Law School Essay Overview

Essays are important. It is in your essays that you are able to explain yourself. All the time you spent thinking about why you want to attend law school and why you feel ready to do this now will pay off in the essays.

Manhattan Elite Prep's admissions consulting team can offer you expert advice on essays and the law school application process.

We recommend the following method of tackling your essay:
1. Match yourself to the school.
2. Determine what the question is asking.
3. Consider how to answer the question: Brainstorm.
4. Organize. Select the aspects of yourself to emphasize and back them up with examples / stories / anecdotes from your experience. Put this information into an outline format that you find comfortable.
5. Write the essay, paying attention to format.
6. Make revisions.
7. Have someone read it over.

The guidelines around which we suggest engaging in the essay writing process are the following:

• Convince your reader
• Distinguish yourself
• Demonstrate sincerity
• Write in a fashion that keeps the reader's attention

To do this we suggest the following:
(1) Select different and unique, but honest experiences. You may want to expand upon an experience to make it seem more unique. Try to select those experiences that make you a unique candidate.

(2) Convey your experience honestly. The admissions committee will notice the difference between extreme embellishment and sincerity and depth.

(3) It is in your writing that you have the opportunity to demonstrate your personality. One important way of doing this is through your style. Within your essays you want to continue to keep the reader's attention. Try to use the 1st person singular, use "I" and avoid "we". Avoid using the passive voice as well as 'to be' verbs.

An admissions resume is much different from the one you use for a job. Your admissions officer prioritizes skill-sets and experiences differently than a potential employer might, which makes it paramount that you present yourself vis-a-vis your resume accordingly. Our consultants have seen hundreds of resumes and know the stylistic and reformatting nuances that will make yours stand out, ultimately setting you apart from the field. Work with them to ensure that your resume complements your essay and application seamlessly.

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For more information please email us at admissions(at)manhattaneliteprep.com.

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