Following the 2023 Supreme Court decision on race-conscious law school admissions decisions, many law schools are now including a “Statement of Lived Experience” or “Statement of Perspective” essay in their application. Regardless of whether the law school calls the essay a Statement of Lived Experience or a Statement of Perspective, the writing approach should generally follow the same format.
What Is a Statement of Lived Experience/Statement of Perspective?
At its core, the statement is an opportunity for you to demonstrate that, through your lived experience, you will bring a unique perspective to the law school student body, classroom discussions, and the legal profession.
Ultimately, a successful essay will both tell a compelling story of your unique lived experience/perspective, but also demonstrate how that perspective contributes to your mentality as a law student and lawyer.
Is This the Same as a Diversity Statement?
Not exactly. A Statement of Lived Experience or Statement of Perspective is a new take on understanding applicants’ backgrounds and unique perspectives that inform how they will be part of the legal community
Some students find it helpful to think of how this essay relates to the personal statement. If the personal statement is about why you want to study law and what attributes you display that highlight your ability to succeed in law school, then the statement of lived experience is about how you will behave as a law student or as a lawyer.
Is the Essay Really Optional?
For most schools, yes! Some law schools, such as Harvard, are making this mandatory, while a majority of schools include this as an optional essay. Check LSAC to determine application requirements, but most schools do not require this type of essay. Moreover, it is not as though you should consider this one of those “optional, but not optional” essays.
That said, we recommend you strongly consider writing this essay, even if you are not part of an underrepresented demographic. If you can tell a compelling story that highlights your ability to be a meaningful member of the legal community, it is probably wise to write this essay. Moreover, since some schools require it, and the prompts seldom vary in substantive ways, you can write one statement and just make small tweaks to use for other law schools.
Further Reading
Common Topics for a Statement of Lived Experience / Statement of Perspective Essay
Although you should not feel limited to any particular topic, below are some commonly used essay topics (some might look familiar as common diversity statement topics):
- Having a disability
- Being part of an underrepresented group
- Being from another country
- Being LGBTQ+
- Growing up in a unique environment
- Overcoming/experiencing a hardship
- Experiencing discrimination
The key is to demonstrate how your perspective/lived experience will relate to your approach as a law student and lawyer. Perhaps you will help amplify viewpoints or issues that are less likely to be shared. Maybe you will be a more empathetic attorney. Perhaps you will have a certain leadership approach. Or you might be particularly passionate about a certain area of law. Successful statements of lived experience/perspective make a clear connection from the individual’s experience to how that experience will influence their approach moving forward.
Ultimately, a Statement of Lived Experience/Statement of Perspective essay is not a diversity statement. It is an opportunity to show law schools that you will be a valuable member of the student body and contribute to the legal field. For that reason, a strong Statement of Lived Experience / Statement of Perspective can meaningfully enhance your admissions odds. Just make sure to proofread a lot!
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