The diversity statement is critical for minority applicants seeking admission into law school. It also serves as another opportunity to showcase another part of who you are as an individual. Many law schools advertise this an as “optional statement” on application packages. However, if you’re a diverse candidate, this is not an optional statement. You must write a diversity statement!
Many applicants worry when writing their diversity statement because they feel they already wrote about their diverse background in their personal statement. That’s fine, write about it again! Diversity is not just race, it also includes gender, religion, and sexual orientation, for instance. Your personal statement theme could be about your race/ethnicity and your diversity statement about your socio-economic status.
Here are some tips for writing your diversity statement:
- Similar to the personal statement, choose a theme! What part of your diverse identity do you want to write about? Or maybe you want to talk about the multiple aspects of your identity. Whatever you choose, stick to your theme!
- Make sure you answer this question: how has your background affected your educational/professional opportunities? How will this positively impact the legal profession?
- Many applicants feel their stories aren’t “compelling” enough or that they feel they’re in a position of privilege compared to others. This doesn’t matter; every story is important. Tell yours! Dig deep, there’s a diverse story you can tell somewhere in your life experiences.
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