Law School Optional Essay: How to Write One That Works

What Is a Law School Optional Essay?

Despite its name, a law school optional essay isn’t just a bonus writing assignment. It’s a short, targeted essay you may submit to address specific gaps, explain unusual circumstances, or provide personal insights that don’t fit elsewhere in your application.

Some schools even suggest topics, like diversity or adversity. Others leave it entirely up to you.

Optional essays are usually:          

• 250–500 words
• Not required

Used to contextualize, not duplicate, other parts of your application

Should I Write a Law School Optional Essay?

Here’s the truth: You should only write one if you have something meaningful to add. Don’t write an optional essay just to show off your writing skills. Admissions committees already have your personal statement for that.

Reasons to Write an Optional Essay:

• You want to explain a low GPA or LSAT score
• You had a major life event that impacted your academics
• You have a unique perspective not reflected elsewhere
• The school explicitly encourages it

Reasons Not to Write One:

• You don’t have anything new to add
• You’re repeating what you said in your personal statement
• You’re trying to fill space for the sake of appearing “extra”

When in doubt, check the school’s prompt. If they provide a topic, and you have a great answer, go for it! If you need it, we are here to help!

Law School Optional Essay Topics (with Examples)

1. Explaining a Low GPA or LSAT

Be honest but accountable. Focus on what you learned and how you’ve grown.

Example:

"During my second year, I was caring for a sick parent while balancing coursework. While my GPA dipped that semester, the experience strengthened my time management and resilience, which have been key to my academic rebound."

2. Overcoming Adversity

Highlight personal growth, not just the challenge.

Example:

"As a first-generation college student, I navigated unfamiliar academic systems without the guidance many peers had. Balancing two part-time jobs and a full course load taught me perseverance and resourcefulness—qualities I now bring to every challenge, including my pursuit of a legal career."

3. Why This Law School?

Some schools use the optional essay to ask “Why Us?” Make your answer specific. Mention clinics, faculty, or values.

Example:

"Georgetown Law’s commitment to public service, particularly through the DC Street Law program, aligns with my goal of empowering underrepresented communities. The opportunity to learn from faculty like Professor Vida Johnson, whose work in criminal defense I admire, makes Georgetown the ideal place for my legal training."

4. Add Context to Your Resume

Maybe you had a career shift or unconventional path. Use this to explain how it shaped your law ambitions.

Example:

"After six years in the nonprofit sector, I realized my impact was limited by policy constraints. This realization led me to pursue law not as a career change, but as an evolution. My resume reflects this shift, and I hope my experience advocating for marginalized communities will enrich classroom discussions and future legal work."

Sample Law School Optional Essay

Example 1

Below is a sample written for a candidate who wants to explain a nontraditional academic path and a low LSAT score.

During my early twenties, I was working full-time as a restaurant manager while attending evening classes part-time to complete my undergraduate degree. My path to law school has been anything but traditional, and it has come with both challenges and clarity.

The most significant challenge I faced was preparing for the LSAT while working over 50 hours per week. Despite my efforts, my LSAT score does not reflect the critical thinking and problem-solving skills I have developed throughout my academic and professional journey. I recognize that standardized testing is one way to measure potential, but it is not the full picture, especially for applicants like me who have balanced significant work responsibilities alongside academic goals.

What the LSAT score does not show is the discipline it took to manage payroll, coordinate staff, resolve customer conflicts, and still maintain a 3.8 GPA as a part-time student. It does not capture the leadership I exercised daily, the mentorship I offered junior staff, or the long nights I spent writing papers after closing shifts. These experiences have sharpened the same analytical, interpersonal, and ethical reasoning skills that law school demands.

I share these experiences to provide context, not excuses. I have learned to thrive under pressure, to prioritize tasks strategically, and to advocate for both others and myself. These are lessons that will serve me well in law school and beyond. I am confident that the academic and professional foundation I have built, despite the obstacles, has prepared me to succeed in your rigorous program.

Example 2

Below is a sample written for a candidate who wants to answer the question “Why This Law School?”

I have always been drawn to institutions that challenge not just what you know, but how you think. The University of Chicago Law School’s emphasis on rigorous inquiry and interdisciplinary learning resonates deeply with my academic values and professional goals.

As a philosophy major, I found joy in questioning assumptions and analyzing the ethical underpinnings of law, policy, and justice. When I came across the Law and Philosophy Workshop hosted by UChicago Law, I immediately envisioned myself contributing to and learning from those discussions. It is rare to find a law school that not only accommodates but encourages students to explore big questions about justice, fairness, and the very structure of society while still preparing them for the practical realities of legal work.

Beyond the academic environment, what stands out to me is the school’s commitment to intellectual diversity. The idea that law is not just a set of rules but a living framework shaped by dialogue, dissent, and reasoning is what draws me most. I want to study at a school where I will be challenged by professors and by peers who come from different backgrounds and bring different perspectives.

I am also especially excited about the Pro Bono Service Initiative. I believe legal education should never be disconnected from the communities it serves. Having worked in a reentry nonprofit that helped formerly incarcerated individuals transition back into society, I have seen how deeply the law affects people’s daily lives. UChicago’s emphasis on public service assures me that I will not have to choose between theory and practice. I can pursue both with intention.

In short, I see the University of Chicago Law School as a place where I can thrive intellectually and ethically. I am not applying just to be trained in the law; I am applying to be transformed by it, and I believe UChicago offers the ideal environment for that transformation.

What to Avoid in Your Optional Essay

1. Being Defensive

Admissions committees are looking for maturity, not excuses. If you come across as defensive by blaming a professor, a bad test environment, or "unfair grading" it may raise red flags about your ability to take responsibility. Your optional essay should be a space for thoughtful reflection and accountability. Demonstrating resilience and ownership will leave a much stronger impression than finger-pointing.

2. Repeating Your Personal Statement

Your application is a limited opportunity to show multiple sides of yourself. If your optional essay just echoes your personal statement, you’re wasting valuable space. The committee has already read about your motivations or major accomplishments. This essay should offer new information that adds depth or context. Use this chance to explain something unique or unresolved, not to restate what they already know.

3. Exceeding the Word Limit

Law schools set word or character limits for a reason: they want to assess your ability to communicate clearly and concisely. Going over the limit signals that you may not respect instructions or lack the skill to express yourself within professional boundaries. It also creates more work for the reader, which never helps your case. Following directions is part of demonstrating readiness for law school.

Tips for Writing the Optional Essay

Always make sure that you keep the essay topic in mind. A well-written essay that does not answer the question is still a poor essay.

Start with an introduction, even for a short essay, to show your commitment to academic standards for written communications. State your reason for writing clearly and respectfully. Start with something engaging and indicate the topic of the essay.

When writing the body of your essay, provide relevant context or explanation. Stay objective, specific, and concise. Remember to focus on how you overcame challenges rather than dwelling on the negative, and avoid playing the blame game.

A conclusion will also show that you understand academic communication. Include a short end note that is future looking, reflective, and optimistic. Show your growth and forward momentum.

Ask yourself the following questions and make sure that you have accomplished these tasks:

Did I stay within the word count?                                                

Did I avoid repeating my personal statement?

Did I provide new information that adds value?

Did I stay honest and professional?

Did I proofread carefully?

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To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting