Law personal statement (7)

Reading time: 3 minutes
Price: Free download
Published: 6th June 2021
Word count: 687 words
File format: Text

The subject of Law is of great interest to me. I am intrigued by constant developments in the law and the way that it adapts to today’s evolving society. I am especially interested in the impact of Brexit and how that will affect our national courts and laws. I am at my best when challenged and would value the opportunity to develop my understanding and skills through an undergraduate degree.

I am studying Law at college and am benefiting from this greatly, as I am able to hone my knowledge and understanding on basic principles which I believe will give me a step in the right direction for my degree. We have covered subjects such as the making of Law, the Law of Tort, Criminal Law and Contract Law. I have particularly enjoyed the module on Criminal Law and learning about how the courts interpret various cases. I am hoping to participate in the college mock trials and the moot competition which is being held by our law department. This will, in turn, develop my investigative and teamworking skills to reach a conclusion. As well as studying A Level Law, I also study English Literature and Language and Politics. I enjoy my English studies because I am able to express myself creatively through essays and discussion. I am reading a variety of texts for my course such as ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood and ‘All My Sons’ by Arthur Miller as well as a variety of anthology texts. By studying a variety of text structures and genres, I have developed my analytical skills which will play an important part in my Law work. In Politics, we have covered a variety of topics including political parties and voting methods, ideologies and US politics. Studying such an evolving subject has helped my research and communications skills when debating or providing an argument within class discussions. Alongside my A Levels, I am also taking the Extended Project Qualification where I will be exploring the impact of Brexit on the UK’s Judicial system. From this, I have developed my skills in academic referencing, essay writing, independent research, critical thinking skills and drawing conclusions from various sources.

As well as studying Law, I have an avid interest in the subject outside of college. Recently, I attended a law event at the University of Law in Chester. Here I was able to learn more about policing powers and responsibility in depth. We debated the need for armed police and the effects they would have on society, against opposing views from another team. I gained preparation and planning skills and further developed my communication and presentation skills while working as part of a team.

At high school, I led a team for the Barclays Tech Innovation event held by the bank annually in which we had to produce and present an idea which would improve security and assist their disabled customers. Our idea led to us winning the competition’s ‘best idea’ award. I also represented the school at Buckingham Palace where I attended a presentation hosted by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.

I have also developed some valuable transferable skills from my part-time roles in both retail and hospitality. I am able to balance the demand of my college subjects with working hours outside of college which has taught me how to manage tasks and time effectively.

I have taken part in a variety of charity events for Cancer Research which is a charity very close to my heart. As a volunteer within the dedicated Warrington fundraising team, we have supported the charity through ‘Pretty Muddy’ and ‘Race for Life’ events as well as local ‘coffee mornings’ which are events that support the local community and overall charity.

After earning a degree, I hope to continue my Law studies by qualifying as a solicitor and progressing into Corporate Law. A Law degree will provide me with an excellent skill set required to fulfil my career goals. I hope to be considered for a place and a chance at such a valuable opportunity.

Why this example works — strengths and ways to improve

Your statement shows a genuine, consistent interest in law, especially Brexit's effect on the courts, supported by A Level Law, an EPQ and a debate event. Its main weakness is that you list courses, texts and activities, then attach generic skills, rather than showing what you actually thought or learned. Fewer examples, explored in more depth, would make it far more persuasive.

Subject motivation

I am especially interested in the impact of Brexit and how that will affect our national courts

This Brexit focus is your most specific motivation, and the EPQ makes it credible. The opening, though, relies on general claims like 'of great interest' and 'at my best when challenged'. Naming one question about Brexit and the courts that genuinely puzzles you would make your motivation feel personal rather than stated.

Academic preparation

I have particularly enjoyed the module on Criminal Law and learning about how the courts interpret various cases

A Level Law, Politics, English and an EPQ are strong, relevant preparation. You don't name a case or explain what interested you about judicial interpretation, though. The novels are listed without any link to legal thinking, so they read as a reading list rather than evidence of analytical development.

Evidence and reflection

I have developed my skills in academic referencing, essay writing, independent research, critical thinking

Here the EPQ, potentially your best evidence, collapses into a list of skills. You never say what you have found about Brexit's impact on the judiciary, or which sources or arguments changed your view. This pattern of naming an activity and then claiming skills recurs throughout and replaces real reflection.

Relevant experience

We debated the need for armed police and the effects they would have on society

The Chester event is relevant and gives a concrete legal-policy topic. The paragraph would improve if you said which side you argued and what you found persuasive or difficult. The Buckingham Palace visit is mentioned without any explanation of its relevance, so it adds prestige rather than substance.

Credibility and voice

which is a charity very close to my heart

Your activities sound plausible and appropriate for a college applicant. Stock phrases like this, along with 'avid interest' and 'valuable transferable skills', flatten your voice, though. The retail and hospitality work is credible evidence of time management. One concrete moment from that work, such as handling a complaint, would sound more like you.

Structure and format

I hope to be considered for a place and a chance at such a valuable opportunity

The order (motivation, study, experience, extracurriculars, career) is logical, but the long academic paragraph is list-heavy and the later paragraphs feel detached. The corporate law ambition appears without any earlier groundwork, and the closing sentence asks for a place rather than summarising why law suits you.

What you’ve done well

Your Brexit interest runs through the opening, the EPQ and the career context, which gives the statement a genuine thread.
Your academic preparation is relevant and well chosen, and the Chester debate supplies concrete legal content.

How this draft could improve

Develop the EPQ with one argument, source or finding about Brexit and the judiciary, and explain what you concluded and why.
Replace lists of acquired skills with brief accounts of specific moments, such as a case you studied or a debate point, and what they taught you.
Cut or justify loosely connected items like the palace visit and the literary texts, and explain the move to corporate law or remove it.

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