Crafting Your Unique Story
A successful application is a compelling story. Here are your potential narratives.
This narrative positions you as a natural-born lawyer. It connects your love of History and Political Science, your "find the cause" mentality, and your enjoyment of debate. It tells the story of someone drawn to dissecting complex systems, understanding the origins of rules, and arguing for principled outcomes. Your debate wins and the founding of the "Policy and Justice Forum" are your key evidence.
A more mature and nuanced narrative. It embraces the tension between your desire for social impact and your pragmatic inclinations. This story shows you understand that justice isn't just an ideal, but something implemented in the real world. Juxtaposing a corporate internship with volunteering at a legal aid NGO is the cornerstone here, showing you've explored law as both a business and a tool for social change.
This is the most sophisticated theme, weaving all your unique strengths into one "golden thread." It presents you as an intellectually dynamic candidate capable of connecting the past, present, and future of your chosen field.
Personal Statement Structure:
- Paragraph 1 (The Hook): Start with a specific anecdote from your study of History (e.g., the Magna Carta or India's constitutional debates) that sparked your curiosity about the foundations of law.
- Paragraph 2 (The Present): Connect that historical spark to your contemporary engagement. Discuss a specific debate from your "Policy and Justice Forum" to show your move from passive learning to active intellectual engagement.
- Paragraph 3 (The "Why Law" Pivot): Explain how these interests solidified into a desire to *practice* law, using a specific, contrasting experience from your corporate and pro-bono internships.
- Paragraph 4 (The Future-Facing Differentiator): Conclude by looking forward. Express excitement about the intersection of law and technology, citing your completion of **CS50 for Lawyers** as proof of your readiness to help lead the profession's evolution.