Law degree personal statement example (3q) international applicant, UCL, Bristol offers

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Law intrigues me mostly because it is fundamental to allowing human beings to coexist in communities. Since both of my parents are lawyers, I have always had the chance to direct my questions about law to them. Even though they are a great resource in their areas of expertise, Family Law and Commercial Law, my interest goes beyond that. I am particularly passionate about European Union Law and International Law because of my desire to visit and learn about other countries.

I regularly follow publications like The Economist and The Independent to gain social awareness and keep up with current affairs. I cannot forget when the Prime Minister of Turkey was featured on the front page of The Economist with the heading, "Democrat or sultan?" Recently many people from around the world may have heard about the Gezi Park protests in Turkey, which arose from the cumulative anger of people due to the alleged corrupt rule of the current party. Personally, I find it very ironic that a political party named "Justice and Development Party" ignores justice for its own benefit. Watching these protests and the subsequent disproportionate government reactions, I realised that a proper law system is crucial for an orderly functioning society.

What is particularly fascinating about law is how it differs country by country. In Turkey, we have a written constitution, which is unlike the common law system in England and Wales. Of course, the main reason for this difference is the unique histories and the differing needs of countries. By studying law in England, I will be able to examine the complexity of common law and get a perspective on a new law system. This, combined with my eagerness to experience life in a new culture, is what mainly attracts me to pursue my higher education in the UK.

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

In order to academically prepare myself to read law, I took classes in relevant subjects in conjunction with studying independently for standardised tests. Through my history classes, I was able to get a better understanding of what our society has learnt from the past. Calculus appealed to me with its sophisticated problem solving methods, improving my analytical skills as a result. As an avid reader, I took great pleasure in discussing my favourite books and poems in my literature classes, which further enhanced my critical reading skills and writing. Additionally, I studied French for four years, and began studying Spanish on my own in twelfth grade.

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

At school I had the opportunity to work in a yearlong community involvement project helping primary school children with their studies. Working as a teacher, I saw improvement in my speaking skills and my patience. I have also learnt a lot from my hobbies. I owe my discipline and commitment to playing the piano since I was seven and more recently practising Karate. These are surely helpful skills to possess, especially in a legal career.

For three years I have been working as an assistant in my parents' law office during holidays. In addition, last year I had a chance to work as a translator at *******, an international law firm in Istanbul. My work experience not only refined my legal knowledge, but also gave me a taste of how it feels to work in a law firm with clients from all over the world. Last summer I participated in Winpeace, a conflict resolution workshop aiming to find solutions to the Cyprus issue, with students from Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Moreover, I attended a two-week law school preparation course at Oxford Royale Academy to get a better understanding of what it is like to study law in England and experience English culture. These activities broadened my horizons and rewarded me with priceless friendships.

After four years of demanding schoolwork, I am very excited to dig into law as an academic subject and challenge myself with the responsibilities that come with going to university in a foreign country.

Universities applied to:

• University College London
• University of Bristol
• University of Nottingham
• University of Manchester
• King's College London

Grades achieved:

• High School GPA: 80/100
• AP Calculus AB - 5
• AP Comparative Politics - 5
• AP Psychology - 5
• AP English Language - 4
• AP European History - 4
• LNAT: 24

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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