The Northwestern Pritzker School of Law requires applicants to submit a personal statement and resume. They also invite applicants to consider four optional essays that you should respond to if you can. Compelling responses will only strengthen your candidacy.
Here is our advice for making the most of each response:
Describe your interest in attending the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
Demonstrate to the admissions committee that you are interested in Northwestern Pritzker, not just law school. This is a place to mention specific courses you're excited to take, potential mentors you'd seek out, clubs you'd join, what the school's experiential learning opportunities mean to you, etc. And you want to share how those offerings are relevant to your past experiences and/or passions. If you've spent the last two years volunteering at Legal Aid and the school has a public interest center serving a population you care about, you want to be working on it. If you aim to work at a startup and Professor So-And-So just presented her work on innovation, venture capital, and the law, you want her as a mentor and to become involved in her current research.
You also might share how the school's location will set you up for the kind of career you want. If true, you could share that you want to work in the Chicago-area post-graduation.
Describe any experiences in your life or unique qualities you think would benefit Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and/or your classmates. (Relevant information may include but is not limited to financial hardship, education adversity, special talents, work or community service experience, first generation or immigrant experience, and unusual rural or urban upbringing, foreign residence, military background, or unique family and/or personal circumstance.)
Approach this optional essay as you would a diversity essay. Start by thinking about: What makes you unique? How has your personal journey likely differed from other applicants? And how has it shaped your world-view and goals? Have you encountered significant setbacks, yet through perseverance and grit, succeeded? How have these setbacks shaped how you approach challenges today? You will also want to reflect on past experiences when you learned and thrived alongside peers from different backgrounds and/or took on significant community or leadership roles. Show Northwestern Law’s admissions officers who you are and how you will be a valued member of their community.
What does public service mean to you and how do you see yourself engaging in public service or pro-bono work to meet the needs of the underserved?
This essay is not just for those seeking a career in public interest law. Northwestern Pritzker values public service and notes on its website a “long history of fostering a commitment to public service in its students and graduates.” You’ll want to show that you share this value. Anchor this essay in an experience from your past that reinforced your interest in public service or pro-bono work. Why was it so meaningful for you? What did you learn? Then segue to your public service goals, both as a law student (Read about the school’s many offerings here.) and legal professional post law school.
Did you face any particular challenges we should know about when considering your academic history or test scores?
This essay is for additional context around a weak spot in your application. Did you get a C in calculus? Or withdraw from your courses your sophomore year to help a family member? Do you feel that your lackluster LSAT score isn’t indicative of your abilities?
If you are going to address a low grade in a course or a low LSAT score, don’t make excuses. Spend the majority of your word count demonstrating your ability to excel in rigorous academic or work environments. Cite specific examples of professional pursuits that resulted in success or classes where you excelled.
If you are speaking to a more sensitive situation, perhaps a big mistake or personal matter that impacted your GPA, spend approximately 20 percent of your essay addressing the situation. Then use the remaining 80 percent on the actions you took to improve and what happened as a result. Place the emphasis on what you learned. Remember, everyone makes mistakes. Taking accountability and moving forward demonstrates maturity.