Include a typed personal statement of 2 to 3 pages, double-spaced. There is no formula for a successful personal statement, and different applicants will have different approaches and topics for their essays. At Illinois Law, we look beyond test scores and grades to find the applicants that are best suited for success. We encourage you to discuss significant life experiences; meaningful extracurricular activities; why you have chosen to pursue a career in the law; significant obstacles met and overcome; particular political, philosophical, or religious beliefs; prior careers; or experiences relating to disadvantage of any kind. Any of these subjects, and countless others, could be appropriate for your personal statement and will assist the committee in selecting the best individuals to study at Illinois Law.

Supplemental essays allow you an opportunity to provide us with relevant information that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application materials or that did not fit thematically with your personal statement. If you think writing on any of the topics below would help us get a better understanding of what you individually bring to the law school class, we encourage you to consider submitting your responses to one or two (but no more) of the following topics. Your response to each essay should be less than 500 words. Please use a minimum of 11 point font and double space your responses. Please be sure to include the number of the prompt you are addressing at the top of your essay.

Essay Prompt #1

Describe a challenge, failure, or setback you have faced and overcome, whether long-term and systemic (e.g., socioeconomic, health, or complex family circumstances) or short-term and discrete (e.g., a workplace scenario or a particularly demanding course). How did you confront it? What, if anything, might you do differently?

Essay Prompt #2

Describe a quality or skill you have and discuss how you expect it will help you in your legal career.

Essay Prompt #3

Tell us about a time in the recent past when you changed your mind about something significant.

Essay Prompt #4

Our law school culture is one of encouragement, cooperation, and collaboration. We actively seek out students who exhibit those characteristics, even when it is not convenient or easy. Describe a recent experience when you exhibited any or all of these characteristics.

Essay Prompt #5

One of the goals of our admissions process is to enroll students who will enrich the quality and breadth of the intellectual life of our law school community and the legal profession. How have your lived experiences and perspectives positively shaped who you are today in a way that contributes to our admissions goals?

Essay Prompt #6

Think of someone who knows you in an academic or professional setting, but doesn't know you well (i.e., not a family member or a close friend). How would they describe your work ethic, written or oral communication skills, and/or professionalism? Would their description be accurate? Why or why not?

Essay Prompt #7

Provide insight into your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect in which scholars with varied perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and collaborate productively and positively.

Please describe why you are interested in attending the University of Illinois College of Law. This statement should address how Illinois Law is uniquely situated to help you reach your academic and professional goals. This could include specific academic programs or professional outcomes; it could include family and personal obligations.

For law school application purposes, we are interested in learning about your professional and academic pursuits AFTER high school. You do not need to include your high school information or test scores on your resume. Additionally, it is perfectly acceptable to submit a resume that is longer than one page if that is necessary. Finally, we love a brief hobbies and interests section. We want to get to know you!

A successful resume can include:

(A) positions of full-time or significant part-time employment, paid or unpaid, including the name and location of your employer, your job title, and the dates you held the position, along with any other information you think will be useful;

(B) significant extracurricular/non-work-related activities;

(C) academic and non-academic honors and awards received, including fellowships, prizes, and memberships in honor societies; and

(D) hobbies or special areas of interest or academic pursuits.

1. Have you ever been subject to disciplinary proceedings or actions for academic or other reasons in any of the colleges and universities, graduate, or professional schools you have attended, or are such charges pending or expected to be brought against you?
2. Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense, either as a juvenile or as an adult, or is there now pending against you any indictment, criminal information, or criminal complaint? This includes matters that have been expunged or sealed.
3. Have you ever served in the military?
4. If you did serve in the military, did you receive less than an honorable discharge (other than discharge based solely on sexual orientation)? If your response is "no," a supplementary statement is not required. If your response is "yes," attach your explanation in the Supplementary Statement Attachment.