UC Berkeley School of Law

Personal Statement

Required · 4 pages

You are required to submit a personal statement as part of your application. It should be limited to four double-spaced pages in 11-point font that is highly legible and with 1 inch margins. Three pages is recommended. The subject matter of the personal statement is up to you, but keep in mind that the reviewer will be focused on determining your potential to be a successful law student and graduate of Berkeley Law. Specifically, we are interested in how your personal background/lived experience shapes, informs, and enhances that potential. Each year, we seek to enroll a class with varied backgrounds and interests who will ultimately become advocates serving all segments of society. The main objective, always, should be to share the things you think are most important for us to know about you (beyond the purely academic and professional) when assessing your candidacy. No topic is off-limits, but we encourage you to consider how what you discuss is relevant to your candidacy for law school. When crafting your personal statement, you might want to consider addressing several of the following topics. You do not need to answer every question, but we have found that these are the most helpful in assessing your candidacy for admission to Berkeley Law. Perspectives and Experiences: How will you (your perspective, experience, voice) contribute to diversity in our classrooms and community? Feel free to address any factors or attributes you consider important and relevant. In the past, applicants have included information about characteristics such as: race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, first generation college or professional school student, student parent, re-entry student, geographic diversity, ideological diversity, and others. Interest in the Legal Profession: What about you (your experiences, your values, your perspective, etc.) calls you to law school? How will you use your law degree with integrity, vision, creativity, and/or to innovate? What makes you hopeful, optimistic, or excited about entering the legal profession? How do you see yourself contributing to or advancing the public good as a lawyer, scholar, or advocate? Interest in Berkeley Law: Tell us more about your interest in Berkeley Law. What makes our school a good fit for you in terms of academic interests, programmatic offerings, and learning environment?

Source: UC Berkeley School of Law — JD application requirements

Short Answer Questions

Optional · 1 page

In addition to assessing your ability to achieve academic success, we are interested in welcoming a class of students with a diverse set of experiences, qualities, talents, and interests. We also understand that there may be facets of your personality and passions that do not align with what you may wish to share in a personal statement. In order to gain a better understanding of what characteristics or qualities you may bring to the class, we invite you to answer up to two of the following questions. Each response should be no more than one double-spaced page, using 11-point font and 1-inch margins. Please indicate the number(s) of the question(s) you are answering.

Answer up to 2 of these 10.

• Setting aside our academics and curriculum, how does Berkeley Law's location and broader environment align with your personal values, ambitions, or goals for your future?

• If law school was not an option, what would you do instead, and why?

• Aside from being capable and smart, what else will you contribute to the classroom or community?

• Fast forward several years – it is your law school graduation. Who are you scanning the audience to find first, and why?

• Describe a recent time when you defied or exceeded the expectations someone else had of you?

• What's the last new thing that you tried? How did it go?

• Describe a time when you made a difference or a place where you had an impact that does NOT appear on your resume.

• We all make mistakes. When was the last time you made a mistake, and what was the outcome of that realization?

• Tell us about a moment where laughter helped build a bridge with someone.

• Describe a time when you had to put aside personal beliefs to stand up for fairness or justice.

Source: UC Berkeley School of Law — JD application requirements

Academic Potential Addendum

Optional · 350 words

If you do not believe that your standardized test score(s) or academic record accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, then you may tell us why and share what you believe indicates your potential. (350 word maximum, 11 point font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins). You may attach a copy of your SAT or ACT score report(s) to this essay (a screenshot or unofficial copy will suffice), and we reserve the right to request score reports to verify statements made in this optional essay.

Source: UC Berkeley School of Law — JD application requirements