Application Toolkit: Written Statements

On this webpage, you will find our advice and guidance for approaching the two written statements in the application.

Beginning with the application for Fall Term 2024 enrollment, we now require that all applicants submit a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective. Although it is no longer an application component, much of the advice we shared about the personal statement may still be useful to applicants as they develop their Written Statements. We have preserved that information on this toolkit for your reference.

Changes to the J.D. Application Components

Instructions

Every applicant must submit both a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective, responding to the prompts below.

Each Statement must be one to two pages in length, using double-spacing, one-inch margins, and a font size that is comfortable to read (no smaller than 11 point). We expect every applicant to use at least one full page for each Statement. Please place (a) the name of your Written Statement (i.e., either “Statement of Perspective” or “Statement of Purpose”) in the document’s header, left-aligned, and (b) your full name in the document’s header, right-aligned.

Statement of Purpose: What motivates you to pursue law? How does attending law school align with your ambitions, goals, and vision for your future?

Statement of Perspective: The Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand who you are as an individual and potential Harvard Law School student and graduate. Please share how your experiences, background, and/or interests have shaped you and will shape your engagement in the HLS community and the legal profession.

Blog Advice
  • Featured image for Written Statements: Reflections on Year One article

    Written Statements: Reflections on Year One

    Last August, the J.D. Admissions Office introduced the Statement of Purpose and Statement of Perspective to the world, eager to see how applicants would respond to these new essay prompts. Here is what we learned from our first year with these two Written Statements. We love our new prompts and enjoy reading two essays from

    November 6, 2024

  • Featured image for Changes to the J.D. Program Application Components article

    Changes to the J.D. Program Application Components

    August is here, and that means the J.D. Admissions Office is finalizing our application for the 2023–2024 cycle before it opens on September 15. One exciting change for this year: we have reworked our essay requirements and prompts.

    August 4, 2023

  • Should you include a “why Harvard” statement in your application?

    Each year at this time, we receive questions about how applicants should express interest in Harvard Law School. Include a “Why Harvard” essay? Talk about HLS in the personal statement? Maybe an addendum on this topic? The answer to all these questions is the same: no, that’s not necessary.  Let’s start with the separate “why

    December 2, 2022

  • Overrated/Underrated Part 3

    Continuing our Overrated/Underrated series, this week, we shift our focus to highlight some of the overrated approaches that we recommend applicants avoid as they craft their applications. 

    November 17, 2021

  • Overrated/Underrated Part 1

    The J.D. Admissions team recently came together to offer their thoughts on some underrated and overrated approaches that applicants might take towards their HLS application. We hope you’ll find some of these nuggets useful.

    September 9, 2021

  • Real Talk: The Personal Statement

    For our first entry in the Real Talk series, Associate Director Nefyn Meissner shares advice on approaching the personal statement.

    August 6, 2020

  • Personal Statement Advice

    The personal statement is “an opportunity to give the Admissions Committee a better sense of who you are as a person and as a potential student and graduate of Harvard Law School.” But what does that mean to us?

    November 6, 2018

Podcast Advice

Miriam Ingber (Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Yale Law School) and Kristi Jobson (Assistant Dean for Admissions at Harvard Law School) provide candid, accurate, and straightforward advice about law school admissions — direct from the source. They will be joined by guest stars from other law schools to discuss application timing, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and more.

Mathiew Le (University of Texas at Austin School of Law) joins Miriam and Kristi to offer advice on personal statements.
You submitted, and we’re offering our thoughts! Miriam, Kristi and Eulas Boyd (Brooklyn Law) dig into personal statements submitted by listeners. Read along with our first personal statement here.
You submitted, and we’re offering our thoughts! Miriam, Kristi and Eulas Boyd (Brooklyn Law) dig into personal statements submitted by listeners. Read along with our second personal statement here.
You submitted, and we’re offering our thoughts! Miriam, Kristi and Eulas Boyd (Brooklyn Law) dig into personal statements submitted by listeners. Read along with our third personal statement here.
You submitted, and we’re offering our thoughts! Miriam, Kristi and Eulas Boyd (Brooklyn Law) dig into personal statements submitted by listeners. Read along with our fourth personal statement here.

Written Statements Workshop

Our Statement Workshop provides applicants with straightforward advice on how to craft essays with a reflective activity and guiding questions to consider.

Written Statements Workshop Activity

FAQs

  • How can I make my Written Statements stand out?

    Please rest assured that there is no secret formula for creating an outstanding Written Statement. Instead, compelling Written Statements typically share similar qualities. They are well-written, polished, and free of grammar or spelling errors. Additionally, they directly address the prompt and demonstrate a clear sense of purpose. It’s not necessary for the content of the essay to be groundbreaking. Each candidate brings something unique to the table, and the Written Statements provide students with the opportunity to express their own perspectives.

  • I made an error in one of my statements. Can I provide an updated document after my application has been submitted?

    We do understand mistakes happen. You are more than welcome to upload an updated document through your status checker. We will review the new material alongside what has been previously received.

    Note that when you complete your application and hit “submit”, the information contained in your application may not be altered or deleted in any way by you as an applicant or by us as an admissions team.

  • I am a reapplicant. Should I submit new written statements?

    Yes. Reapplicants will need to submit new written statements with their application.

  • Is there any specific guidance for rising 2L transfer applicants?

    We ask that transfer candidates also address the reason(s) for applying for transfer enrollment. Please visit our Transfer Applications Components for more information.