1. 24/F, graduated from a small liberal arts school in 2014 with my BA-economics. I took the LSAT in June and scored a 167, re-taking in September aiming for a 170+. During undergrad, I had mediocre grades (3.4), but had a lot of success with internships and extra-curricular activities, including winning the national college debate championship. Since, I've been working in data management and grant-writing for a reentry non-profit-- we work with incarcerated women and ex-offenders helping them transition out of prison (my goal is to become a public defender).

2. My grades. My transcripts have W's everywhere and I took a pretty small course-load because I was a) Lazy and b) Pre-occupied with extracurriculars and work. I'm afraid admissions officers will view me as someone who doesn't know how to do well in school.

3.

(1) Social justice focus. How working with incarcerated women and justice-involved folks has impacted me and led me to want to pursue a career in public defense. Specifically, a desire to work for one of the public defenders offices that are working in preentry/reentry, with a focus on not only the legal barriers for indigent clients, but associated and intertwined challenges like housing, employment, substance abuse, and mental health.

(2) More of a personal narrative re: my competitive nature and drive to succeed, incorporating my success in college debate, my passion for muay thai, and my grant-writing/fundraising work. I did some job shadows at my city's public defender's office and have some good quotes from them about how a competitive nature is key to success in what can be a frustrating and sometimes emotionally draining legal field.

4. No, N/A.