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Police Application Personal Statement Example & Tips

Table of Contents

A job as a police officer is one of the world’s most demanding and rewarding jobs. This guide offers a good police application personal statement example to teach you how to structure your statement.

A personal statement example shows an employer that you have the skills to work in law enforcement. Read on to see how to structure a good police personal statement and learn from an example.

Personal Statement for a Police Application

Many people aspire to a law enforcement career and envision themselves as police officers. You merely need a high school diploma or equivalent, such as the General Educational Development (GED), to qualify.

To begin your career as a police officer, you must first be accepted into and graduate from a police academy. But there’s more to it than just filling out an application.

A solid education, application requirements, and a battery of exams are needed to qualify and progress in your area. If you have professional expertise, cover letters and personal statements can assist you in getting into the police academy and networking with law enforcement.

How to Write a Captivating Personal Statement for a Police Application

Creating a cover letter can sound needlessly complicated as if you’re trying to customize your application for each job opportunity. Consequently, you may compose a personal statement.

Your history, values, and hobbies should be in a personal statement. Explain in your statement why you want to become a police officer and how attending the academy would help you achieve this goal.

Some guidelines for crafting an engaging personal statement are provided below.

• Get your thoughts down on paper.
• Take your time composing your essay.
• Take care to pick and use the correct phrases.
• Utilize your strengths as a writer to guide your work.
• Begin with a solid introduction.
• Do not make up anything; stick to the truth.
• Check your statement for typos.

Police Application Personal Statement Example

The personal statement for a police application is meant to show how valuable a resource the applicant can be for the police force. Here’s an excellent example from INK .

As a law enforcement professional with years of experience, my devotion to public service and justice will be helpful as an officer. I’m proud of my local community’s impact in avoiding crime through education, awareness, and support.

I take great pride in communicating effectively with a wide array of individuals. From teaching kids to avoid danger to defusing heated disputes, I’ve seen how important it is for officers to be proactive and convincing.

My aptitude for problem-solving, resourcefulness, and persistence make me an ideal candidate for this position. I have consistently exemplified ethical conduct throughout my career by making prudent decisions to uphold justice and respect people’s rights. In addition, I have earned repute among colleagues due to my punctuality in attending to details and completing tasks promptly and accurately.

In conclusion, my professional experiences have prepared me for the demands of police work, and I look forward to serving my community.

The police application personal statement example above is a very stunning example of a well-written personal statement for a police application. Write with passion in your application and reassure the reader that you have the specific skills they need.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Roundtable: How to develop a winning opening statement

Explain with confidence, but not bravado, that you are the candidate the agency is looking for.

If there is more than one interviewer, move your gaze to each as you introduce yourself.

Photo/Pixabay

An opening statement during an oral board interview gives police promotional candidates an opportunity to summarize their police career to date, outline their strengths and accomplishments, and detail why they want to work at that specific department.

We asked Police1 columnists and contributors what advice they would give a police promotional candidate on developing a winning opening statement .

Complete the box below to download a summary list of these tips for handy review or for distribution at your department.

MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Aside from looking well-groomed and professionally dressed, with good posture and a firm handshake, maintain a positive attitude and smile. Be calm and measured, just like you practiced. If there is more than one interviewer, move your gaze to each as you introduce yourself and provide the following information.

Explain you are up to the challenge and that your resume shows you have been properly trained and are experienced in several facets of law enforcement. Know your agency’s mission statement and immediate and future goals.

Tell a story folks will remember. Give examples of volunteerism. Relate times where you asserted yourself in leadership roles at critical incidents, in team settings and in enforcement operations. Explain why you went beyond the call of duty on an assignment, or project.

Explain that you chose to be an FTO to be a role model for new recruits and for the opportunity to help train them. Give insight into your personal ethics credo . Explain how you helped a recruit or a fellow officer who needed extra help to overcome an obstacle or problem. Highlight the fact that you have served in investigations, as a peer support officer , as a SWAT operator or narcotics officer to gain expertise and training.

Detail how you are a lifelong learner who has gone back to school to achieve advanced degrees or training. Explain that you are a member of professional organizations and keep up with current events, training, technology and innovation.

List contributions you have made to the community you serve and community meetings or functions where you served as a problem solver. Tell about how you changed the attitude of an angry citizen on a call to where they became supportive and understanding. Explain that we have an obligation to help de-mystify the way your agency conducts business . Tell about a child you helped.

Explain with confidence, but not bravado, that you are the candidate they are looking for.

James Dudley is a member of the criminal justice faculty at San Francisco State University and host of Police1’s Policing Matters podcast.

Detail how your accomplishments will benefit the department

As a chief, when I conduct promotional assessment boards, I always give the candidates time to “sell” themselves.

Often, candidates simply use their opening statement to describe what the position will do for them, how it is something they have always wanted, or their family members have encouraged them to go up for a promotion. Generally, that information is a given since they applied.

Next, most candidates describe their career accomplishments and educational background. The candidates who impress me are the ones who integrate their accomplishments with how they will benefit the department. I want to hear what it is they are going to do for the department if given the opportunity in the new position. Are they going to use the experience they have to train the officers who will be under their command? Are they going to use their education to help officers write better police reports ?

Having gone through the ranks myself, I understand that the promotion will likely benefit them personally as it will offer a raise, and likely better hours, or additional benefits, but what is the candidate going to give to the department or the community in the new position?

I would encourage all candidates going up for a promotion to take all of that into consideration when developing and delivering their opening statement. All police chiefs and law enforcement leaders want to develop a winning team that will advance the organization. When a candidate comes into the process expressing that they are on board with the organization and that they have goals and ideas of how they can contribute to making it better or advancing the organization further, then I see them as a winner.

LJ Roscoe is chief of the Goose Creek Police Department in Goose Creek, South Carolina.

FRAME YOURSELF AS A KNOWLEDGEABLE PROFESSIONAL

First, be conscious of your posture and your demeanor. Sit up straight and use formal, professional speech (even if you know the interviewers).

Next, be sure to include information that indicates you know what the job really requires - the administrative and technical know-how, as well as the human attributes. Demonstrate you can practice patience, understanding, empathy and trust, all while making sure the job is completed.

Third, start any story with the outcome, benefit, or result, and then back-fill by telling how you accomplished that outcome. Preview what you’re going to tell them. Start your story as if you both agree about what’s important: “As police officers, we know how important it is to do … here’s how I did that.” This approach tells them that you know what’s important and also presumes you are both on the same page. Also, tie your opening and closing lines together so you start with a statement and conclude by reminding them of that key point.

And finally, when developing stories, focus on your opening and your closing. Don’t try to memorize all the details!

Lt. Mike Walker is a 27-year veteran of local and federal law enforcement.

balance confidence with humility

In some respects, the delivery of an opening statement for an internal promotional interview is more difficult than an entry-level process. It is an opportunity to tout experience and qualifications, but you must guard against coming across as too self-serving or arrogant.

Most of the people evaluating the qualifications will be from inside the organization and therefore subject to personal bias about the applicant’s qualifications and job performance history. Bias on the part of the candidate and the interviewer can be problematic. The statement will require the right balance of confidence and competence blended with humility and style. In short, the promotional interview statement must be compelling and factual. Never try to replace experience with platitudes or subterfuge; the interview panel will see right through this.

It is always good to seek a successful mentor to assist with preparation. This should be someone who is trustworthy and candid. Such a person will give honest and open feedback. Usually, these are people who have had great success in emerging victorious from interview/promotional processes. A good mentor will tell you what you need to know, not what you want to hear to stroke the ego.

It is of the utmost importance to guard against trying to pit yourself against other candidates. Never say, “I know that Officer X or Y has this experience, but I have this over them.” Let the qualifications speak for themselves. Do not ramble on about specific experiences. Be succinct and relative in all regards.

Citing specific examples of preparation for the position is encouraged. Anything and everything that touts leadership ability should be considered. It’s always a good idea to dress for the role to which you aspire. If the promotional position is a uniform position, wear a uniform. If it is a suit/business-dress position, wear appropriate attire.

Finally, do your homework. Know everything there is to know about the position you aspire to attain. For example, if it’s a position in administration, get educated and informed about the most contemporaneous issues. Include snippets of this information in the opener. This will demonstrate the desire to perform the new duties immediately. Do not take the “I will figure it out when I get there” approach.

Rehearse the statement in front of the mirror, to yourself in private and to a person you trust (significant other, mentor, etc.). Preparation is paramount!

Paul Cappitelli is an honorably retired law enforcement professional with over 40 years of experience. From 2007-2012, Paul served as Executive Director for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Show you value teamwork

Speak immediately to the opportunities you’ve had to exercise the skill the new position will require. Be sure to speak to how leaders have influenced you in developing those skills. This can not only show experience but your understanding of the value of teamwork and mentoring .

Chief Joel Shults, Ed.D , who retired as a chief of police in Colorado, operates Street Smart Training and is the founder of the National Center for Police Advocacy .

REMEMBER YOUR WHY

Applying for a new position can be an exciting time, however, as you delve deep into the hiring process oral boards can be very nerve-racking.

You will be presenting in front of a group of strangers who more often than not are high-ranking officials. While this part of the process can be stressful, remember your why, and utilize that in your interview. It is important to remember that you only have one chance at a first impression, so dress professionally and maintain good posture and eye contact throughout the interview.

Your opening statement should be impactful and provide the board with a brief overview of who you are and why you want to work for their organization.

You should have done some homework on the organization by now, so it would be very beneficial to know some of the agency’s history and correlate your own personal values to your organization’s values. This will go a long way in making a lasting impression on the hiring board.

Jonathan B. Flores is chief of police for the Alton Texas Police Department.

Highlight pertinent experience

Great opening statements should indicate that you are ready for the position for which you are applying. For example, if you are interviewing to become a sergeant, you should discuss how you have led training and warrant operations, organized community events, and addressed acceptable or unacceptable behavior by your peers. You don’t want to highlight all the arrests you have made because they are not looking to promote you to continue doing your same assignment. Briefly highlight your previous work, but focus on why they should select you for the position for which you are applying.

Booker Hodges currently serves as assistant commissioner of law enforcement for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Complete the box below to download a summary of these tips.

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6 Often Overlooked Qualities of a Great Police Officer

By Jess Scherman on 09/16/2019

If you’ve long dreamt of helping others by serving your community and keeping dangerous criminals off of the street, it’s no wonder you’ve considered becoming a police officer. But you’ll want to be sure you’ve got what it takes to succeed before diving into such an important career.

When asked about the characteristics of a police officer, most people will rattle off adjectives like strong , brave and heroic . While such qualities are definitely in the job description, there are several less-prominent traits that the best police officers share.

We spoke with seasoned law enforcement professionals to learn more about the overlooked abilities that distinguish an average officer from a great one. Take a look at what they had to say—you may even be surprised to learn you already possess some of the most important qualities of a police officer.

What makes a good police officer? 6 Surprising qualities

It’s true that law enforcement professionals tend to be courageous and physically fit. But there’s a lot more to it than that. Learn more about some of the important qualities that make a good police officer.

1. Communication skills

Are you the type who is extremely thorough when writing emails or letters? When you relay a story, do you take special care to ensure you don’t leave out any important details, painting as vivid and accurate a picture of what happened as possible? If so, you’ll be happy to hear that these valuable communication skills can be leveraged in a successful law enforcement career.

In fact, proficient communication skills can be more than just helpful as a police officer—they can be vital. “When you write a report, your specific wording can be the difference between something usable in court and something that gets thrown out,” explains Brian McKenna, a retired Lieutenant with more than 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt. “You have to be very exact, and you have to know the laws that impact your reports.”

It’s also true that your ability to communicate clearly can help you earn the trust of the community in which you serve as a law enforcement officer. “Interpersonal communication skills are important because they allow officers to develop a good rapport with the community, with fellow officers and with those from diverse cultures,” offers Eileen Carlin, state program director for the Rasmussen University School of Justice Studies .

Another important aspect of effective communication is the ability to patiently listen. “Officers who take the time to really hear what people are saying and who ask questions with real curiosity are going to get better results,” McKenna says. He explains that when citizens feel like police officers truly care, they’re more likely to cooperate, they typically offer more information and they often work to help law enforcement get to the bottom of an issue.

2. Compassion & empathy

When it comes to pursuing the tough work of being a police officer, you may have considered your compassionate personality to be a drawback. But the ability you’ve gained to show empathy and when to provide tough love to your children, siblings or friends may actually come in handy on the job.

"We desperately need good police officers. Now more than ever, we need people who care about the job and will build rapport with the public."

Much of an officer’s work requires the ability to relate to those going through incredible hardships, showing compassion while still remaining professional. “You will find yourself inserted into the most tragic and chaotic moments of people’s lives,” points out Charles Redlinger, former police officer and cofounder of MissionX . “Their world will be upside down, and you will need to be a compassionate, strong authority figure. You will be the symbol of both calm and sympathy.”

Not only will a steady source of empathy help you be an effective police officer, but it can also become the driving force behind your work. Redlinger references his years as a homicide detective, recalling how the compassion he felt for the victims’ loved ones helped motivate him to solve the crime.

“This is a tough balance,” McKenna notes. “You have to hang onto your compassion without letting things get to you.”

He thinks back to when he first started working in law enforcement and was called to the scene of a suicide. “I made myself see the body,” McKenna says. “It disturbs you, and it can really get to you over time. But I thought, ‘Someday I’ll see a scene like this and the person might still be alive. I might have to try to save them. I can’t lose my composure.’”

But it’s also true that throughout his years serving his community, McKenna has seen officers with ¬≠ too much empathy struggle against the harsh realities they encounter on the job. “Your instinct is to detach,” he explains. “You start thinking of your loved ones in those scenes, and it’s tougher than people understand. But if you can keep your compassion without carrying everything home with you, that’s a really valuable quality.”

3. Integrity

If you’re the type to always follow through in performing top-quality work, whether or not a superior is present, then you already possess one of the top characteristics of a police officer. “Integrity is a fundamental trait required for police work and quite possibly the most important,” Redlinger maintains. He believes this is a key factor in the public trusting and having confidence in their law enforcement officers.

The best police officers, McKenna offers, are the ones who go above and beyond—the ones who hustle without necessarily getting rewarded. “You can sit back and try to minimize risk as much as possible, and still earn a paycheck,” he says. But he emphasizes that while engaging in the community and actively investigating can open you to more risk, it also results in increased trust from citizens as you gain more results against crime.

When you consider why community members allow officers into their home as strangers, why they feel safe stopping their cars for an officer on a dark side road, or why officers are often given the benefit of the doubt when testifying in court, Redlinger says it all comes down to one quality: integrity.

4. Negotiation skills

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’ve had to talk a friend or family member through a tough time by helping them find solutions to their problems instead of simply reacting? Perhaps you have an ability to talk your way through a problem while convincing others to act appropriately.

These skills would fall under the umbrella of negotiation—one of the vital traits of a police officer. The crisis incidents officers may encounter on the job include several factors , such as negative emotions dictating people’s actions, people failing to listen, tension increasing and failing to see alternative options.

Effective negotiation skills often include practices like active listening, remaining calm, expressing empathy, treating a subject with respect, remaining non-judgmental and referring to a subject by name when possible. Ineffective negotiation behaviors include things like being confrontational, making promises you can’t keep, telling a subject to calm down, being demanding, rushing the process and being judgmental.

Redlinger explains that negotiation skills not only protect the general public, but they protect the officers involved as well. “Officers working patrol duties are constantly responding to 911 calls for service. It is in these vital moments upon the first officer arriving that negotiation skills will prove useful.”

5. Eagerness to learn

Someone who is naturally curious and is continually willing to grow their knowledge and abilities has the potential to make a sizeable impact as a police officer. Even though law enforcement officials endure a substantial amount of training before they find themselves in uniform, there’s always more they’ll have to learn on the job.

“One of the things people don’t realize about police work is that you have to be a jack-of-all-trades,” McKenna explains. “Expectations for officers are really high, and new things are always getting added to their plates.”

Back when he began his career as an officer, for example, squad cars were outfitted with simple radios—a way for officers to call something in and have dispatch take care of it. Police cars today, McKenna notes, are equipped with computers, calling upon the officers to not only master new technology but also to absorb the duties that previously fell to people in other positions. It’s also true that the equipment officers now carry is twice as extensive as it was in prior years.

“Additionally, there are more drugs on the market than ever, and laws change and update,” McKenna says, adding that departments don’t always have the funding to ensure everyone receives the training they need in these areas. That’s why he took it upon himself to take various classes throughout his law enforcement career, committing to learn the different skill sets and laws he’d need. “Lots of police officers attend conferences and classes on the side of their jobs.”

6. Mental agility

Even if you weren’t the student who scored the best grades in every class, you may be the type who’s always had plenty of common sense. If you know how to read a room and adjust your conversation or attitude as needed, you could thrive in policing. While some people have difficulty adjusting when their plans are disrupted, the best police officers take on their surroundings without missing a beat.

McKenna sees this as a potentially life-saving skill. “You go into so many scenarios expecting one thing, when something completely different happens. You might only have seconds to react,” he explains. Officers who have strong mental agility are able to switch their mindset instantly without losing composure.

“There is a very subtle difference you can observe between someone reaching for a gun and someone reaching for a wallet. It’s hard to spot, but if you know what to look for, you’ll be able to read warning signs,” McKenna adds. “You have to remain calm when things don’t go as planned. Twice, I pulled a gun on another police officer in the confusion of a situation, but I had the presence of mind to not pull the trigger.”

Mental flexibility can be a life-altering skill, both for officers and for those they encounter. But it’s also a vital trait when pursuing an investigation. McKenna references an old saying they often repeated in his time on the force: “The one who did it is never the one you expect.”

“Officers who go into a situation with preconceived ideas—who don’t carefully observe and adjust their expectations—are going to get it wrong,” he says.

Do you possess these police officer qualities?

If you’ve set your sights on becoming a police officer, it’s important for you to evaluate your specific traits and challenges to ensure you’ll be cut out for a career in law enforcement. “We desperately need good police officers,” McKenna says. “Now more than ever, we need people who care about the job and will build rapport with the public.”

If you have some of these lesser-known qualities of a police officer, you might be a natural fit for a career in law enforcement. With the proper training, you can leverage these talents to help make a meaningful impact in your community. Learn more about the process in our article, " How to Become a Police Officer: Your Step-by-Step Guide ."

Interested in different types of careers in law enforcement? Check out our article about conservation officers .

Rasmussen University's Criminal Justice program has not been approved by any state professional licensing body and does not lead to any state-issued professional license. In Minnesota, the Criminal Justice Associate’s degree program does not meet the standards established by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board for persons who seek employment as a peace officer.

Related Articles:

• Behind the Badge: Examining 10 Types of Police Officers

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2015. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2019.

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About the author

Jess Scherman

Jess is a Content Specialist at Collegis Education. She researches and writes articles on behalf of Rasmussen University to help empower students to achieve their career dreams through higher education.

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Rank Success Blog

Free uk police promotion to sergeant, inspector and beyond.

Applications , Inspector , Personal Statements

Personal Statements: Written Application

As part of the UK police promotion ‘ postcode lottery ‘, some police forces ask candidates to submit a personal statement as part of the promotion process. Vast cohorts of Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector candidates fail the initial stages of a selection process. It happens every year! If you aspire to the next rank and wherever you are at in your promotion journey, get started on your own  personal statement  now.

Your force may not ask you directly for a personal statement in a written application. It’s more likely to be phrased as follows:

• Tell us  why you  are right for the role of Sergeant / Inspector / Chief Inspector?  Why now?
• What  relevant attributes  do you possess for promotion to the next rank?
• Tell us about your  experience and qualifications  that support your immediate promotion to Sergeant / Inspector / Chief Inspector?

“When aspirations are perceived to be achievable, ambition and drive can erase excuses.” – Lori Myers

All the bullet points above are essentially the same. Simply, they are prompts seeking answers to the question:  Why You?

Your personal statement helps you ‘sell’ your skills, knowledge and achievements to those considering you for promotion. It’s an extremely valuable opportunity to persuade assessors of your suitability for advancement,  in writing .

For many officers, it’s a wasted opportunity. Some are unaware of the importance of personal statements. Others start too late. Another issue is writer’s block. This is because personal statements can be difficult to compile, especially under self-inflicted time pressure of short submission deadlines for promotion applications. Consequently officers produce a simple, chronological career summary, instead of doing the following:

• Specifically answering the question(s)
• Ensuring evidence relates to the role functions and behaviours
• Aligning content to the competency and values framework

Choices, Choices…

“In every single thing you do, you are choosing a direction. Your life is a product of choices.” – Dr Kathleen Hall

A personal statement is something I encourage  every aspiring promotion candidate to commence ASAP . Most importantly, if you are reading this you can get to work on yours now. Besides, it’s in your power and an important choice.

Capturing the essence of who you are, with supporting evidence aligned to specific CVF behaviours, can be a difficult task. Doing so in just a couple of hundred words needs  dedicated time . If you aspire to promotion now or in the near future, give yourself time. Here’s a two-word plan:  START TODAY!  It’s probably one of the most significant choices you will ever make on your promotion journey.

Even if your own force doesn’t require applications as part of a promotion selection process:

• It is still a  valuable development exercise.
• You can also compile a personal statement to  support your promotion interview preparation  (I’ll cover more on that in a separate blog).
• Done well, your personal statement is a  gift to yourself  that keeps giving.

Use the three points at the beginning of this blog as a prompt to get started. Because even if it’s just writing down your first draft, you’ll be thinking on the right tracks and it will serve you well.

“General Information”

“The devil is in the detail.” – Aby Warburg

At the beginning of your application form, there is often a  “general information” section . You will be asked to answer questions requiring  supporting information about your skills, qualifications or specialist knowledge. This “general information” section may or may not form part of the application scoring. In any case, it is important to read through and carefully check the detailed guidance provided. Pay just as much attention to these parts! Use the opportunity, conveying what you can within the permitted word limit.

What you write in this section may ultimately influence which role/post you are promoted into. This is because officers are needed where they will be most effective to the force. Don’t let your focus or standards drop on this section, even if you are told it doesn’t form part of the scoring. Always take such advice with a pinch of salt, because it still requires professionalism!

By the way, I purposefully put “general information” in inverted commas: Don’t be fooled, because they are not looking for general information! They are really looking for  specific information, matching you to the role functions and behaviours .

What does a personal statement look like?

“Putting pen to paper lights more fire than matches ever will.” – Malcom. S. Forbes

Here’s a typical first section on a promotion application form. This example seeks “general information” on personal motivation and development for promotion to Inspector rank:

How do you meet the requirements for the rank of Inspector? Tell us why you believe you are right for the role now. Your evidence should cover your personal motivation and your development to get to this point. (450 words)

You may notice that these instructions contain four separate points (the role requirements, your readiness, personal motivation, and CPD). Breaking them first down into sub headers can help ensure you cover each required element of the question. Below is an example answer and personal statement, with links to other key content for further understanding. I provide more varied examples in my popular and extensive ‘What Works: Promotion Evidence & Examples’ guides for both Sergeant and Inspector / Chief Inspector ranks.

I believe I’m right for the role of inspector because I possess a proven  track record of leadership ability . I am aware of  current/future challenges   facing policing, including greater public scrutiny/expectations, complexity of demand and changes in technology/crime types.

As Temporary Inspector, I’ve acquired a breadth of operational and leadership experience over two years. Together with strong commitment to shared  values , this equips me to lead and support colleagues/partners through  change  and deliver future policing services.

I meet the role requirements, having supervised Constables, Sergeants and Police Staff effectively, whilst performing at middle manager level. I also received a Chief Constable’s Commendation for my investigation leadership following a stabbing of a male on a bus. My attributes include having the required drive, energy and resilience necessary to ensure Anyforce remains a place where people feel safe to live, work and visit.

My personal leadership style is essentially transformational, favouring a supportive/empowering approach to colleagues. I am personable and treat individuals according to their needs. This people-focus helps me establish and maintain professional working relationships, overcoming personal barriers. For example, recent praise from Community Leaders for my influence in improving relations with key partners and stakeholders.

I concentrate on  setting, maintaining and improving standards   around what my teams ‘can’ do. I focus on drivers of public confidence, including the effective investigation of crime (ensuring Sergeants are managing investigations, reviewing workloads and updating victims), alleviating ASB in communities, and delivering the best service possible with resources we have (prioritising resources efficiently and reviewing what works).

Policing is a vocation for me. It inspires and motivates me towards career progression. I am ready for substantive promotion, but realise my capacity to grow as a leader is founded in my personal development and enabling development opportunities for others. My Continuous Professional Development (CPD) plan includes leadership modules (managing teams through change, leading Critical Incidents), Temporary Inspector duties, coaching/mentoring activity, and utilising 360-degree feedback. I communicate effectively and can work at all levels. I understand the role is about driving performance, through developing people and improving processes.

I serve my community as a Local School Governor, leading the school’s Safeguarding Committee. I am level-headed in challenging environments, accountable for my  decision-making , most importantly supported by clear rationale. I maximise opportunities to identify the most vulnerable, by instigating sound  risk assessments   to ensure appropriate safeguarding is implemented. I can recognise and  learn from mistakes , identifying lessons/good practice through debriefs.

As an Inspector, I believe that connecting my teams with our force  mission, vision and values  through my personal leadership will maintain a consistent focus upon building trust and confidence  with our communities.

You can convey a tremendous amount about yourself and your skills within 450 words. Imagine if you had to distil it to 250! What else would you say if you had 1000? Always use your full word allowance to compile the very best ‘pen picture’ of you and your potential for assessors to consider. You’ll normally have up to six additional questions or examples to deal with as part of your promotion application. These are more focused on specific CVF competencies and/or values .

It is very important to maximise the opportunity a personal statement offers, because you can communicate additional information about yourself. This is especially valuable in an interview scenario, so see my blog on personal statements for interviews .

For now, if you are serious about achieving a promotion,  it’s time to act .

Kind Regards, Steve

“Being ready isn’t enough, you have to be prepared for promotion.” – Pat Riley

Author’s Note: This post was first published in January 2019, as part of the additional free written content I provide for cops on the popular police news site, Police Hour. Minor updates have been made when incorporating the content here on my main blog site.

If you found this blog helpful, you can hit the ground running with your promotion preparation. Get your personal  digital promotion toolkit , attend or download my  Police Promotion Masterclass , or contact me to arrange  personal coaching support . For more completely free, no-strings content, I have a collection of  videos , eGuides,  a podcast , plus more free blog content via my  Police Hour guest articles .

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Criminology & criminal justice personal statement example.

People should be aware of the law and the consequences for those prepared to break it, however, the law is still broken. I find reasons for this very interesting. Originally, I believed them to purely cognitive; but after further research from my readings and attending conferences, I quickly found that this was not the case. I want to investigate how Government enforces the law with overcrowded prisons and rising costs to the taxpayer, causing people to become more laxed when following the rules. I am fascinated by current criminal trends and the availability of drugs, observing the effects they have on society as a whole.

During the summer holidays I attended a most interesting and inspiring “Insight into Crime” conference at The University of -. I was able to speak to a reformed prisoner, who gave me his own reasons for his offending. I also had the opportunity to look at the work of CSI (forensics), along with being able to analyse and discuss a mock up crime scene, through a variety of different activities. I also had a taste of university life, staying the night in halls.

I have a long standing ambition to serve as a police officer, and completed a very enjoyable and interesting two weeks’ work experience placement with the police. I experienced working with PCs, patrolling the area and attending call outs, showing me how challenging, but rewarding police work is. I had the opportunity to undertake in the administrative work in various different departments I had previously not been aware of and saw the importance of their work. This experience helped improve my communication skills and confidence when dealing with members of the public.

At A2 level I study business studies, geography, and philosophy and ethics. I also studied psychology at AS level. I thoroughly enjoy all my subjects and apply myself fully to them, cultivating the analytical and evaluative skills they demand. Outside the classroom, I have been on geographical field trips to -, - and -, collecting and analysing my own data. I successfully took part in Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme where I was able to undertake in various activities and gaining skills such as stamina and team work. I particularly enjoyed the paired reading scheme where I helped 8 year old children to read. I am also a member of my local church choir and am actively engaged in church youth activities. I enjoy acting and have taken part in many productions, including a performance at the -, as well as taking an interest back stage, painting and designing the set for numerous school productions, a passion I hope to continue at university.

At my last school I was Chairman of the School Council. This position demanded good leadership qualities and organisational and communication skills, including taking regular meetings and liaising with staff and students, often using my own initiative when needed. I am currently a House Prefect which requires me to help the tutor on duty in the running of the boarding house. I was also a part of the Army Cadets at -, where I developed my skills in activities as diverse as first aid, shooting and map reading. This experience also taught me valuable lessons in self discipline, a skill I have been able to apply to my A level studies. I have also been a member of the school Rounders, Netball and Hockey teams, as well as attending tennis club, keeping me involved in school life as well as maintaining my physical fitness. In my spare time I like to relax by going to the gym regularly, pottery and cooking.

I am fully committed to studying Criminology at degree level. I consider myself an outgoing, cheerful, industrious, intelligent and friendly person who has much to contribute to the wider life of the university, and would relish at the opportunity to continue my academic studies at the highest possible level.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by tea for application in 2009.

tea's Comments

This PS isn't perfect but did get me provisional offers into all five unis less than two weeks after submitting my application. Since I have now graduated I may as well make it available to help others.

This personal statement is unrated

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9 Real Police Officer Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

Police Officer

Best for senior and mid-level candidates.

There’s plenty of room in our elegant resume template to add your professional experience while impressing recruiters with a sleek design.

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Police Officer Resume

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Police Officer Resume FAQs

You’re a defender of the police and a protector of the innocent; you’re a police officer, and keeping people safe is what you do. 

As a police officer, you’re used to discipline and organization, so your resume should also reflect those qualities. But what else does a good resume include?  Making an amazing resume  and writing an effective cover letter may feel more exhausting than chasing a suspect through the night, but it doesn’t have to be mysterious.

For this reason,  we’ve created nine police officer resume samples that will help get you hired in 2024 . These resumes contain everything you need to know about writing a police officer resume, including the essential details you’ll want to include or omit so that you can turn in your current job resignation letter and get hired faster!

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• If you’re in the middle of your career, don’t worry about adding an objective or summary to your police officer resume; they’re completely optional, albeit useful if used well.
• On the flip side, if you do choose to use an objective or summary,  always tailor it to each job for which you apply . Mention the employer and role by name, and include your reasons for wanting that particular position.
• Hiring managers typically spend only six seconds reviewing your resume. Including awards can help you gain recognition and increase your chances of getting an interview.

Experienced Police Officer Resume

• “Supervised and coordinated a team of 12 patrol officers” and “reducing road accidents in school zones by 50%” are potential examples of tangible, eye-catching results.
• We’d recommend listing six to eight highly relevant skills such as “search & seizure” and “teamwork.”

Entry-Level Police Officer Resume

• The key to a good objective is customizing it for each job for which you apply. Include the name of the employer, the role you’re seeking, and the skills you hope to use in your future position to stand out and get noticed by hiring personnel.
• For example, mentioning soft skills like “managed,” “handled,” “analyzed,” or “trained” shows leadership and is a great way to book your spot for an interview!

Retired Police Officer Resume

• For a part-time bailiff position, shape your career objective around your proven ability to follow protocol—a must in courtroom settings.

Auxiliary Police Officer Resume

• Don’t forget to include your criminal justice degree on this resume. It reveals a longstanding dedication to the mission of the police department.

NYPD Police Officer Resume

• For instance, did you achieve the status of sergeant or captain? Include it on your resume, highlighting your most recent and relevant experience first in reverse-chronological order.
• What does this mean? Use strong verbs and active voice to demonstrate your leadership. For example, instead of saying, “Aided other officers in patrols by taking calls,” say “Monitored radio calls during night shift to assist officers during patrols.”

Federal Police Officer Resume

• Start by putting your work experience in reverse-chronological order, then lay out the rest of your information according to importance.
• For example, keep your contact header at the very top of your resume, and put your skills section after your education.
• You’d be surprised to discover the fine details interviewers notice when searching for the perfect candidate, so always  check your resume  for errors before you hit submit!

Public Safety Officer Resume

• For instance, have you moved from completing some tasks to supervising various teams completing many tasks? Ensure your resume shows a progression in your ability to handle more responsibilities.
• The goal with your skills should be to show employers you’ve got more than just head knowledge. A great example would be “administered first aid to 32 injured students” because it shows how you applied your abilities at first aid.

Campus Police Officer Resume

• Make the job description your roadmap for skills and experience to include. Are they looking for someone to train new recruits? Mention how you mentored cadets in the past. Do they want someone who can maintain their own police vehicle? Include any maintenance experience you have. Customizing your resume is the number one way to get noticed!
• Your employer likely expects you to have experience dealing with adolescents or college students, so, try to mention your communication skills. This kind of resume alteration will help employers realize you’re the one.

Related resume guides

• Security Officer
• Investigator
• Security Guard
• Firefighter

What employers don’t want to see is a list of job duties. They already know what a police officer does; instead, use your job description bullet points to speak to accomplishments in your law enforcement career. What situations did you encounter, how did you respond to those situations, and what was the result or impact? Whenever possible, quantify those statements.

Be detailed and specific in your resume, but save the story-telling aspect for your police officer cover letter .

This depends on the job description. If you’re applying to work as a public safety officer, you might consider skills like firearm safety and security equipment maintenance. If you’re planning to serve at a college campus, crowd control is an excellent skill to have. And working for a traditional police department, search and seizure will be important. The point is to understand what the job requires and to tailor your police resume accordingly.

Since law enforcement leaves room for an upward trajectory, it makes the most sense to format your resume in reverse-chronological order. What’s “above the fold” of your resume is what hiring teams will focus their attention on most, which means if you’re currently a sergeant, you shouldn’t start by listing your first job right out of the police academy.

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Making a statement to the police

• Related content
• Peer review
• Glenn Cornish , consultant psychiatrist
• Surrey and Hampshire Borders Partnership NHS Trust Glenn.Cornish{at}surreyoaklands.nhs.uk

You may be called on to make a statement to the police at any stage in your career. Typical examples are:

When you have seen someone in accident and emergency who has been assaulted

As a paediatrician, where abuse is alleged

If one of your psychiatric patients offends

Making a statement to the police is not difficult, but can raise anxieties. It is actually a straightforward procedure, which you already have the skills to do successfully. Usually the statement is all that is needed but occasionally it will be necessary to attend court as well. In this case it is well worth seeking specific training, advice from the police, and/or from your defence organisation. Unless the court directs you to break confidentiality, you should usually obtain your patient's consent to disclose details about their treatment. You should follow the General Medical Council's guidance on confidentiality.

The purpose of a police statement is to record your observations and conclusions in a way that will be most helpful to the court. Generally, a police officer will guide you through the process, and write the actual statement down.

You should start by saying who you are, your job, qualifications, and your involvement with the case.

You can and should refer to notes that you (or your team) made, and say this in the statement. You can also report things from memory but you must comment on how certain you are about accuracy. Statements are most helpful if they use short sentences, non-medical language, and clarify the differences between your observations and conclusions. The officer who takes your statement will try to help you achieve this, but you should be entirely happy with the result, which is your statement alone. Do not be afraid to clarify technical terms and include everything that you believe to be relevant. You should not feel pressured to include anything you do not wish to, or to omit anything.

At the end you will be asked to check the statement. It is crucial you do this carefully and correct or amend anything you wish to. You may subsequently be asked in detail about any part of your statement in court. You must feel comfortable that it is accurate in fact and in its conclusions.

Cooperate as far as confidentiality allows

Refer to notes and quote directly if appropriate

Express any uncertainty you have

Use short phrases and non-technical language

Make a statement if you feel uncertain about the process

Make a statement you would not be happy to defend in court

Automatically agree to wording suggested by an officer

Feel afraid to make corrections or alterations at any point

Fail to check the statement thoroughly before signing it

The author took advice from police officers in drafting this article. ■

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How to Complete Your Personal History Statement

What is a Personal History Statement?

If you want to become a police officer in the United States, you must complete a personal history statement .

As the name suggests, a personal history statement documents your life up to this point – both your life and your past . It seeks to identify the kind of person you are, and whether you are qualified and able to work as a competent law enforcement officer.

Completing the personal history statement properly is very important. Any omission of detail, for instance, will be marked down.

Omitting information is considered deceptive behavior.

When do I have to complete the statement?

It depends.

Each police department has their own guidelines. Some departments ask you to fill out the personal history statement at the end of your police officer exam. Other departments ask you to fill out the form at home and then send the completed document, through mail or email, to the department.

Contact your local police department to learn more about the protocol that impacts your application.

What information is requested on the statement?

Again, this varies by department.

Typically, though, applicants are asked to provide most if not all the following information:

• Recent photograph
• Personal details : name, address, telephone numbers, and your driver’s license number
• Identification details : height, weight, eye and hair color, presence of scars or tattoos
• Any past involvement in crime or with law enforcement
• Any past transgressions with driving, traffic, or tickets
• Details about your family
• Work history
• Military enlistment details
• Financial and credit history
• Organizational memberships
• Any significant awards or achievements
• Your signature

Though this is not an exhaustive list, it offers some perspective on the kind of information you may need to include in your police PHS.

Here is the personal history application by Houston Police Department . Take the time to review this document, as it is likely to be like the form you will be asked to complete.

Collect the Relevant Information

You may be asked to complete the PHS at short notice, so it’s important that applicants prepare in advance.

Take the time to collect relevant information. Based on the list above, this must at the very least include:

• Documenting every address you have ever stayed at . Include contact details of landlords, property managers, or neighbors, where appropriate.
• Gathering employment history details . Include employer information, including contact details. Make a note of whether the employment was full-time, part-time, or voluntary.
• Identifying any traffic violations you may have had . This includes speeding, failing to stop, or driving with expired licenses.
• Finding references . Very often, departments restrict who is qualified to act as a legitimate reference. Teachers, parents, and employers may be disqualified. Instead, neighbors or friends may be deemed more impartial. Other restrictions may also be in place, such as the need to know the person for a certain number of years.

Take the time to learn whether your police department wants official documents or whether they are content with copied documents . Depending on the nature of the documents, it may involve a mix of both.

If you are completing the PHS after your police exam , it’s important to collect these documents beforehand and keep them in a safe place.

Should I lie on my personal history statement?

Candidates should never lie on their personal history statement.

Personal history statements are a form of background investigation. If you are found to be untruthful about small details, then investigators will ask the legitimate question of whether you are lying about anything more serious. It also calls into question your judgment and trustworthiness . You will be considered too high risk, and the police department will be left with little choice but to terminate your application.

Investigators are more likely than not going to discover the truth. It is simply not worth the risk. Law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold the law and values of the state in which they operate. Lying compromises and breaches that fundamental principle to begin with.

Stay honest. Investigators are more likely to “forgive and forget” if you can demonstrate that you learned from the mistake and are a more mature and better person because of it . That is a positive twist on any past transgression, and it is far better for your application than lying ever could be.

Last Minute Checks

Always conduct last minute checks.

Given the sheer volume of detail and documents needed, it’s all too easy to let something pass or go forgotten. Double and triple check whether the documents required are that which were requested, and that you have all relevant detail requested by the personal history statement.

Make it easier for investigators to work through your application by writing in a neat and legible manner. Try to be as accurate as possible when it comes to spelling and grammar, too. Double and triple check dates and names and phone numbers. Invest time in your application. Don’t complete the application in a rush, as this only increases the risk of including unnecessary and avoidable errors.

By taking these steps, your personal history statement will be complete and accurate and an honest representation of who you are. It’s now down to your police department to assess whether you are the kind of person they wish to see join their law enforcement ranks.

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Personal Statement for Criminology Tips: With Helpful Examples

In this article, we discuss how to write a personal statement for criminology with helpful examples.

One student dreams of being an FBI officer and the other is fascinated by designing surveys. What do they have in common? Criminology will help both of them land their dream jobs. Read on for our top tips for writing a personal statement for criminology.

Table of contents, what is a personal statement for criminology, what should you consider when writing a personal statement for criminology, how to write an effective personal statement for criminology.

• Example 1 – A focus on academic achievement
• Example 2 – A focus on a professional goal

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

It’s a short essay that applicants of criminology programs submit when they apply for specific criminology courses at colleges or universities.

It helps applicants show their preparedness and convince the selection committee of their suitability to undertake the program.

The personal statement should include details of the applicant’s skills and strengths, motivations, career aspirations, and ability to contribute to the institute. It shows how the applicant stands out from other contenders.

1. Qualifications

To study criminology for an undergraduate (4-year) degree, applicants should generally have achieved a good GPA in High School and may be required to attend an admissions interview.

Furthermore, applicants may be asked to have achieved good grades in certain subjects such as psychology, sociology, and law. Finally, some courses may require applicants to have specific work experience or to have completed certain courses before they can be accepted and being able to use a computer is essential.

In order to ensure that applicants are well-prepared for a degree in criminology, they may also be expected to demonstrate knowledge of wider research, current affairs, and social, organizational, or global issues.

2. Motivation and interest in Criminology

It is important to consider motivation when writing a personal statement for criminology to show why you are interested in the field and what you plan to do with your degree.

Motivation can be personal, such as wanting to help people or make a difference in society, or professional, such as wanting to use your skills and experience to advance your career. You must be motivated to pursue this field to the best of your ability and use the knowledge you gain to benefit both yourself and society.

Motivation can include a commitment to research, a desire to solve problems, and a willingness to take on difficult tasks.

‘When people think of fighting crime it’s natural that they might think of police officers and the FBI, but I believe that without skilled researchers gathering and interpreting data policing will remain reactive rather than proactive.’

3. Life Experiences that relate to criminology

These could include:

• Family situations that involve law enforcement or the judiciary system. How have these experiences shaped your life and motivated you to pursue a criminology degree?

‘Being the eldest daughter of two police officers has taught me how to balance life, a part-time job, volunteering and schoolwork. I have been taking college courses at our local community college while finishing up high school in order to accelerate my degree and I gained a great deal of knowledge from my social work college-level classes’

• Personality traits that are suited to the intended career. Have you always been fascinated by the work of the police and the FBI?
• Do you have a relative or family friend that worked in law enforcement, social services or in the courts that you want to emulate?
• Talking about how psychology has had a direct impact on your life, such as having counselling sessions for anxiety and how this has given you the desire to work with people that have been affected by crime.

4. Background knowledge of criminology

It’s important to show an understanding of some elements of criminology. These could include some criminological research and theories or having an awareness of contemporary crime prevention strategies.

‘As part of our High School Psychology course, we studied critical analyses of crime studies, which involves looking at the various aspects of a crime such as the social and economic factors that lead to it and the use theoretical frameworks to understand the underlying causes and effects of criminal behavior.’

Being familiar with laws and criminal justice systems in your state, and an understanding of the ethical considerations applicable to criminology will be valuable to you.

During the application process, it is important to demonstrate that you have the following skills:

• written and verbal communication skills,
• critical reading and writing skills,
• technology and analysis skills,
• research and problem-solving skills,
• understanding of social, organizational and global issues,
• an awareness of current affairs on both a local and a global perspective.

Enhanced communication skills such as clarifying, listening and offering advice as well as the ability to gather and assess data and other information will help your application.

6. Experience

Think about your experiences in jobs, work experience, work placements, apprenticeships and any other relevant education or professional background.

Additionally, one should reflect on any current or past work in the criminal justice field, such as working in youth corrections.

Furthermore, it is important to consider any personal experiences that may have influenced the decision to pursue criminology, such as volunteering with victims or exposure to the criminal justice system.

Step 1: Talk about your qualifications

Discuss how your qualifications or current GPA specifically prepares you for a criminology degree.

Mention any other qualifications, volunteering positions or work experience you have that may be relevant.

Step 2: Explain why you chose criminology.

Show the reader your enthusiasm and knowledge of the field by providing evidence of your passion for the subject. This could include discussing your experience with law enforcement or the judicial system or providing examples of research on crime and criminal justice topics.

‘My biggest dream is to be an FBI agent and with that goal in mind I am committed to studying the field of criminology, to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of criminal justice, law, and psychology.’

Your personal statement should include stories that highlight your experiences and explain how these contributed to your choice of a career in criminology. Make sure to connect your experiences and goals by emphasizing how they have helped shape your path.

Step 3: Share your knowledge of criminology and solving crime.

Show an intellectual interest in which authors, modules, theorists, and debates have interested you, and how they could help you with your criminology degree.

Demonstrate your knowledge of criminology by discussing the topics you’ve researched on your own. This could include specific theories, current events, or other relevant topics.

Step 5: Show your initiative and drive

Showing initiative and drive is important. You can do this by writing about your academic achievements, your extra-curricular activities, and any relevant work experience to show the review committee the level of commitment and dedication you have towards your chosen career path.

You should also include details of any wider research or current affairs you are interested in. This could include discussing how you understand local law enforcement and crime concerns and how they can be integrated into a larger global perspective, or mentioning articles or books you have read about your chosen field of study.

Step 6: Proofread and edit your personal statement before submitting it

Accuracy in grammar and spelling is of utmost importance when writing a personal statement for criminology. Good written communication skills are essential for this field of study, as they are necessary for understanding, interpreting and critically analyzing any given data.

These communication skills also have a direct impact on the overall impression of a written statement, as a document full of errors can create a negative impression and make it appear as though the author is sloppy or not careful enough. In addition, as criminology is a field that requires much research and problem solving, attention to detail is critical for any successful analysis.

Examples from winning personal statements for Criminology

Example 1 – a focus on academic achievement.

Being the eldest daughter of two police officers has taught me how to balance life, a part time job, volunteering and schoolwork. With a 4.0 GPA, I have been taking college courses at our local community college while finishing up high school in order to accelerate my degree and I gained a great deal of knowledge from my social work college classes. I was also fortunate enough to learn about the law, criminal justice system, and how the court process works when my sister obtained an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Chelmhurst College – she jokes that I spent more time reading her notes and textbooks than she did! I am committed to a career in criminal justice research and have already volunteered on two projects undertaken by the state office, working on collating survey data relating to local crime.

My ambition has always been to work in Criminology, and I am confident in my ability to remain dedicated and professional. My academic and professional achievements have set me up to be an ideal student for a degree in Criminology. When people think of fighting crime it’s natural that they might think of police officers and the FBI, but I believe that without skilled researchers gathering and interpreting data policing will remain reactive rather than proactive. I want to be a big part of better understanding and lowering crime rates in my state through well-designed research projects that connect with the citizens we are working hard to protect.

Example 2 – a focus on a professional goal

My biggest dream is to be an FBI agent and with that goal in mind I am committed to studying the field of criminology, to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of criminal justice, law, and psychology. As part of our High School Psychology course, we studied critical analyses of crime studies, which involves looking at the various aspects of a crime such as the social and economic factors that lead to it and the use of theoretical frameworks to understand the underlying causes and effects of criminal behaviour. I was fascinated by the process of researching and analyzing data from crime statistics, identifying patterns, and coming to logical conclusions.

Working on interviews and other investigative techniques to gain insights into criminal mindsets and motivations will, I hope, make me a better FBI officer in the future and develop my sense of compassion for people trapped in challenging situations, as both the victims and perpetrators of crime. I have strong communication skills and am a team player, which I believe will fit well with the ethos of Milwaukee College.

Some of these questions were already covered in this blog post but I will still list them here (because not everyone carefully reads every paragraph) so here’s the TL;DR version.

What is Criminology?

Criminology is the scientific study of crime, including its causes, consequences, and control. It examines the legal and social aspects of crime, as well as the social, economic, and political factors that influence it.

It also looks into the various theories and approaches used to explain criminal behaviour and the effectiveness of various strategies used to control it. Furthermore, it considers the ethical issues related to criminal justice, such as the rights of victims and offenders, and the impact of crime on society.

By studying criminology, students can gain a better understanding of the criminal justice system, the causes of crime, and the ways in which it can be prevented and controlled.

What kind of career can be achieved with a Criminology degree?

With a degree in criminology, a wide range of career aspirations can be achieved.

• Law enforcement, such as a police officer, detective, or federal agent;
• Corrections, such as a probation officer or correctional officer;
• Social work, such as a case manager or community outreach worker;
• Criminal justice research, such as a crime analyst or research assistant;
• Victim advocacy, such as a victim advocate or crisis counsellor.
• Forensic psychology, forensic accounting, and cybercrime.

What traits are needed to be successful in Criminology?

Criminology is an exciting and challenging field which requires a range of skills and qualities to be successful. These include:

• Dedication: Being dedicated to the study of criminology and its related fields, and having a strong commitment to learning.
• Reliability: Being dependable and able to complete tasks accurately and efficiently.
• Concentration: Having the ability to focus intently and pay attention to detail.
• Professionalism: Being able to ethically and responsibly handle sensitive matters.
• Adaptability: Being able to adjust to changing environments and quickly respond to issues as they arise.
• Compassion: Being able to empathize with others, understand their views and opinions, and provide necessary assistance.

What kind of research should I do to write a personal statement for Criminology?

• Review the Course Overview and Requirements: Research the topics that will be covered in the course, such as criminal law, criminal justice, criminology theories, and research methods.
• Identify Your Interests: Think about why you are interested in Criminology and what experiences or skills you can bring to the course. Consider your past experiences, such as volunteering in a criminal justice organization or working in a related field, and any research or writing you have done on criminology topics.
• Collect Evidence: Collect evidence to support your personal statement. This could include academic qualifications, recommendations, and any other evidence that shows your commitment to the field of Criminology.
• Brainstorm and Outline: Create an outline of your personal statement. Brainstorm ideas and develop a strong thesis statement that outlines why you would be a good fit for the course and why you are passionate about Criminology.
• Write and Edit: Once you have outlined your personal statement, it’s time to write and edit. Make sure to review your statement for grammar, spelling, and clarity and get feedback.

What should a Criminology personal statement include?

A Criminology personal statement should include information about the applicant’s interest in and knowledge of the field of Criminology, as well as their skills, experiences, and achievements in relation to the subject. It should also include their future ambitions and plans for contributing to society through their study of Criminology. Additionally, applicants should demonstrate their ability to research, their ability to work with others, and their readiness for the degree course.

In order to make their personal statement unique, applicants should start the essay with a personal experience, carefully curate the most relevant points, use storytelling instead of making formal statements, use simple language, and personalize the essay.

More Personal Statement Tutorials

• Guide to Writing a Winning Personal Statement for University
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• Statement of Purpose vs. Personal Statement: Six Differences Between the Two
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• How to Write a Personal Statement for Criminology: With Helpful Examp

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Law and Criminology Personal Statement

A recent trip to the Royal Courts of Justice reaffirmed my interest in law and criminology  degree. Firstly, I sat in on cases which particularly interested me as I was able to see court in practice. Secondly, I also took part in a mooting case within a court room, presenting my case as a barrister to the judge, which made me realise that I would love to do this as my future career. Therefore, studying law and criminology appeals to me even more to help me with my career ambitions. I love the criminal side of the law and the statutes behind criminal acts. I find the cause of crime to be of interest to me, as well and I love focusing on different theories and perspectives as to why people commit crime.

My currents subject relate to my course of law and criminology. Within A-level Law I am learning parts of compulsory modules that are taught in university such as Criminal Law. I enjoy law as I find it interesting and I love learning about different cases that have occurred that are used in court today. In Law I am developing my critical analysis skill which enables me to present clear and concise points. In addition, Sociology relates as I am learning about crime and deviance, which relates to the criminology aspect. I enjoy learning about the different social aspects as to why people commit crime, such as subcultures and ethnicity. I recently achieved an A grade essay on the relationship between social problems and levels of crime. This is useful as it is an important aspect that will be taught in criminology. Psychology relates as it gives me an insight into the criminal mind. In psychology I particularly enjoyed the topic of eye witness testimonies and examining the different factors that can improve the reliability of eye witness testimonies like age, anxiety and misleading information.

One of my biggest achievements is being a volunteer police cadet for five years. Volunteer police cadets are partnered with the London Metropolitan Police Service. Being a volunteer police cadet has given me confidence, organisational skills, and made me more open to valuing other people’s opinions. I am able to communicate with people at all levels and within a team. I completed my two weeks’ work experience with the police force and had various opportunities to work with police officers gaining a further insight into law enforcement.

I also have a part-time job waitressing at a catering service. This job has enabled me to become more independent, organised with my time and how to use my own initiative. Furthermore, I play football; in secondary school I was on my school team and I was captain for both the junior and senior team. This was a big achievement as it showed my coach recognised the effort I made within the team. It taught me to be a team player and to use other people’s strengths to help when necessary. It also taught me to be a leader and communicate with my team. As well I play the guitar and I taught myself to play with only a few lessons. By learning the guitar it taught me to dedicate myself to a cause even if I found it hard.

Overall, I believe my passion for law and criminology comes across from all aspects, such as my recent visits to court rooms, my academic suitability, my voluntary experiences and my extra-curricular activities.  I am particularly interested in joining the mooting club as I think it will be very interesting and it will further help me develop my skills and knowledge about the criminal side of law. I am keen to start university as I believe it will be a new stage in my life, which will teach me many vital lessons in which I will need in later life. Although I know it will require hard work, I am prepared to dedicate myself and I am excited to achieve my full potential.

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How to Write a Personal Statement

A personal statement can be a key part of your college application, and you can really make yours shine by following a few tips.

When you're applying to college—either to an undergraduate or graduate program—you may be asked to submit a personal statement. It's an essay that gives you the chance to share more about who you are and why you'd like to attend the university you're applying to.  

The information you provide in your personal statement can help build on your other application materials, like your transcripts and letters of recommendation, and build a more cohesive picture to help the admissions committee understand your goals.

In this article, we'll go over more about personal statements, including why they're important, what to include in one, and tips for strengthening yours.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement—sometimes known as a college essay —is a brief written essay you submit with other materials when applying to college or university. Personal statements tend to be most common for undergraduate applications, and they're a great opportunity for an admissions committee to hear your voice directly.

Many colleges and universities in the US, especially those using Common App , provide prompts for you to use. For example, "Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea" or "Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time" [ 1 ]. If the school you're interested in attending doesn't require prompts, you will likely want to craft a response that touches on your story, your values, and your goals if possible.

In grad school, personal statements are sometimes known as letters of intent , and go into more detail about your academic and professional background, while expressing interest in attending the particular program you're applying to.

Why is a personal statement important?

Personal statements are important for a number of reasons. Whereas other materials you submit in an application can address your academic abilities (like your transcripts) or how you perform as a student (like your letters of recommendation), a personal statement is a chance to do exactly that: get more personal.

Personal statements typically:

Permit you to share things that don't fit on your resume, such as personal stories, motivations, and values

Offer schools a chance to see why you're interested in a particular field of study and what you hope to accomplish after you graduate 

Provide an opportunity for you to talk about past employment, volunteer experiences, or skills you have that complement your studies 

Allow colleges to evaluate your writing skills 

Bring life to a college application package otherwise filled with facts and figures 

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How to write a personal statement.

As we mentioned earlier, you may have to respond to a prompt when drafting your personal statement—or a college or university may invite you to respond however you'd like. In either case, use the steps below to begin building your response.

Create a solid hook .

To capture the attention of an admissions committee member, start your personal statement with a hook that relates to the topic of your essay. A hook tends to be a colorful sentence or two at the very beginning that compels the reader to continue reading.

To create a captivating hook, try one of these methods:

Pose a rhetorical question. 

Provide an interesting statistic. 

Insert a quote from a well-known person.

Challenge the reader with a common misconception. 

Use an anecdote, which is a short story that can be true or imaginary. 

Credibility is crucial when writing a personal statement as part of your college application process. If you choose a statistic, quote, or misconception for your hook, make sure it comes from a reliable source.

Follow a narrative.

The best personal statements typically read like a story: they have a common theme, as well as a beginning, middle, and end. This type of format also helps keep your thoughts organized and improves the flow of your essay.

Common themes to consider for your personal statement include:

Special role models from your past

Life-altering events you've experienced

Unusual challenges you've faced

Accomplishments you're especially proud of

Service to others and why you enjoy it

What you've learned from traveling to a particular place

Unique ways you stand out from other candidates

Be specific.

Admissions committees read thousands of personal statements every year, which is why being specific on yours is important. Back up your statements with examples or anecdotes.

For instance, avoid vague assertions like, "I'm interested in your school counseling program because I care about children." Instead, point out experiences you've had with children that emphasize how much you care. For instance, you might mention your summer job as a day camp counselor or your volunteer experience mentoring younger children.

Don't forget to include detail and vibrancy to keep your statement interesting. The use of detail shows how your unique voice and experiences can add value to the college or university you're applying to.

Stay on topic.

It's natural to want to impress the members of the admissions committee who will read your personal statement. The best way to do this is to lead your readers through a cohesive, informative, and descriptive essay.

If you feel you might be going astray, ensure each paragraph in your essay's body supports your introduction. Here are a few more strategies that can help keep you on track:

Know what you want to say and do research if needed. 

Create an outline listing the key points you want to share.

Read your outline aloud to confirm it makes logical sense before proceeding. 

Read your essay aloud while you're writing to confirm you're staying on topic.

Ask a trusted friend or family member to read your essay and make suggestions.

Be true to your own voice.

Because of the importance of your personal statement, you could be tempted to be very formal with structure and language. However, using a more relaxed tone is better than you would for a classroom writing assignment. 

Remember: admissions committees really want to hear from you . Writing in your own voice will help accomplish this. To ensure your tone isn't too relaxed, write your statement as if you were speaking to an older relative or trusted teacher. This way, you'll come across as respectful, confident, and honest.

Tips for drafting an effective personal statement.

Now that you've learned a little about personal statements and how to craft them, here are a few more tips you can follow to strengthen your essay:

1. Customize your statement.

You don't have to completely rewrite your personal statement every time you apply to a new college, but you want to make sure you tailor it as much as possible. For instance, if you talk about wanting to take a certain class or study a certain subject, make sure you adjust any specifics for each application.

2. Avoid cliches.

Admissions committees are ultimately looking for students who will fit the school, and who the school can help guide toward their larger goals. In that case, cliches can get in the way of a reviewer understanding what it is you want from a college education. Watch out for cliches like "making a difference," "broadening my horizons," or "the best thing that ever happened to me."

3. Stay focused.

Try to avoid getting off-track or including tangents in your personal statement. Stay focused by writing a first draft and then re-reading what you've written. Does every paragraph flow from one point to the next? Are the ideas you're presenting cohesive?

4. Stick to topics that aren't controversial.

It's best not to discuss political beliefs or inappropriate topics in your essay. These can be controversial; ideally, you want to share something goals- or values-driven with an admissions committee.

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A stellar personal statement starts with stellar writing skills. Enhance your writing ability with a writing course from a top university, like Good with Words: Writing and Editing from the University of Michigan or Writing a Personal Essay from Wesleyan University. Get started for free to level up your writing.

Article sources

1. Common App. " 2022-2023 Common App Essay Prompts , https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2022-2023-common-app-essay-prompts." Accessed January 9, 2024.

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Statement to Police: Rights and Considerations when Making or Refusing a Statement

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When faced with a criminal accusation, one of the initial encounters you may have is with the police.

During this interaction, you may be asked to provide a statement. It’s crucial to understand your rights and responsibilities in these situations.

The statement you give to the police can significantly influence the course of your case.

At Sarah Leamon Law, we are focused on ensuring our clients are well-informed about their rights, including the right to remain silent and the potential implications of providing a statement to the police.

What is a Police Statement?

A police statement is a written or verbal account given to the police about an event or series of events that the person has witnessed or been involved in.

It can be a crucial piece of evidence in a criminal investigation and can significantly influence the course of a case.

Do I Have to Give a Statement to the Police?

No, you are not legally obligated to provide a statement to the police if you are accused of a crime. It is part of your right to remain silent, which is protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

However, there are certain circumstances, such as during a traffic stop, where you may be required to provide some information.

What is a Witness Statement?

A witness statement is a written account given by an individual who has witnessed a crime or event.

A witness statement provides details about what the witness saw, heard, or experienced and can serve as crucial evidence in a criminal investigation or trial.

How to Write a Statement for the Police?

If you choose to provide a statement to the police, you must be clear, concise, and truthful. Stick to the facts that you know or experienced directly. And avoid speculating or guessing about things you’re unsure of.

It’s also advisable to consult with a lawyer before providing a statement to ensure that you understand your rights and the potential implications of your statement.

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What Happens When You Make a Statement to the Police?

When you make a statement to the police, it becomes a part of the official record for the investigation.

The police may use this statement to further their investigation, and it could potentially be used as evidence if the case goes to court.

You should keep in mind that once a statement is given, it cannot be taken back or changed without potentially serious legal consequences.

What Should I Not Say in a Police Statement?

In a police statement, you should avoid speculation, assumptions, or hearsay. Stick to the facts that you know or experienced directly. Do not provide information on which you are unsure. Avoid making self-incriminating statements.

It’s also vital not to lie or provide false information, as this can lead to charges of perjury or obstructing justice.

If You Give a Statement to the Police, Do You Have to Go to Court?

No, giving a statement to the police does not necessarily mean you will have to go to court. However, depending on the nature of the case and the content of your statement, you could be called as a witness in court.

Can You Record While Giving a Statement to Police?

Laws regarding recording interactions with the police vary by jurisdiction. In some places, it is legal to record your own interactions with the police, as long as you are not interfering with their duties.

However, it’s always best to inform the police that you are recording, and to consult with a lawyer beforehand.

Is a Police Statement Admissible in Court?

Yes, a police statement can be admissible in court. However, for the statement to be used as evidence, it must be relevant to the case and must not violate any rules of evidence, such as the rule against hearsay. The admissibility of a police statement is ultimately determined by the judge.

Can I Refuse to Give a Statement to the Police?

You have the right to refuse to give a statement to the police. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, you are protected by the right to remain silent.

What Happens if You Don’t Give a Statement to the Police?

If you choose not to give a statement to the police, they may continue their investigation using other available evidence.

Your decision to remain silent cannot be used as evidence of guilt. However, depending on the circumstances, not providing a statement could potentially limit some of the defence strategies available to you later.

It’s always best to consult with a lawyer before deciding whether to give a statement.

Can You Refuse to Give a Witness Statement?

You could refuse to give a witness statement. However, if the matter goes to court, you could be subpoenaed to testify.

If you refuse to comply with a subpoena, you could face legal consequences.

The best course of action is to consult with a lawyer if you’re unsure about your rights and obligations as a witness.

Do You Have the Right to Remain Silent in Canada?

You have the right to remain silent. This is a fundamental right protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In other words, you are not obligated to answer any questions posed by the police, especially those that could potentially incriminate you.

However, there are certain situations, such as during a traffic stop, where you may be required to provide some basic information.

Contact Us Today Before Making a Police Statement

If you’re faced with the prospect of providing a police statement, it’s crucial to understand your rights and the potential implications of your statement. At Sarah Leamon Law, our team is ready to guide you through this process, ensuring your rights are protected and you’re making informed decisions.

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18 Law School Personal Statement Examples That Got Accepted!

This blog contains law school personal statement examples written by applicants who were successfully accepted to multiple law schools after working with our admissions experts as part of our  application review programs . Your  law school personal statement  is one of the most important parts of your application and is your best opportunity to show admissions officers who you are behind your numbers and third-party assessments. Because of its importance, many students find the personal statement to be daunting and demanding of the full scope of their skills as writers. Today we're going to review these excellent law school personal statement examples from past successful applicants and provide some proven strategies from a former admissions officer that can help you prepare your own stellar essay. 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 44 min read

Law school personal statement example #1.

When I was a child, my neighbors, who had arrived in America from Nepal, often seemed stressed. They argued a lot, struggled for money, and seemed to work all hours of the day. One day, I woke early in the morning to a commotion outside my apartment. Police officers were accompanying my neighbors out of the building. They were being deported. In my teens, I was shocked to see that our kind, friendly neighbors had exhausted their last chance to stay in America as they lost a court appeal. 

Since that time, I have worked closely with the many immigrant families in my neighborhood, and now university town. I began by volunteering at a local community center. Together with social workers, I served food and gave out clothes to new arrivals. My diligent work ethic led to more responsibility, and I received training in basic counseling techniques, first aid skills and community services. Soon, I was tasked with welcoming new community members and assessing their health and social needs. I heard the many difficult stories of those who had traveled thousands of miles, often through several countries, risking everything to reach a safe, welcoming country. I was proud to contribute in some small way to making America welcoming for these individuals.

The community center is where I had my first formal contact with legal aid lawyers, who were a constant source of knowledge and support for those who needed assistance. I was struck by the lawyers’ ability to explain complex legal processes to nervous and exhausted incomers: law, I realized, was about more than procedure. I decided that I, too, would strive to balance a wealth of technical knowledge with my caring, compassionate personality.

As soon as I enrolled in university, I knew I had the chance to do so. In my very first week, I signed up to volunteer at the university’s legal aid center, where I worked closely with law professors and students on a range of cases. Academically, I have focused on courses, such as a fourth-year Ethics seminar, that would help me develop rigorous critical reasoning skills. More importantly, I knew that, given my experience, I could be a leader on campus. I decided to found a refugee campaign group, Students4Refugees. Together with a group of volunteers, we campaigned to make our campus a refugee-friendly space. I organized a series of events: international student mixers, an art installation in our student commons, and concerts that raised over $5,000 for the charity Refugee Aid. I am proud to say that my contributions were recognized with a university medal for campus leadership.

I have seen time and again how immigrants to the United States struggle with bureaucracy, with complex legal procedures, and with the demands of living in a foreign and sometimes hostile climate. As I plan to enter law school, I look back to my neighbors’ experiences: they needed someone who knew the law, who could negotiate with the authorities on their behalf, who could inform them of their rights—but they also needed someone who would provide a caring and compassionate outlet for their stresses. I know that Townsville University’s combination of academic rigor, legal aid services, and history of graduates entering labor and non-profit sectors will allow me to develop these skills and continue making contributions to my community by advocating for those in need.

• Thematic consistency: It focuses on just one theme: justice for immigrants. Each paragraph is designed to show off how enthusiastic the student is about this area of law. Personal statements—including those for law school—often begin with a personal anecdote. This one is short, memorable, and relevant. It establishes the overall theme quickly. By constraining their essay’s focus to a single general theme, the writer can go into great depth and weave in emotional and psychological weight through careful and vivid description. The personal statement isn’t a standard 3-paragraph college essay with a spotlight thesis statement, but it conveys similar impact through presenting a central focus organically, without resorting to simply blurting out “the point” of the piece.   
• Shows, rather than tells: Connected to this, this statement focuses on showing rather than telling. Rather than simply telling the reader about their commitment to law, the applicant describes specific situations they were involved in that demonstrate their commitment to law. “Show don’t tell” means you want to paint a vivid picture of actions or experiences that demonstrate a given quality or skill, and not simply say "I can do X." Make it an experience for your reader, don't just give them a fact. 
• Confident, but not arrogant: Additionally, this personal statement is confident without being boastful—leadership qualities, grades, and an award are all mentioned in context, rather than appearing as a simple list of successes. 
• Specific to the school: It ends with a conclusion that alludes to why the applicant is suitable for the specific school to which they’re applying and points to their future career plans. Thoroughly researching the law school to which you’re applying is incredibly important so that you can tailor your remarks to the specific qualities and values they’re looking for. A law essay writing service is really something that can help you integrate this aspect effectively. 

What Should a Law School Personal Statement Do?

1.      be unique to the school you’re applying to.

Students are always asking how to write a personal statement for law school, particularly one that stands out from all the rest. After all, advice from most universities can often be quite vague. Take this zinger from the  University of Chicago : “Write about something personal, relevant, and completely individual to you… Just be yourself.” Every school will have different requirements or content they want to see in a personal statement. This is why it’s a good idea to review specific guidelines for the school to which you’re applying. For example, you can read Yale Law School personal statement examples , Stanford Law personal statement examples , and an NYU personal statement to get an idea of what these schools look for.

2.      Demonstrate your skills and capabilities

For motivated students with the world at their fingertips, it’s a tough ask to narrow your character down into a few hundred words! But this is exactly the point of such generic guidelines—to challenge aspiring law students to produce something unique and convincing with minimal direction by the university. Law is, after all, a profession that demands your language to be persuasive, and the personal statement is merely one of many exercises where you can demonstrate your language skills. 

3.      Meet basic requirements

While the law school personal statement is about far more than just following essay directions, you still need to keep basic formatting and length restrictions in mind. Most law schools ask for a 2-page personal statement, but lengths can range from 2-4 pages. Georgetown Law School , for instance, recommends a 2-page personal statement but explicitly states that there is no official minimum or maximum. In general, length does not make a personal statement better. Rambling, meandering sentences and tiresome descriptions will only hurt the impact of your ideas, especially considering how many thousands of pages admissions committees have to churn through each year.  

In short, keep to 2 double-spaced pages, and only go below or above this is if you absolutely have to, and if the school to which you're applying allows it. You want to keep things as widely applicable as possible while drafting your personal statement, meaning that you don't want to draft a 4 page letter for the one school that allows it, and then have to significantly rewrite this for your other schools. Stick to 2 pages. 

4.      Embody what the school is looking for

Lastly, many law schools won’t offer hyper-specific prompts, but will give you general law school admissions essay topics to follow. For instance, the University of Washington’s law school provides a number of topics to follow, including “Describe a personal challenge you faced” or “Describe your passions and involvement in a project or pursuit and the ways in which it has contributed to your personal growth and goals.” These topics may feel specific at first, but as you begin drafting, you’ll likely realize you have dozens of memories to choose from, and numerous ways of describing their impact. While drafting, try to explore as many of these options as possible, and select the best or most impactful to use in your final draft.  

Want to write the perfect law school personal statement? Watch this video:

Law School Personal Statement Example #2

In my home community, the belief is that the law is against us. The law oppresses and victimizes. I must admit that as a child and young person I had this opinion based on my environment and the conversations around me. I did not understand that the law could be a vehicle for social change, and I certainly did not imagine I had the ability and talents to be a voice for this change. I regularly attended my high school classes because I enjoyed the discussions and reading for English and history, and writing came easily to me, but I wasn’t committed to getting good grades because I felt I had no purpose. My mindset changed as I spent time with Mark Russell, a law student who agreed to mentor and tutor me as part of a “high school to law school” mentorship program. Every week, for three years, Mark and I would meet. At first, Mark tutored me, but I quickly became an “A” student, not only because of the tutoring, but because my ambitions were uncorked by what Mark shared with me about university, the law, and his life. I learned grades were the currency I needed to succeed. I attended mock trials, court hearings, and law lectures with Mark and developed a fresh understanding of the law that piqued an interest in law school. My outlook has changed because my mentor, my teachers, and my self-advocacy facilitated my growth. Still, injustices do occur. The difference is that I now believe the law can be an instrument for social change, but voices like mine must give direction to policy and resources in order to fight those injustices.

Early in my mentorship, I realized it was necessary to be “in the world” differently if I were to truly consider a law career. With Mark’s help and the support of my high school teachers, I learned to advocate for myself and explore opportunities that would expand my worldview as well as my academic skills. I joined a Model UN club at a neighboring high school, because my own school did not have enough student interest to have a club. By discussing global issues and writing decisions, I began to feel powerful and confident with my ability to gather evidence and make meaningful decisions about real global issues. As I built my leadership, writing, and public speaking skills, I noticed a rift developing with some of my friends. I wanted them to begin to think about larger systemic issues outside of our immediate experience, as I was learning to, and to build confidence in new ways. I petitioned my school to start a Model UN and recruited enough students to populate the club. My friends did not join the club as I’d hoped, but before I graduated, we had 2 successful years with the students who did join. I began to understand that I cannot force change based on my own mandate, but I must listen attentively to the needs and desires of others in order to support them as they require.

While I learned to advocate for myself throughout high school, I also learned to advocate for others. My neighbors, knowing my desire to be a lawyer, would often ask me to advocate on their behalf with small grievances. I would make phone calls, stand in line with them at government offices, and deal with difficult landlords. A woman, Elsa, asked me to review her rental agreement to help her understand why her landlord had rented it to someone else, rather than renewing her lease. I scoured the rental agreement, highlighted questionable sections, read the Residential Tenancies Act, and developed a strategy for approaching the landlord. Elsa and I sat down with the landlord and, upon seeing my binder complete with indices, he quickly conceded before I could even speak. That day, I understood evidence is the way to justice. My interest in justice grew, and while in university, I sought experiences to solidify my decision to pursue law.

Last summer, I had the good fortune to work as a summer intern in the Crown Attorney’s Office responsible for criminal trial prosecutions. As the only pre-law intern, I was given tasks such as reviewing court tapes, verifying documents, and creating a binder with indices. I often went to court with the prosecutors where I learned a great deal about legal proceedings, and was at times horrified by human behavior. This made the atmosphere in the Crown Attorney’s office even more surprising. I worked with happy and passionate lawyers whose motivations were pubic service, the safety and well-being of communities, and justice. The moment I realized justice was their true objective, not the number of convictions, was the moment I decided to become a lawyer.

I broke from the belief systems I was born into. I did this through education, mentorship, and self-advocacy. There is sadness because in this transition I left people behind, especially as I entered university. However, I am devoted to my home community. I understand the barriers that stand between youth and their success. As a law student, I will mentor as I was mentored, and as a lawyer, I will be a voice for change.

What’s Great about this Second Law School Personal Statement?

• It tells a complete and compelling story: Although the applicant expressed initial reservations about the law generally, the statement tells a compelling story of how the applicant's opinions began to shift and their interest in law began. They use real examples and show how that initial interest, once seeded, grew into dedication and passion. This introduction implies an answer to the " why do you want to study law? ” interview question.
• It shows adaptability: Receptiveness to new information and the ability to change both thought and behavior based on this new information. The writer describes realizing that they needed to be "in the world" differently! It's hard to convey such a grandiose idea without sounding cliché, but through their captivating and chronological narrative, the writer successfully convinces the reader that this is the case with copious examples, including law school extracurriculars . It’s a fantastic case of showing rather than telling, describing specific causes they were involved with which demonstrate that the applicant is genuinely committed to a career in the law. 
• Includes challenges the subject faced and overcame: This law school personal statement also discusses weighty, relatable challenges that they faced, such as the applicant's original feeling toward law, and the fact that they lost some friends along the way. However, the applicant shows determination to move past these hurdles without self-pity or other forms of navel-gazing.  Additionally, this personal statement ends with a conclusion that alludes to why the applicant is suitable for the specific school to which they’re applying and points to their future career plans. The writer manages to craft an extremely immersive and believable story about their path to the present, while also managing to curate the details of this narrative to fit the specific values and mission of the school to which they’re applying.

What’s Great About This Third Law School Personal Statement? 

• Description is concise and effective: This writer opens with rich, vivid description and seamlessly guides the reader into a compelling first-person narrative. Using punchy, attention-grabbing descriptions like these make events immersive, placing readers in the writer's shoes and creating a sense of immediacy. 
• Achievements are the focus: They also do a fantastic job of talking about their achievements, such as interview team lead, program design, etc., without simply bragging. Instead, they deliver this information within a cohesive narrative that includes details, anecdotes, and information that shows their perspective in a natural way. Lastly, they invoke their passion for law with humility, discussing their momentary setbacks and frustrations as ultimately positive experiences leading to further growth. 

Want more law school personal statement examples from top law schools?

• Harvard law school personal statement examples
• Columbia law school personal statement examples
• Cornell law school personal statement examples
• Yale law school personal statement examples
• UPenn law school personal statement examples
• Cambridge law school personal statement examples

Law School Personal Statement #4

What’s great about this fourth law school personal statement.

• Engaging description: Like the third example above, this fourth law school personal statement opens with engaging description and first-person narrative. However, the writer of this personal statement chooses to engage a traumatic aspect of their childhood and discuss how this adversity led them to develop their desire to pursue a career in law.  
• Strong theme of overcoming adversity: Overcoming adversity is a frequent theme in personal statements for all specialties, but with law school personal statements students are often able to utilize uniquely dramatic, difficult, and pivotal experiences that involved interacting with the law. It may be hard to discuss such emotionally weighty experiences in a short letter but, as this personal statement shows, with care and focus it's possible to sincerely demonstrate how your early struggles paved the way for you to become the person you are now. It's important to avoid sensationalism, but you shouldn't shy away from opening up to your readers about adverse experiences that have ultimately pointed you in a positive direction. 

Why "show, don't tell" is the #1 rule for personal statements:

Law School Personal Statement Example #5

What’s great about this fifth law school personal statement  .

• Highlights achievements effectively: This writer does a fantastic job of incorporating their accomplishments and impact they had on their community without any sense of bragging or conceit. Rather, these accomplishments are related in terms of deep personal investment and a general drive to have a positive impact on those around them—without resorting to the cliches of simply stating "I want to help people." They show themselves helping others, and how these early experiences of doing so are a fundamental part of their drive to succeed with a career in law.   
• Shows originality: Additionally, they do a great job of explaining the uniqueness of their identity. The writer doesn't simply list their personal/cultural characteristics, but contextualizes them to show how they've shaped their path to law school. Being the child of a Buddhist mother and a Hindu father doesn’t imply anything about a person’s ability to study/practice law on its own, but explaining how this unique aspect of their childhood encouraged a passion for “discussion, active debate, and compromise” is profoundly meaningful to an admissions panel. Being able to express how fundamental aspects of law practice are an integral part of yourself is a hugely helpful tactic in a law school personal statement. 

If you\u2019re heading North of the border, check out list of  law schools in Canada  that includes requirements and stats on acceptance. ","label":"Tip","title":"Tip"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Law School Personal Statement Example #6

What’s great about this sixth law school personal statement .

• Weaves in cultural background: Similar to the writer of personal statement #5, this student utilizes the cultural uniqueness of their childhood to show how their path to law school was both deeply personal and rooted in ideas pervasive in their early years. Unlike the writer of statement #5, this student doesn't shy away from explaining how this distinctiveness was often a source of alienation and difficulty. Yet this adversity is, as they note, ultimately what helped them be an adaptable and driven student, with a clear desire to make a positive impact on the kinds of situations that they witnessed affect their parents.  
• Describes setbacks while remaining positive: This writer also doesn't shy away from describing their temporary setbacks as both learning experiences and, crucially, springboards for positively informing their plans for the future. 

What’s Great About This Seventh Law School Personal Statement? 

• The writer takes accountability: One of the hardest things to accomplish in a personal statement is describing not just early setbacks that are out of your control but early mistakes for which you must take responsibility. The writer of this personal statement opens with descriptions of characteristics that most law schools would find problematic at best. But at the end of this introduction, they successfully utilize an epiphany, a game-changing moment in which they saw something beyond their early pathological aimlessness, to clearly mark the point at which they became focused on law.  
• The narrative structure is clear: They clearly describe the path forward from this moment on, showing how they remained focused on earning a law degree, and how they were able to work through successive experiences of confusion to persist in finishing their undergraduate education at a prestigious university. Of course, you shouldn't brag about such things for their own sake, but this writer makes the point of opening up about the unique feelings of inadequacy that come along with being the first person in their family to attend such a school, and how these feelings were—like their initial aimlessness—mobilized in service of their goal and the well-being of others. Their statement balances discussion of achievement with humility, which is a difficult but impactful tactic when done well. 

Law School Personal Statement Example #8

What’s great about this eighth law school personal statement .

• Shows commitment to the community: Commitment to one’s community is a prized value in both law students and law professionals. This writer successfully describes not only how they navigated the challenges in their group environments, such as their internship, the debate team, etc., but how these challenges strengthened their commitment to being a positive part of their communities. They don’t simply describe the skills and lessons they learned from these challenging environments, but also how these challenges ultimately made them even more committed to and appreciative of these kinds of dynamic, evolutionary settings.  
• Avoids negative description: They also avoid placing blame or negatively describing the people in these situations, instead choosing to characterize inherent difficulties in terms neutral to the people around them. In this way, you can describe extremely challenging environments without coming off as resentful, and identify difficulties without being accusatory or, worse yet, accidentally or indirectly seeming like part of the problem. This writer manages to convey the difficulty and complexity of these experiences while continually returning to their positive long-term impact, and though you shouldn’t seek to “bright-side” the troubles in your life you should absolutely point out how these experiences have made you a more capable and mature student. 

Watch this for more law school personal statement examples!

Law School Personal Statement Example #9

What’s great about this ninth law school personal statement  .

• The writer effectively describes how their background shaped their decision to pursue law: Expressing privilege as adversity is something that very few students should even attempt, and fewer still can actually pull it off. But the writer of this personal statement does just that in their second paragraph, describing how the ease and comfort of their upbringing could have been a source of laziness or detachment, and often is for particularly well-off students, but instead served as a basis for their ongoing commitment to addressing the inequalities and difficulties of those less comfortable. Describing how you’ve developed into an empathic and engaged person, worked selflessly in any volunteer experiences, and generally aimed your academic life at a career in law for the aid of others—all this is incredibly moving for an admissions board, and can help you discuss your determination and understanding of exactly why you desire a career in law.  
• The student shows adaptability, flexibility, and commitment: Additionally, this writer is able to show adaptability while describing their more prestigious appointments in a way that’s neither self-aggrandizing nor unappreciative. One of the big takeaways from this statement is the student’s commitment and flexibility, and these are both vitally important qualities to convey in your law school personal statement.  

Law School Personal Statement Example #10

What’s great about this tenth law school personal statement .

Shows passion: If you’re one of the rare students for whom service to others has always been a core belief, by all means find a novel and engaging way of making this the guiding principle of your personal statement. Don’t overdo it—don’t veer into poetry or lofty philosophizing—but by all means let your passion guide your pen (well…keyboard). Every step of the way, this student relates their highs and lows, their challenges and successes, to an extremely earnest and sincere set of altruistic values invoked at the very beginning of their statement. Law school admissions boards don’t exactly prize monomania, but they do value intense and sustained commitment.  

Shows maturity: This student also successfully elaborates this passion in relation to mature understanding. That is, they make repeated points about their developing understanding of law that sustains their hopefulness and emotional intensity while also incorporating knowledge of the sometimes troubling day-to-day challenges of the profession. Law schools aren’t looking for starry-eyed naivete, but they do value optimism and the ability to stay positive in a profession often defined by its difficulties and unpredictability. 

Every pre-law student blames their lack of success on the large number of applicants, the heartless admissions committee members, or the high GPA and LSAT score cut offs. Check out our blog on  law school acceptance rates  to find out more about the law school admission statistics for law schools in the US . Having taught more than a thousand students every year, I can tell you the REAL truth about why most students get rejected: 

Need tips on your law school resume?

8 Additional Law School Personal Statement Examples

Now that you have a better idea of what your law school personal statement should include, and how you can make it stand out, here are five additional law school personal statements for you to review and get some inspiration:

Law school personal statement example #11

According to the business wire, 51 percent of students are not confident in their career path when they enroll in college. I was one of those students for a long time. My parents had always stressed the importance of education and going to college, so I knew that I wanted to get a tertiary education, I just didn’t know in what field. So, like many other students, I matriculated undecided and started taking introductory courses in the subjects that interest me. I took classes from the department of literature, philosophy, science, statistics, business, and so many others but nothing really called out to me.

I figured that maybe if I got some practical experience, I might get more excited about different fields. I remembered that my high school counselor had told me that medicine would be a good fit for me, and I liked the idea of a career that involved constant learning. So, I applied for an observership at my local hospital. I had to cross “doctor” off my list of post-graduate career options when I fainted in the middle of a consultation in the ER.

I had to go back to the drawing board and reflect on my choices. I decided to stop trying to make an emotional decision and focus on the data. So, I looked at my transcript thus far, and it quickly became clear to me that I had both an interest and an aptitude for business and technology. I had taken more courses in those two fields than in any others, and I was doing very well in them. My decision was reaffirmed when I spent the summer interning at a digital marketing firm during my senior year in college and absolutely loved my experience. 

Since graduating, I have been working at that same firm and I am glad that I decided to major in business. I first started as a digital advertising assistant, and I quickly learned that the world of digital marketing is an incredibly fast-paced sink-or-swim environment. I didn’t mind it at all. I wanted to swim with the best of them and succeed. So far, my career in advertising has been challenging and rewarding in ways that I never could have imagined. 

I remember the first potential client that I handled on my own. Everything had been going great until they changed their mind about an important detail a day before we were supposed to present our pitch. . I had a day to research and re-do a presentation that I’d been preparing for weeks. I was sure that I’d be next on the chopping block, but once again all I had to was take a step back and look at the information that I had. Focusing on the big picture helped me come up with a new pitch, and after a long night, lots of coffee, and laser-like focus, I delivered a presentation that I was not only proud of, but that landed us the client. 

Three years and numerous client emergencies later, I have learned how to work under pressure, how to push myself, and how to think critically. I also have a much better understanding of who I am and what skills I possess. One of the many things that I have learned about myself over the course of my career is that I am a fan of the law. Over the past three years, I have worked with many lawyers to navigate the muddy waters of user privacy and digital media. I often find myself looking forward to working with our legal team, whereas my coworkers actively avoid them. I have even become friends with my colleagues on the legal team who also enjoy comparing things like data protection laws in the US and the EU and speculating about the future of digital technology regulation. 

These experiences and conversations have led me to a point where I am interested in various aspects of the law. I now know that I have the skills required to pursue a legal education and that this time around, I am very sure about what I wish to study. Digital technology has evolved rapidly over the last decade, and it is just now starting to become regulated. I believe that this shift is going to open up a more prominent role for those who understand both digital technology and its laws, especially in the corporate world. My goal is to build a career at the intersection of these worlds.

Law school personal statement example #12

The first weekend I spent on my undergrad college campus was simultaneously one of the best and worst of my life. I was so excited to be away from home, on my own, making new friends and trying new things. One of those things was a party at a sorority house with my friend and roommate, where I thought we both had a great time. Both of us came from small towns, and we had decided to look out for one another. So, when it was time to go home, and I couldn't find her, I started to worry. I spent nearly an hour looking for her before I got her message saying she was already back in our dorm. 

It took her three months to tell me that she had been raped that night. Her rapist didn't hold a knife to her throat, jump out of a dark alleyway, or slip her a roofie. Her rapist was her long-term boyfriend, with whom she'd been in a long-distance relationship for just over a year. He assaulted her in a stranger's bedroom while her peers, myself included, danced the night away just a few feet away. 

I remember feeling overwhelmed when she first told me. I was sad for my friend, angry on her behalf, and disgusted by her rapist's actions. I also felt incredibly guilty because I had been there when it happened. I told myself that I should have stayed with her all night and that I should have seen the abuse - verbal and physical harassment- that he was inflicting on her before it turned sexual. But eventually, I realized that thinking about what could, should, or would've happened doesn't help anyone. 

I watched my friend go through counseling, attend support groups, and still, she seemed to be hanging on by a thread. I couldn't begin to imagine what she was going through, and unfortunately, there was very little I could do to help her. So, I decided to get involved with the Sexual Assault Responders Group on campus, where I would actually be able to help another survivor. 

My experience with the Sexual Assault Responders Group on campus was eye-opening. I mostly worked on the peer-to-peer hotline, where I spoke to survivors from all walks of life. I was confronted by the fact that rape is not a surreal unfortunate thing that happens to a certain type of person. I learned that it happens daily to mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends. I also learned that most survivors try to manage this burden on their own, afraid of judgment and repercussions and fearful of a he-said-she-said court battle.

I am proud to say that I used my time in college to not only earn an education, but also to advocate for survivors of sexual assault. I protested the university's cover-up of a gang rape that took place in one of the fraternity houses on campus. I spearheaded a 'no means no' campaign to raise awareness about consent on campus. I also led several fundraising campaigns for the Sexual Assault Responders Group that allowed us to pay for legal and mental health counselors for the survivors who came to us for support. 

One of the things that this experience helped me realize is that sexual assault survivors often do not know where to turn when the system tries to tell them that it'd be best to just keep quiet and suffer in silence. My goal is to become one of those people that they can turn to for counsel and support. I believe that a law degree would give me the knowledge and tools that I need to advocate for survivors on a more significant scale. 

Need tips for your law school optional essays? Check out this infographic:

Law school personal statement example #13

I grew up in two different worlds. My world at home was full of people of various skin tones and accents. It was small, loud, and often chaotic in the best ways. I remember walking home and getting to experience music from across the world before I got to my apartment building. Loud reggaeton and afrobeat were always playing somewhere in the distance. Aunties and uncles usually stopped by unannounced and slipped money in your palm when they hugged you goodbye. And the smell of fried plantains was almost always present. 

My other world was in school. It was a much quieter, more organized world with white hallways, navy blazers, and plaid skirts. It was full of people who did not look or sound like me and teachers who thought my hair was "interesting." It was also full of great books and engaging debates about everything from foreign policy to the influence of Jazz on hip hop. 

I lived in these two worlds because I was born and raised in Xtown, but I went to a private school in a much richer neighborhood. I loved both of my worlds, but I hated that I had to act differently in both of them. When in school, I had to "code switch" to sound like I belonged there. When I was at home, all the people who shared the interests I was developing in school were either working or in college, so I had no one to talk to about them. 

My words never felt more divided until I started considering a career in law. I remember telling one of my uncles that I wanted to become a lawyer and his response was, "So you want to become the man, huh?" 

I wasn't surprised by his response, or at least I shouldn't have been. One of the things that I know for sure about the first world I lived in is that many of its inhabitants do not trust the law. I had believed this for so long simply because of the conversations that I would hear around me. However, in my second world, I was learning about all of these great freedoms and rights that the law was designed to give all Americans, and I wanted to bring those to my community. 

I started working on this during the summer before my final year of high school. I got an internship with the legal aid office in my neighborhood and spent three months learning from people who, like me, had grown up in Xtown and wanted to help people. During my time in the legal aid office, I understood that the people in my community did not trust the law for two main reasons: 1. They did not understand a lot of it, and 2. It had been used against people like us many times. 

I remember one particular case that Ms. Sharma - the lawyer I was learning from then and who still mentors me today - handled that summer. It was the case of a young mother who had received a notice of eviction from her landlord two days after refusing his advances. The man claimed that she violated her contract because she made homemade shea butter that she sold on Etsy. Ms. Sharma had me look through her rental agreement. After she confirmed that I was right in determining that the young mother had not violated her contract, she contacted the landlord to advise him that what he was doing was intimidation and sexual harassment. 

My experiences in the legal aid office with Ms. Sharma opened my eyes to the disgusting behavior of human beings, but it also gave me the opportunity to see that the law was my opportunity to use what I learned in my second world to help the community that I was raised in. I returned to school with a new motivation that followed me to college. In addition to completing my bachelor's degree in sociology and African American studies, I spent most of my college years participating in legal internships and community outreach programs. 

I believe that these experiences have given me the foundation I need to be a successful law student and, eventually, a lawyer who can truly be an advocate for members of his community. 

Law school personal statement example #14

One day, my parents noticed that the other children in my age group had been speaking and communicating, but I had not. At first, they thought that my lack of speech was just me being shy, but eventually, they realized that on the rare occasions that I did speak, my words were practically incomprehensible. It wasn't long before they took me to a specialist who diagnosed me with a severe phonological disorder that hindered my ability to verbalize the basic sounds that make up words.

I started going to speech therapy when I was three years old. I saw numerous speech therapists, many of whom believed that I would never be able to communicate effectively with others. Lucky for me, my parents did not give up on me. I went to speech therapy thrice a week until the 8th grade, and I gave every single session my all. I also spent a lot of time in my room practicing my speech by myself. My efforts paid off, and even though I didn't become a chatterbox overnight, I could at least communicate effectively. 

This was a short-lived victory, though. A year later, my speech impediment was back, and my ability to articulate words was once again severely limited. This complicated matters because it was my freshman year of high school, and I was in a brand-new school where I did not know anyone. Having been bullied in middle school, I knew first-hand how vicious kids can be, and I didn't want to be the butt of any more jokes, so I didn't try to speak at school. I knew that this was preventing me from making new friends or participating in class and that it was probably not helping my impediment, but I was not ready to face the fact that I needed to go back to speech therapy. 

Eventually, I stopped resisting and went back to speech therapy. At the time, I saw it as accepting defeat, and even though my speech improved significantly, my self-confidence was lower than it had ever been. If you ask any of my high school classmates about me, they will likely tell you that I am very quiet or timid – both of which are not true, but they have no way of knowing otherwise. I barely spoke or interacted with my peers for most of high school. Instead, I focused on my studies and extracurricular activities that didn't involve much collaboration, like yearbook club and photography. 

It was only when I was getting ready for college that I realized that I was only hurting myself with my behavior. I knew I needed to become more confident about my speech to make friends and be the student I wanted to be in college. So, I used the summer after my high school graduation to get some help. I started seeing a new speech therapist who was also trained as a counselor, and she helped me understand my impediment better. For example, I now know that I tend to stutter when stressed, but I also know that taking a few deep breaths helps me get back on track. 

Using the confidence that I built in therapy that summer, I went to college with a new pep in my step. I pushed myself to meet new people, try new things, and join extracurricular organizations when I entered college. I applied to and was accepted into a competitive freshman leadership program called XYZ. Most of XYZ's other members were outgoing and highly involved in their high school communities. In other words, they were the complete opposite of me. I didn't let that intimidate me. Instead, I made a concerted effort to learn from them. If you ask any of my teammates or other classmates in college, they will tell you that I was an active participant in discussions during meetings and that I utilized my unique background to share a different perspective.

My experience with XYZ made it clear to me that my speech disorder wouldn't hold me back as long as I did not stand in my own way. Once I understood this, I kept pushing past the boundaries I had set for myself. I began taking on leadership roles in the program and looking for ways to contribute to my campus community outside of XYZ. For example, I started a community outreach initiative that connected school alumni willing to provide pro bono services to different members of the community who were in need. 

Now, when I look back at my decision to go back to speech therapy, I see it as a victory. I understand that my speech impediment has shaped me in many ways, many of which are positive. My struggles have made me more compassionate. My inability to speak has made me a better listener. Not being able to ask questions or ask for help has made me a more independent critical thinker. I believe these skills will help me succeed in law school, and they are part of what motivates me to apply in the first place. Having struggled for so long to speak up for myself, I am ready and eager for the day when I can speak up for others who are temporarily unable to. 

“ You talk too much; you should be a lawyer.” 

I heard that sentence often while growing up because Congolese people always tell children who talk a lot that they should be lawyers. Sometimes I wonder if those comments did not subconsciously trigger my interest in politics and then the law. If they did, I am grateful for it. I am thankful for all the experiences that have brought me to this point where I am seeking an education that will allow me to speak for those who don’t always know how to, and, more importantly, those who are unable to. 

For context, I am the child of Congolese immigrants, and my parents have a fascinating story that I will summarize for you: 

A 14-year-old girl watches in confusion as a swarm of parents rush through the classroom, grabbing their children, and other students start running from the class. Soon she realizes that she and one other student are the only ones left, but when they both hear the first round of gunshots, no one has to tell them that it is time to run home. On the way home, she hears more gunshots and bombs. She fears for her survival and that of her family, and she starts to wonder what this war means for her and her family. Within a few months, her mother and father are selling everything they own so that they can board a plane to the US.

On the other side of the town, a 17-year-old boy is being forced to board a plane to the US because his mother, a member of parliament and the person who taught him about the importance of integrity, has been executed by the same group of soldiers who are taking over the region. 

They met a year later, outside the principal’s office at a high school in XXY. They bonded over the many things they have in common and laughed at the fact that their paths probably never would have crossed in Bukavu. Fast forward to today, they have been married for almost two decades and have raised three children, including me. 

Growing up in a Congolese household in the US presented was very interesting. On the one hand, I am very proud of the fact that I get to share my heritage with others. I speak French, Lingala, and Swahili – the main languages of Congo – fluently. I often dress in traditional clothing; I performed a traditional Congolese dance at my high school’s heritage night and even joined the Congolese Student Union at Almamatter University. 

On the other hand, being Congolese presented its challenges growing up. At a young age, I looked, dressed, and sounded different from my classmates. Even though I was born in the US, I had picked up a lot of my parents’ accents, and kids loved to tease me about it. Ignorant comments and questions were not uncommon. “Do you speak African?” “You’re not American! How did you get here?” “You don’t look African” “My mom says I can’t play with you because your parents came here to steal our jobs”. These are some of the polite comments that I heard often, and they made me incredibly sad, especially when classmates I considered my friends made them. 

My parents did not make assimilating any easier. My mother especially always feared I would lose my Congolese identity if they did not make it a point to remind me of it. She often said, “Just because you were born in America doesn’t mean that you are not Congolese anymore.” On one occasion, I argued that she always let me experience my Congolese side, but not my American side. That was the first time she told me I should be a lawyer. 

Having few friends and getting teased in school helped me learn to be comfortable on my own. I Often found refuge and excitement in books. I even started blogging about the books I read and interacting with other readers online. As my following grew, I started to use my platform to raise awareness about issues that I am passionate about, like climate change, the war in Congo, and the homeless crisis here in XXY. I was able to start a fundraising campaign through my blog that raised just under $5000 for the United Way – a local charity that helps the homeless in my city. 

This experience helped me understand that I could use my skills and the few tools at my disposal to help people, both here in America and one day, maybe even in Congo. I realized that I am lucky enough to have the option of expanding that skillset through education in order to do more for the community that welcomed my grandparents, uncles, aunties, and parents when they had nowhere else to go. 

The journey was not easy because while I received immense support and love from my family for continuing my education, I had to teach myself how to prepare and apply to college. Once there I had to learn on my own what my professors expected of me, how to study, how to network, and so much more. I am grateful for those experiences too, because they taught me how to be resourceful, research thoroughly, listen carefully, and seek help when I need it. 

All of these experiences have crafted me into who I am today, and I believe that with the right training, they will help me become a great attorney.

Law School Personal Statement Example #16

During my undergraduate studies, in the first two years, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my career. I enjoyed doing research, but I found that I became more interested in presenting the research than the process of contributing to it. I spoke to most of my science professors to ask if I could participate in their research. I worked in biology labs, chemistry labs, and in psychology classrooms working on a variety of projects that seemed meaningful and interesting. I gained new perspectives on study habits and mental health; the influence of music on the human mind; and applications of surface tension. I noticed that I was always taking the lead when we were presenting our findings to peers and research groups. I enjoyed yielding questions and addressing the captivating the audience with engaging gestures and speech. This was what led me to consider a career in law.

I always thought that I would become a scientist, so when I discovered that there were aspects of law that could be considered “scientific”, I was all ears. Still during my second year of undergraduate studies, I wanted to join an environmental awareness group, but noticed there weren’t any active. So, I took it upon myself to create my own. I wanted to do cleanup projects across the city, so I mapped out parks and areas that we could walk or drive to. I advertised my project to other students and eventually gained approximately fifteen students eager to help out. I was struck by the pollution in the water, the negligence of park maintenance. I drafted a letter to the municipal government and petitioned for a stricter environmental compliance approach. I wanted to advertise fines to hold polluters accountable, as there were hardly any to enforce the rules. A letter was returned to me stating that the government would consider my request. I felt a sense of gratification, of purpose; I discovered that I had the ability to enact change through policy. This drew me closer to the prospect of building a future in law, so I looked at other avenues to learn more.

I still wanted to find a way to bring together my love of science and discourse/communication. As a science student, I had the privilege of learning from professors who emphasized critical thinking; and they gave me a chance to learn that on my own. I took an internship as an environmental planner. There, I helped present project ideas to various groups, updating demographic/development information, and managing planning processes. I engaged in analytical thinking by looking at maps and demographic information to develop potential plans for land use. It was also the experience I was looking for in terms of a balance between science and oral communication. Using data analysis, I spoke to other planners and review boards to bring ideas together and execute a plan.

Through science, I learned how to channel my curiosity and logical thinking; as an advocate, I learned how to be creative and resourceful. Presenting research findings and being questioned in front of a group of qualified researchers, having to be sharp and ready for anything, taught me how to be more concise in speech. Developing an advocacy group dedicated to improving my community showed me what it lacked; it opened my eyes to the impact of initiative and focused collaboration. I was eager to begin another science project, this time with the environment in mind. It was titled “determining and defining the role of sociodemographic factors in air pollution health disparities”. I compiled and summarized relevant research and sent it over to a representative of the municipal government. In a couple of weeks, my request to increase advertising of fines in public areas was agreed to.

This Juris Doctor/Master in Environmental Studies program will allow me to continue deepening my knowledge of environmental law. With my goal of developing a career in environmental affairs, overseeing policies that influence land protection/use, I know that this program will give me the tools I need to succeed. With my experience working with large groups, I also believe I will fit into the larger class sizes at your institution. I understand the value of working together and how to engage in healthy discourse. With your Global Sustainability Certification, I will equip myself the expertise I need to produce meaningful change in environmental policy.

Here's how a law school advisor can help you with your application:

Law School Personal Statement #17

Growing up in a poor neighborhood, what my friends used to call “the ghetto”, I was always looking for my way out. I tried running away, but I always ended up back home in that tiny complex, barely enough room to fit all my brothers and sisters with my parents. My dad was disabled and couldn’t work, and my mother was doing her best working full-time as a personal-support worker. There was nothing we could do to get out of our situation, or so it seemed. It wasn’t until years later when I started my undergraduate degree that ironically, after I found my way out, that I began looking for a way to come back. I wanted to be a voice for people living in those bleak conditions; hungry, without work. Helpless.

Getting my degree in social work was one of the best decisions of my life. It gave me the tools to lobby for solutions to problems in poor communities. I knew my neighborhood better than anyone because I grew up there. I had the lived experience. I started working with the local government to develop programs for my clients; the people living in those same neighborhoods. We worked to provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, and medical treatment—all things sorely lacking. My proudest moment was securing the funds and arranging surgery for my father’s bad hip and knees. I’m currently working on a large project with one of the community legislators to lobby for a harm reduction model addressing addiction in our communities.

With five years of experience as a social worker, I knew it was time for a career change when I learned that I could have more influence on public opinion and legislative decisions as a social-security disability lawyer. I knew firsthand that people victimized from racism, poverty, and injury needed more help than they were currently allotted. I knew that, from becoming and advocate and communicating with influential members of the local government, that I could do more with a law degree helping people attain basic needs like disability benefits, which are often denied outright.

This desire to help people get the help they need from local programs and government resources brought me to Scarborough, a small town outside of Toronto. I was aware of some of the issues afflicting this community, since I’d handled a few clients from there as a children’s disability social worker. Addiction and homelessness were the two main ones. I worked with children with ADHD or other physical/mental disabilities impairing their ability to attend school and function normally. I helped many of them get an IEP with the details of the special services they require, long overdue. I made sure each child got the care they needed, including special attention in school. Also noticing that so many of these families lacked proper nutrition, I organized a report detailing this finding. In it, I argued that the community needed more funds targeting lowest income families. I spoke directly with a legislator, which eventually got the city on board with developing a program more specifically for the lowest income families with residents under 18.

My goal has always been to be a voice for the inaudible, the ignored, who’ve been victimized by inadequate oversight from the ground up. Many of these groups, as I’ve witnessed firsthand, don’t have the luxury of being their own advocates. They are too busy trying to support their families, to put food on the table for their children. I’ve realized that it isn’t quite enough to work directly with these families to connect them with resources and ensure they get the support they need. Sometimes the support simply doesn’t exist, or it isn’t good enough. This is why I’m motivated to add a law degree to my credentials so I can better serve these people and communities. As a future social-security disability lawyer, I want to work with local governments to assist clients in navigating an assistance system and improving it as much as possible. This program will give me the access to a learning environment in which I can thrive and develop as an advocate.

Law School Personal Statement #18

“You’re worthy and loved”, I said to a twelve-year-old boy, Connor, whom I was supervising and spending time with during the Big Brother program at which we met. A few tears touched my shoulder as I pulled him into me, comforting him. He was a foster child. He didn’t know his parents and never stayed in one place longer than a few months; a year if he was lucky. I joined the program not expecting much. I was doing it for extra credit, because I wanted to give back to the community somehow and I thought it would be interesting to meet people. He confided in me; he told me that his foster parents often yelled at each other, and him. He told me he needed to escape. I called Child Protective Services and after a thorough investigation, they determined that Connor’s foster parents weren’t fit for fostering. He was moved, yet again, to a different home.

I wrote an op-ed detailing my experience as a Big Brother. I kept names anonymous. I wanted people to know how hard it was for children in the welfare system. Many of them, like Connor, were trapped in a perpetual cycle of re-homing, neglect, and even abuse. He and other children deserve stability and unconditional love. That should go without saying. I sent the op-ed to a local magazine and had it published. In it, I described not only the experience of one unfortunate kid, but many others as well who saw their own stories being told through Connor. I joined a non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to quality education for young people. I started learning about disparities in access; students excluded by racial or financial barriers. I was learning, one step at a time, how powerful words can be.

With the non-profit organization, I reached out to a few public schools in the area to represent some of our main concerns with quality of education disparities. Our goal was to bring resources together and promote the rights of children in education. We emphasized that collaboration between welfare agencies and schools was critical for education stability. Together, we created a report of recommendations to facilitate this collaboration. We outlined a variety of provisions, including more mechanisms for child participation, better recruitment of social service workers in schools, risk management and identification strategies, and better support for students with child protection concerns.

The highlight of that experience was talking to an assembly of parents and school faculty to present our findings and recommendations. The title of the presentation was “The Power of Words”. I opened with the story I wrote about in the op-ed. I wanted to emphasize that children are individuals; those trapped in the welfare system are not a monolith. They each have unique experiences, needs, and desires they want to fulfill in life. But our tools to help them can be improved, more individualized. I spoke about improving the quality of residential care for children and the need to promote their long-term development into further education and employment. Finally, I presented a list of tools we created to help support a more financially sustainable and effective child welfare system. The talk was received with applause and a tenuous commitment from a few influential members of the crowd. It was a start.

Although I lost contact with Connor, I think about him almost every day. I can only hope that the programs we worked on to improve were helping him, wherever he was. I want to continue to work on the ground level of child welfare amelioration, but I realize I will need an education in law to become a more effective advocate for this cause. There are still many problems in the child welfare system that will need to be addressed: limited privacy/anonymity for children, service frameworks that don’t address racism adequately, limited transportation in remote communities, and many more. I’ve gained valuable experience working with the community and learning about what the welfare system lacks and does well. I’m ready to take the next step for myself, my community, and those beyond it.

Assuredly, but this length varies from school to school. As with all important details of your law school application, thoroughly research your specific schools’ requirements and guidelines before both writing and editing your personal statement to ensure it fits their specifics. The average length is about 2 pages, but don’t bother drafting your statement until you have specific numbers from your schools of choice. It’s also a good idea to avoid hitting the maximum length unless absolutely necessary. Be concise, keep economy of language in mind, and remain direct, without rambling or exhaustive over-explanation of your ideas or experiences.

You should keep any words that aren’t your own to a minimum. Admissions committees don’t want to read a citation-heavy academic paper, nor do they respond well to overused famous quotes as themes in personal statements. If you absolutely must include a quote from elsewhere, be sure to clearly indicate your quote’s source. But in general, it’s best to keep the personal statement restricted to your own words and thoughts. They’re evaluating you, not Plato! It’s a personal statement. Give them an engaging narrative in your own voice. 

Admissions committees will already have a strong sense of your academic performance through your transcripts and test scores, so discussing these in your personal statement is generally best avoided. You can contextualize these things, though—if you have an illuminating or meaningful story about how you came to receive an award, or how you enjoyed or learned from the work that won you the award, then consider discussing it. Overall though, it’s best to let admissions committees evaluate your academic qualifications and accomplishments from your transcripts and official documents, and give them something new in the personal statement. 

When you first sit down to begin, cast a wide net. Consider all the many influences and experiences that have led you to where you are. You’ll eventually (through editing and rewriting) explain how these shape your relationship to a career in law, but one of the best things you can give yourself during the initial drafting phase is a vast collection of observations and potential points for development. As the New England School of Law points out in their, “just write!” Let the initial draft be as messy as it needs to be, and refine it from there. It’s a lot easier to condense and sharpen a big draft than it is to try to tensely craft a perfect personal statement from nothing.  

Incredibly important, as should be clear by now! Unlike other specialties, law schools don’t usually conduct interviews with applicants, so your personal statement is in effect your one opportunity to speak with the admissions committee directly. Don’t let that gravity overwhelm you when you write, but keep it in mind as you edit and dedicate time to improving your initial drafts. Be mindful of your audience as you speak with them, and treat writing your personal statement as a kind of initial address in what, hopefully, will eventually turn into an ongoing dialogue.  

There are a variety of factors that can make or break a law school personal statement. You should aim to achieve at least a few of the following: a strong opening hook; a compelling personal narrative; your skills and competencies related to law; meaningful experiences; why you’re the right fit for the school and program.

Often, they do. It’s best for you to go to the schools you’re interesting in applying to so you can find out if they have any specific formatting or content requirements. For example, if you wanted to look at NYU law or Osgoode Hall Law School , you would find their admissions requirements pages and look for information on the personal statement.

There are lots of reasons why a personal statement might not work. Usually, applicants who don’t get accepted didn’t come up with a good strategy for this essay. Remember, you need to target the specific school and program. Other reasons are that the applicant doesn’t plan or proofread their essay. Both are essential for submitting materials that convince the admissions committee that you’re a strong candidate. You can always use law school admissions consulting application review to help you develop your strategy and make your essay stand out.

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How long should a Personal Statement be? Is there any rule on that?

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello V! Thanks for your question. Some schools will gave very specific word limits, while some will not. If you do not have a limit indicated, try to stick to no more than a page, 600-800 words. 

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Can AI image generators be policed to prevent explicit deepfakes of children?

As one of the largest ‘training’ datasets has been found to contain child sexual abuse material, can bans on creating such imagery be feasible?

Child abusers are creating AI-generated “deepfakes” of their targets in order to blackmail them into filming their own abuse, beginning a cycle of sextortion that can last for years.

Creating simulated child abuse imagery is illegal in the UK, and Labour and the Conservatives have aligned on the desire to ban all explicit AI-generated images of real people.

But there is little global agreement on how the technology should be policed. Worse, no matter how strongly governments take action, the creation of more images will always be a press of a button away – explicit imagery is built into the foundations of AI image generation.

In December, researchers at Stanford University made a disturbing discovery : buried among the billions of images making up one of the largest training sets for AI image generators was hundreds, maybe thousands, of instances of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

There may be many more. Laion (Large-scale AI Open Network), the dataset in question, contains about 5bn images. With half a second a picture, you could perhaps look at them all in a lifetime – if you’re young, fit and healthy and manage to do away with sleep. So the researchers had to scan the database automatically, matching questionable images with records kept by law enforcement, and teaching a system to look for similar photos before handing them straight to the authorities for review.

In response, Laion’s creators pulled the dataset from download. They had never actually distributed the images in question, they noted, since the dataset was technically just a long list of URLs to pictures hosted elsewhere on the internet. Indeed, by the time the Stanford researchers ran their study, almost a third of the links were dead; how many of them in turn once contained CSAM is hard to tell.

But the damage has already been done. Systems trained on Laion-5B, the specific dataset in question, are in regular use around the world, with the illicit training data indelibly burned into their neural networks. AI image generators can create explicit content, of adults and children, because they have seen it.

Laion is unlikely to be alone. The dataset was produced as an “open source” product, put together by volunteers and released to the internet at large to power independent AI research. That, in turn, means it was widely used to train open source models, including Stable Diffusion, the image generator that, as one of the breakthrough releases of 2022, helped kickstart the artificial intelligence revolution. But it also meant that the entire dataset was available in the open, for anyone to explore and examine.

The same is not true for Laion’s competition. OpenAI, for instance, provides only a “ model card ” for its Dall-E 3 system, which states that its pictures were “drawn from a combination of publicly available and licensed sources”.

“We have made an effort to filter the most explicit content from the training data for the Dall-E 3 model,” the company says. Whether those efforts worked must be taken on trust.

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The vast difficulty in guaranteeing a completely clean dataset is one reason why organisations like OpenAI argue for such limitations in the first place. Unlike Stable Diffusion, it is impossible to download Dall-E 3 to run on your own hardware. Instead, every request must be sent through the company’s own systems. For most users, an added layer places ChatGPT in the middle, rewriting requests on the fly to provide more detail for the image generator to work with.

That means OpenAI , and rivals such as Google with a similar approach, have extra tools to keep their generators clear: limiting which requests can be sent and filtering generated images before they are sent to the end user. AI safety experts say this is a less fragile way of approaching the problem than solely relying on a system that has been trained never to create such images.

For “foundation models”, the most powerful, least constrained products of the AI revolution, it isn’t even clear that a fully clean set of training data is useful. An AI model that has never been shown explicit imagery may be unable to recognise it in the real world, for instance, or follow instructions about how to report it to the authorities.

“We need to keep space for open source AI development,” said Kirsty Innes, the director of tech policy at Labour Together. “That could be where the best tools for fixing future harms lie.”

In the short term, the focus of the proposed bans is largely on purpose-built tools. A policy paper co-authored by Innes suggested taking action only against the creators and hosts of single-purpose “nudification” tools. But in the longer term, the fight against explicit AI images will face similar questions to other difficulties in the space: how do you limit a system you do not fully understand?

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Nekoosa Police release details about high-speed chase involving teens

NEKOOSA, Wis. (WSAW) - Two teens are facing criminal charges following a high-speed chase and crash that injured six, including the defendants.

Nekoosa Police Chief Shawn Woods said it happened around 1:45 a.m. Sunday when a vehicle didn’t stop at a stop sign while speeding.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle but the 17-year-old driver didn’t stop. The chase continued into Port Edwards. The officer said the speeds reached 130 mph. The driver also reportedly turned off the vehicle’s headlights. The vehicle returned to Nekoosa and crashed into a utility pole after hitting a deer on South Section Street near Peckham Road.

The officer said the driver and passenger, ages 17 and 18 ran from the scene. They were both taken into custody a short time later. They were injured in the crash but treated and released for their injuries. Authorities said the vehicle’s four passengers were seriously injured, but have since been treated and released for their injuries.

Bond was set at $75,000 for the 17-year-old driver. The 18-year-old passenger received a $10,000 cash bond.

Copyright 2024 WSAW. All rights reserved.

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WEATHER ALERT

A rip current statement in effect for Coastal Broward and Coastal Miami Dade Regions

Police search for missing, endangered woman from plantation.

David Dwork , Digital Journalist

PLANTATION, Fla. – Authorities in Broward County are searching for a missing, endangered woman.

According to police, 46-year-old Lisamarie Nadia Finzi was last seen along the 1200 block of Northwest 95th Avenue in Plantation at approximately 6:00 p.m. on April 6.

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Authorities said Finzi has an “altered mental status” and is considered endangered.

She is described as a Black woman, 5-foot-3 weighing approximately 140 lbs with brown eyes and black hair.

Police said she was last seen wearing a black pullover shirt and black jeans.

Anyone with information on Finzi’s whereabouts or who thinks they have seen her is urged to call Plantation police at 954-445-2942.

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Author

David dwork.

David Dwork joined the WPLG Local 10 News team in August 2019. Born and raised in Miami-Dade County, David has covered South Florida sports since 2007.