Personal statement writing and self-presentation

Personal Statement

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" -- Martin Luther King, 1963

I am a person who is driven to do what is right. I believe that the legal system exists to uphold everyone's rights, no matter the size of their paycheck or the status of their name. It is my intention to enter the legal profession and ensure that the law is upheld to the highest standards, as I believe that a just and impartial legal system is truly an important part of our nation's greatness.

My undergraduate studies initially took me into pre-med. However, I found through personal experience that the medical profession left me wanting. I did not see that the principles of justice and equal access were being upheld, and I could not in good conscience follow that path. My father was diagnosed with cancer, and I handled his medical affairs in those final years of his life. I saw a system that was more about the business side of medicine than about doctors trying to do the best for their patients. This disheartened me, and convinced me that I had different calling, one that was more suited to my outlook on life and my ethical standards.

I see law as the means by which I can reach my dreams, and do so in a manner that ensures dignity and fairness for all. The legal system, much like the medical system I experienced, is only as good as its practitioners. If the people in the system are committed to upholding the law, strengthening the rights of the people and ensuring that justice is always fair and blind, then that can only strengthen America.

I envision my role as an attorney as working for the interests of those who may otherwise be intimidated by the system. I have a strong desire to contribute to the field of medical law, perhaps in malpractice, to ensure that physicians are held accountable. This is important to me, and I know that by the time I am admitted to the bar I may pursue a different path, but the important thing for me right now is that law gives me a tremendous sense of purpose.

I have proven myself in my pre-med studies, which now form the basis for my pre-law studies. Despite facing enormous challenges in dealing with my father's illness, I was able to maintain my strong academic focus. The hard work and dedication that I displayed during this time is indicative of the kind of person I am, the kind of law student that I will be and the kind of lawyer that I envision myself being.

You will doubtless be faced with an endless stream of applicants, but I stand tall among them. I have the talent, the brains, the dedication and the drive to represent the school well into the working world, by upholding the same principles that I bring with me into law school today.