Law degree personal statement example (2z) Oxford, Warwick offers, reviewer comments

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Law has been one of the most relevant, interesting and necessary areas of life throughout the ages—it has kept order, helped build civilisations and in the wrong hands caused atrocities. While reading Lord of The Flies, the degeneration of law and order and the island’s descent into chaos showed me just how important the law is in daily life.

In England and Wales the law often relies on statutes and cases from the Middle Ages and its arcane nature is part of the appeal for me — The recent case of three MPs trying to use Article Nine of the Bill of Rights 1688 to privilege their expenses and therefore protect them from prosecution only increased my interest in the overlapping and contradictory nature of our laws.

At university I would like to expand my knowledge of civil law—my main interest is in criminal law, and a chance to study both in equal depth would be incredibly valuable. I am currently particularly interested in defences to criminal proceedings and the status of UK law with regard to the superior nature of EU Treaties and regulations. A Law degree is vital to training to be a barrister and a strong degree is essential at the pupillage stage, increasing my desire to excel at a renowned university.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

My interest in Law has been long-held. I was an eager barrister aged 13 participating in the Junior Mock Trial Competition run by the Citizenship Foundation. Last year I again played the role of barrister, this time in the Bar National Mock Trial Competition, writing my own cross-examinations and speeches; an experience I found highly enjoyable.

I have completed work experience in a solicitors’ firm, and I intend to pursue more work experience in barristers’ chambers in the coming months, to experience what life at the Bar properly entails. Whilst there I took full advantage of the firm’s extensive law library and I also attained first-hand experience of applying the law by assisting a paralegal. Both have further heightened my interest in the law; coupled with my love of reading I feel this makes me well-suited to studying it at degree level.

My choice of subjects at AS give me a good skill set for Law—History develops analytical skills, while English Literature has developed my love of literature into a good understanding of language; interpreting meanings of texts, similar to statutory interpretation. Politics has helped me gain a strong understanding of the context of laws—an example being the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, passed due to media pressure with an election due the following year.

I have demonstrated my capacity for independent and intensive study by currently undertaking the Extended Project Qualification. I changed my topic to whether degrees of murder would be better for the UK, as it gives me a chance to independently study the law in depth, alongside my A2 course.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

I attended court as a member of the public over the summer, watching the trial of Raymond Scott who was being prosecuted for the theft of a First Folio, and I was fascinated at how the court was adjourned for half an hour while the barristers argued over the defendant’s job description as a ‘rare’ bookseller.

I like to keep abreast of developments in the law—I currently subscribe to The Economist and I check Legalweek and other online news sites daily—I have recently followed DPP Keir Starmer’s proposals to introduce the US system of degrees of homicide. Implementing this in the UK would appear to both simplify and complicate the legal system, although third-degree murder will allow for a better distinction between the intention to harm and kill.

I am a hardworking and reliable person—I sat on the School Council for three years, and I also attended the Sea Cadets for two years. The variety of people and backgrounds I encountered while in the Cadets has made me friendly and dependable. I also achieved the highest rank I could, showing my commitment to activities and work I undertake.

Universities applied to:

• Oxford (M100 Law)
• Newcastle (M101 Law)
• UCL (M100 Law)
• Warwick (M100 Law)
• Northumbria (M100 Law)

Grades achieved:

• EPQ Level 3 - C
• Critical Thinking (AS) - C
• English Literature (AS) - B
• Law (A2) - A
• Politics (A2) - A
• History (A2) - A*

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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