personal statement for the lpc

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Steps to Draft a Quality LPC Personal Statement Sample

Table of Contents

Are you applying for a Law Practice Course (LPC) and need guidance on writing the perfect personal statement? Writing an impressive LPC personal statement can be challenging. With the right approach, it is possible to craft a statement that stands out from the rest.

In this blog post, we will provide helpful tips and an LPC personal statement sample to guide you in writing the perfect one.

What Is an LPC Personal Statement?

An LPC personal statement is a written document that outlines your reasons for applying to a Law Practice Course. It shows why you think you’d make an ideal candidate . It should demonstrate your passion, commitment, and enthusiasm for the field of Law. And also highlight any relevant experience or attributes that could strengthen your application.

How to Write an LPC Personal Statement Sample

1. brainstorm.

Before writing, think about your experiences and skills that could help you stand out from other candidates. This can include accomplishments, roles in extracurricular activities, or volunteer work.

2. Research the Course & Institution

Take some time to research the LPC course and institution you are applying for. This way, it’s clear why this particular course is suitable for you.

3. Outline Your Statement

Start by outlining two to three key points discussed in your personal statement. Do this before adding further detail and fleshing out each point with specific examples.

4. Keep It Concise

Your statement should be no more than 500 words, so keep it concise and avoid rambling.

5. Proofread

Ensure you thoroughly proofread your statement before submitting it. Check for typos, grammatical errors, and other mistakes that could weaken your application.

LPC Personal Statement Samples

I am a highly motivated and hard-working individual with a strong interest in the legal field. My passion for Law was sparked by completing my A-Levels in Law at High School. It further developed through extracurricular activities such as debate clubs, voluntary work at a local charity. And also by attending an internship program at a local solicitors firm. During this time, I learned invaluable skills that have set me up well for a career in Law.

Following on from my studies, I worked full-time in the corporate sector for two years. This time I gained a wealth of transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership. This experience has shown me the value of effective teamwork and professionalism in any organization.

Completing an LPC course would provide me with the knowledge and expertise required to pursue my dream career in Law. It will be equipping me with the tools needed to succeed in today’s competitive legal environment. Upon graduating from the course, I plan on taking up a training contract at a legal firm. This is where I can continue to develop and apply my knowledge and skills to practical projects.

My enthusiasm, commitment, and dedication will make me an ideal candidate for your LPC program. I look forward to joining your esteemed course and contributing to a successful outcome for everyone involved.

I have always had a keen interest in Law, and this passion has driven me to pursue an LPC course. The knowledge and skills acquired through this course will provide me with the necessary tools to succeed in today’s competitive legal environment.

Throughout my studies, I have been actively involved in extracurricular activities such as debate clubs, volunteering at a local charity, and attending internships. This experience has enabled me to develop valuable skills, such as problem-solving, communication, leadership, and teamwork, which can be applied professionally. In addition, I worked full-time in the corporate sector for two years. This is where I developed further invaluable skills that are highly sought after by law firms.

Upon graduating from the LPC course, I plan to take up a training contract at a law firm. I would apply my knowledge and skills to practical projects. I aim to become an effective legal professional, and this course will provide me with all the necessary resources to accomplish this goal.

My enthusiasm, commitment, and dedication make me an ideal candidate for your LPC program. I look forward to joining your esteemed course and contributing to its success. Thank you for choosing to consider my application.

What to Avoid in Your LPC Personal Statement Sample

When writing your statement, avoid using overly complex language or flowery phrases. Please keep it simple and focus on highlighting your strengths in the course you are applying for. Additionally, ensure that you use only generic, copy-pasted statements from other sources, as admissions tutors can often spot these quite easily. Finally, do not include negative comments about yourself or anyone else – even if it’s in jest.

This blog post has helped you write an impressive LPC personal statement . Remember to be honest, confident, and concise when writing yours and highlight any relevant qualifications or experiences. Good luck!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Feb 04, 2019

Written By Billy Sexton

LPC applications

If you’ve read our article on what the LPC is, you’d know that it’s mandatory for those who wish to become a solicitor and will take up one year of your time if you study full-time, or two years if you study part-time. You can only start a training contract once you’ve passed the LPC.

LPC options

Just when you thought you’d left the UCASes of the world behind, you’ll have to get back into the swing of ordering millions of prospectuses and choosing a provider. Some of you may have already landed a training contract , with your firm instructing you which provider to choose. This is handy as it saves you time and could save you money as the firm could cough up the costs of the LPC too!

The Ultimate Training Contract Applications Workshop | Tues 27th June, 4pm to 5pm

Join this virtual event for game-changing insights from successful lawyers and graduate recruiters. Master the art of applying for training contracts!

Reserve Spot

If you haven’t got a contract, it may be useful to check where firms send their trainees. This will allow you to mould yourself into an ideal trainee.  If you haven’t got a training contract secured, there are fees to consider, unfortunately. With a minimum cost of around £10,000, choosing to study the LPC is not a decision to be taken lightly. Remember, there’s no guarantee of securing a contract. 

Having said that, there are numerous ways to cover the costs of an LPC. Although student loans now exist for postgraduate study, the LPC counts as a diploma and so is not eligible. You could look into scholarships or get yourself a career development loan.

LPC application process

Before you can apply for an LPC, you need to register with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and provide your personal details and what route you took through education. Like your undergraduate degree, you don’t apply to universities directly when applying for the LPC. There’s a neat little tool called LawCabs that everyone has to use. Once you’ve filled out all your personal details and other admin-y stuff such as listing your qualifications and employment history, you can choose up to three LPC course providers.

95% employment rate for LPC students

Prepare for your career as a solicitor. Join the largest community of LPC students (LawCAB 2021).

LPC personal statement

Then comes the juicy bit. You need to provide a personal statement of up to 10,000 characters explaining why you chose your first choice of institution. You should also include information on why you’re applying for the course, what interests and motivates you and your career goals. There’s also room to talk about skills, achievements, hobbies and work experience. As you did with your undergraduate personal statement, clearly refer to the course in some way.

After the personal statement, you’ll be asked for details about how you’re planning to pay for your course, details of your references and a declaration to confirm you haven’t told any lies.

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LPC application tips

We’re sure you don’t need help filling out your personal details, but when it comes to the personal statement, you wouldn’t turn down a bit of advice here and there.

As with your UCAS application, we recommend you don’t just bash out 10,000 characters in the online application form. Copy and paste it from a Word document, allowing you to do all the necessary spelling and grammar checks. With regard to what to include in the personal statement, here’s a handy bullet point list:

• Why you are applying for the LPC
• What interests you about the course
• What motivates you
• Where you see your future career heading
• Your skills, achievements and hobbies
• Your work experience.

As you’re limited on characters, don’t include absolutely every hobby you’ve ever had throughout your life and understandably, some areas deserve a bit more TLC than others, such as why you’re applying and what interests you about the course. You should also merge your ideas together rather than writing your personal statement as a list.

It’s worth talking about why you want to become a solicitor rather than barrister and which areas of law  you’re keen to practice in. Your achievements don’t have to be your 100% attendance certificate from year 7 either, you can mention how getting a first in your undergraduate degree was a great success, given how hard you worked. Including hobbies tells the institution a little bit more about yourself. “I like to listen to music” isn’t likely to add any weight to your application, but mention that you’re part of a band and what this has taught you in terms of teamwork, commitment, organisation and patience.

LPC applications are necessary for any soon-to-be solicitor but they’re not something to be feared. Rather, you should see them as a way to showcase your skills and desire for a career in law. 

• Can I get a job while doing the LPC?
• Choosing an LPC provider
• Excelling on the LPC
• How hard is it to get a training contract after doing the LPC?
• Is the LPC compulsory?

Legal Practice Course (LPC)

Find out about the lpc and eligibility to qualify as a solicitor through this route, what is the lpc.

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) is designed for applicants who are currently studying or have obtained their Qualifying Law Degrees (QLD/LLB)  or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) in the UK or for those who have been admitted as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (FILEx).

The LPC is not designed for students who have studied law degrees outside of the UK – unless the degree has been recognised by the UK QAA and has been awarded in collaboration with a UK institution such as the University of London.

Can I apply?

The LPC route will remain valid until 2032 for those who have already started their journey to qualification in 2021.

This means that you will be able to continue to qualify under the traditional route, providing that before 1 September 2021, you completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for:

• the Common Professional Examination (CPE) / Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) (which started on or before 31 December 2021)
• the Legal Practice Course
• a period of recognised training (also known as a training contract) or
• by 21 September 2021, you have completed, started or accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for a qualifying law degree (QLD)/exempting law degree (ELD) that starts before 31 December 2021.

The universities you apply to will require evidence that you fall within the SRA's transitional arrangements as outlined above.

What do I need?

There are two stages to qualifying through the LPC:

Stage 1: Academic Stage  - qualifying law degree (QLD) or law conversion course (CPE/GDL)

Stage 2: Vocational Stage  - Legal Practice Course (LPC) and Period of Recognised Training (or Training Contract)

The final requirements include the Professional Skills Courses (PSC)  and the SRA Assessment of Character and Suitability  and once these have been ticked off then, congratulations, you're ready to be admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales!

Academic stage

To complete the academic component of your training, you must have either a qualifying law degree (QLD) or  a GDL/law conversion:

Qualifying law degree (QLD)

A QLD is an undergraduate degree awarded by a UK university and validated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Its purpose is to allow candidates to proceed along the LPC pathway to qualification as a solicitor or as the academic stage in the qualification journey to become a barrister  and so the degree itself must cover certain foundational areas of legal knowledge alongside other restrictions such as only allowing a certain number of re-sits. Not all law degrees are QLDs. Your university will be able to confirm details about the law degrees which they offer and whether these count as a QLD.

The SRA maintains a list of authorised qualifying law degree providers .

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

The GDL is a law conversion course for those applicants who have an undergraduate degree but it is not in law (or it is not a qualifying law degree awarded by a UK university). It is an intensive course built around the core curriculum and assessment requirements of a qualifying law degree. It aims to condense the knowledge and skills acquired in a graduate course which can bring non-law graduates up to the same standard as law graduates before they go onto the vocational stage of qualifying as a solicitor (i.e. the LPC) or as a barrister (i.e.  Bar training courses ).

The GDL course can also be extended in duration to satisfy the requirements of a MA. 

Vocational stage

To complete the vocational stage of your training, you must complete the Legal Practice Course followed by a period of recognised training, commonly referred to as a Training Contract:

The LPC is part of the vocational stage of training to be a solicitor - and it can be studied full or part time with an authorised LPC provider.

The aim of the LPC is to prepare students for work-based learning and to provide a general foundation for practice. Generally, it comprises a first stage that focuses on core practice areas and skills, and a second stage containing three vocational electives. Many providers also bundle their LPC into the postgraduate degree LLM. These courses tend to be longer in duration and involve a module requiring an independent research project.

Providers arrange their LPC in different ways and so you will need to check directly with each institution to confirm how they deliver their programme.

Training Contract

This is a 2 year period of recognised training which must be completed post-LPC; it is commonly referred to as the 'training contract'. Individuals are given supervised experience in legal practice in order to refine professional skills essential to practicing as a solicitor, including: advocacy, client care, drafting, commercial and financial awareness, and experience in specific areas of practice.

In addition to completing your two year Training Contract, those qualifying through the LPC route will need to complete a Professional Skills Course , which is usually undertaken during the period of recognised training.

You will also need to pass the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) character and suitability requirements .

Further details about qualifying through the LPC are available on the SRA website.

Looking for a Legal Practice Course?

Use our course finder to view the courses available to apply for through LawCAB.

When you are ready to make your application, sign up for an account or login to your account on LawCAB to create your online LPC application form. 

If you have not done so already, please ' sign up ' to LawCAB. 

Once you have submitted your details in the sign up section (top right of LawCAB homepage) please keep an eye on your inbox for the email verification link.  If it doesn’t arrive, it would be worth checking your promotions folder, or junk/spam folders in case it has got stuck there. (Those with gmail accounts sometimes find that the email goes to their promotions folder.)  Please also make sure that you are using the most up to date version of your internet browser.

After you have clicked on the link to confirm your email address, you will be able to login where you will then be able to view your applicant dashboard from which you can create an online application form, depending on which course type you want to apply for.

Please use the link below for full details of the application process for:

LPC, GDL & SQE courses

CILEX Graduate Qualification (CGQ)

If you have any further questions about the application process, please get in touch with us at [email protected] .

Academic documentation

If you are a current undergraduate in your final year, you must attach a transcript to your form showing the courses you have studied in your first two years and the marks awarded so far.  If you do not have, and cannot obtain, a copy of your current transcript, please attach a screenshot of your marks to date taken from your student portal.  The institutions you apply to will then follow up with you directly on receipt of your application.

If you are a graduate, you must attach a copy of your final transcript and/or degree certificate to your form to your form.

For further information on transcripts, please refer to our FAQ ' What is a transcript? '. 

LPC applicants should note that from 1 September 2021, LPC providers will need to check that applicants fall within the  transitional arrangements  in relation to the new SQE route to qualification. This is likely to involve checking the detail of the dates on which offers were accepted and courses started. Applicants will therefore be asked to upload to their forms evidence (which should be provided by the universities) that you either:

completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit on a QLD by 21 September 2021 (inclusive) or

accepted an offer by 31 August 2021 for a place on a GDL/CPE course that started before 31 December 2021.

Personal statement

Most course providers require a personal statement. You can either type this into the form or upload as an attachment to the reason and personal statement section of the form.  Please see our FAQ on What is a personal statement and what should I include in it? for further information on what to include in your personal statement.

Most course providers require a reference.

If you are a current undergraduate or recent graduate, you are encouraged to nominate a current academic tutor who can comment on your suitability for post-graduate study and a career in law, and also provide an expected final grade for your current studies if possible.

If you cannot nominate an academic tutor, you should nominate a current or recent employer to provide a reference in support of your application. Please see our  reference FAQs  for further detail.

Passport details

If you are applying from outside of the UK and need a visa, you will need to provide your current passport number and expiry date.

If you received a conditional offer which you accepted by 31 August 2021, but you cannot fulfil the conditions of the offer (e.g. confirming degree or English language test results) until after 31 August, you can still go on to qualify through the LPC route.

By accepting a conditional offer for a place on a course you will be covered by the transitional arrangements, which apply if someone has ‘entered into a contractual agreement or made a non-refundable financial commitment to start’ a course; accepting a conditional offer of a place on a course would mean that you are entering a contractual agreement.

Although applicants are not required to register with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) before commencing the LPC , if a potential applicant thinks they might have a character and suitability issue or are unsure as to whether they might have an issue, they can choose to submit an early disclosure. The fee for an early assessment is £100.

Please note that it is very important that potential applicants contact the SRA at least 6 months in advance of their anticipated LPC start date if they have character and suitability issues.

Read further information about the SRA's Assessment of Character Suitability Rules.

Please use our course finder  for further information about the courses available.  You will also find a list of course providers, showing the courses each of them offer, in Where can I study?

If you know that you are eligible to qualify either through the QLD/GDL+LPC or the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), you will need to determine which route will best serve you, taking into account your current education, employment status, the financial implications and your future employment aspirations. 

First, make sure you fully understand the steps you would need to complete for each route in order to achieve qualification. Visit our LPC and SQE sections for a full outline of the qualification requirements for each.

Outlined below are a few of the factors you might want to consider when deciding which route to take.

GDL/LPC with Training Contract versus SQE with QWE route If you choose the GDL/LPC route, you will need to complete a 2-year training contract before you can qualify as a solicitor. This is often the biggest stumbling block for aspiring solicitors because there are far fewer training contracts available than the numbers applying for them; many pass the LPC to find they are unable to complete their qualification because they cannot secure a training contract. And, following the launch of the SQE, training opportunities are changing and there are fewer Training Contracts being offered.

If you do decide to go down the LPC route, you could potentially complete qualifying work experience instead of a Training Contract, however, you would also need to pass the SQE2 assessment, which will mean additional costs on top of your LPC fees.  If you don't have a Training Contract and think you might need to complete qualifying work experience instead, you may find it more cost effective to qualify through the SQE.

Flexibility The GDL/LPC route is ‘tried and tested’ and familiar to employers across the legal market in the UK, and in other jurisdictions, however, the flexibility of the SQE means that not only are you able to choose how you prepare for the SQE assessments, but also how you achieve your qualifying work experience (QWE); under the SQE you are not restricted to needing to complete a fixed two year training contract.  Rather, you could gain your 2 years of QWE in up to four different work placements, which could include, for example, time spent working at a law clinic and/or working in law firms. You could do this before, during or after your assessments and so you might find that any experience you already have could count towards your qualifying working experience.

Further information about the SQE can be found on the SRA's dedicated  SQE website .

I have a qualifying law degree If you have a QLD you can still apply for the LPC, which is a year-long course (if taken full-time), and would then need to be followed by a period of recognised training (training contract) (2 years) before you qualify as a solicitor. The cost of the LPC varies depending on where you do it. If you secure a training contract the firm may cover or contribute towards this cost.

Time: 1 year LPC + 2 years training contract = 3 years (4 years if studying part-time) Cost: up to £16,750 (depending on course provider and location)

Alternatively, you can choose to qualify through the SQE. It is likely you will still need to undertake additional preparation to pass the SQE 1 and SQE 2 assessments but you might find that a short SQE course (or courses), independent study or even relevant work experience is sufficient. Or you can choose a fuller, post-graduate course such as an MA or LLM which incorporates SQE preparation. Bear in mind that any courses you do will not include the cost of the assessments themselves and so you will need to factor this in to any budgeting.

Time: 6-24 months depending on the type of course and mode of study you choose + 2 years QWE which can be done before, during or after your assessments. Cost: £4,790 for the two SQE assessments + course costs (based on 2024/25 assessment fees)

I have a non-qualifying law degree Under the old route, you have to do the GDL prior to taking the LPC. Please bear in mind that if you do wish to qualify through the LPC, you must have accepted an offer  by 31 August 2021  for a place on a GDL course  that started by 31 December 2021  and retain evidence of this for your future LPC application.

Time: 2 years plus 2 year training contract = 4 years (6 years if studying part-time) Cost: up to £30,000 (depending on course providers and location)

When you consider the SQE route, it is worth looking at whether your law degree has covered some of the subjects that come up in the SQE 1 assessment, particularly those traditionally known as the seven foundations of legal knowledge. If so, you might feel that a short SQE preparation course, independent study and/or relevant work experience is sufficient to get you through the assessments and could potentially save you the cost of a full law conversion course and LPC. Alternatively, a longer post-graduate course incorporating SQE preparation could also be an attractive option, still potentially saving you time and money, and giving you that additional academic qualification of an MA or LLM, for example.

Time: 6-24 months depending on the type of course and mode of study you choose + 2 years QWE which can be done before, during or after your assessments.

Cost: £4,790 for the two SQE assessments + course costs (based on 2024/25 assessment fees)

I have a non-law degree If you have never studied law previously, or you have gained your law degree outside of the UK, a GDL/law conversion course offers a comprehensive foundation in law, with the option of adding a Masters qualification on top, enabling those that pass to go on to complete the LPC. Please bear in mind that if you do wish to qualify through the LPC, you must have accepted an offer  by 31 August 2021  for a place on a GDL course  that started by 31 December 2021  and retain evidence of this for your future LPC application.

If you opt for the SQE route, you could consider a postgraduate course, such as an PgDL, MA or LLM incorporating SQE preparation, which would fulfil the same ‘law conversion’ role as the GDL. You could also choose a shorter SQE preparation course, but if you have no previous experience in the law either through your studies or through work, you might feel you want a longer course with a post-graduate law qualification to add to your CV.

Time: 6-24 months depending on the type of course you choose + 2 years QWE which can be done before, during or after your assessments.

How long are the courses? While the GDL and LPC are year-long courses (or 2 years each if taken on a part-time basis), the length of the SQE courses depends on the type of course you choose to do. So, if you have already completed a law degree and/or have experience working in a legal environment, a short SQE preparation course may be all you want to do.

Alternatively, regardless of whether you have previously studied law, a longer course which enables you to study at postgraduate level, for example incorporating an MA or LLM with preparation for the two SQE assessments included, could provide you with a stronger and more confident footing in the law.

Applying for courses via LawCAB Find out which providers offer which types of courses in our  Where can I study section  and see suitable courses using our course finder.  Keep an eye on the course eligibility requirements as some of the SQE courses are suitable for those who have done UK qualifying law degrees or GDLs, whereas others are more tailored to those who have not previously studied law or who have obtained law degrees outside of the UK.

Funding your studies If funding your training is a concern, you may also wish to consider a  solicitor apprenticeship  where your employer will cover the cost of any courses and assessments whilst paying you a salary, so you can earn while you learn. There are graduate apprenticeships available, as well as ones open to non-graduates.

If you have completed an LPC, you will need to complete Period of Recognised Training and the Professional Skills Course to complete your qualification.  Alternatively, under the Equivalent Means route, you could either:

• Ask the SRA to recognise the combination of qualifying work experience and successfully passing SQE2 as equivalent to the period of recognised training. This means that if you come under the transitional arrangements, you can still start an LPC now, and then make use of the LPC + QWE + SQE2 route. Once you have successfully passed SQE 2 and have your QWE approved, you will be able to apply for admission as a solicitor. Please note you will still need to meet the SRA’s  character and suitability requirements .  It is important to make sure that you are definitely covered by the SRA's transitional arrangements . If you are not sure and need more detailed guidance about your particular circumstances, please contact the SRA at  [email protected] and they will be able to advise you further.
• If you think you can demonstrate that you have the equivalent skills and experience gained through a period of recognised training (PRT), you could apply for a  Period of Recognised Training exemption . The SRA’s fee for completing an assessment of the evidence you submit is £600. It is worth referring to the SRA for further information about applying for  an exemption from the period of recognised training  if you are interested in qualifying through this route.

Further information about the  transition route for those with a LPC is described on the SRA website.

The two year period of recognised training which must be completed post-LPC is commonly referred to as the 'training contract'. Individuals are given supervised experience in legal practice in order to refine professional skills essential to practicing as a solicitor, including: advocacy, client care, drafting, commercial and financial awareness, and experience in specific areas of practice.

There are two sets of regulations related to periods of recognised training, depending on when trainees started their training, which are covered on the  Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) website .

Find out where to apply for a Period of Recognised Training (Training Contract)

A range of websites and resources are available to help you to find firms offering training contracts.

LawCareers.net law careers guide  contains information about firms that take trainees, organised by geographical region, in addition to summary guides on those firms.

To apply for positions with certain legal firms, you may find the following links useful:

• Lawcareers.net training contract locator  and  training contract deadlines
• The  Lawyer Portal training contract guide  and  training contract deadlines
• The  government legal services sector
• The  Crown Prosecution Service trainee scheme
• specialist legal websites/publications such as  The Lawyer , the  Law Gazette
• Justice First Fellowships (JFF)  offer training contracts in social welfare law with charities, law centres and legal aid firms

Some firms will have summer deadlines, whereas others will recruit throughout the year. Use firms' specific recruitment webpages to check specific deadlines and requirements.

Many firms currently recruit applicants to training contract roles up to two years in advance of joining a firm.

If you find that it is not possible to obtain a training contract after completing your LPC, the SRA has confirmed you may still qualify as a solicitor by obtaining 2 years' full time or equivalent Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) and passing the SQE 2 assessment.

Please also refer to our question on What is Qualifying Work Experience and how do I get it for the SQE route? FAQ  for additional routes to consider if a traditional training contract is not viable or obtainable after completing the GDL/LPC courses.

This page has been archived and is no longer being updated regularly.

Preparing your personal statement for graduate school applications

Nearly all doctoral programs and many master’s degree programs in psychology require submission of a personal statement as part of the application package. In my experience advising students as well as serving as a graduate dean for many years, few things in the application process cause students as much anxiety and prompt so many questions.

Why so much concern? Several reasons. First, what we generically call the personal statement goes by different names at different institutions: “statement of goals,” “purpose and interests” and a host of other terms. Second, institutions have varying requirements for length and specific topics. Third, you have to compose it from scratch, in contrast to your transcript (which the registrar sends), your letters of recommendation (which other people compose) and any required test scores (which the testing agency sends).

Here are answers to students’ four most common questions.

Is the personal statement important?

Absolutely yes. Summaries of research on what is important in the application process, particularly for doctoral programs, show that the statement of purpose plays a key role in admission decisions — often more important than such standbys as your GPA and GRE scores. Admission committees really do pay attention. Each program in APA’s (2018) Graduate Study in Psychology  provides a rating of the importance of the statement of purpose, so you can check for your target programs. This is where you display your:

• Fit with the program.
• Especially desirable qualifications.
• Clarity of plans.
• Writing skill. 

Do I use the same one for all?

Absolutely not. Customize your statement for each program to which you apply. Each program will provide a brief description of what it wants in the applicant’s statement of purpose, the length and topics. One program may want 500 words covering topics A, B and C. Another program may want 1,500 words covering topics A, B, D and E. Pay attention to these directives. If, as program director, I want the latter and you give me the former, you have just done yourself a great disfavor — and irritated me. If you are applying to many programs, make a little spreadsheet showing what each program wants in the statement. Then, cross-check your customized statements against your spreadsheet.

What do I include?

Despite the latter advice about customizing, many programs ask about similar topics. The most common topics include your professional/career plans, academic objectives related to a particular program, research experience and other applied experience (for example, internships). Doctoral programs (but not usually master’s programs) often ask for your interest in or fit with particular faculty members (just two or three — not everyone). Of course, that fit relates to your objectives and the faculty members’ areas of expertise/research.

Because these topics appear frequently in programs’ requests, a useful strategy calls for developing a boilerplate statement covering the latter topics. Thus, you don’t have to start from scratch for every program. Construct the boilerplate, the common statement, first. Get it in good shape. Then customize it as needed for different programs.

You should certainly have a paragraph or two focusing on what you want to do in terms of career goals, academic specialty and research interests. And sift through your experiences to see which might set you apart and make you especially attractive as a candidate. Perhaps you have a strong research record, an exceptionally meaningful field experience or a few advanced undergraduate courses. Maybe all three of these.

When writing about your goals and experiences, aim for precision and detail. Avoid generic statements (“I have a lot of research experience,” “I did an internship”). Provide details, as space permits. What exactly did you do in your research, and what did you learn from it? What did your internship entail, and, again, what did you learn from it?

While on the topic of what to include, let’s identify a few things to not include. Norcross and Sayette (2016) call these the 3 Hs: humor, hyperbole, hard luck . No jokes or funny stories in the personal statement. Watch out for hyperbole in your statement: I’m the most qualified; I had the greatest major; I never have interpersonal conflicts. And don’t describe your own depression, substance abuse or family turmoil. Appleby and Appleby (2007) included such items among their “kisses of death” for applicants’ personal statements.

Will you read it for me?

The answer will vary for different faculty members and your relationship with them, but many will be happy to help. Please, however, do not ask a faculty member to read your first rough draft. Get it cleaned up. No half-sentences, no typos. Your institution may have a writing center that will prove helpful. When you have it in pretty good shape, ask a faculty member for feedback. 

Finally, proofread your statement before hitting the submit button. Remember, it’s used partly to evaluate your writing skill.

Watch this free video series for more information on graduate school applications.

American Psychological Association. (2016). Graduate study in psychology: 2017 edition . Washington, D.C.: Author.

Appleby, D.C., & Appleby, K.M. (2007). How to avoid the kisses of death in the graduate school application process. Eye on Psi Chi, 11 (3), 20-21.

Norcross, J.C., & Sayette, M.A (2016). Insider's guide to graduate programs in clinical and counseling psychology: Revised 2016/2017 edition . New York: Guilford.

About the author

• Personal statement advice: law

Applying to university

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• Filling in your application
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• How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement
• Fraud and similarity
• How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber
• How to end your personal statement
• Introducing the personal statement tool
• Personal statement dos and don'ts
• What to include in a personal statement
• Using AI and ChatGPT to help you with your personal statement
• Using your personal statement beyond a university application
• Carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain
• Personal statement guides
• References for mature students

What should you write in a law personal statement?

Bringing your interest in law to life is key. If you’re already studying law, then you might want to talk about topics you've enjoyed and any wider reading you've done.

Haven't studied law at A level (or equivalent)? Don't worry – there aren't usually subject-specific entry requirements for law degrees. Learn more about the 'unspoken rules' of university entry requirements here.

Dr Murphy suggests these other ways to demonstrate your engagement with law:

• A book you’ve read that had a legal dimension to it.
• Work experience, which could be in a solicitor’s firm or a mini-pupillage, but equally could be shadowing at your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), some charity work, or even your Saturday job.
• Visiting your local magistrates' court, the Crown Court, or your nearest employment tribunal. As Dr Murphy puts it, ‘the English legal system is open and receptive to those wishing to experience law in action’.
• Join a debating club, or start your own. If you have the opportunity to conduct a personal project or the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) , consider giving it a legal focus.

But don't simply list what you've done. Write about relevant experiences in your statement in a reflective way. What did you see? What did you learn? Why did it enhance your interest in law?

What else to include in your law statement

• Why you want to study law: bring this to life by focusing in on aspects of law that are of particular interest to you, how it relates to your current studies, and what additional reading you've embarked on. But keep it concise – three or so paragraphs is probably fine.
• How your skills fit: demonstrate that you have, or are developing, the skills needed for success in law – from public speaking to persuasive writing, or your meticulous attention to detail when writing essays.
• Current affairs: the University of Cambridge (and many other universities) like applicants who keep up-to-date with current affairs and who are interested in the legal implications of the latest news stories.
• Good written English: sentence construction, spelling, and punctuation are absolutely vital, and sometimes a cause for rejection.
• Combined course applications: if you're applying for law in combination with a different subject, make sure you demonstrate something relevant to the other subject too.
• What you've drawn from extracurricular activities: this is another good way to demonstrate your motivation, skills and enthusiasm for the course.

What not to do in your law personal statement

• Fail to research your chosen courses: all that talk of your passion for company law won't impress a uni that doesn't offer it as an option.
• Spelling and grammatical errors: as Dr Murphy says, ‘law is a discipline of precision, so being careless in such an important document will not bode well for a future legal career’.
• Not explaining why it's relevant: if you read the law section of The Times, that’s great, but make sure you elaborate on why it's relevant to your application. Try reflecting on a specific article or feature, for instance.
• Overuse of quotations: ‘don't try too hard to impress with quotations. I don’t care what Locke thinks, I want to know what you think!’.
• Use clichés: including overuse of the word 'passion' or the phrase ‘law is all around us’. Don't just say it, demonstrate it in a personal, concise way. And remember, less is more.

Are a law personal statement and LPC personal statement the same?

No, these are two different things.

A law personal statement is part of the UCAS application process when applying to study law.

A personal statement for the Learning Practice Course (LPC) is submitted to the Central Applications Board (CAB) when applying to LPC training to become a solicitor, having already completed an undergraduate law degree (or conversion course).

While it is also a personal essay which you use to sell your skills, experience and passion for law, it is very different to a law personal statement – for one thing, the word limit for a LPC personal statement is 10,000 characters ( compared to 4,000 characters for a UCAS personal statement ).

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Do you need to take an english test to study at university in the uk, five reasons to sign up to the ucas newsletter, changing your course through clearing.

How to write a great personal statement

Crafting a personal statement that stands out is an important part of the UCAS process. However, it can be hard to know exactly what to include, how to write it, and how to stand out. With this in mind, we caught up with Student Recruitment Manager Richard Palmer for his tips on writing a great personal statement.

By Cara Fielder . Published 13 October 2021. Last updated 12 January 2024.

Why is a personal statement important?

Your personal statement is about much more than just meeting the grade requirements and needs to tick a few boxes to stand out. These statements are a top factor when it comes to consideration for admissions experts – but don’t see it as a chore, your personal statement provides an opportunity to communicate your unique skills and strengths to secure your place at university.

What are admissions looking for?

Students must have the appropriate qualifications and grade predictions to meet entry requirements, but this will need to be elaborated on in your personal statement. As you think of your different qualifications, accomplishments, and qualities remember to link them all together to show how this makes you suitable for your chosen course.

• Excellent spelling, grammar and attention to detail.
• Illustrate your suitability for the course by linking it to different areas of life. For example, earlier studies, extra-curricular activities, personal hobbies/experiences and work experience (if applicable).
• Your personality – not in terms of humour or sarcasm but show that you are a responsible and hardworking student.
• A strong reference that supports your application.

Our nine tips for writing your personal statement

Map out the structure.

A great way to approach this is visually: create a diagram splitting the personal statement into sections. Firstly, you want a strong opening introducing yourself. The middle section can then be split into three sub-sections: your course choice, education experience and your wider experiences (e.g. extracurricular activities and work). Then conclude with a concise summary of the points you’ve made.

Whilst the whole statement needs a good deal of work, a robust opening can hook the reader and make all the difference to an application. It’s an opportunity to briefly cover everything you’ll discuss in greater detail throughout your statement. Consider why you want to study the course, your passion for the subject, where you hope it leads and why it’s right for you.

Similarly, a strong closing paragraph can leave a positive and lasting impression. Try and consolidate what you’ve covered in your statement and reinforce why you would make a great candidate for the course.

Transferrable skills

When discussing your suitability, share how the content and skills learned from your current or previous study relate to your chosen course, and how they will help you succeed. For instance, if you studied A Level Business and apply to study accounting and finance try and highlight how your current learning will influence your degree choice.

Of course, there are many degrees where it might not be possible to study the subject before university, so you’ll need to be a little more creative and think outside of the box. For those subjects which aren’t directly related to your chosen course consider any crossover and highlight those links. For example, if you’ve chosen to study criminology and studied A Level Geography you could discuss globalisation, green crimes, or illegal pollution.

You should also discuss the wider skills you’ve developed. Consider how a variety of teaching environments, coursework, and creative projects have provided you with relevant skills to succeed in a degree such as organisation skills, time management, communication, and multi-tasking.

If you are applying for slightly different courses, remember that all your university choices will see the same personal statement. Make sure to prioritise talking about your main subject for consistency.

Be original

While it might be tempting to copy your friends or take inspiration from example personal statements online, avoid it at all costs. Plagiarism is often unintentional but the best thing you can do to avoid it is steering away from using templates or writing similar personal statements to your peers.

UCAS (for example) puts every statement through plagiarism software. If your statement has 30% similarities to others, a report is sent to all your university choices. They decide the outcome, which could be to revoke your offer. Don’t let this worry – if you honestly write an original statement and the software still picks it up by fluke the university will know what to do.

Consider your strengths

Follow this simple framework:

• What are you good at?
• How can you demonstrate that skill?
• Keep it positive

For example - “I was a debate team captain and lead in making arguments” is good, but it could have something added to it to make it pop. A great way to do this is to add positive adjectives and adverbs to build up the sentence. “I was a successful debate team captain and lead in making winning arguments”.

Everybody has weaknesses, and it’s important to recognise these too. However, be sure to frame it as a positive. Be honest and recognise areas you haven’t experienced or aren’t as confident at – and consider positive ways that you can develop in that area. 

Highlight any previous work experience

Even if it was short-term or voluntary, any experience is good and helps to emphasise your skills. Demonstrating that you have actively sought out work experience presents you as someone with initiative and independence.

Start writing it as early as possible and be aware of all the important deadlines. Draw out a timeline detailing when you aim to have your first draft done, your second draft, any reviews and submission deadlines. This will help to get you in the right mindset from the outset, because nobody likes last-minute stress.

Triple check your work

Sometimes when you have been working on something for a long time, it’s easy to overlook mistakes so it’s also helpful to ask someone else to proofread it for you. Double and triple check your work, keeping an eye out for typos. Getting family or friends to proofread your personal statement will also help to ensure that it sounds authentically you.

Stand out from the crowd

Try to think outside of the box and communicate what makes you unique. For example, if you have any creative ideas on how to improve a certain area within your chosen industry/subject, put this forward. This might tie in with your hobbies and work experience and be a good way to build on it.

Make evidence-based points

Highlighting your experiences is a crucial part of the personal statement but must be backed up with solid evidence. For example, if you have experience as a sports captain or society member, rather than just listing what you did, explain how you got there and what you achieved. Mention actions and outcomes, this shows how you strive for self-improvement and highlights an ability to clearly define goals.

If you’re still considering which degree to apply for, check out our range of undergraduate courses in law , business , criminology , policing , psychology and computer science . 

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talks fertility & genetic counseling

• katieleecgc
• Oct 27, 2021

Personal Statements 101

Today on my YouTube channel, Katie Lee CGC Talks Genetic Counseling, I discuss tips to write an excellent personal statement for genetic counseling graduate school.

Check out my video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBfljxcIvko

For many applicants, writing a personal statement is one of the most challenging steps of the application process. These three tips will help you get started with that pesky personal statement (or 10).

TIP #1 : BRAINSTORMING

The first and most important step to writing an impactful personal statement is identifying poignant examples to include. You should plan to spend at least a couple of hours brainstorming personal experiences that will illustrate how or why you will be an excellent genetic counselor. You should think about experiences that have taken place through working, volunteering, shadowing and in your personal life as well. You may identify experiences where something about genetic counseling really clicked for you or where you demonstrated a characteristic that will make you an excellent student of genetics or counselor, or perhaps an experience that you learned from that ties back into genetic counseling.

If you are preparing to apply for this cycle, set a timer for an hour and journal out some of the experiences that come to mind in detail. Repeat for another hour after taking a short break. Don’t skimp on your reflections of these experiences.

If you are applying in a future cycle, I recommend that you start a google doc or journal where you record relevant experiences that could be used in your personal statements. You will thank yourself later for having detailed experiences to use in your PS and interviews.

Check out my YouTube video for an example that I pulled from my experiences that I think would make for an impactful personal statement. The experience does not need to be groundbreaking, but you should demonstrate your self-reflection and what was learned or can be taken from the experience.

A very common mistake first time applicants make is that they simply summarize their CV in the personal statement. The personal statement should contain detailed and specific examples of experiences that may be included on your CV, but the details should be completely novel.

TIP #2 : RESPOND TO THE PROMPT

When writing your personal statement it is very important that you answer the specific prompt provided. Each GC program will provide a prompt which will include questions they want you to cover. Most programs will also list length and formatting requirements on their program website. For bonus fun some programs don’t list any requirements, which may mean a length is not specified. Check with the program if you have checked for this information at least three times and you cannot locate the details on their website.

Take a look below at three prompts from three GC programs for the 2022 application cycle. Notice that while the prompts certainly overlap, different programs have requested that you touch on slightly different topics. Stanford’s prompt asks that you describe future career plans; this is not mentioned in the Sarah Lawrence or Augustana prompts. Augustana’s prompt specifically asks about your exposure to genetic counseling and how the exposure has prepared you for a career in genetic counseling. SLC’s prompt is more general and requests that you describe any experiences that have shaped your interest in genetic counseling. So while the prompts all sound very similar on the first read through, many do guide you to write about specific examples and topics. Read carefully! You should not write one generic prompt and use it for all programs. However, you can write a generic prompt and modify the length, specific examples, and number of examples and make it work for most programs.

Stanford’s Prompt:

The Statement of Purpose should succinctly describe your reasons for applying to the genetic counseling program, your preparation for this field, research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the review committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for genetic counseling. Please limit your personal statement to 2 pages. We prefer double spaced submissions.

Sarah Lawrence’s Prompt

Please submit a personal statement describing how your academic, extracurricular, and life experiences have shaped your interest in genetic counseling and prepared you to be successful both in graduate school and the profession.

Augustana’s Prompt

You must upload a personal statement--1250 words or less--highlighting your motivation to become a genetic counselor and emphasizing your prior and current experiences and exposure to genetic counseling, and how both have prepared you to enter and will benefit you in the profession.

TIP #3 : PICK EXPERIENCES THAT HELP YOU STAND OUT

Once you have your experiences listed and understand exactly what the prompts from your programs of interest are asking for, pick the experiences that set you apart the most from the average applicant while answering the prompt. Make sure you select experiences that help you stand out and display characteristics that make up a strong applicant.

HOW TO GET STARTED

I recommend pasting all of the prompts for your schools of interest in a google doc and outlining what you plan to touch on for each personal statement. If you can identify multiple prompts that are very similar in length and topics, group them together as one and refine after you get a draft down.

Once you have outlines for each prompt, start with whichever prompt feels the easiest. Copy and paste the most relevant experiences from the brainstorming/journaling session in step 1 and either expand or cut down the length and level of details depending on the prompt and the length requirements. Begin to think about how to make your personal statement a cohesive story with an introduction and conclusion as you edit the meat.

The hardest part of the personal statement is just

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Genetic counseling graduate programs require applicants to have exposure to genetic counseling. One of the best ways to gain firsthand exposure in the field is to shadow a genetic counselor or to con

Legal Practice Course (LLM)

• Duration: 1 year
• Mode: Full time

Make an application

You will need to apply for this course through one of our partners.

Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day .

Why study this course

Acquire the skills, knowledge and attitude to prepare you for the start of a legal training contract.

Long tradition of experience

Our tutors have extensive experience working as solicitors in the legal industry which brings a real practical focus to their teaching.

Develop your legal skills

Conduct research at master’s level when you submit a project on a subject allied to topics covered during the LPC.

Gain relevant experience

We offer a guaranteed work placement to all students without training contracts or substantial work experience.

Complement your academic studies

We offer a range of pioneering pro-bono projects where you can work with real clients under supervision from professionals.

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) offers intensive, postgraduate-level studies to those who wish to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales under the current system. To become fully qualified after completion of the LPC, you will need to undertake a two-year training contract, which is a period of recognised work-based training.

The LPC will ensure that you acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes to prepare you for the start of the training contract, equip you to deal with the demands that are likely to be made of you in practice and lay the foundation for your future practice as a solicitor by encouraging habits of competence, confidence and professionalism.

This course is an intensive, highly interactive, skills-based course. Assessment is by examination, coursework and live skills assessment.

In addition, the LLM Legal Practice Course will also prepare you for a research module submission and allow you to reflect on the challenges facing the legal profession in today’s world.

Note: If you are worried that you may have a “character and suitability” issue which may prevent you from qualifying as a solicitor, you can ask the SRA to assess this before you start the Course. Please visit the SRA website for further guidance. 

Where you'll study

School of Law and Politics

Our vibrant student body combined with highly qualified academic staff provides the perfect environment to explore the dynamic and fast-paced fields of law, politics and international relations.

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• Telephone +44 (0)29 2087 6102
• Marker Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX

Admissions criteria

In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements and the Transitional Arrangements set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and submit an application via the Central Applications Board (CAB) .

With your application you will need to provide:

• A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have either: a) achieved a 2:2 honours UK Qualifying Law degree, or an equivalent international degree. If your degree certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates. Or b) achieved a 2:2 honours degree in any subject and have achieved a Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). If your degree, CPE or GDL certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates.
• A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in all other subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.
• A personal statement which outlines your commitment to the legal profession, general work experience (if any), and reasons for wanting to study the LPC at Cardiff University.
• At least one academic reference which outlines your suitability for the programme..

Application Deadline

We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications to the CAB open on 1 October and close on 31 July in each application cycle, however, we operate our own deadline of 30 April. If you submit an application to the CAB after 30 April, we will only consider it if places are still available.

Please note that the CAB will only release applications to us once a fully completed application form has been submitted, along with all supporting evidence including references (where required by the CAB), and the application fee paid.

Selection process

We will review your application and make a decision based on all of the following factors:

• if you have met the entry requirements and provided available evidence to support your application (e.g. academic record, references, personal statement)
• your degree of commitment to the legal profession (shown, by example, by placements with solicitors’ firms or equivalent experience)
• general work experience
• reasons for wanting to study the LPC at Cardiff University
• date on which the application is received by Cardiff University
• order of preference of institution
• any extenuating circumstances which may affect your ability to study elsewhere.

Find out more about English language requirements .

Criminal convictions

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

• access to computers or devices that can store images
• use of internet and communication tools/devices
• freedom of movement
• contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Course structure

The Taught stage of the programme is formed by the LPC, which is divided into two stages: Stage one and stage two.

Stage one begins in September and finishes in March. Stage two begins in March and ends in June. The LLM Research Project or Reflective Portfolio submission date will be in August, following successful completion of the taught part of the course.

The course begins with a Foundation Course designed to set the stage for the rest of stage one. In the Foundation Course you will be introduced to course skills, core practice areas and to other elements of the LPC, such as Professional Conduct and Regulation. In addition to the standard elements of the LPC, we also offer a short, optional course on Advocacy in Welsh (Eiriolaeth yn y Gymraeg).

In stage one you will study three core practice areas:

• Business Law and Practice
• Property Law and Practice

along with:

• Professional Conduct and Regulation
• Solicitors’ Accounts
• Wills Administration and Estates

You will also study and practise the Course Skills:

• Practical Legal Research
• Interviewing and Advising

In stage two you will study three vocational electives.  We keep our range of elective courses under review and offer a range of subjects to choose from.

Following successful completion of the LPC subjects, you will complete a research module that will develop your legal research skills and knowledge. You will undertake either a Research Project, based on LPC subjects, or (subject to meeting the relevant criteria) a Reflective Portfolio, based upon pro bono or legal work experience.

The Research Project is available to all students on the LLM Legal Practice Course, but only students with significant pro bono or legal work experience will be able to pursue the Reflective Portfolio.

You will complete compulsory modules (that cover practice areas and course skills) and three optional electives.  On successful completion of the taught stage of the programme, you will submit an 8000-word Research Project or Reflective Portfolio.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/25 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will i be taught.

Teaching is conducted in large and small group lessons. Large groups take the form of lectures to all students and each large group lasts one hour. Most large group lessons are pre-recorded and accessed online, but some large groups are delivered live and are scheduled on the timetable.

Small group teaching will be timetabled in groups of up to 16-18 students although you may be organised into smaller groups for the purpose of some lessons.  Small group lessons are usually scheduled to take place for two hours, although some may be up to three hours duration. Attendance at small group sessions is compulsory.

A distinctive feature of the LPC is that a substantial part of the time devoted to classroom practice overall will involve students in the exercise of the Course Skills.

There will be an introductory lecture in term one which will set out what you will need to do. You will also be introduced to legal research during term one. This will further assist you in preparing for the research module. You will attend a workshop in term 2 to assist you in drafting your research proposal. Thereafter you will have two supervision opportunities to receive feedback on your work. In the third term you will continue to work on the preparation of your research project or reflective portfolio. You will be formally admitted to the LLM research module upon successful completion of your LPC examinations.

Within the curriculum, you will develop your ability to undertake independent learning and team-working skills.  Communication skills are developed in small groups, where you will be required to work collaboratively on problems and tasks. The emphasis on the course is on the application of legal knowledge to simulated factual situations, giving advice to the client and undertaking tasks according to the client’s instructions.

The LPC is a practical course and you need to analyse the facts to identify the relevant issues on which the client needs advice; identify the relevant law and procedure; apply the relevant law and procedure to the relevant facts and advise the client, clearly and fully, taking into account the rules of professional conduct and the commercial and business needs of the client. 

Outside the curriculum you will have the opportunity to develop wider employability skills through participation in the school’s Law in Action pro-bono schemes run with partner organisations, in which student volunteers assist real people in their dealings with the law.  Some examples of the schemes currently available to students include: 

• Law in Justice: the Innocence Project (dealing with alleged miscarriages of justice);
• Law in Healthcare: the NHS Continuing Healthcare Scheme (helping families claim back care home fees that arguably should have been covered by the NHS);
• Law in Sport: the Rugby Union Project  (providing legal advice and legal newsletters to rugby clubs);
• Law in Court: the Personal Support Unit (PSU) (offering practical support and assistance to people at court, in family and civil matters); and
• Law in Mental Health: the Hafal Appropriate Adult Scheme (students are trained to support vulnerable adults being interviewed after having been arrested).

Other activities include mooting, negotiating and client interviewing competitions.

How will I be assessed?

The LPC assessments are designed to be fair, rigorous, realistic, and to provide sufficient depth and/or breadth of coverage of the skills and subjects assessed.  Individual assessments will cover a representation of the outcomes in the particular subject or skills area.  A practical emphasis will appear throughout.

There are formative assessments for each of the stage one subjects and skills. These formative assessments help you to adjust to the different requirements of the assessments on a vocational, as opposed to, academic course.

There are 14 summative assessments, assessing all of the compulsory stage one subjects and skills and the three vocational electives in stage two. All assessments are supervised, except for the assessment in Practical Legal Research, which takes the form of written coursework.

Most of the supervised assessments are open book written examinations but there are supervised oral skills assessments in Advocacy, Interviewing and Advising and Wills and Administration of Estates.

Summative assessment of the research module comprises the submission of a written piece of work of 8,000 words, in the form of either a Research Project or a Reflective Portfolio.  The Research Project is available to all students on the LLM Legal Practice Course, but only students with significant pro bono or legal work experience will be able to pursue the Reflective Portfolio.

How will I be supported?

Your learning will be supported through e-learning; all modules are supported by Learning Central, a virtual learning environment that is available on and off campus through which you will access a wide range of materials for your modules.  We provide most of the lesson materials in electronic form as well as in hard copy.  We also make available recordings of large groups via Learning Central.

You will receive dedicated pastoral support through our personal tutor scheme.  We offer an extensive programme of careers lectures and workshops within the School with a specialist Careers Advisor.  A designated Disability and Diversity Officer ensures that reasonable adjustments are made for students with disabilities.  The University has a range of services to support you, including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service and excellent libraries with specialist law librarians and resource centres.

Support for your research module will be by way of face to face tuition, materials on Learning Central and supervision.

Feedback is regarded as a priority and is intended to raise your levels of competence.  You will have formative assessments in the stage one subjects and comprehensive feedback on those formatives, to help you prepare for the summative assessments. You will be given oral and written feedback for all oral skills practices.  You will receive feedback from your tutor in the small group sessions as the course progresses and feedback from your fellow students. You will also receive feedback in relation to the research module.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

Knowledge & Understanding:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• an understanding of the key ethical requirements contained in the SRA Principles of Regulation and Code of Conduct, understanding where these may impact and being able to apply them in context;
• knowledge and understanding of the core practice areas of Business Law and Practice, Property Law and Practice, Litigation and the areas of Wills and Administration of Estates and Taxation;
• knowledge and understanding of three elective subject areas;
• a sound understanding of research methodology and/or self-reflection.

Intellectual Skills:

• how to properly organise information gathering and analysis;
• how to critically analyse and examine knowledge and how that knowledge may be used in professional practice and/or skills;
• how to form high level arguments and to use arguments, from evidence, in support of your case;
• how to synthesise large quantities of legal information;
• how to reflect by learning to make use of constructive feedback;
• the ability to research, reflect and critically analyse.

Professional Practical Skills:

• knowledge, understanding and skills in the course skills of Practical Legal Research, Writing, Drafting, Interviewing and Advising, and Advocacy, including the ability to transfer skills to different contexts;
• the ability to research and apply knowledge of the law and legal practice accurately and effectively;
• the ability to identify the client's objectives and different means of achieving those objectives;
• an awareness of the financial, commercial and personal priorities and constraints to be taken into account when considering objectives;
• an awareness of the costs, benefits and risks involved in transactions or courses of action;
• an ability to perform the tasks required to advance transactions or matters;
• the ability to evaluate and synthesize arguments and data;
• the ability to offer an analysis of the complex problems presented by legal issues and a methodology for solving them;
• the ability to write and or speak to a number of audiences;
• the development of key research skills in order to ensure that research conclusions are made on a sound and useful basis.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• an ability to write to a high standard for a broad range of audiences including legal practice and academia;
• an ability to work independently, demonstrating organisational and time-management skills;
• an ability to communicate ideas effectively and fluently, both orally and in writing;
• an ability to hone logical and reasoning skills through discussion and debate;
• sound research skills and/or reflective skills.

Tuition fees for 2024 entry

Applicants to courses in the Centre for Professional Legal Studies will be subject to a separate deposit process and information regarding this will be communicated separately by the Centre.

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2024/25 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees .

Fees for island status

Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man .

Fees for overseas status

More information about tuition fees and deposits , including for part-time and continuing students.

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

For oral skills assessments and for advocacy practices students are required to wear suitable office clothing (such as a business suit). There are referral fees and re-enrolment fees for students who fail assessments and who have to take referrals as external resit students.

Will I need any specific equipment to study this course/programme?

We provide students with commercially published LPC manuals for most subjects.  In those subjects for which there is no commercially published manual you will be supplied with sets of notes that we have prepared.  These manuals and notes comprise most reference needs, with other resources being available in the Library or online.  You are not expected to buy other texts.  The manuals (or notes) set out the basic law and procedure in the areas they cover. In addition to the books you are given, you will be given other materials prepared by the course teams.  These include timetables, lesson plans, lesson handouts and assessment material.

Living costs

We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff .

Master's Scholarships

An award open to UK students intending to study one of our taught master’s degrees.

Postgraduate loans

If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2024 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.

Alumni Discount

The alumni discount is available for Cardiff University graduates who are planning to start an eligible master's in 2024/25.

Career prospects

After completion of the LPC, you will be able to undertake a training contract/period of recognised training, in preparation for qualification as a solicitor. The LPC may also lead to legal work in some other capacity, e.g. paralegal, with the option of obtaining a training contract at a later date.

The option to complete a Research Project or Reflective Portfolio has the potential to increase your engagement in pro bono activities within the School or further your skills of independent research thereby increasing your preparedness for practice.

In addition, there is a growing need in the public and private sectors for students who can demonstrate being different to other graduates and who can offer something more to potential employers. You will learn important skills that will set you apart in the job market: how to write and critically reason, how to write for and engage the reader, and how to understand the impact of your research.

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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.

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This subreddit is intended for the discussion of interesting UK caselaw and legislation, and for discussion of the legal profession - NOT FOR OBTAINING LEGAL ADVICE. Modmail in your proof of being a lawyer/solicitor/law student and get flair!

How important is the personal statement?

Obviously, a little bit of effort is required and you can't just write 'I wanna do law because I watched suits/legally blonde/how to get away with murder'.

For my UCAS personal statement for LLB, I agonised over my personal statement and wrote a statement so good that my teacher would go on to use it as an example of what the class then was meant to do. I ended up at a fairly good uni for law. But to my surprise, when I was went to uni, two of my coursemates showed me their personal statements and they were...shit. Honestly, pretty generic, pretty bad, so much so I was surprised they got into the uni considering its good rep for law.

But anyways, I've written my first draft for my personal statement for the LPC. I'm applying to every LPC provider in London plus two others outside of London for part time. I'm getting it double checked by some people at the uni, but I did want to ask because I'm hearing mixed things about the personal statement's importance. My personal tutor says don't agonise too much about it because at the end of the day the LPC providers are only really interested in your money. Like, of course getting the entry requirements is essential and you can't just write a careless statement, but apparently it's not as deep as I think and I shouldn't stress too much about it. However, my careers consultant at uni and also another lecturer tells me otherwise and keep nitpicking my personal statement, so much attention to detail that you'd think one phrasing will make the difference between being accepted or not.

Obviously, whatever I hear, I'm going to put a lot of effort into this. But I guess I wanted to know for the sake of my overly anxious self lol What's the general consensus with personal statements for the LPC? Is it a huge deal, a big determining factor that can make a difference or is it truly like a 'meh just don't make it shit doesn't have to be amazing' kind of deal?

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How to Write A Standout Law Personal Statement

A law personal statement is essential when applying to enrol on an LLB law course as an undergraduate or an LLM degree as a postgraduate. Get advice and tips on writing good law personal statements.

Our Guide to Law Personal Statements

• Find out the word count and the right structure
• See how universities use personal statements
• Learn how to write and structure your statement
• Get more top tips on writing a knock-out statement

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You’ll need to write a law personal statement if you’re applying for the LLB or other types of law degrees via UCAS . You will also have to write one if you’re applying to study law at postgraduate level.

What is a Law Personal Statement?

The personal statement is a piece of writing which you send off with your UCAS application to different universities . It’s capped at 4,000 characters (so will often end up running for about one side of A4), and serves as the best way to differentiate yourself from other applicants to the most competitive courses. In short, it’s the personal statement which is the truly ‘personal’ part of your application. This is your chance to grab the attention of the admissions team, who will often use the personal statement as the easiest way to pick between candidates with other similar metrics (e.g. predicted A Level grades which meet the entry requirements ). Other universities ( Oxbridge specifically ) place even more emphasis on your personal statement, using it as a way to decide who to invite to interview (and then as a source of discussion during interviews). Put simply, it’s an important part of your application.

For law specifically, a subject which is known to be both competitive and highly academic, the personal statement is even more crucial. The University of Law have a page outlining some law personal statement tips , but this article seeks to present our views on some of the most crucial elements of a successful personal statement for studying law at university – from what you should do to what you shouldn’t, structure, content and more, this article will get you well on your way.

How Universities Use Your UCAS Law Personal Statement

If a lot of students applying for law degree courses have achieved the basic entry requirements, university admissions teams use UCAS law personal statements to decide who is more suited to their learning programme. Some universities take this a step further with, for example, with the LNAT , which is taken into consideration alongside your personal statement. 

Some law schools will read every personal statement and score them. They then use this score alongside your qualifications and grades to decide whether to offer you an interview. Other law universities don’t give as much consideration to personal statements and will only use them to decide between students who have borderline entry requirements.

Law schools may refer to your personal statement on results day if you don’t get the grades you need. A good personal statement could be the difference in securing a university place if you don’t get the grades you hoped for.

Planning Your Statement

Plan a clear structure.

First thing’s first, you’re going to need a clear structure. There are a few reasons for this. First, having a clearly planned out structure before you start writing will limit the amount of ‘waffle’ you could accidentally end up putting into your writing (more on that in our next point). Second, a clear structure allows your reader (those university admissions teams) to enjoy the personal statement more by increasing the smoothness of the reading experience associated with a well thought out body of text (remember, they’ll be reading hundreds, if not thousands, of these). Third, you’re applying to study law – the personal statement is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that you can produce well planned, structured writing (as is crucial for any humanities subject). The theme of the personal statement serving a dual purpose (presenting the content itself but also showcasing your writing abilities) will come up again throughout this article – it’s super important to bear in mind.

There is no one-size-fits-all structure that your personal statement should take, and you should allow yourself to be guided largely by the content you’re looking to present. It is a good idea, however, to feature a particularly catchy opening leading into an introductory section, a main body (structure however best suits the content) and at least a line or two of concluding material at the end.

Leading on from our last point, being concise is key. Not only does this allow you to demonstrate your clarity of writing (as all law students and aspiring lawyers need as a key skill ), but it also increases the amount of content (or explanation of that content) you’re able to pack into 4,000 characters. For example, have you written ‘on the other hand’? ‘Conversely’ is 2 words/7 characters shorter, and serves the exact same purpose. Also consider whether you’re repeating yourself. Conciseness is best achieved by proofreading.

Manage Your Tone

Throughout your personal statement, it’s best to take a relatively formal tone. Your content is the part that allows your personality and individualism to shine through. Also avoid humour – it’s simply too risky without knowing the preferences of the individual whose desk your personal statement will eventually land on.

Need Help With Your Statement?

Get Expert Guidance

Writing Your Statement

Proofreading is essential for a personal statement, and you’ll likely go through many rounds of drafts. Having concise writing is key (see the point above), but even more important is the fact your personal statement needs to avoid any errors in spelling or grammar. These are easily correctible and may reflect badly on you as a student applying to an essay-based subject at university. It’s fine if you personally struggle with spelling or grammar – see our next point for a way to combat that.

Get Feedback

Your personal statement, while being innately ‘personal’, is best improved by showing it to a range of people. Although there will naturally (and sadly) be a difference in the quality of assistance you will receive based on the quality of your sixth form/college, be proactive in seeking out the best people possible to read over it and give you feedback. Are there any teachers at your school who studied on the university course you now find yourself applying to? Can you find current students/alumni of that course on LinkedIn and ask if they’d be willing to spare a few minutes to glance over it for you? The more input you get (from people who have more experience than you on this topic), the more secure you’ll feel in defending why you’ve written what you have.

Capital Letter Checks

If you’ve successfully followed the tips above, you’re likely to have a personal statement with a great deal of specific references in it. There’s an easy way to roughly check this – visually scan down your personal statement and see how many capital letters there are. If you’ve got very few, it’s likely that you may have included a fair amount of ‘waffle’. If you can spot quite a few capital letters, that’s a sign that you’ve probably included the specifics – great job! Where ‘I’ve read many legal books’ might throw up a red flag, ‘I’ve read X and Y books’ means you’re on a great path.

Get to Know Your Course

Demonstrate your interest by improving your understanding

Perfecting Your Statement

Keep it personal.

Attempting to present a broad overview of your degree’s content (e.g. trying to do a broad sweep of UK legal history) is useless, impossible, and ultimately pretty boring to read. It also means you’ll end up with something that skims the surface of many things. Remember, this is a ‘personal’ statement. The best way to approach it is to drill down deep into one or two particular niches that interests you (again, rather than skimming the surface of a huge range of topics). This keeps your personal statement fresh and interesting to read for the admissions team. Have you developed an interest in a particular piece of legislation that’s just come out? You could spend a paragraph going into some detail here – and the contents of that paragraph are what comes next.

Show – Don’t Tell

This is one of the most important pieces of advice possible. Once you’ve found a particular area of interest to talk about in your personal statement, you need to back that up with specific, tangible examples. Some people will also advise that you try and keep this content relatively recent in order to demonstrate an engagement with world affairs. Although not compulsory, this can still be a useful avenue to explore. ‘I’m really interested in the new Online Safety Bill’ is generic, proves very little, and could apply to anyone. ‘My interest in the new Online Safety Bill led me to read X book and watch X documentary, after which I considered X issues’ is specific to you, demonstrates a tangible interest in these topics, and is simply far more interesting to read. This idea of constantly building on what came before allows you to demonstrate a thread running throughout your essay (helping your structure present itself as clear in the process). This is where you’ll often hear people say that your personal statement needs to ‘flow’.

The range of things that you could ‘show’ is vast – books related to your course are a great starting point. If you know one of your top choice universities employs a particularly prominent member of faculty, perhaps you’d be interested to have a look at their writing and include that too. Other such content could include documentaries, conferences, events, or work experience. Now your personal statement is looking far more personal.

Academic vs Extra-Curricular

Balancing the proportion of academic to extra-curricular content in your personal statement is not an easy task, especially when you’re likely to hear that certain top universities like Oxbridge heavily favour the former. Law is also an intensely academic subject. With that in mind, it’s only natural to place a heavy emphasis on the academic side. However, if you’ve got extra-curricular content which you feel you could successfully link to your degree course in some way (e.g. ‘For my swimming club, I researched current health and safety regulations to make sure we are compliant’ – ‘I am in a swimming club’, conversely, doesn’t hold much value), then do feel free to include that too.

In short, while writing law personal statements may appear a challenge, following our top tips will allow your application to excel. Be clear, be specific, be you.

Watch this video from Solent University Law School, Southampton, which is packed with great tips on how to write a strong personal statement for law.

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How to Write a Parole in Place (PIP) Personal Statement

Learn how to structure and write a compelling personal statement for your pip application, in this guide.

• Parole in Place (PIP) Personal Statement
• Benefits of a Parole in Place Personal Statement
• Personal Statement Structure
• Sample Parole in Place Personal Statement
• Related Information

When applying for Parole in Place (PIP) using Form I-131F , you will need to submit a personal statement explaining why you are applying. A well-crafted personal statement highlights the personal and compelling reasons for your request. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to write a winning personal statement for PIP.

Your personal statement must be a minimum of 750 words and must not exceed 2000 words.

Boundless can help you adjust your status after your Parole in Place is approved.

Learn what we do for you

A personal statement for Parole in Place (PIP) has several benefits, including:

• Explains unique circumstances and reasons for PIP.
• Summarizes crucial points of the application.
• Draws attention to supporting documents.
• Explains the relationship between the applicant and the military member or U.S. citizen spouse or stepparent.
• Outlines hardships faced if the applicant were deported.

Your personal statement is an opportunity to explain your situation. Here’s a template to help you structure it:

• Your name and relationship to your U.S. citizen spouse or stepparent
• Brief statement of why you’re applying for PIP
• When and how you came to the U.S.
• Your ties to the community (work, volunteer activities, etc.)
• Information about your spouse or stepparent and any children
• How your family would be affected if you had to leave the U.S.
• Your work history
• Any community service or volunteer work
• Your goals and aspirations in the U.S.
• Restate your request for PIP
• Thank the reader for their consideration

You will submit your personal statement online as part of your PIP application. Below is what the section looks like where you will copy and paste your personal statement:

Start preparing now with Boundless’ comprehensive parole-in-place workbook, then continue your journey with us to a marriage green card.  Get started now.

Below you will find a sample personal statement written as the undocumented spouse of a U.S. citizen, followed by a sample personal statement written as the undocumented stepchild of a U.S. citizen.

Personal Statement: Undocumented Spouse

I, [Your Full Name], am writing this personal statement to request Parole in Place (PIP) as the undocumented spouse of a U.S. citizen, [Spouse’s Full Name]. I understand the significance of this process, and I respectfully submit this statement to explain my situation, my relationship with my spouse, and the reasons why I believe Parole in Place is essential for my family.

I was born in [Country of Birth] on [Date of Birth]. I entered the United States on [Date of Entry], and have been residing here continuously since then. My decision to remain in the United States was driven by a desire for a better life, and the opportunity to create a stable and supportive environment for myself and my future family. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of my entry, I find myself in an undocumented status. However, since arriving in the United States, I have committed myself to building a lawful and productive life.

My Relationship with My U.S. Citizen Spouse

I met my spouse, [Spouse’s Full Name], in [Year You Met], and we quickly developed a deep and loving relationship. [Spouse’s Full Name] is a U.S. citizen, born in [City and State of Birth]. We were married on [Date of Marriage] in [Location of Marriage]. Our marriage is based on genuine love, respect, and shared values. We have built a life together that we cherish and have made plans for our future as a family.

Family and Community Ties

Our marriage has also strengthened our ties to the community. We are actively involved in [Describe Any Community Involvement, Such as Church, Volunteer Work, etc.]. We have developed close relationships with our neighbors, friends, and family members, all of whom have been supportive of our marriage and our desire to remain together in the United States.

My spouse and I have made long-term plans to start a family, build a home, and contribute to our community. We dream of raising our children in a safe and nurturing environment, surrounded by the love and support of our friends and family. These dreams can only be realized if I am granted Parole in Place, allowing me to remain in the United States with my spouse.

My Contribution to Society

Since arriving in the United States, I have made every effort to contribute positively to society. I have [Describe Any Work Experience, Education, or Volunteer Activities]. My goal has always been to give back to the community that has welcomed me and to build a future for myself and my family that we can all be proud of.

I am committed to upholding the values of hard work, integrity, and respect for the law. I understand the importance of following the legal process, and I am fully prepared to comply with all the requirements necessary to obtain Parole in Place and eventually adjust my status to that of a lawful permanent resident.

Hardship and Consequences of Denial

The denial of my Parole in Place request would have devastating consequences for my family. My spouse and I are deeply in love, and the thought of being separated is unbearable. If I were forced to leave the United States, my spouse would suffer emotionally, financially, and psychologically. Our plans for the future would be shattered, and we would be left with the difficult choice of living apart or uprooting our lives to live in another country where my spouse has no ties or connections.

Furthermore, my departure would cause extreme hardship to my spouse, who relies on me for emotional support and companionship. We have built a life together, and separating us would disrupt the stability and security we have worked so hard to achieve. My spouse’s health and well-being would be at risk, and the emotional toll of such a separation would be severe.

Reasons for Parole in Place

I respectfully request Parole in Place because it is the only way to preserve our family unity and protect the well-being of my spouse. My spouse and I are committed to each other and to building a future together in the United States. Granting me Parole in Place would allow us to continue our lives together, contribute to society, and eventually pursue lawful permanent residency.

My request is made with a sincere desire to comply with the law and to demonstrate my commitment to this country. I understand the seriousness of my situation, and I assure you that I will make every effort to fulfill the requirements and responsibilities associated with Parole in Place.

In conclusion, I ask that you please consider my request for Parole in Place with compassion and understanding. My spouse and I are devoted to each other and to building a life together in the United States. We have faced many challenges, but our love and commitment have remained strong. Granting me Parole in Place would allow us to continue our journey together, without fear of separation or hardship.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I sincerely hope that you will grant my request and allow me to remain in the United States with my spouse.

Sincerely, [Your Full Name]

Personal Statement: Undocumented Stepchild

I, [Your Full Name], am writing this personal statement to request Parole in Place (PIP) as the undocumented stepchild of a U.S. citizen, [Stepparent’s Full Name]. I deeply understand the importance of this process and respectfully submit this statement to provide details about my situation, my relationship with my stepparent, and why Parole in Place is crucial for our family.

I was born in [Country of Birth] on [Date of Birth]. I entered the United States on [Date of Entry] with my [Mother/Father], who is also undocumented. Since our arrival, we have lived here continuously, hoping to build a better future for ourselves. The decision to stay in the United States was driven by the desire to escape difficult circumstances in our home country and to create a stable, safe, and loving environment.

Since coming to the United States, I have been committed to making the most of the opportunities available to me, despite the challenges posed by my undocumented status. I have worked hard in school, participated in community activities, and tried to be a positive and contributing member of society.

My Relationship with My U.S. Citizen Stepparent

My life changed when my [Mother/Father] met and married [Stepparent’s Full Name], a U.S. citizen. They were married on [Date of Marriage] in [Location of Marriage]. Since then, my stepparent has been a source of love, support, and stability for me. Our relationship is built on mutual respect, care, and a shared commitment to our family.

[Stepparent’s Full Name] has treated me as their own child, providing emotional and financial support and guiding me through important stages of my life. They have encouraged me to pursue my education, supported me in my extracurricular activities, and helped me integrate into the community. My stepparent has become a central figure in my life, and I cannot imagine our family without their presence.

Our family is strongly connected to the community. We are actively involved in [Describe Any Community Involvement, Such as Church, Volunteer Work, etc.]. We have developed close relationships with our neighbors, friends, and extended family members. These relationships have provided us with a sense of belonging and have strengthened our desire to remain in the United States as a united family.

My [Mother/Father] and I have made long-term plans to continue our education, build careers, and contribute to our community. We dream of living a life where we are free from the fear of separation, and where we can fully participate in and contribute to the society that has welcomed us. These dreams can only be realized if I am granted Parole in Place, allowing me to remain in the United States with my stepparent and [Mother/Father].

Since arriving in the United States, I have made every effort to contribute positively to my community. I have excelled in school, participated in [Mention Any Extracurricular Activities or Volunteer Work], and have tried to be a responsible and active member of society. I am determined to continue my education and to pursue a career that will allow me to give back to the community that has given me so much.

I am committed to living a life of integrity, hard work, and respect for others. I understand the importance of following the legal process, and I am fully prepared to comply with all the requirements necessary to obtain Parole in Place and eventually adjust my status to that of a lawful permanent resident.

The denial of my Parole in Place request would have devastating consequences for my family. My stepparent has become an integral part of my life, and the thought of being separated from them is overwhelming. If I were forced to leave the United States, it would cause severe emotional, financial, and psychological hardship for my [Mother/Father] and stepparent.

My departure would also disrupt my education and future plans. I have worked hard to build a life here, and being forced to leave would shatter my dreams and aspirations. The separation from my stepparent and the community I have grown to love would be deeply traumatic and would negatively impact my overall well-being.

I respectfully request Parole in Place because it is the only way to ensure the unity and stability of our family. My stepparent, [Mother/Father], and I are deeply committed to each other and to building a life together in the United States. Granting me Parole in Place would allow us to continue our lives together, contribute to society, and eventually pursue lawful permanent residency.

In conclusion, I ask that you please consider my request for Parole in Place with compassion and understanding. My stepparent, [Mother/Father], and I are devoted to each other and to building a life together in the United States. We have faced many challenges, but our love and commitment have remained strong. Granting me Parole in Place would allow us to continue our journey together, without fear of separation or hardship.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I sincerely hope that you will grant my request and allow me to remain in the United States with my family.

• Be Clear and Concise: Ensure your personal statement is easy to read and to the point.
• Be Honest and Personal: Share your story sincerely, but avoid overly emotional language.
• Proofread: Check for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Seek Legal Advice: If possible, consult with an immigration attorney to review your personal statement and application.

No time for research? We provide an easy, guided application experience, with 4 anti-rejection checks and a lawyer review. Get started for free .

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Collinsville school district offers counseling after deadly crash, two students involved

by Alexandra Sharfman

COLLINSVILLE, OKLA. (KTUL) — Collinsville Public Schools is mourning the loss of a high school student and another student who was injured in an accident Saturday night .

Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Hogan said in a statement:

Dear Cardinal Family, It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of a tragic accident that took the life of one of our high school students last night. Additionally, members of our community and another student were injured in the accident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families involved and to all members of the school community who will be personally affected by this crisis. During this difficult time, counselors will be available on Monday morning to provide support to our students and staff as we navigate through this challenging situation. Further updates will be shared at the appropriate time.

The crash happened at the intersection of N Sheridan Rd and E 136th St near Collinsville.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), a 2004 Dodge Dakota driven by a 16-year-old male failed to stop at a stop sign and hit another vehicle.

• SEE ALSO: Family fights to bring home Clayton

The second vehicle, a 2015 GMC Yukon, was carrying two adults and two children.

Trisha Lee, 37, Larry Lee, 43, an 11-year-old, and a 1-year-old were all taken to the hospital.

Trisha and Larry were admitted in critical condition, according to OHP, the 11-year-old was admitted in fair condition, and the 1-year-old was not admitted, but was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

The teen was pronounced dead on the scene.

A gofundme was started for the Lee family.

According to the page, Trisha, Larry, and the 11-year-old are recovering in the hospital, and the 1-year-old is at home with family friends.

The page said the family was coming home from a football scrimmage when the accident happened.

Donations will be used to cover the family's hospital bills, groceries, and other needs for the children.

Anyone who would like to donate can find the family's gofundme here .

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The Bartlett School of Planning

Writing an urban planning personal statement

Are you applying to study an urban planning master’s degree but don’t know where to start with your personal statement? This guide gives tips on how to write an urban planning personal statement.

This guide shares some tips on what you should include in your statement. Whilst we’ve given generic examples, your statement is personal to you. Give specific examples relevant to your life experiences. The admissions tutors want to learn more about you as an individual, your motivations and ambitions. 

A final tip – avoid using AI tools to write your statement. It’s more obvious to us than you might think.

What to include in your personal statement

1.   introduce yourself.

Introduce yourself, briefly sharing why you want to study your chosen urban planning degree. What are your interests in the field, and what sparked them? Was it a particular event, experience, or realisation? 

2.   Give your academic background

You may have already studied urban planning in the past. You also might have studied another relevant degree or want to move into the urban planning field using transferrable skills from another academic background. Either way, you should demonstrate your interest in the master’s degree and how you past degree fits with your urban planning interests and ambitions.

3.    Share your career goals and professional experience

Share with us what is it about this course at this time in your personal and professional development that interests you? If you have previous professional experience, tell us about it. You may have already worked for a few years or have undertaken internships in a relevant field. You can discuss specific relevant projects you worked on, focusing on what you contributed and the impact of your work. 

4.    Tell us about your skills and competencies

What existing skills and knowledge do you bring to the course? This could be technical skills, such as using software or design skills relevant to the urban planning degree you have chosen. It could also be transferable skills such as problem solving, teamwork or leadership. Demonstrate how your unique skill-set fits with your degree of choice.

5.   Explain why you want to study this particular course

Let us know why you want to study this degree at UCL’s Bartlett School of Planning. You might mention specific faculty members, courses, or resources that align with your goals. Discuss your long-term career aspirations and how this master’s degree will help you achieve them. You can be specific about the types of roles or organisations you aspire to work in.

6.    End with a concluding statement

Wrap it all up summarising your main points and reiterating your enthusiasm to study this degree. Leave a lasting impression about your passion for the field.

Final thoughts

Hopefully these tips have sparked some ideas for how you can write an impactful personal statement. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing [email protected] .

Choose your urban planning degree

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