Other factors that will be considered by law schools along with your application include the written personal statement and the letters of recommendation you will be required to provide. The first offers you the opportunity to present yourself and your strengths, and to offer an explanation of why you will be a valuable addition to the school. The second allows faculty members and other respected associates to validate the statements you have made, and to attest to your abilities.

Your personal statement should be carefully and meticulously prepared. It should include the same type of information that you would provide to a potential employer during an interview for a job; that is, it should highlight your “selling points,” and the factors that make you the best candidate for the position for which you are applying: that of “law student.” Unlike a personal interview, however, a written personal statement allows you the opportunity to correct your grammar and your sentence structure. Your statement is a testimony to your ability to communicate clearly; as such, you will want to be sure that it adheres to the standards of good writing. It should begin with an introduction, flow smoothly from point to point, and end with a conclusion. It should not contain typographical errors, spelling mistakes, or poor punctuation. You will want to share your statement with several other people in order to be sure that it is clear, interesting and convincing. Be sure to proofread it carefully, and then ask someone else to do the same. The Oakland University Writing Center is an excellent resource for assistance with the editing and proofreading process.