Earlier this month Harvard Law School released the J.D. Application for the Class of 2027 and unveiled two new essay questions. Rather than submitting one personal statement, Harvard Law applicants are now asked to submit two essays: a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective. According to the HLS Admissions Blog, these statements are intended to “inspire you to reflect upon your motivations for attending law school, as well as the contributions you will bring to the HLS community and the legal profession.”
Both statements should adhere to the following:
At minimum, your submission should be one complete page, although you can take up to two pages using double-spaced text, one-inch margins, and font that is no smaller than 11 point.
Keep in mind that the Admissions Committee is interested in learning who you are and why you belong at Harvard. They are well-versed in their own program, so while you may allude to program offerings, ensure that the spotlight remains on you and what you have to offer.
The content in your two essays should not be duplicative.
Statement of Purpose: What motivates you to pursue law? How does attending law school align with your ambitions, goals, and vision for your future?
This prompt asks you to address how a law degree will be the best bridge between your past experiences and future goals. To do this, you must anchor this essay in the past. Because what you’ve already done, learned, and achieved is far more important than what you haven’t—what you say you want to do in the future. Go into your backstory and detail the key moments that influenced and reinforced your commitment to the study of law. In contrast to your resume, which will provide an overview of your path and achievements to date, you will use this essay to dive-deeply into just a few pivotal experiences—you know, those “ah-ha!” moments without which you would be a different student, professional, and/or person today. The stories that you highlight should also demonstrate the qualities you possess that will make you successful in law school and the legal profession: intellectual curiosity, critical and creative thinking ability, a track-record of sound ethical behavior. Once you’ve taken the reader on this trip to the past, your proposed path forward will make much more sense.
Statement of Perspective: The Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand who you are as an individual and potential Harvard Law School student and graduate. Please share how your experiences, background, and/or interests have shaped you and will shape your engagement in the HLS community and the legal profession.
What makes you unique? How has your personal journey likely differed from other applicants? How do you hope to make your mark in the future? You will use this essay to show Harvard’s admissions officers how you will be a valued member of their community and in the wider legal profession by highlighting experiences from your past that will inform and invigorate your plan. Are you a passionate environmentalist who has spent a great deal of time volunteering for environmental causes and hopes to spearhead a sustainability initiative within the law school and later lobby for environmental regulations? Were you a leader in the student government at your undergraduate institution, hope to take on a similar role at HLS, and eventually run for office? Do you have a background in academic research, hope to support a specific professor’s research at HLS, and later seek out a career as an academic? In linking your passions and expertise to your proposed contributions, you will demonstrate to the admissions directors that you are the kind of collaborative, community-minded, and determined student they are looking for.
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