtful introspection and strategic planning. By answering these guiding questions, you can navigate the broad prompts and articulate your experiences, motivations, and unique attributes effectively.

Remember, the goal is not to present a list of accomplishments but to paint a vivid picture of your journey towards the legal profession. So, use these questions as your starting point, and craft a narrative that stands out in the sea of applicants and resonates with the admissions committee. The journey towards a career in law starts with this crucial step, and you have the power to shape it.

WANT MORE AMAZING ARTICLES ON GRAD SCHOOL PERSONAL STATEMENTS?

  • 100+ Outstanding Examples of Personal Statements
  • The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Winning Personal Statement
  • Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Personal Statement
  • Writing a Killer Opening Paragraph for Your Personal Statement
  • Ideal Length for a Graduate School Personal Statement
  • 100 Inspiring Quotes to Jumpstart Your Personal Statement

Sample Personal Statement for Masters in International Business

Sample Personal Statement for Masters in International Business My journey began amidst the kaleidoscope of Qatar's landscapes, setting the stage for a life attuned to cultural nuances. Transitioning to Riyadh in my teens, I absorbed a mosaic of traditions, sparking a...

Sample Personal Statement for Family Medicine Residency

Personal Statement Prompt: A personal letter is required. We are looking for mature, enthusiastic physicians who bring with them a broad range of life experiences, are committed to providing excellent patient care, and can embrace the depth and breadth of experiences...

Sample Personal Statement Cybersecurity

In this article, I will be providing a sample grad school personal statement in the field of cybersecurity. This sample was written by an applicant who got admitted into George Mason, Northeastern and Arizona State University. This example aims to show how prospective...

100+ Grad School Personal Statement Examples

Introduction Importance of a Strong Personal Statement A personal statement is essential in the graduate school application process, as it plays a significant role in shaping the admissions committee's perception of you. In fact, a survey conducted by the Council of...

Mental Health Counseling Personal Statement Example

The following essay was written by an applicant who was admitted to top US master's programs in mental health counseling. Variations of this personal statement got accepted at Boston University, Harvard, and Yale. This personal statement is intended to provide an...

WANT AMAZING ARTICLES ON GRAD SCHOOL PERSONAL STATEMENTS?

  • 100+ Personal Statement Templates

Example Personal Statement: Law

We analyse a student's personal statement.

Example Personal Statement: Law

This student applied to study Law at the University of Cambridge, Durham University, University College London, the London School of Economics, and King’s College London. They received conditional offers from all their chosen universities except King’s College London.

Here we break their personal statement down into parts, analysing each section so you can learn from their experience.

Having lived in Singapore for nine years, my interest in studying law was originally sparked by the notorious legal system in the country. I read into their laws and policies on crime, safety, and racial quotas, and began exploring criminal law in different countries, comparing their laws and crime rates to see the impact of the legal system in different countries. Studying law will help me develop my research and analysis skills, and improve my ability to construct meaningful, well thought out arguments to support my ideas.

You should write about your initial interest in law, but make sure your only reason for studying the subject isn’t a ‘lightbulb moment’ - it needs to be a long term reason and you need to demonstrate how you have nurtured this interest both in class and in your own time.

Avoid starting your Personal Statement with a definition or explanation of law - you don’t need to prove you know what the subject is; you need to demonstrate your passion for and interest in it.

If you choose to explain why you want to study law, mention the skills or knowledge you’ll build as opposed to the career you hope to have afterwards. After all, you’re applying to be a student, not a barrister!

I used my interest in law to develop my understanding of key literature texts in my English studies, where I chose to write my coursework on Dickens' satirisation of the judiciary system in Bleak House . My studies in English highlighted a correlation between negative perception of the judicial system and increasing crime rates - a trend that can be epitomised by the Victorian era. I researched other Victorian novels to see how authors had used their everyday experiences with people to enable them to write a realistic depiction of the negative perception of law at the time. I was able to think critically about the role of the law in society, researching the Court of Chancery in order to find historical information to support and inform my extensive literary analysis. I also read Learning the Law by Glanville Williams which strengthened my historical understanding of the judicial system's dilapidation at the time.

You don’t have to bring your other subjects in if it isn’t relevant. This student, however, took their interest in one subject and extended it to another which demonstrates their natural curiosity in law, and shows the admissions team that they understand law has a wider place in the world beyond the courtroom. 

Many law departments list analytical and debate skills as qualities they look for in applicants so make sure you demonstrate where you have built or developed these skills. You can do as this candidate has and write about an essay or project, remembering to use details of the research you completed, and the opinions or conclusions you formed. If you are invited for an interview, you might be asked about your opinions on the books or articles you referenced so make sure you’ve actually read them!

Through my engagement in current affairs, I discovered an interest in the more human aspects of the law - for example, human rights violations and youth offending. Youth offending is a particular interest of mine and I have examined cases in the news through the lens of experts like Adam Foss in my EPQ on the value of juvenile prison in reducing crime. For this project I also used the University of Oxford’s ‘Tackling Adolescent to Parent Violence’, considering how the law differs in the US and UK and how interventions other than prisons are being experimented with to prevent future crime. This opened up new areas of law for me, enabling me to use my research skills to explore a key legal debate that I would like to study further in a law degree.

You should always mention your EPQ even if it’s not directly related to your chosen subject. An EPQ gives you valuable skills and an opportunity to research any topic of your choice which is very similar to the way you’ll write essays at university. 

This student highlights a necessary interest for a law student - current affairs - and uses this as a springboard to discuss their EPQ. They also mention how they’ve used their wider reading and pointed out a key topic they’d like to study in more detail.

I recently took a two week law course at Oxford summer school where I learnt the importance of constructing legal arguments based on precedents and definitions, and was dissuaded from building my arguments too intuitively. We examined the effectiveness of intuition over evidence-based reasoning in ‘hard cases’, considering the value of professional experience in making decisions in a courtroom. What I understood from this experience was that legal reasoning can be based on intuition but only when that intuition is formed through long term experience of legal theory and precedents; I used this to develop my arguments in my law essays. I started listening to BBC Radio 4’s ‘Law in Action’ and building a bank of notes to use in future essays, and began watching court sittings online to learn more about the way legal arguments are built for the courtroom - something that has helped me develop my debate and communication skills. 

If you have completed any extracurricular activities that are directly related to law, include them in the body of the Personal Statement rather than at the end with the rest of your activities. As in this example, write about what you learnt, and how it has influenced your studies as a result. If you were inspired to read more widely or start a new activity as a result, avoid listing the names of the films, books, or podcasts you engaged with - instead, write about what you have done with your research either in your work or how it has improved your understanding of the subject. 

Remember that you could be asked about any part of your Personal Statement in an interview, so make sure you’d be confident expanding on the points you’ve made.

I have always been a highly active member of my school community and last year my efforts were rewarded when my peers elected me Student President. Campaigning for this position gave me the opportunity to develop my skills in forming persuasive and engaging arguments, and allowed me to recognise the importance of basing justifications in concrete fact. I was also able to identify key areas for development in the school to make informed and realistic promises for improvement without overpromising.

You should save your extracurricular activities for the end of your Personal Statement, focusing on your skills and achievements. Avoid mentioning any career goals you have, and avoid writing a conclusion - your characters are limited so you're better off expanding on points in other paragraphs than writing an unnecessary round up!

Latest posts:

Unifrog’s virtual work experience week (1st-5th july 2024) faqs.

1st May 2024

Skills development workshop and insights day with the British Army

26th April 2024

The student aspiration gap: what it is, why it matters, and how we fight it

29th January 2024

Counselor spotlight: Augusto Neto at St. Paul's School, Brazil

8th January 2024

How Bloomberg is getting closer to disadvantaged students with Unifrog’s help

4th January 2024

How to create a gold-tier early careers strategy

21st December 2023

Unifrog World of Work Conference round-up

9th November 2023

10 years of Unifrog

6th November 2023

How to create an inclusive recruitment process

4th October 2023

Unifrog and Ford collaborate on skills development workshop for students

27th September 2023

Privacy & Terms

International schools

UK schools + colleges

Universities

Case studies

  • College Application

Oxford Personal Statement Examples: Top 4

Oxford Personal Statement Examples

If you’re looking to craft the perfect personal statement, reading over some Oxford personal statement examples will be the best way to start. It’s one thing to read college essay tips or instructions on how to write the perfect personal statement, but another entirely to see an example of how it’s done.

How to start a college essay can be tricky, but we have you covered! In this article, we have Oxford personal statement examples for your edification so that you can write your own best work.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 12 min read

Oxford personal statement examples, example no.1.

We are made of stories. History itself is the story we tell ourselves about who we are, and our oldest stories are still with us. Gilgamesh would never have found his immortality but through his story being told over and over again. Scrooge is visited by three ghosts every year for some people, and no matter how many times we hear about his conversion from miser to “…as good a man as the good old city knew…” we have our hearts warmed, reminding ourselves of the importance of human comfort and generosity. I have come to my interest in the classics through my interest in the stories we tell that make us who we are.

My personal reading list always exceeds my school’s reading list. When I was a boy, I was gripped by the stories of heroes like Perseus and Hercules. As I grew, I sought further stories and came across the epic poems. Over the years, I have found many people who share my enjoyment of these tales, but often they do not truly know them. One of my perpetual fascinations with classics is how these stories change, or are perceived, in the public consciousness.

Want to learn easy ways to make your college essay stand out? Watch this video:

For example, many people know of the Labours of Hercules – or Herakles, as the Greeks said – but they rarely know why he was tasked with these Labours: he killed his children. We often make dark aspects of old stories into children’s stories. We see this with modern cartoon versions of far grimmer fairy tales. I believe that this has done our world a disservice. Instead of confronting unpleasant truths, we hide them. History is often whitewashed along with the stories to make it palatable.

My studies of the classics have led me to begin a work on Hercules – investigating how his story has been told and retold. I am also examining how the story has changed over the years, why it has changed and how retelling this story in gentler ways has paralleled pop culture dumbing down stories and ignoring unpleasant truths.

“It’s just a frog,” I thought, but no matter how I tried to convince myself of that fact, I didn’t find it any easier to dissect. I was disappointed in myself because I thought that a scientist should be dispassionate, logical, and capable of dealing with any sentimental subject in an objective fashion. Yet there was the frog, my scalpel poised dramatically above its little, amphibian torso. I was almost paralysed with sympathy, and I began to fear that I would never be a scientist.

When I was young, I would wander the woods, sketching plants and animals before looking them up at home. I am happiest when I am learning something new – even if it means unlearning a truth I “knew” the day before. I had loved labs and experiments, but I had hit the wall of dissection. Could I take these creatures apart? I love learning about them, but how could I slice them open?

I told my friend Jeremiah that I wasn’t going to dissect the bullfrog. I would drop the course and do something else with my life. “I’ll help,” he said, “Come on.” With his support and encouragement, I made the first cut and couldn’t believe what I saw; I was entranced by the intricacy of the frog. Being able to see and understand nature from an insider’s perspective, so to speak, was no longer “gross,” and my curiosity finally kicked in.

As I continued in biology, through lab experiments, dissections and investigations, I found myself reversing my position on the mentality of the scientist. It is not that we must be dispassionate, but that we must intimately feel a connection with the natural world. We are a part of this world – as perfectly slotted into our evolutionary position as any other creature. More excited than ever, I joined a biology club in our city where I was surrounded by biologists of all ages – amateur and professional – and I grew immensely. I was even awarded 1 st place in a biology Olympiad.

I believe that a truly successful scientist is one who finds harmony in the natural world, not one who exploits it, and I have had several conversations with my laboratory instructor on these points. He agreed with me, and we have been working on a rubric to create a more nature-friendly approach to the science curriculum at our school. He was already quite nature-conscious, but we both agree that we could be doing more to minimise our ecological footprints.

My dream job is one that helps to balance human interaction with nature on a global scale, to fight climate change and ensure the survival of all natural species. I hope to study the natural sciences at Oxford to bring this about. I believe that my journey is one of lifelong learning, a concept stressed at your school. I am also interested in your research in sustainable urban development. I think that co-existing with nature is one of the all-important issues for humanity and for an aspiring biologist. I want to contribute to a world where, even if we dissect frogs, we do so with a sense of responsibility, not callous indifference.

Want to learn some tips for your college essays? Check out this infographic:

Example No.3

I was ten minutes into a well-structured argument as to why I was not argumentative before I realised the irony of my words. I shut my mouth, red-faced and laughing with the rest of my family. I come from a family of debaters. Not that being a debater is the only thing that makes me want to study history and politics at your institution. Politicians are more than just arguers, but my temperament is well-suited to challenging ideas and wrestling with those ideas in the public sphere.

I want to make a difference on a national level in the political arena, serving the public as a politician. I joined the debate club to learn how to perform well in front of an audience, how to test my ideas and most importantly, how to lose. I am proud of my track record, wins and losses. Losses can be a strength. My first debate was, “Be it therefore resolved that there is an obesity problem in this country.” I was assigned the “pro” angle, and I was so sure that I could win by appealing to statistical realities. However, I lost. My opponent had sharper arguments and convinced the audience that “problem” implied an inherent morality issue with obesity. I had no counterargument.

From that loss, I learned how to use language better, to anticipate counterarguments and to know my opponent’s position better than my own. Every loss is an opportunity to grow, and I love that I have been pitted against fierce opponents who make me earn every point. I would rather achieve fewer victories against a skilled debater than gain many victories against those who are ill-prepared. I also rarely lose on the same subject twice.

This is relevant to my political philosophy, which is that I believe politicians should be willing to change their opinions, even on important issues. If nobody changed their minds, we would all be pig-headed fools. I want the best information, and if that changes my mind, so be it. We need more changed minds and evidence-based policies coming from politicians who value truth and accuracy, as well as the ethics to provide morally defensible positions.

Thanks to my debate club experience, I was able to campaign successfully for student body president, a position I held for two years. I took this responsibility seriously, even if not every peer or authority figure felt the same way. During my time in student government, my proudest accomplishment was helping create a new scholarship programme to fund the university studies and housing of one student. I believe that politicians should fight for changes that will benefit people, not just institutions, so this scholarship was a particularly exciting project for me to work on.

Outside of political ambitions, my favourite thing to do is to go to museums and art galleries. I take tremendous pleasure in discovering who we were and are and being able to compare the two. I hope to bring my historical knowledge and understanding to my career in politics.

Whether I am debating at family dinner or quietly, reverently studying in a museum, my greatest joy would be to help people build the society that they want to see.

Example No.4

When the first atomic bombs were detonated, Oppenheimer famously stated, “I am become death, destroyer of worlds,” characterising the transcendent regret he felt. Of course, Oppenheimer was himself quoting from the Bhagavad Gita. When I think of Oppenheimer’s sorrow, I think of the importance philosophy has for a person navigating hard sciences, like mathematics.

For many people, philosophy and mathematics – what I hope to study at Oxford – are divorced from one another, if not opposites. One, resulting from the musings of a curious mind, is seen as almost useless in practical terms. The other is seen as cold, scientific truth in written form. But I believe they are linked. I loved reading Oxford’s published paper, “Influencing HIV/AIDS Policy in India Through Mathematical Modelling.” Our math knowledge, and the application thereof, can directly affect the world around us, improving it for all.

In my final year of high school, I wanted to write about the impact that mathematics has on the world. I wrote a paper on black holes. I interviewed a mathematician named Peter Richards who was working at a physics lab studying the phenomenon. Mr. Richards told me how the gravity of black holes creates event horizons, shaping space around them, but that scientists are investigating whether gravity is influenced by light. This cosmological-level chicken-or-egg question became the basis of my paper, which was about how we think about the universe and our place in it. Mathematics might one day answer who we are and why we are here. This paper won 1 st place in an essay competition and secured me a small scholarship.

Math is the language of the universe. I see it everywhere: in nature’s patterns and in the music I play. I have been learning to play flutes – everything from woodwinds to concert flutes to world music instruments like ocarinas. As my study of math deepens, I become more immersed in exploring the range of the instrument, which, in turn, transforms my music. Math reshapes the world around us.

This study of the interplay between mathematics and philosophy led me to study the mathematics of global populations, which I believe will soon become imperative research on how we can maintain a sustainable eco-system. I attended a recent event for mathematicians studying global trends, where I interviewed several prominent mathematicians in the field for the school paper. I got to ask these important persons about their thoughts on the responsibility mathematicians have regarding humanity and the care needed to help our species. A surprising number – two out of the five I spoke with – had given little or no thought to the idea of blending philosophy and mathematics. I was shocked at this mathematical proof that even people in the field did not give much thought to this.

I hope to combat this in my own life and studies, encouraging mathematicians to increase their conscientious use of their skills to better humanity in a direct way, as well as to be more conscious of their responsibilities in the world today.

Oxford recommends that you follow the UCAS advice on personal statements when writing your own. It is well worth taking your time drafting your personal statement because the admissions committee at Oxford reads each one several times. They are really interested in learning about anything academic because they are curious about your potential in your field of study. This implies that they are interested in both what you have done and are doing in school as well as anything you have done outside of the classroom that is related to the subject you have chosen to study. More than being the best extracurriculars for college , Oxford refers to these activities as super-curriculars . Super-curriculars can be anything “you’ve read, listened to, watched or visited” that relates to your academic interests, unlike extracurriculars.

About 80% of your personal statement should discuss your academic interests and super-curriculars. The recommended structure is as follows:

  • Opening paragraph explaining why you want to pursue the programme
  • 3 or 4 paragraphs analysing your academic and super-curricular activities
  • Brief closing paragraph about your extracurricular interests, with a focus on transferable skills and career plans/future aspirations

To ensure that your personal statement applies specifically to the University of Oxford, first look at the school’s mission, vision statement and core values. Aligning your essay with these values will help prove that Oxford is the perfect fit for you, which is your main goal. This is the first step in how to write a college essay for this school.

You may also want to reference other important aspects of Oxford. Do they have research in the area you want to work in? Do they have a professor you cannot wait to study with? Do they have the curriculum set up in a way that best suits you as a student and your future goals? You need to show not only how you fit with Oxford, but also how the school will propel you forward in a way that no other school could.

Oxford’s Mission Statement

“We inspire people locally, nationally and globally by extending access to Oxford’s world-class teaching and resources through flexible and inclusive opportunities for study and research.”

Oxford’s Vision Statement

“To be a global centre of excellence for lifelong learning. Courses will be underpinned by the best teaching, research and support for learning to meet the needs of diverse, ambitious and intellectually curious students. Staff and students will work together within and beyond Oxford to foster a vibrant learning community attentive to the importance of promoting sustainability and social justice.”

Oxford’s Values

Finally, note that all Oxford personal statements have a character cap of 4,000, including spaces, and must be no longer than 47 lines.

Essay Writing Tips

Here are some general pieces of advice to keep in mind while working through your college essay review process. These tips will apply to your Oxford essays, but they will also be beneficial for any essays. Essays follow a basic structure and have a fundamental goal that is shared among them, even when specifics differ. So, you could be writing supplemental college essays , college diversity essays , or Harvard medical school secondary essays , but regardless of the type of essay or school, these tips will still apply.

The Main Objective

All essays are, directly or indirectly, “ why this college” essays . The admissions committee is looking for students who fit their institution and are excited about attending. Whatever your college essay topics are, you’re always answering that fundamental question.

Start Strong

College essay introductions are hard in and of themselves. Conquering the introduction means beating the blank page. Start with the best “"hook” sentence you can find. That means you need an attention-grabbing opener that compels the reader to continue.

Once you’re through the introduction, you must follow through with two or three paragraphs about your accomplishments or criteria the school expect to hear about – in Oxford’s case, those are your academics and super-curriculars.

Each story should answer the fundamental question: “Why is this person perfect for this school?"

Wrap it up with a conclusion that summarises your main points and, if possible, connects to the introduction like a loop.

Up to 4,000 characters, which includes spaces.

You don’t want to go so short you can’t say anything of substance. Brevity is the soul of wit, however, so don’t worry about having a personal statement that is “only” 300–400 words long. Don’t pad out your statement; say what you need to and no more.

Your personal statement shows your unique abilities and personality and why you are ideally suited for the institution and programme to which you are applying. Showcase qualities like perseverance, leadership, teamwork, curiosity, creativity, logic and personal growth.

Your main focus will be on academics and super-curricular activities.

Negative people don’t come off well, so dwelling on problems, whining, or badmouthing people is never a good idea.

Formal, standard essay format is perfect: hook sentence, introduction, main body – which expresses one or two main ideas – and a conclusion that comes full-circle, ideally connecting to the introduction. You can use the first person, since this is a personal essay.

Always follow the rule of “show, don’t tell” to demonstrate your qualities and abilities.

Free-associate for a while. Give yourself one or two minutes to write on the programme you want to take at Oxford and just free-associate. By the end, your passion for the subject will have won out and given you a good list of ideas to explore.

Your essay gets cut off. Never exceed the limit. So, in practical terms, if you exceed the character limit, or 47 lines, part of your personal statement will be missing.

Not formally, no, but it is being evaluated, so make sure you edit properly and go over spelling and grammar with a fine-tooth comb.

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions, get started now.

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webinar:

How to make your college applications stand out, (and avoid the top 5 mistakes that get most rejected).

Time Sensitive. Limited Spots Available:

We guarantee you'll get into your dream college or university or you don't pay.

Swipe up to see a great offer!

oxford law personal statement sample

Student Good Guide

The best UK online resource for students

Law Personal Statement Example

I hope this personal statement example for the LLB Law course and LLM will help as a motivation and inspiration to work on your university application. You can use this example as a guide to writing a personal statement for any university in the UK – Oxford , Cambridge , UCL, LSE, KCL etc.

As a child, I was fascinated by the stories my grandfather would tell me about his work as a lawyer. I was captivated by the idea of using logic and reasoning to solve complex problems and help people in need. As I grew older, my interest in the law continued to develop, and I began to explore the different areas of law and the ways in which they intersect with society.

During my high school years, I took advantage of every opportunity to learn more about law, including participating in mock trials, attending workshops and seminars, and conducting independent research. I also volunteered with a local legal aid clinic, where I gained practical experience and saw the law’s impact on people’s lives.

In college, I decided to major in political science and legal studies. I have been able to build on my earlier experiences and deepen my knowledge and understanding of the law. I have also been able to gain practical experience through internships and research opportunities, and I have developed strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

I am excited to take the next step in my journey and apply to a law program. I believe that a law degree will provide me with the knowledge and skills I need to pursue a successful career in law. I am eager to learn from experienced practitioners and engage in meaningful work that makes a difference in people’s lives. I am confident that I have the passion, dedication, and abilities to excel in a law program and make a valuable contribution to the field.

Learn more:

Applying for a Master of Laws (LLM) Degree The Best Master of Laws Universities In The UK

Personal Statement Examples

  • Anthropology personal statement examples
  • Statistics Personal Statements
  • PPE Oxford Personal Statement Example
  • Classics Personal Statement Examples
  • Theology Personal Statement Examples
  • Physics Personal Statement Examples
  • Chemical Engineering personal statement examples
  • Oncology Personal Statement Examples
  • Psychiatry Personal Statement Examples
  • Earth Sciences Personal Statement Example
  • History Personal Statement Examples
  • Veterinary Personal Statement Examples For University
  • Civil Engineering Personal Statement Examples
  • User Experience Design Personal Statement Example
  • Finance Personal Statement Examples
  • Neuroscience Personal Statement Examples
  • Graphic Design Personal Statement Examples
  • Film Production Personal Statement Examples
  • Events Management Personal Statement Examples
  • Counselling Personal Statement Examples
  • Forensic Science Personal Statement Examples
  • Children’s Nursing Personal Statement Examples
  • Chemistry Personal Statement Examples
  • Sports Science Personal Statement Examples
  • Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Examples
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering Personal Statement Examples
  • Quantity Surveying Personal Statement Examples
  • Social Work Personal Statement Examples
  • Physiotherapy Personal Statement Examples
  • Journalism Personal Statement Examples
  • English Literature Personal Statement Examples
  • Marketing Personal Statement Examples
  • Computer Science Personal Statement Examples
  • Fashion Marketing Personal Statement Examples
  • Dietetic Personal Statement Examples
  • Product Design Personal Statement Examples
  • Aerospace Engineering Personal Statement Examples
  • Geography Personal Statement Examples
  • Business Management Personal Statement Examples
  • Politics Personal Statement Examples

oxford law personal statement sample

Clearing Universities & Courses

Clearing advice.

Recommended Clearing Universities

Popular Course Categories

oxford law personal statement sample

Course Search & Discover

Start the search for your uni. Filter from hundreds of universities based on your preferences.

Search by Type

Search by region.

Recommended Universities

oxford law personal statement sample

Ravensbourne University London

London (Greater) · 88% Recommended

oxford law personal statement sample

Swansea University

Wales · 100% Recommended

oxford law personal statement sample

University of Surrey

South East England · 98% Recommended

Search Open Days

What's new at Uni Compare

oxford law personal statement sample

University of Roehampton

Study a teaching degree at one of the UK's leading teacher training providers

oxford law personal statement sample

University of Sussex

Prepare for a digitally advanced workplace with cutting edge Finance Degrees

Ranking Categories

Regional rankings.

More Rankings

oxford law personal statement sample

Top 100 Universities

Taken from 65,000+ data points from students attending university to help future generations

oxford law personal statement sample

About our Rankings

Discover university rankings devised from data collected from current students.

Guide Categories

Advice categories, recommended articles, popular statement examples, not sure what to search for, take our quick degree quiz.

Find the ideal uni course for you with our Course Degree Quiz. Get answers in minutes!

Take our full degree quiz

Get more tailored course suggestions with our full Course Degree Quiz and apply with confidence.

PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLES Law personal statements

Discover personal statement examples written by students accepted onto law and related courses. Read through the examples to help shape your own personal statement.

Uni Logo for University of Brighton

Discover Law at Brighton - become skilled, confident and career-ready

Law at University of Brighton offers a rich and dynamic education that prepares students for real-world legal practices and a variety of career paths. Learn more.

Uni Logo for The University of Law

Unlock your potential at The University of Law!

Develop practical skills and gain a comprehensive understanding of legal principles to pave the way for a successful career in law.

Law Personal Statements

Submitted by anonymous

Law Personal Statement

My attraction to law originates from my interest in justice and rewar...

It is being observed that the law on parliamentary today is too vague...

LLB Law Personal Statement

Life is a constantly changing maze, where the question of right or wr...

Law is the predominant overarching factor in defining the stability o...

Law LLB Personal Statement

I once read that the idea of law started in Egypt with the phrase ‘an...

I am interested in studying a law degree after attending the local co...

Human experience reveals that everything is governed by systems. We o...

‘At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law a...

Law and Criminology Personal Statement

A recent trip to the Royal Courts of Justice reaffirmed my interest i...

When I feel someone has been wronged, I have an overwhelming urge to ...

Law is significant to everyday life past, present and future. I’ve al...

Submitted by Holly

Laws are fundamentally essential for humanity to function, they are t...

Submitted by Priya

Law with International Relations Personal Statement

Recent court cases, including Charlie Gard's battle for experimental ...

Submitted by Irene

LLB Law and International Relations Personal Statement

The society we live in relies on the enactment of intricate laws and ...

Submitted by Daniella

Law is a timeless subject, using a wide range of acts made thousands ...

Submitted by Zehra

International Law Personal Statement

When discussing my future aspirations my family and friends ask me, w...

Submitted by Beth

Law has been an interest of mine ever since I was a child. Children o...

Submitted by Nikita

The case of R v Dudley and Stephens [1884] first ignited my fascinati...

Submitted by Matthew

Growing up in an area of relative deprivation, with its consequent cr...

Submitted by Hasith

My drive to read law is exemplified by my constant need to challenge ...

Submitted by Olivia

I believe that all humans should have; the right to life, freedom fro...

Submitted by Aine

Communication, debates, opinions and current issues, what immediately...

Submitted by Dara

Law & Politics has interested me due to the current landscape (politi...

Submitted by Emriece

Speaking to people who have studied Law and Business at University th...

Submitted by Krishangy

Law and Business Studies Personal Statement

I come from a country that boasts of a great and ancient civilisation...

Submitted by Amelia

Law is the foundation of our society and is found in every aspect of ...

Submitted by Davina

I want to study law at university because it is a subject full of sig...

Submitted by Declan

I strive to be a changemaker in life - working to bring about real im...

Submitted by Oscar

My interest in the Law stems from media coverage and personal researc...

Submitted by Farzeen

As a working-class woman and an ethnic minority, I want to prosper de...

Submitted by Esther

My desire to study law stems from my interest in its ability to creat...

Submitted by Kerry

My interest in law stemmed from my enthusiasm to understand how the l...

Submitted by Ella

Since choosing to do Law at A level I have known my goal is go to uni...

Submitted by Zuzana

My interest in law began when I read 'I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorce...

Submitted by Sophie

Law with Spanish Personal Statement

Coming from a Hispanic background, alongside an inclination to questi...

Submitted by Lujain

Law is a fundamental part of our society in that it ultimately shapes...

Submitted by Sofia

What attracts me to Law and Politics the most is the potential they h...

Submitted by Alice

Unafraid to question the legal implications of current affairs, my de...

Submitted by Tasnim

Law is a complex and ever-changing subject with the ability to transf...

Submitted by Leah

I remember sitting on my living room floor, eyes barely blinking taki...

Submitted by Minwenhle

My decision to study Law was never difficult to decide. Having always...

Submitted by Bella

LLB (Law) Personal Statement

The legal system, in the UK and throughout the world, is the key reas...

Submitted by Jack

Considering law as a closely woven network preserving society's safet...

Submitted by Kofo

"Black Lives Matter" has played a major role in my pursuit of the stu...

Submitted by Sindi

My aspiration to study Law at degree level originated at a Law Taster...

Submitted by Christine

Law with Criminology Personal Statement

Learning about the intricacies of the legal system intrigues me, as i...

Submitted by Megan

Law is a subject that has, in recent years, become of particular inte...

Submitted by Rhian

Society would be a jungle without the law; our civilisation would be ...

Submitted by Sarah

Despite the growing opportunity of choice for the modern undergraduat...

Submitted by Kate

Without law, society descends into chaos. As a significant societal f...

Recommended Course

oxford law personal statement sample

undergraduate Universities

Undergraduate uni's.

Photo of Ravensbourne University London

Ravensbourne

103 courses

Photo of Swansea University

Swansea Uni

1319 courses

Photo of University of Surrey

Uni of Surrey

750 courses

Photo of University of Portsmouth

Uni of Portsmouth

761 courses

Photo of Arts University Plymouth

114 courses

Photo of Northeastern University - London

Northeastern Uni

Photo of University of East London

Uni of East London

575 courses

Photo of Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett Uni

454 courses

Photo of University Academy 92, UA92

Uni of Sunderland

340 courses

Photo of Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff Met Uni

501 courses

Photo of University of Brighton

Uni of Brighton

407 courses

Photo of University for the Creative Arts

Uni for Creative Arts

672 courses

Photo of University of Chester

Uni of Chester

645 courses

Photo of SOAS, University of London

467 courses

Photo of University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD)

886 courses

Photo of University of Leicester

Uni of Leicester

432 courses

Photo of Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt Uni

334 courses

Photo of University of Westminster

Uni of Westminster

503 courses

Photo of University of Winchester

Uni of Winchester

259 courses

Photo of Bangor University

548 courses

Photo of Goldsmiths, University of London

Goldsmiths, UOL

344 courses

Photo of University of Roehampton

Uni of Roehampton

468 courses

Photo of Middlesex University

Middlesex Uni

634 courses

Photo of Staffordshire University

Staffordshire Uni

472 courses

Photo of University of Bradford

Uni of Bradford

390 courses

Photo of University of Hertfordshire

Uni of Hertfordshire

584 courses

Photo of West London Institute of Technology

West London IoT

Photo of Escape Studios

Escape Studios

Photo of ARU Writtle

ARU Writtle

104 courses

Photo of Kingston University

Kingston Uni

617 courses

Photo of Wrexham University

Wrexham Uni

289 courses

Photo of New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, NMITE

Uni of Suffolk

186 courses

Photo of University of Kent

Uni of Kent

580 courses

Photo of Bath Spa University

Bath Spa Uni

520 courses

Photo of Queen's University, Belfast

Queen's Uni

635 courses

Photo of Coventry University

Coventry Uni

480 courses

Photo of University of Bedfordshire

Uni of Bedfordshire

656 courses

Photo of University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol

UWE, Bristol

497 courses

Photo of Leeds Arts University

Leeds Arts University

Photo of University of Central Lancashire

Uni of C.Lancashire

798 courses

Photo of University of Essex

Uni of Essex

1400 courses

Photo of University of Huddersfield

Uni of Huddersfield

668 courses

Photo of University of Reading

Uni of Reading

685 courses

Photo of University of South Wales

709 courses

Photo of Anglia Ruskin University

Anglia Ruskin Uni

808 courses

Photo of Edge Hill University

Edge Hill Uni

383 courses

Photo of University of Hull

Uni of Hull

498 courses

Photo of Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham Trent

912 courses

Photo of LIBF

FIND THE IDEAL COURSE FOR YOU

Degree Course Quiz

Find the ideal university course for you in minutes by taking our degree matchmaker quiz today.

Find the latest from Uni Compare

Image of University of Roehampton

University of Law

Ranked Top 20 amongst English universities in the 2023 National Student Survey, click here to learn more!

Image of Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Ranked as the most sustainable university in Wales (People & Planet University League 2023/24)

LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law)

What is the lnat, how do i register, when do i take the test.

  • How do I get my results?

Practice materials

If you are applying for either  Law or Law with Law Studies in Europe , you will be required to sit the LNAT as part of your application.

The Law National Admissions Test (LNAT)  is a 2-hour 15-minute test divided into two sections.

Section A is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam consisting of 42 questions. The questions are based on 12 passages, with 3 or 4 multiple-choice questions on each. You are given 95 minutes to answer all of the questions.

You’ll be asked to read passages of text and answer questions that test your comprehension of them. Your answers to the multiple-choice section of the test are checked by computer, and a mark out of 42 is created. This is known as your LNAT score.

In Section B you will be given 40 minutes to write an essay from a list of three proposed subjects. This section is marked by the tutors at the college to which you apply, and this mark is taken into account as part of the selection process. The essay is your opportunity to show your ability to construct a compelling argument and reach a conclusion.

The LNAT isn’t designed to test your knowledge of Law or any other subject. Instead, it helps us to assess your aptitude for studying Law. 

Why do I have to take a test?

Most applicants to Oxford University have outstanding academic credentials. It can therefore be difficult for us to choose between so many well-qualified candidates, especially as applicants come from all over the world and take different qualifications.

Tests give us an extra piece of information for every student who has applied for a given course, wherever they are from. Considered together with the other elements of the application, this helps us to identify the very best candidates. However, there is no specific mark that will guarantee that you will be invited to interview.

The tests vary each year, and your test score will be considered alongside the scores of other students who apply for your course.

Do I have to pay?

The LNAT is administered by an independent company who charge candidates a fee of £75 to take the test in the UK or EU. If you are taking the test in a centre outside the UK or EU there is a fee of £120.

However, we do not wish the cost of sitting the test to be a barrier to doing so. An LNAT bursary scheme is available to candidates struggling to pay for their LNAT test. Test fees will be waived for UK/EU students in receipt of certain state benefits.

You must apply for a bursary before booking the LNAT. It could take at least a week to process a bursary application from the date of receipt so you should allow for this extra time when planning your LNAT booking.

For more information on applying for a bursary please read the detailed information about LNAT bursaries  on the LNAT website.

How are the tests designed and reviewed?

The LNAT is not run by Oxford University. The test is used by nine UK universities as part of their admissions process for undergraduate applications to Law.

The content of the LNAT is managed by the members of the LNAT Consortium (made up of six of those universities) and the test itself is administered by Pearson VUE, under contract to LNAT. A statistical report is produced each year for reviewing purposes and made publicly available.

Find out more about the LNAT . 

In order to register for the LNAT you must follow these steps: 

Step 1: set up an account on the LNAT website .

You can do this from 1 August in the year you intend to apply. There are further instructions on the information you will need to provide and how to do this are on the LNAT website . 

Step 2: register with a test centre. 

Unlike our other admissions tests, candidates sitting the LNAT normally do so in a registered test centre, rather than in their school or college. There are over 500 LNAT test centres around the world with 150 in the UK. 

To find your nearest test centres you can use the LNAT  live test centre locator . If you cannot find your country listed in the test centre locator or in the list of test centres scheduled to open soon, please  contact the LNAT Administrator .

Step 3:  book your test .

In order to meet our deadlines, you should register for the LNAT by 15 September and take the LNAT before 15 October in the year you apply.

You may take the test on any day when there is availability at your chosen test centre between those dates. The earlier you book, the more chance you have of getting an appointment on the day of your choice. You are therefore strongly advised to begin making arrangements as soon as possible.

Step 4:  pay for your test .

The LNAT must be paid for online in advance of your test, either via credit or debit card. If you do not have to an acceptable payment card, or live in a  country with credit card verification problems  you can apply for LNAT vouchers. 

Find out more about LNAT bursaries . 

Access arrangements

If you are normally entitled to access requirements in your exams (e.g. extended time for dyslexia, arrangements for impaired mobility, hearing or vision) you shouldn’t book your test online. Instead, you should follow Step 1 to register, then fill out an  Examination Access Requirements form , which you should submit, alongside appropriate documentary evidence, before booking your test.

Please note that while some examination access arrangements, such as extra time, can be verified and accommodated within a few days, others such as booking a reader recorder will take at least three weeks. Please allow for this extra time when planning to take your LNAT.

Once your request has been approved you will be given instructions on booking your test.

Visit the LNAT website for further information on access arrangements .

Candidates for the LNAT must take the test before 15 October in the year they apply, but not before the summer holiday of the year in which they apply. Please see below for a summary of the important dates and deadlines:

  • 1 August – 15 September : register and book the LNAT. It is highly recommended to register and book by 15 September in order to secure an LNAT test date before the 15 October deadline. A delay in booking may mean applicants have to travel further to an available LNAT location.
  • before or on 15 October : take your test. In order for your score to be considered by us, you must sit your test before or on 15 October.
  • 15 October : deadline to submit your UCAS form

On the test day:

It is important that you arrive at the test centre at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start of your test. Please note that on the day of the test, you must take a printout of your confirmation email and a  recognised form of photo-identification  (such as a passport). If you do not bring ID you will not be allowed to sit the test.

If you don't take the admissions test(s) required for your course, either because you didn't register or didn't attend on the test day, then your application will be significantly affected. Your UCAS form will still be viewed by our admissions tutors. However, as the admissions test forms an important part of our selection process it will be extremely difficult for your application to be competitive when viewed against other candidates who have fulfilled all the admissions criteria.

It is not possible to re-sit the LNAT once completed. If you were ill on the day of the LNAT please contact the Law faculty ( [email protected] ) and let them know, include your UCAS PID and LNAT registration number. If there was some form of disruption at the test centre you should ask for an incident number on the day of the test and contact the LNAT Consortium as soon as possible afterwards.

Read more information on the complaints procedure .

How do I get my results?     

Candidates sitting the LNAT will receive their results in mid-February.

All scores and essay will be made available to the faculty selection committee in time for them to make their shortlisting decisions in November, so candidates do not need to send their results to us separately.

Taking any type of test or exam can be stressful, but you can help build your confidence by doing a bit of preparation ahead of time.

You may also do better in the real test if you've had a chance to practise some sample or past papers, and got used to the format and timings of the admissions test you have to take.

Here are our top tips for preparing for the LNAT:

  • Review the sample papers for the LNAT provided below. This will help you to feel familiar with the test paper and know what to expect. Make sure to have a look at the online simulation  too.
  • Sit at least one past paper in test conditions. This is really important as it will help you get used to how much time to allocate to each question.
  • Have a look at the LNAT website, which contains lots of useful information on how to prepare including hints and tips from former candidates and an LNAT preparation guide .

Don't worry if you find the past or specimen papers very difficult - they're supposed to be! All our tests are designed to stretch you further than you have been stretched before – most candidates will find them really hard.

Section A practice papers

The first section of the LNAT is a screen-based multiple-choice test of 42 questions. You may find it useful to familiarise yourself with the format of the test using  this online sample test . You may also like to attempt the following practice test papers which can be downloaded as PDFs. Remember you are given 95 minutes to answer all of the questions.

  • Practice test paper 1
  • Practice test paper 2
  • Practice test commentary
  • Practice test marking scheme

Section B essay questions

In the second section of the LNAT you will be given 40 minutes to write an essay from a list of three proposed subjects. Here are a few sample essay questions for you to think about. Remember that you get 40 minutes to write a maximum of 750 words – ideally about 500-600 words .  

  • How should judges be appointed?
  • Make the best case you can for public funding of the arts.
  • Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out? 
  • ‘It is right that students should contribute to the cost of their degrees.’ Do you agree?
  • What disciplinary sanctions should teachers be allowed to use?
  • ‘We must be prepared to sacrifice traditional liberties to defeat terrorism.’ Discuss.
  • Should the law require people to vote in general elections?
  • Should private cars be rationed? If so, how?
  • What is ‘political correctness’ and why does it matter? 
  • Make the best case you can for public funding of the arts
  • Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out?
  • What is 'political correctness' and why does it matter?

Further resources

You may wish to prepare by simply reading a good quality English-language newspaper. As you read, think about the issues being raised; what assumptions are being made? What information is being relied on to draw which conclusion? How would you frame a counterargument? This will help you to be aware of the world around you.

The LNAT essay topics will not be specifically about current affairs, and you will not be judged by what facts you know. But knowing how the world ticks, in general terms, will help you to write intelligently about a host of different topics.

We have listed some newspapers below worth considering. You can read the online versions (usually freely available, although registration may be required).

If you do read the online versions, remember to read the comment pieces as well as the news. (One question you might ask yourself: What exactly is the difference between news and comment? Is the contrast really apparent in practice?)

  • The Economist
  • The Financial Times
  • The Guardian
  • The Independent
  • The Irish Times
  • The New York Times
  • The Scotsman
  • The Sydney Morning Herald
  • The Daily Telegraph
  • The Washington Post

As part of your preparation you may also like to look at some materials on critical thinking. Here is a selection. Some of them include exercises that can help you develop your LNAT skills.

  • Alec Fisher,  Critical Thinking: An Introduction  (Cambridge University Press, 2001) 
  • Roy van den Brink-Budgen,  Critical Thinking for Students  (How to Books, 2000)
  • Nigel Warburton,  Thinking From A to Z  (Routledge, 2000) 
  • Peter Gardner,  New Directions: Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking  (Cambridge University Press, 2006)  (mainly for those who have English as a second language)

YOU MUST TAKE THE LNAT IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR:

Law   Law with Law Studies in Europe

Oxford only admissions tests:

BMSAT CAT HAT MAT MLAT PAT Philosophy test TSA

CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?

Try our extensive database of FAQs or submit your own question...

ANY QUESTIONS?

Follow us on social media

Follow us on social media to get the most up-to-date application information throughout the year, and to hear from our students.

YouTube icon

RSS Feed

521 S. Main, Moscow,  Idaho 83843 | (208) 882-2669 | [email protected] | 10am - 6pm Mon-Sat, 10am - 4pm Sun

BookPeople Of Moscow Logo

50 Real Law School Personal Statements: And Everything You Need to Know to Write Yours (Manhattan Prep LSAT Strategy Guides) (Paperback)

50 Real Law School Personal Statements: And Everything You Need to Know to Write Yours (Manhattan Prep LSAT Strategy Guides) By jdMission Senior Consultants Cover Image

  • Description
  • About the Author
  • Reviews & Media
  • Law / Essays
  • Study Aids / LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
  • Study Aids / Graduate School Guides

Personal statement advice: art and design

Applying to university.

  • Getting started
  • UCAS Tariff points
  • Calculate your UCAS Tariff points
  • Amendments to the Tariff consultation
  • Offer rate calculator
  • How to use the offer rate calculator
  • Understanding historical entry grades data
  • Admissions tests
  • Deferred entry
  • Personal statement advice and example: computer science
  • Personal statement advice: English
  • Personal statement advice: Midwifery
  • Personal statement advice: animal science
  • Personal statement advice: biology
  • Personal statement advice: business and management
  • Personal statement advice: chemistry
  • Personal statement advice: dance
  • Personal statement advice: dentistry
  • Personal statement advice: drama
  • Personal statement advice: economics
  • Personal statement advice: engineering
  • Personal statement advice: geography
  • Personal statement advice: history
  • Personal statement advice: law
  • Personal statement advice: maths
  • Personal statement advice: media studies and journalism
  • Personal statement advice: medicine
  • Personal statement advice: modern languages
  • Personal statement advice: music
  • Personal statement advice: nursing
  • Personal statement advice: pharmacy
  • Personal statement advice: physiotherapy
  • Personal statement advice: politics
  • Personal statement advice: psychology
  • Personal statement advice: social work
  • Personal statement advice: sociology
  • Personal statement advice: sports science
  • Personal statement advice: statistics
  • Personal statement advice: teacher training and education
  • Personal statement advice: veterinary medicine
  • Personal statement: finance and accounting
  • Filling in your application
  • Staying safe online
  • How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses
  • How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement
  • Fraud and similarity
  • How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber
  • How to end your personal statement
  • Introducing the personal statement tool
  • Personal statement dos and don'ts
  • What to include in a personal statement
  • Using AI and ChatGPT to help you with your personal statement
  • Using your personal statement beyond a university application
  • Carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain
  • Personal statement guides
  • References for mature students

What art and design tutors are looking for

The underlying message is that tutors want to know about you, your practice, your inspirations, and your aspirations, and for your personal statement to act as written accompaniment to your portfolio and performance at interview.

How to make your art and design statement stand out

Admissions tutors prefer to read personal statements that don't stick to a predictable formula – here are a few tactics to ensure yours packs a punch.

  • Focus on the course: Martin Conreen, design admissions tutor at Goldsmiths, University of London, urges applicants for design courses 'not to over mention art' but to stay focused on design. He also feels some applicants waste too much space on non-relevant factors like their sporting achievements.
  • Your influences: Martin adds he wants to hear who your influences are, why they inspire you, and 'how their work has resonance with your own, or with your own ideas'.
  • Examples of what inspires you: David Baldry, fine art course leader at University Campus Suffolk, echoes this: 'Tell us what inspires you. We want to know what contemporary art interests you, so talk about key artists or an exhibition that made an impression on you. We want to know how you respond to the world creatively, so talk about your experiences or projects you’ve developed independently. Also, edit it so it sounds punchy'.
  • Demonstrate your artistic ambitions: Alison Jones, fine art admissions tutor at Goldsmiths, is looking for 'interesting individuals who have a passion for art and a commitment to developing themselves as artists. Therefore, your personal statement should demonstrate an understanding of your own work, focusing on what is unique about your practice'.
  • Be original: starting your statement with a well-known quote – such as 'fashion is not something that exists in dresses only' – is inadvisable. 189 applicants quoted that exact Coco Chanel snippet last year, so it really won't make you stand out from the crowd.

It's all summed up nicely by Arts University Bournemouth whose advice is:

'Be focused on the field you're applying for (no scattergun approach), name artists or designers you admire, think contemporary, reflect on exhibitions or galleries or events you've visited, and don't think "I'll tell them at the interview" – put it in the statement!'

Find out more about studying art and design, including entry requirements, why you should study it, and possible careers it could lead on to.  

Sponsored articles UCAS Media Service

Five reasons to sign up to the ucas newsletter, do you need to take an english test to study at university in the uk, top ten student money tips.

  • Applying to Uni
  • Apprenticeships
  • Health & Relationships
  • Money & Finance

Personal Statements

  • Postgraduate
  • U.S Universities

University Interviews

  • Vocational Qualifications
  • Accommodation
  • ​​​​​​​Budgeting, Money & Finance
  • ​​​​​​​Health & Relationships
  • ​​​​​​​Jobs & Careers
  • ​​​​​​​Socialising

Studying Abroad

  • ​​​​​​​Studying & Revision
  • ​​​​​​​Technology
  • ​​​​​​​University & College Admissions

Guide to GCSE Results Day

Finding a job after school or college

Retaking GCSEs

In this section

Choosing GCSE Subjects

Post-GCSE Options

GCSE Work Experience

GCSE Revision Tips

Why take an Apprenticeship?

Applying for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Interviews

Apprenticeship Wage

Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship?

Choosing an Apprenticeship

Real Life Apprentices

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

A Level Results Day 2024

AS Levels 2024

Clearing Guide 2024

Applying to University

SQA Results Day Guide 2024

BTEC Results Day Guide

Vocational Qualifications Guide

Sixth Form or College

International Baccalaureate

Post 18 options

Finding a Job

Should I take a Gap Year?

Travel Planning

Volunteering

Gap Year Guide

Gap Year Blogs

Applying to Oxbridge

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Guide to Freshers' Week

Student Guides

Student Cooking

Student Blogs

  • Top Rated Personal Statements

Personal Statement Examples

Writing Your Personal Statement

  • Postgraduate Personal Statements
  • International Student Personal Statements
  • Gap Year Personal Statements

Personal Statement Length Checker

Personal Statement Examples By University

Personal Statement Changes 2025

Personal Statement Template

Job Interviews

Types of Postgraduate Course

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate Study

Internships

Choosing A College

Ivy League Universities

Common App Essay Examples

Universal College Application Guide

How To Write A College Admissions Essay

College Rankings

Admissions Tests

Fees & Funding

Scholarships

Budgeting For College

Online Degree

Platinum Express Editing and Review Service

Gold Editing and Review Service

Silver Express Editing and Review Service

UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

You are here

  • Mature Student Personal Statements
  • Personal Statements By University
  • Accountancy and Finance Personal Statements
  • Actuarial Science Personal Statements
  • American Studies Personal Statements
  • Anthropology Personal Statements
  • Archaeology Personal Statements
  • Architecture Personal Statements
  • Art and Design Personal Statements
  • Biochemistry Personal Statements
  • Bioengineering Personal Statements
  • Biology Personal Statements
  • Biomedical Science Personal Statements
  • Biotechnology Personal Statements
  • Business Management Personal Statement Examples
  • Business Personal Statements
  • Catering and Food Personal Statements
  • Chemistry Personal Statements
  • Classics Personal Statements
  • Computer Science Personal Statements
  • Computing and IT Personal Statements
  • Criminology Personal Statements
  • Dance Personal Statements
  • Dentistry Personal Statements
  • Design Personal Statements
  • Dietetics Personal Statements
  • Drama Personal Statements
  • Economics Personal Statement Examples
  • Education Personal Statements
  • Engineering Personal Statement Examples
  • English Personal Statements
  • Environment Personal Statements
  • Environmental Science Personal Statements
  • Event Management Personal Statements
  • Fashion Personal Statements
  • Film Personal Statements
  • Finance Personal Statements
  • Forensic Science Personal Statements
  • Geography Personal Statements
  • Geology Personal Statements
  • Health Sciences Personal Statements
  • History Personal Statements
  • History of Art Personal Statements
  • Hotel Management Personal Statements
  • International Relations Personal Statements
  • International Studies Personal Statements
  • Islamic Studies Personal Statements
  • Japanese Studies Personal Statements
  • Journalism Personal Statements
  • Land Economy Personal Statements
  • Languages Personal Statements
  • Law Personal Statement Examples
  • Linguistics Personal Statements
  • Management Personal Statements
  • Marketing Personal Statements
  • Mathematics Personal Statements
  • Media Personal Statements
  • Medicine Personal Statement Examples
  • Midwifery Personal Statements
  • Music Personal Statements
  • Music Technology Personal Statements
  • Natural Sciences Personal Statements
  • Neuroscience Personal Statements
  • Nursing Personal Statements
  • Occupational Therapy Personal Statements
  • Osteopathy Personal Statements
  • Oxbridge Personal Statements
  • Pharmacy Personal Statements
  • Philosophy Personal Statements
  • Photography Personal Statements
  • Physics Personal Statements
  • Physiology Personal Statements
  • Physiotherapy Personal Statements
  • Politics Personal Statements
  • Psychology Personal Statement Examples
  • Radiography Personal Statements
  • Religious Studies Personal Statements
  • Social Work Personal Statements
  • Sociology Personal Statements
  • Sports & Leisure Personal Statements
  • Sports Science Personal Statements
  • Surveying Personal Statements
  • Teacher Training Personal Statements
  • Theology Personal Statements
  • Travel and Tourism Personal Statements
  • Urban Planning Personal Statements
  • Veterinary Science Personal Statements
  • Zoology Personal Statements
  • Personal Statement Editing Service
  • Personal Statement Writing Guide
  • Submit Your Personal Statement
  • Personal Statement Questions 2025
  • Personal Statement Changes 2024

Art and Design Personal Statement Examples

oxford law personal statement sample

Related resources

Personal statement mistakes.

oxford law personal statement sample

Find out more

Choosing A Student Bank Account

oxford law personal statement sample

IMAGES

  1. Professional Help With Personal Statement From Our Experts

    oxford law personal statement sample

  2. How to Write an Outstanding Personal Statement for Oxford University

    oxford law personal statement sample

  3. Oxford Postgraduate Personal Statement Example

    oxford law personal statement sample

  4. How to Make Law Personal Statement Example an Advantage for YouPersonal

    oxford law personal statement sample

  5. Law School Personal Statement Writing & Editing Help Online

    oxford law personal statement sample

  6. personal statement example for law

    oxford law personal statement sample

VIDEO

  1. Sara's *Law* Personal Statement Advice

  2. Dean's Alumni Webinars 2023-24: John Armour on 'Augmented Lawyering'

  3. HOW TO WRITE AN OXBRIDGE PERSONAL STATEMENT (CHEMISTRY)

  4. Personal Statement Sample: https://selar.co/9w15y2

  5. Reading my personal statement

  6. LLB 5 Years Admission Policy 2024

COMMENTS

  1. Successful Personal Statement For Law At Oxford

    Welcome to UniAdmissions, the first world's Oxbridge preparatory school with an Oxbridge success rate of 57% and with over 500+ UniAdmissions students placed at Oxford and Cambridge. Our Law Premium Programme prepares you for every part of your application, including your Personal Statement, through one-to-one tuition sessions, intensive ...

  2. How to write a personal statement

    1. Before you start. The academic work is the most important reason why we're here, but that also translates into work experiences, internships, volunteering. I think a big part of the personal statement is crafting that narrative of academic self that fits alongside your professional experiences, to give that greater picture of who you are ...

  3. How to write the PERFECT Law Oxford & Cambridge Personal Statement with

    What makes this the perfect Oxford Law personal statement? 1. Passion for law: The applicant displays a clear passion for the study and practice of law, evident through their engagement with literary works and real-life examples that highlight the importance of a fair trial and combating prejudice. 2.

  4. Law Personal Statement Example 115 (Russell Group/Oxbridge)

    This personal statement is unrated. With a blindfold across her eyes, Lady Justice represents the objectivity of the justice system. In a generation where the gender pay gap persists and minorities face discrimination decades after the introduction of equalities legislation, I wonder whether perhaps an all-seeing symbol would be more appropriate.

  5. How to Write a Great Law Personal Statement for Oxford

    Writing Style. The right tone is as important as the content you put in your personal statement. The best thing to do is to write straightforwardly, and not to sound overly complicated or pretentious. Also, make sure your use of sentence structure and punctuation is appropriate. It is better to write one idea per sentence and one major idea to ...

  6. Law School Personal Statement: The Ultimate Guide (Examples Included

    Studying abroad in Oxford. Personally facing police injustice. Victor. Living and studying in France. ... Part 6: Law school personal statement examples. Below are the law school personal statements produced by the students we've followed throughout this guide, all well another successful personal statement example, all based on the writing ...

  7. PDF A Guide to Personal Statements

    Keep it simple. Keep it short. (Tip 1: Leave it until last) (Tip 2: Draft 5 first sentences) "My first exposure to the concept of genetic disease was whilst doing work experience at a deaf school. I found it incredible that the assortment of four bases could have such a tangible effect on health and development.

  8. Law personal statements

    We have lots of law personal statement examples that you can read through. To help you find the best ones, we asked students to vote for which they found the most useful. ... Law degree personal statement example (2z) Oxford, Warwick offers Submitted by: Anonymous "Law has been one of the most relevant, interesting and necessary areas of life ...

  9. Positive Oxford Law Personal Statements to Try

    Examples of Oxford Law Personal Statements. Here are a few examples of personal statements you can use in your application for a law program at Oxford. Example 1. I am interested in studying law at Oxford for several reasons. The first is that Oxford has an outstanding reputation as one of the world's leading universities when it comes to ...

  10. Oxford University Personal Statements

    Oxford University Personal Statements. We hope our collection of Oxford University personal statements provides inspiration for writing your own. Please do not plagiarise them in any way, or UCAS will penalise your application. Our Personal Statement Editing & Review Services are availble if you feel you need a little extra help.

  11. Law Personal Statement Oxford: A Strong Introduction

    BREAKDOWN. This law Oxford personal statement introduction is clichéd and lacks the appropriate tone. It's crucial to seem enthusiastic, but you don't want to come across as arrogant, so use a more reasonable tone. It's also vital not to come across as arrogant or arrogant; portray oneself in a positive manner while being humble ...

  12. [2024] 4 Law School Personal Statement Examples from Top Programs

    1) Research the Law School. 2) Outline Your Law School Personal Statement. 3) Write a Compelling Introduction. 4) Showcase Your Achievements and Interests in Law. 5) Articulate Your Motivations for Pursuing Law. 6) Highlight Unique Qualities for the Legal Field. 7) Addressing Potential Weaknesses or Gaps.

  13. Example Personal Statement: Law : Unifrog Blog

    Here we break their personal statement down into parts, analysing each section so you can learn from their experience. Having lived in Singapore for nine years, my interest in studying law was originally sparked by the notorious legal system in the country. I read into their laws and policies on crime, safety, and racial quotas, and began ...

  14. Law Personal Statement for Cambridge and Oxford

    Law Personal Statement for Cambridge and Oxford. Lawyers need to be able to communicate clearly and present compelling arguments. The following personal statement is from an EU student, applying for Law at Cambridge. The statement contains several good ideas for work experience and links the experiences gained to what is required in a law degree.

  15. Oxford Personal Statement Examples: Top 4

    Oxford's Mission Statement. "We inspire people locally, nationally and globally by extending access to Oxford's world-class teaching and resources through flexible and inclusive opportunities for study and research.". Oxford's Vision Statement. "To be a global centre of excellence for lifelong learning.

  16. Law Personal Statement Example For LLB And LLM

    Law Personal Statement Example. 6 Dec,2022 Alan Withworth. I hope this personal statement example for the LLB Law course and LLM will help as a motivation and inspiration to work on your university application. You can use this example as a guide to writing a personal statement for any university in the UK - Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, LSE, KCL etc.

  17. Law Personal Statement Examples

    Explore Criminology degrees and pursue careers in law enforcement or criminal justice. Taken from 65,000+ data points from students attending university to help future generations. Discover university rankings devised from data collected from current students. Find the ideal uni course for you with our Course Degree Quiz.

  18. LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law)

    The Law National Admissions Test (LNAT) is a 2-hour 15-minute test divided into two sections. Section A is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam consisting of 42 questions. The questions are based on 12 passages, with 3 or 4 multiple-choice questions on each. You are given 95 minutes to answer all of the questions.

  19. 50 Real Law School Personal Statements: And Everything You Need to Know

    If you've ever wondered what other people are writing in their law school personal statements and how they measure up, this book is for you. If you are looking for a guide on how to write your own personal statement, this book will leave you with 50 key tips coupled with real-world examples. If you are searching for a topic idea, this book has ...

  20. Personal statement advice: art and design

    What art and design tutors are looking for. The underlying message is that tutors want to know about you, your practice, your inspirations, and your aspirations, and for your personal statement to act as written accompaniment to your portfolio and performance at interview. 'Stay on task, focus it, and try to get across your personality and ...

  21. Art and Design Personal Statement Examples

    Art Personal Statement Example 1. Art has always been a massive part of my life. I remember my first painting and I remember how I wished I had more time to make it better. Even as a child I strived for the best from my work.