Law degree personal statement example (3k) applicant advice

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Law as an academic discipline offers the ability to answer some of the biggest questions facing society today. Moreover, the law is always changing, and the ability to be at the heart of this change is an exciting prospect. This dynamism was made apparent when reading an article in the Guardian, which highlighted the need for legal change regarding Internet Surveillance Law. My interest in Law, therefore, arises out of the tension between its importance and ambiguity.

Reading "What about Law", "Letters to a Law Student" and attending a Cambridge Law Conference gave me an overview of studying Law. I enjoyed tackling legal problems; interpreting and applying vague statutory law was challenging yet satisfying. In "What about Law", I enjoyed the chapter on Constitutional Law, since it shows how the Judiciary plays a vital role in checking arbitrary power. Moreover, it was fascinating to see the relationship between politics and law; reading "The Assault on Liberty" furthered this, since it showed how successive governments have undermined basic Civil Liberties for the sake of political gain. "What about Law" introduced me to the workings of our constitution, whilst also demonstrating how the courts can influence Parliament to change an unjust Law (such as the 'Belmarsh' case). This enthusiasm for Constitutional Law was further whetted by Rabinder Singh QC's talk at a Trinity (Cambridge) Law Residential I attended in July. It was inspiring to see how a respect for Human Rights meant that even an individual could challenge the State - a fundamental axiom in the rule of law. This prompted me to read Lord Bingham's "The Rule of Law" and Kafka's "The Trial". Both books stressed the importance of the rule of law, since it provides a means of preventing injustices in society.

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

Reading "The Economist" keeps me well-informed about topical affairs. An article I enjoyed was about Myriad Genetics and their bid to patent a human genome. I enjoyed this because of the wider economic and ethical implications that had to be considered, such as the effects on further research, which shows how the law is not an isolated abstract. Reading the Times and the Guardian legal sections allows me to gain various legal perspectives on contentious issues (such as the issue of veils in court). Participation in the Trinity Cambridge Law Essay Prize (in which I was "Highly Commended") prompted an investigation of how the Law interacts with Religion. This was enjoyable because it meant researching cases of religious discrimination and then examining them in relation to religion's place in the law and wider society.

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

Work experience at a law firm allowed a better understanding of Land Law and provided the opportunity to experience the law in a practical sense. Applying statutory law and past judgements to a landlord-tenant dispute encouraged a sounder grasp of both the legal and analytic skills required in applying the law. This enthusiasm for Land Law was furthered by reading the chapter in "What about Law" and attending the Land Law Workshop at the Cambridge Law Conference. Understanding how adverse possession could be justified was fascinating, since it challenged my preconceptions regarding squatting. I also attended the St John's (Oxford) Legal Studies Day - being able to dissect a contract in the Contract Law workshop was gratifying and highlighted the need for a close analysis of language. Attending a UCL Lecture on "International Law and War" was absorbing because it explored the idea of "responsibility" in regards to unmanned drones. Participation in debating competitions improved my public speaking and ability to articulate logical arguments, whilst the Harvard MUN honed my teamwork skills; vital for drafting a constitution that stressed the need for the Rule of Law in failing states.

Law at university is an exciting prospect and I believe that I have the informed enthusiasm required to thrive at studying Law at University.

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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