Law School Personal Statement for U.S Within my community, there is this belief that the law is against us. People have lived with the idea that the law oppresses and victimizes us. I sincerely have to admit that as a child and a young person, this opinion influenced my perspective too, grounded in my environment and the dominant conversation about law. I had limited information about the law and how it could be a path towards social change within our society. I did not imagine my ability and talent to be the voice of the voiceless in the community. My high school years were not that bad though because I completely attended my classes with full passion for reading English and History that made writing easy to me. This dedication gave me purpose but I wasn’t sure of what I was to become in the future.
However, my mindset changed immediately I met my cousin Peter, a law student who by just interacting molded my desires and interest to join the University of Chicago Law School. With a developing interest in law, Peter agreed to mentor and tutor me occasionally as part of a “high school to law school” mentorship program. From these sessions, I learned that grades were my passcode and I invested a lot in my classes, especially English and History. I have invested time understanding the history of our nation including the development of the criminal justice system, understanding how it works and operates. Thanks to my teachers who realized this passion and have greatly helped improve my understanding of the basics to join law school. During the period after high school, Peter did not stop there. He invited me to attend mock trials, court hearings, and law lectures that helped me develop a fresh understanding of the law that improved my interest in law school. My outlook has changed over the past few years because of my mentor, teachers, and self-dedication. I joined a law club where we discussed global issues and writing decisions. This experience made me feel powerful and confident in my capability to collect evidence and make meaningful decisions about the choices people made. I have witnessed injustices in our community and the few who are trying to fight against these injustices. The difference with my childhood experience is that I now believe that law is a tool for social change but the voices of people like me are the key to advocating for such change. Joining the University of Chicago Law School is like a dream come true. I want to study law here because the school offers the best combination of professors, students, and resources necessary to make my dream come true. UChicago’s main goal is not to certify lawyers, but to train well-rounded, critical, and socially conscious thinkers and doers. The institution is founded on three educational missions, including UChicago as the marketplace of ideas, participatory learning, and interdisciplinary inquiry. I want to be a part of this community that shows passion through academic success and signs of great professional promise.
My education, mentorship, self-advocacy, and experience acquired through the law school club helped change my belief in law. Those years shaped and improved my desire to join law school. I want to advocate for those people who have the chance again in our community but lack representation in law. I understand the difficulty that comes with such a decision but I am confident that at UChicago, I am destined to succeed in law school.
