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How to Write A Standout Law Personal Statement

A law personal statement is essential when applying to enrol on an LLB law course as an undergraduate or an LLM degree as a postgraduate. Get advice and tips on writing good law personal statements.

Our Guide to Law Personal Statements

• Find out the word count and the right structure
• See how universities use personal statements
• Learn how to write and structure your statement
• Get more top tips on writing a knock-out statement

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You’ll need to write a law personal statement if you’re applying for the LLB or other types of law degrees via UCAS . You will also have to write one if you’re applying to study law at postgraduate level.

What is a Law Personal Statement?

The personal statement is a piece of writing which you send off with your UCAS application to different universities . It’s capped at 4,000 characters (so will often end up running for about one side of A4), and serves as the best way to differentiate yourself from other applicants to the most competitive courses. In short, it’s the personal statement which is the truly ‘personal’ part of your application. This is your chance to grab the attention of the admissions team, who will often use the personal statement as the easiest way to pick between candidates with other similar metrics (e.g. predicted A Level grades which meet the entry requirements ). Other universities ( Oxbridge specifically ) place even more emphasis on your personal statement, using it as a way to decide who to invite to interview (and then as a source of discussion during interviews). Put simply, it’s an important part of your application.

For law specifically, a subject which is known to be both competitive and highly academic, the personal statement is even more crucial. The University of Law have a page outlining some law personal statement tips , but this article seeks to present our views on some of the most crucial elements of a successful personal statement for studying law at university – from what you should do to what you shouldn’t, structure, content and more, this article will get you well on your way.

How Universities Use Your UCAS Law Personal Statement

If a lot of students applying for law degree courses have achieved the basic entry requirements, university admissions teams use UCAS law personal statements to decide who is more suited to their learning programme. Some universities take this a step further with, for example, with the LNAT , which is taken into consideration alongside your personal statement. 

Some law schools will read every personal statement and score them. They then use this score alongside your qualifications and grades to decide whether to offer you an interview. Other law universities don’t give as much consideration to personal statements and will only use them to decide between students who have borderline entry requirements.

Law schools may refer to your personal statement on results day if you don’t get the grades you need. A good personal statement could be the difference in securing a university place if you don’t get the grades you hoped for.

Planning Your Statement

Plan a clear structure.

First thing’s first, you’re going to need a clear structure. There are a few reasons for this. First, having a clearly planned out structure before you start writing will limit the amount of ‘waffle’ you could accidentally end up putting into your writing (more on that in our next point). Second, a clear structure allows your reader (those university admissions teams) to enjoy the personal statement more by increasing the smoothness of the reading experience associated with a well thought out body of text (remember, they’ll be reading hundreds, if not thousands, of these). Third, you’re applying to study law – the personal statement is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that you can produce well planned, structured writing (as is crucial for any humanities subject). The theme of the personal statement serving a dual purpose (presenting the content itself but also showcasing your writing abilities) will come up again throughout this article – it’s super important to bear in mind.

There is no one-size-fits-all structure that your personal statement should take, and you should allow yourself to be guided largely by the content you’re looking to present. It is a good idea, however, to feature a particularly catchy opening leading into an introductory section, a main body (structure however best suits the content) and at least a line or two of concluding material at the end.

Leading on from our last point, being concise is key. Not only does this allow you to demonstrate your clarity of writing (as all law students and aspiring lawyers need as a key skill ), but it also increases the amount of content (or explanation of that content) you’re able to pack into 4,000 characters. For example, have you written ‘on the other hand’? ‘Conversely’ is 2 words/7 characters shorter, and serves the exact same purpose. Also consider whether you’re repeating yourself. Conciseness is best achieved by proofreading.

Manage Your Tone

Throughout your personal statement, it’s best to take a relatively formal tone. Your content is the part that allows your personality and individualism to shine through. Also avoid humour – it’s simply too risky without knowing the preferences of the individual whose desk your personal statement will eventually land on.

Need Help With Your Statement?

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Writing Your Statement

Proofreading is essential for a personal statement, and you’ll likely go through many rounds of drafts. Having concise writing is key (see the point above), but even more important is the fact your personal statement needs to avoid any errors in spelling or grammar. These are easily correctible and may reflect badly on you as a student applying to an essay-based subject at university. It’s fine if you personally struggle with spelling or grammar – see our next point for a way to combat that.

Get Feedback

Your personal statement, while being innately ‘personal’, is best improved by showing it to a range of people. Although there will naturally (and sadly) be a difference in the quality of assistance you will receive based on the quality of your sixth form/college, be proactive in seeking out the best people possible to read over it and give you feedback. Are there any teachers at your school who studied on the university course you now find yourself applying to? Can you find current students/alumni of that course on LinkedIn and ask if they’d be willing to spare a few minutes to glance over it for you? The more input you get (from people who have more experience than you on this topic), the more secure you’ll feel in defending why you’ve written what you have.

Capital Letter Checks

If you’ve successfully followed the tips above, you’re likely to have a personal statement with a great deal of specific references in it. There’s an easy way to roughly check this – visually scan down your personal statement and see how many capital letters there are. If you’ve got very few, it’s likely that you may have included a fair amount of ‘waffle’. If you can spot quite a few capital letters, that’s a sign that you’ve probably included the specifics – great job! Where ‘I’ve read many legal books’ might throw up a red flag, ‘I’ve read X and Y books’ means you’re on a great path.

Get to Know Your Course

Demonstrate your interest by improving your understanding

Perfecting Your Statement

Keep it personal.

Attempting to present a broad overview of your degree’s content (e.g. trying to do a broad sweep of UK legal history) is useless, impossible, and ultimately pretty boring to read. It also means you’ll end up with something that skims the surface of many things. Remember, this is a ‘personal’ statement. The best way to approach it is to drill down deep into one or two particular niches that interests you (again, rather than skimming the surface of a huge range of topics). This keeps your personal statement fresh and interesting to read for the admissions team. Have you developed an interest in a particular piece of legislation that’s just come out? You could spend a paragraph going into some detail here – and the contents of that paragraph are what comes next.

Show – Don’t Tell

This is one of the most important pieces of advice possible. Once you’ve found a particular area of interest to talk about in your personal statement, you need to back that up with specific, tangible examples. Some people will also advise that you try and keep this content relatively recent in order to demonstrate an engagement with world affairs. Although not compulsory, this can still be a useful avenue to explore. ‘I’m really interested in the new Online Safety Bill’ is generic, proves very little, and could apply to anyone. ‘My interest in the new Online Safety Bill led me to read X book and watch X documentary, after which I considered X issues’ is specific to you, demonstrates a tangible interest in these topics, and is simply far more interesting to read. This idea of constantly building on what came before allows you to demonstrate a thread running throughout your essay (helping your structure present itself as clear in the process). This is where you’ll often hear people say that your personal statement needs to ‘flow’.

The range of things that you could ‘show’ is vast – books related to your course are a great starting point. If you know one of your top choice universities employs a particularly prominent member of faculty, perhaps you’d be interested to have a look at their writing and include that too. Other such content could include documentaries, conferences, events, or work experience. Now your personal statement is looking far more personal.

Academic vs Extra-Curricular

Balancing the proportion of academic to extra-curricular content in your personal statement is not an easy task, especially when you’re likely to hear that certain top universities like Oxbridge heavily favour the former. Law is also an intensely academic subject. With that in mind, it’s only natural to place a heavy emphasis on the academic side. However, if you’ve got extra-curricular content which you feel you could successfully link to your degree course in some way (e.g. ‘For my swimming club, I researched current health and safety regulations to make sure we are compliant’ – ‘I am in a swimming club’, conversely, doesn’t hold much value), then do feel free to include that too.

In short, while writing law personal statements may appear a challenge, following our top tips will allow your application to excel. Be clear, be specific, be you.

Watch this video from Solent University Law School, Southampton, which is packed with great tips on how to write a strong personal statement for law.

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How to write a great personal statement

Crafting a personal statement that stands out is an important part of the UCAS process. However, it can be hard to know exactly what to include, how to write it, and how to stand out. With this in mind, we caught up with Student Recruitment Manager Richard Palmer for his tips on writing a great personal statement.

By Cara Fielder . Published 13 October 2021. Last updated 12 January 2024.

Why is a personal statement important?

Your personal statement is about much more than just meeting the grade requirements and needs to tick a few boxes to stand out. These statements are a top factor when it comes to consideration for admissions experts – but don’t see it as a chore, your personal statement provides an opportunity to communicate your unique skills and strengths to secure your place at university.

What are admissions looking for?

Students must have the appropriate qualifications and grade predictions to meet entry requirements, but this will need to be elaborated on in your personal statement. As you think of your different qualifications, accomplishments, and qualities remember to link them all together to show how this makes you suitable for your chosen course.

• Excellent spelling, grammar and attention to detail.
• Illustrate your suitability for the course by linking it to different areas of life. For example, earlier studies, extra-curricular activities, personal hobbies/experiences and work experience (if applicable).
• Your personality – not in terms of humour or sarcasm but show that you are a responsible and hardworking student.
• A strong reference that supports your application.

Our nine tips for writing your personal statement

Map out the structure.

A great way to approach this is visually: create a diagram splitting the personal statement into sections. Firstly, you want a strong opening introducing yourself. The middle section can then be split into three sub-sections: your course choice, education experience and your wider experiences (e.g. extracurricular activities and work). Then conclude with a concise summary of the points you’ve made.

Whilst the whole statement needs a good deal of work, a robust opening can hook the reader and make all the difference to an application. It’s an opportunity to briefly cover everything you’ll discuss in greater detail throughout your statement. Consider why you want to study the course, your passion for the subject, where you hope it leads and why it’s right for you.

Similarly, a strong closing paragraph can leave a positive and lasting impression. Try and consolidate what you’ve covered in your statement and reinforce why you would make a great candidate for the course.

Transferrable skills

When discussing your suitability, share how the content and skills learned from your current or previous study relate to your chosen course, and how they will help you succeed. For instance, if you studied A Level Business and apply to study accounting and finance try and highlight how your current learning will influence your degree choice.

Of course, there are many degrees where it might not be possible to study the subject before university, so you’ll need to be a little more creative and think outside of the box. For those subjects which aren’t directly related to your chosen course consider any crossover and highlight those links. For example, if you’ve chosen to study criminology and studied A Level Geography you could discuss globalisation, green crimes, or illegal pollution.

You should also discuss the wider skills you’ve developed. Consider how a variety of teaching environments, coursework, and creative projects have provided you with relevant skills to succeed in a degree such as organisation skills, time management, communication, and multi-tasking.

If you are applying for slightly different courses, remember that all your university choices will see the same personal statement. Make sure to prioritise talking about your main subject for consistency.

Be original

While it might be tempting to copy your friends or take inspiration from example personal statements online, avoid it at all costs. Plagiarism is often unintentional but the best thing you can do to avoid it is steering away from using templates or writing similar personal statements to your peers.

UCAS (for example) puts every statement through plagiarism software. If your statement has 30% similarities to others, a report is sent to all your university choices. They decide the outcome, which could be to revoke your offer. Don’t let this worry – if you honestly write an original statement and the software still picks it up by fluke the university will know what to do.

Consider your strengths

Follow this simple framework:

• What are you good at?
• How can you demonstrate that skill?
• Keep it positive

For example - “I was a debate team captain and lead in making arguments” is good, but it could have something added to it to make it pop. A great way to do this is to add positive adjectives and adverbs to build up the sentence. “I was a successful debate team captain and lead in making winning arguments”.

Everybody has weaknesses, and it’s important to recognise these too. However, be sure to frame it as a positive. Be honest and recognise areas you haven’t experienced or aren’t as confident at – and consider positive ways that you can develop in that area. 

Highlight any previous work experience

Even if it was short-term or voluntary, any experience is good and helps to emphasise your skills. Demonstrating that you have actively sought out work experience presents you as someone with initiative and independence.

Start writing it as early as possible and be aware of all the important deadlines. Draw out a timeline detailing when you aim to have your first draft done, your second draft, any reviews and submission deadlines. This will help to get you in the right mindset from the outset, because nobody likes last-minute stress.

Triple check your work

Sometimes when you have been working on something for a long time, it’s easy to overlook mistakes so it’s also helpful to ask someone else to proofread it for you. Double and triple check your work, keeping an eye out for typos. Getting family or friends to proofread your personal statement will also help to ensure that it sounds authentically you.

Stand out from the crowd

Try to think outside of the box and communicate what makes you unique. For example, if you have any creative ideas on how to improve a certain area within your chosen industry/subject, put this forward. This might tie in with your hobbies and work experience and be a good way to build on it.

Make evidence-based points

Highlighting your experiences is a crucial part of the personal statement but must be backed up with solid evidence. For example, if you have experience as a sports captain or society member, rather than just listing what you did, explain how you got there and what you achieved. Mention actions and outcomes, this shows how you strive for self-improvement and highlights an ability to clearly define goals.

If you’re still considering which degree to apply for, check out our range of undergraduate courses in law , business , criminology , policing , psychology and computer science . 

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Your Guide to Writing an Excellent Personal Statement

How to write a great personal statement for law.

In this handy guide, we will provide some useful hints and tips to help you tailor your personal statement and increase your chance of securing a place on your desired law degree.

What is a personal statement?

Your personal statement forms part of your UCAS application, and is sent to all of the institutions you are applying to. The aim is to convince the reader that you are the perfect candidate to study/practise law, and it should be personal; about your interests, your background, your aspirations, and the reason you want to study Law at university.

Tip: Although you are encouraged to talk about the LLB as a whole, don’t mention specific features – such as a specific placement or year abroad – unless it applies to all of the courses you are applying to via UCAS.

What skills should a Law student demonstrate?

Verbal communication skills.

One of the most important skills of a lawyer is ‘advocacy’: being able to communicate, advise, persuade. Can you include any examples of activities that have enhanced your communication skills? Or worked with others and offered informed advice?

Written communication skills

A good understanding of grammar and sentence structure is essential when studying a law degree and entering the legal profession. Your personal statement is evidence of how much attention you pay to this: don’t underestimate the importance of proof reading!

Developing a convincing argument

Putting forward an informed argument – both written and verbal – are skills that you will further develop whilst at university and throughout your legal career. Can you include any examples that demonstrate this? For example, public speaking, debating, or constructing an essay with pros, cons and conclusions.

Research skills

This links in nicely with the above point – to develop a convincing legal case, or progress on to specialise in a specific legal area – efficient and detailed research is an essential skill. Can you demonstrate any examples of research included in any of your current qualifications?

Volunteering

Volunteering at university is a great way of increasing your career prospects and expanding your legal knowledge. If you have any examples of volunteering or work experience – Law related or not – include them, and expand on the skills learnt. It’s worthwhile noting that Pro Bono Work (which involves offering free legal advice) is often an activity that both students and practising lawyers are involved in. Often, such work is conducted in a Law Clinic – where students and professionals offer free legal advice to members of the public, to help combat cuts in legal aid and also give something back to the local community.  

Extra reading and exploration

An interest in wider research, or current affairs is desirable – some areas of the law have remained unchanged in 400 years whilst others may have changed since last month. But remember: be specific, name a text, particular case – and be sure you are genuinely engaged with it, you could be asked for more information at interview.

Tip: We’ve compiled a list of resources for students to engage with before beginning their studies at university . These resources may help with this aspect of the personal statement, helping you further understand terminology and think beyond the curriculum.

Personal Statement FAQs

What should i include in my opening paragraph.

• Your opening paragraph should include something punchy, to attract the reader’s attention: it should reflect your background and experiences, and why they have influenced you to study Law at degree level
• Examples may include: an area of Law that interests you, a relevant book you may have read and found interesting, a poignant and applicable news article/topic of late
• If relevant, indicate a linked career goal (for example, working as a solicitor, barrister, or within the criminal justice system)
• If you’re finding it difficult to make a start, leave your opening paragraph until last.

Tip: Most law degrees will cover seven core elements of law, including Contract Law, Criminal Law, Land Law, Equity and Trusts, EU Law, Law of Tort and Public Law.

Popular module choices within our LLB include law relating to medical treatment, human rights, family, the environment, trade, employment, and media.

How do I include my current studies?

• Discuss how your qualification(s) prepares you for a Law degree. If you are already studying Law, start here. If not – don’t worry, most qualifications include skills that are transferrable to Law
• Be specific and show an intellectual interest – which authors / modules / theorists / debates interest you? Why might this help you with your law degree?
• Show how you have read beyond the curriculum

How do I include my extra-curricular activities?

• When it comes to extra-curricular activities, do not simply list your achievements: state the skills that you learnt on your work experience or during your volunteering, explain how you have developed since being part of a sports team. Work to expand on why you feel these extra activities are applicable to studying a law degree – and, remember, it’s not about quantity here: it’s about quality.
• In terms of supra-curricular activities – that is what you’ve done to learn outside of the classroom – again, be detailed and apply your learnings to the skills needed for a law degree. Tell us about any summer schools you’ve been a part of and what you learnt, any debates you’ve been involved in, what you’ve learnt from watching TED Talks.
• Both extra-curricular and supra-curricular activities demonstrate that you are proactive – think of how this might relate to a legal profession.

Tip: During your degree, you may wish to get involved with opportunities such as competitions , mock client interviewing, mooting , or debating – all of which require a dedication of time beyond the realms of your studies.

Where do I start?

• Begin by drafting bullet points, utilising the above pointers. Don’t worry about making sentences cohesive and structured to begin with – focus on the points you wish to make
• Once you have your pointers, plan your structure and work out where each point will be placed. We’d recommend the following:
• Opening Paragraph
• Your Current Studies
• Career Aspirations and Work Experience
• School/ College Achievement/Extra-Curricular Activities

Edit and refine: hone your draft down to an eligible piece, and get advice.

Lawrence Thomas

What our students say. hear from law student, lawrence:.

How can applicants make themselves stand out when applying to Swansea?

More than simply stating that you are interested in studying law, specify why in detail; give examples from your experiences – part-time jobs, family members, work experience etc. Also, an applicant will stand out if they can display to the admissions team that they have qualities necessary to successfully study – e.g. determination – and gives examples for them too. Finally, try to do these things while avoiding generic statements and clichés – if the reader can anticipate how a sentence is going to end, it will be unremarkable.

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Successful Personal Statement For Law At Cambridge

Last Updated: 15th April 2020

Author: Adi Sen

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Law applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Law Course at Cambridge allows you to understand law in its historical and social contexts, and to examine its general principles and techniques.

Read on to see how this candidate wrote a Personal Statement that demonstrates an appreciation of the principles and challenges of law. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Law comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

Your tutor will give you actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Law Personal Statement

Law is the epitome of human reason; it is the force that holds society together and the cornerstone on which great civilizations were built upon. By dictating a code of conduct which everyone had to abide by, it has created a system of accountability and allowed society to flourish. However, Law is never static. It changes with time – internalising new concepts and discarding anachronistic ones to reflect societal norms. It is this dynamic nature of the Law that I find so enthralling – that there exists a gamut of good answers but never a right one. Such idealism aside, I believe excellence in legal study and work does not come easy. It requires much passion, intellect and hard work.

At College, I offered 12 academic units (as compared to the standard 10 academic units) at the Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘A’ Level Examinations. Concurrently, I represented Singapore in Swimming and was an active member of my College’s Swimming and Cross-Country team, training up to six times each week and achieving numerous medals and accolades in Inter-College Competitions. Such excellence in both sports and academics demonstrates my strong self-discipline, time management skills as well as my capacity for sustained hard work.

As a student, I heId numerous leadership positions such as Swimming Captain, School Prefect as well as being part of the Executive Committee of my College Freshman Orientation Camp. In addition, I undertook various community-based service projects aimed at spreading awareness on and massaging the plight of the less-privileged in society. These experiences in positions of influence and leadership have strengthened my organisational and problem-solving skills, teamwork as well as allowed me to develop effective communication skills.

For my ability to balance studies, sports and leadership roles, I was among the ten students (out of nine hundred) on my College’s prestigious Principal’s Honour Roll in 2011 that acknowledged distinguished academic achievement and outstanding contributions to the College. Though challenging as it might have been, I have benefited greatly from my overall College experience and would certainly look forward to continue to represent, contribute and excel in University.

During my National Service stint, I served as a Military Officer entrusted with the responsibility of leading and nurturing the next generation of soldiers. Besides leading soldiers out in the field, I had to handle soldiers from a myriad of backgrounds as well as run the general day to day administration of the battalion. I have had multiple opportunities to serve as a Defending Officer to servicemen (who were accused of various wrongdoings) in military courts as well as conduct investigations into various malpractices in my battalion. These unique and far-reaching dealings in the Army has reaffirmed my decision to pursue law, refined my ability to think critically and to work under significant constraints and duress.

I am a firm believer in the importance of reading and see it as an avenue for the pursuit of knowledge. I read on a wide range of topics including legal conundrums, science, philosophy and even military tactics as I believe sufficient breath of thought is needed to develop one’s mental prowess. Through such extensive reading, I have honed my rigour of thought and widened my perspectives to a myriad of issues.

A career in law is diverse and dynamic, yet fraught with many challenges. Legal theory, evidence, clientele management and not to mention regularly navigating the bureaucratic quagmire; no other field is as challenging or multi-faceted as the field of law. Though arduous, I relish the intellectual challenges of legal study and aspire to ensure human rationale and justice continues to prevail in society. Thus, I believe I possess the necessary attributes needed for legal study and excellence in the field of law.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

The personal statement is well-written with no obvious errors. The student opens with quite a conceptual statement of what law means to them and this helps to make the subject seem like a well thought through choice. Additionally, the student recognises that law is a difficult and challenging course but seems unafraid of the need to put the necessary effort into it. The conclusion is similar in this respect, tying back to the introductory thoughts and ending on a strong statement of why the student feels like they would be a strong candidate to study law at university. Moreover, the student gives a very capable impression by mentioning their place on the College’s Honour Roll, as it suggests they can balance their extra-curricular activities with (and not to the detriment of) their academic studies well.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

Structurally, this statement needs to be reorganised. The student’s legal interests are given attention and evidence far too late with extra-curricular activities of limited relevance being introduced closer to the beginning. In a personal statement as part of a law application, Law needs to be the primary focus throughout. The student’s positions of responsibility also come above their academic, legal interests, when they should be given less focus and come later on in the statement. When talking about the skills they developed in relation to these activities, the student makes these developed attributes sound beneficial but does not explicitly tie them to law or why they are useful to the study of law. It takes until the penultimate paragraph for the student to talk openly about their academic interests, and even then, they do not illustrate this with any specific legal examples.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

The personal statement is good but could be easily improved. The student would benefit from reordering the structure of the content to open with legal or academic interests, and then saving less relevant extra-curricular activities till the end. Any activity or skill should be tied back to law wherever possible – giving specific examples of how they relate would also be helpful in getting across why the student is prepared to study law at university.

And there we have it – a Cambridge Law Personal Statement with feedback from our expert tutors. 

Remember, at Cambridge, the Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

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Example law personal statement

Below is an example personal statement for law written by a student that was successful in gaining admission to law school for the LLB in Law and Human Rights degree. Remember, this is an example personal statement for law, not ‘your’ personal statement…

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The law personal statement

Law touches almost every aspect of our life and is constantly evolving to keep up with current society, to which we all belong.

I want to study law to help people overcome inequity, as well as developing a sound understanding of the laws which govern us by harnessing the powers of analysis, criticism, persuasion, problem solving, oral and written communication.

In the summer I went on a rugby tour to South America. It helped me to develop both as a rugby player and as a person. The tour of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay gave me a unique insight to another culture and way of life.

Living with families for the majority of the tour allowed me to understand their values and society.

While I was there I came to understand the huge divide between the rich and poor, and the injustice in society found throughout South America.

I have a part-time job at a busy local restaurant, where I have worked for over two years in a lively kitchen. Working has developed me in several ways: I have increased confidence, excellent communication skills , the ability to work under pressure, and the skills necessary to work as part of a team.

Gradually over the last two years my responsibilities have increased, as I am responsible for the wages of junior members of staff during my shift, as well as having to make sure the kitchen is clean, organised and secure at the end of each shift.

I am a currently a prefect, having been selected by our Head of Sixth Form for additional responsibilities.

I assist students in the lower years with their school work, prevent any issues that may arise between class hours and contribute regularly to events held at school.

This has considerably improved my interpersonal skills , as I am required to interact with personnel of all ages, whether younger students or visitors to the school.

I have been a member of the school rugby teams for six years, and I currently play wing for the school first XV.

I have recently been awarded senior school colours, which adds to my previously awarded junior school colours for commitment to school rugby throughout my school career.

The team have enjoyed a successful tour to South America, and managed to get to the quarter-finals of the Daily Mail Vase Cup. Ultimately, I wish to become a prosecutor at the International Criminal Courts .

I see university as a way for me to learn the processes of law required for such a position and to help me grow as an individual.

I feel the added responsibility that university brings will put me in good stead when eventually seeking employment, possibly in a foreign country as well.

Writing your own personal statement

This example personal statement for law must not be replicated. This would be classed as plagiarism and most admissions tutors are aware of this website!

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Law personal statement example 115 (russell group/oxbridge).

With a blindfold across her eyes, Lady Justice represents the objectivity of the justice system. In a generation where the gender pay gap persists and minorities face discrimination decades after the introduction of equalities legislation, I wonder whether perhaps an all-seeing symbol would be more appropriate.

"Eve was Framed" by Helen Kennedy explores the bias against women in our justice system. She discusses the battle to even allow women to be involved in legal processes as senior members of the legal profession in a society where sexism was the norm and the idea of a woman in a court seemed to be at best a gesture of liberalism, but commonly accepted as a radical notion. It allowed me to appreciate how stereotypes are perpetuated by those who seek to exploit the weaknesses in our laws and legal system.

Ultimately I began to reflect upon the relationship between the law, liberal ideas and religion. I drew parallels to today's society and the more liberal ideals that are emerging, especially those that contradict major religions, such as laws regarding surrogacy. It is these scenarios which capture my interest in law and how it can reconcile the apparent dichotomy between them, as well as adapt to an ever changing society.

Competing in the Magistrates Mock Trials stimulated my interest in law as I was able to act out a case (albeit as the defendant!) as part of a national winning team of students. I subsequently shadowed barristers at St Ives Chambers, learning how to analyse cases from personal injury claims to family disputes.

I found one particular case of stalking eye-opening due to the requirement for harassment to have occurred several times before a prosecution is possible, making me question how our laws could be improved.

In Year 12, I took part in the Bar Mock Trials Competition, this time assuming the role of lawyer for the prosecution. This sharpened my analytical skills to assess a situation quickly and to create an appropriate response when having to cross-examine witnesses.

Performing at the Old Bailey and watching other teams gave me an insight into how the same case can result in different outcomes, depending on the performances of the those involved. Though not surprising given the subjective nature of the law and its interpretations and applications, it does make me question its fairness and ability to truly provide justice.

My EPQ investigates the extent to which the Hillsborough inquests have challenged the integrity of the justice system, providing valuable research skills required for any degree. Reading "Hillsborough - The Truth" helped to widen my understanding of the disaster, providing harrowing accounts of the day and subsequent injustices faced by the families.

Initially it seemed that this gross miscarriage of justice challenged the very morals justice is built upon, but further research revealed that perhaps its main causes and effects were the inexperience of officers and a lack of planning. Indeed, it seems that the recent verdict of unlawful killing may be an example of justice prevailing.

What I found most challenging was differentiating between a negative aspect of the justice system and a problem in legal processes. In this instance it was not the principles of the justice system that led to the initial incorrect verdicts and the long fight for justice, but the faults in other parts of the processes, such as flawed coroner reports and amended statements.

As well as being engrossed in my studies, I participate in Taekwondo and have done for the past ten years, an activity which has taught me discipline and commitment, as well as providing a release from my academic life.

Being appointed Deputy Head Girl has developed my public speaking skills with my part time job as a tutor enabling me to hone my communication skills, having to cater for children aged six to sixteen. I believe these skills will be an asset in dealing with the rigours of reading for a degree in Law.

Profile info

There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Author's Comments

University of Birmingham - Unconditional offer University of Cambridge - Accepted to interview and placed in winter pool University of Liverpool - Offer and offer lowered to ABB University of Nottingham - Offer University of Warwick - Offer

Grades: Biology A, EPQ A*, History A, Psychology A*

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Law Personal Statement – A Strong Introduction

When applying to study Law , the personal statement is your first chance to catch the eye of the admissions tutors. This is the initial section of your Oxbridge law personal statement , so create a good first impression! When writing your personal statement Oxford tutors will be grabbed first by the introduction. However, it’s all about balance in introductions…

• Attract the reader’s attention while staying away from cliches.
• Sound enthusiastic, but not obnoxious.
• Set the tone for the rest of your message, but don’t provide too much information.

Law Personal Statement Oxford Example

“Law is my life’s ambition; I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was a child.” I would be glad for the chance to study law at your amazing university, and I want to express my specific qualifications for a spot in law school in this statement.”

This law Oxford personal statement introduction is clichéd and lacks the appropriate tone. It’s crucial to seem enthusiastic, but you don’t want to come across as arrogant, so use a more reasonable tone. It’s also vital not to come across as arrogant or arrogant; portray oneself in a positive manner while being humble (remember, you haven’t begun studying law properly yet!)

“Law strikes a compromise between the requirement for clarity, which necessitates sharp lines, and the necessity for flexibility to the variety and complexity of social life. This conflict fascinates me, and I wish to explore it further through the study of law, evaluating its current condition and considering the prospect of future reform.”

This Oxford law personal statement foreword provides a personal perspective and thought. This is effective since it is unlikely to be similar to any of the other statements the instructor has read that morning. It also displays this person’s interest in the law without mentioning it explicitly, as well as their curious and inquiring nature. Furthermore, it establishes a trend that we hope will be continued throughout the statement.

TOP INTRODUCTION TIP → Striking the right balance between being passionately enthusiastic and cliche with quotes and conversations

This is your chance to demonstrate why you want to be a lawyer. It is critical that you show enthusiasm for the topic; when writing your law personal statement, Oxford instructors want to know that studying law excites and intrigues you. This will help you become a motivated law student who is eager to learn. Some candidates, however, exaggerate in their attempts to convey their zeal. This may come out as trite, but tutors will be able to spot fake excitement. So, stay true to yourself!

Consider the following points:

• What drew you to the field of law?
• Why are you interested in taking a legal course?
• The subjects that interest you the most and why you love applying the abilities acquired through a law degree
• What do you hope to do with your degree in the future?

Things to stay away from

• Metaphors that are cheesy
• Nonserious anecdotes or flashbacks (for example, “when I was younger…” or “after seeing Suits…”).
• Strong adjectives and hyperbole (e.g. I absolutely love law, it is extremely enlightening and incredibly diverse)

The introduction to your Oxford Law Personal Statement!

It’s critical to nail the start of your Oxbridge law personal statement. It’s all about attracting the attention of the reader, showing passion, establishing the tone for the remainder of the personal statement, and avoiding clichés. Before submitting, you should revise and rewrite the opening several times, especially after finishing the rest of your personal statement to ensure consistency and flow. If you need some support, our Oxbridge law interview tutoring programmes can help you by assisting you in writing a stand-out personal statement.

For more advice, check out our other guides, such as writing about law personal statement work experience .

At Oxbridge Mind, we can also help you with other areas of the law school application such as preparing for the LNAT with our expert LNAT tutors . Contact us today to see how we can help.

→ What is a law personal statement?

A law personal statement is a document submitted by applicants to law schools or legal positions to showcase their qualifications, experiences, and motivations for pursuing a legal career. It is an essential component of the application process and provides admissions committees with an insight into the applicant’s personality, academic background, and professional goals.

→ What are some tips for writing a strong introduction for an Oxbridge law personal statement?

To write a strong introduction, applicants should start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention, provide a brief overview of their background and experiences, highlight their motivation for pursuing a legal career, and explain what they hope to achieve by attending law school or pursuing a legal career.

→ What are some examples of effective hooks for a law personal statement introduction?

Effective hooks introduction can include personal anecdotes, quotes, statistics, or questions that relate to the applicant’s experiences or motivations. A good example would be to start with a story about how you overcame a legal challenge, a quote from a famous lawyer that inspired you, or a question that reflects your curiosity about a specific area of law.

→ Should applicants include their academic achievements in the introduction of a law personal statement?

While academic achievements are important, the introduction should focus on the applicant’s personal and professional experiences, motivations, and goals. Applicants can highlight their academic achievements in other parts of the essay or application, but the introduction should focus on what makes them unique and passionate about pursuing a legal career.

→ Why is a strong introduction crucial for a law personal statement?

The introduction is the first impression that the admissions committee will have of the applicant. Therefore, it is essential to make it engaging, memorable, and persuasive. A strong introduction can captivate the reader’s attention, set the tone for the rest of the essay, and make the applicant stand out from the competition.

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Cambridge Law School Personal Statement Examples

Your Cambridge law personal statement is a short essay which highlights why you are interested in studying law and how equipped you are for the task. Cambridge uses the UCAS system for all applicants wanting to study law at the undergraduate level, so there are no unique requirements for your law school personal statement here. In this blog, we’ll cover what Cambridge expects from your law school personal statement, important requirements you need to know, and some law personal statement examples .

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Article Contents 6 min read

How to write a law school personal statement for cambridge law.

Cambridge law doesn’t have any specific law school admissions essays topics . The purpose of your Cambridge law personal statement is simply to share with the admissions committee why you want to study law at Cambridge and how you have prepared yourself to do so.

Your law personal statement will often be the basis of discussion during your interview, so it’s a good idea to include your most significant accomplishments or experiences in your personal statement, as well as your future career goals and interest in a specific area of the law.

Since there are no specific prompts and the personal statement can be quite open-ended, start with brainstorming. Identify 2-4 experiences or important ideas you want to convey in your personal statement. Focus on how you can demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for legal study, and how you have prepared yourself for a career in law. While you can include early life experiences, try to focus on important experiences in the last few years at most.

Here’s some questions you can ask yourself and answer in your Cambridge law personal statement:

• What first drew you to the law?
• How did you develop your enthusiasm for the law?
• What legal questions interest you most?
• What particular areas of legal study fascinate you?
• What personal or professional experience do you have with legal matters?
• How have you prepared yourself for the rigors or law school or the practice of law?
• What are your intellectual or academic interests? How do they relate to your interest in law?
• Which aptitudes do you possess that are suited to the study of law?
• Why have you chosen Cambridge law?

Once you’ve identified a few notable experiences or accomplishments, organize them into an outline and write a draft without concerning yourself with word count. Give yourself plenty of time to rework your essay and revise it. Remember to double check for spelling and grammatical errors, and to remain under the word limit.

If you want expert help crafting or reviewing your law school personal statement, a law school admissions consulting service or law essay writing service can help you get organized and polish your drafts.

The Cambridge undergraduate law program uses the UCAS application system, so the format and length requirements for your Cambridge law personal statement will follow the UCAS requirements. UCAS allows you up to 4,000 characters, or 500 words, to complete your personal statement, or 47 lines—whichever comes first. The minimum character count for your personal statement is 1,000 characters, or around 250 words.

Cambridge law uses your UCAS personal statement as the basis for your interview, and to evaluate your academic interests and commitment to the study of law. In short, while Cambridge does not provide law school essay prompts , they are essentially asking: why do you want to study law ? Your personal statement for Cambridge should:

• Explain your reasons for wanting to study law at university
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for and commitment to the study of law
• Express any particular interests within the field of law
• Outline how you’ve pursued your subject interest in your own time

For a better idea of the format and structure of UCAS personal statement, read examples of Cambridge personal statements or Oxford personal statements as a guide. ","label":"TIP","title":"TIP"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Cambridge Law Personal Statement Example #1

My passion for the law was first sparked by an interest in people and their behaviours. As a child, I had a peculiar hobby, introduced to me by my father. I loved observing poker. My father taught me how to play, the two of us, and whenever he would host a friendly game with his friends, I watched and learned. I studied their behaviour, learning their tells and reading their body language. It appealed to me to puzzle out their intentions and their attempts at bluffing. Soon enough, I had a very good knack for reading other people.

As I grew older, I enjoyed watching true crime documentaries and found any crime fiction novels I could get my hands on. Each one was a puzzle that I could take apart, dissect and put back together to find the truth, the reveal. Whenever there was a real criminal court case covered on the local news, I watched with rapt attention. I pursue intellectual interests in sociology, criminology and psychology, through both fiction and scientific articles. I wanted to understand better how people thought, why they behaved the way they did.

I also pursued a side interest in theatre as a teen, as it allowed me to become more comfortable performing in front of others, and allowed me to gain self-confidence. By now, I was curious about a legal career, as it would allow me to marry my love of figuring people out with my interests in true crime and criminal law. I knew to be an effective solicitor I would need a greater presence and confidence in myself. Theatre proved to be a very effective way for me to rehearse and develop myself for the courtroom.

I was able to put my performance skills as well as my knowledge to the test when I participated in the Bar Mock Trial. I was able to banish any nerves when it came to performing in front of an audience, and theatre helped me immerse myself in the mock scenario and truly take on the role of a lawyer. Thanks to my experience with the mock trial, I began sitting in on cases in a public courtroom, once again to observe how the game was played. And just like poker, it was fascinating to me to see how real lawyers analyzed the individuals around them. This was a far more hands-on and realistic examination of people than I could find in all my books and articles. This was no longer theory but a live study of individuals in a court of criminal law. I was fascinated by the entire process.

The law is a complex and intriguing puzzle, and criminal law especially is an area that demands keen observation, sharp analysis and the ability to see beyond the surface. I look forward to the prospect of applying the knowledge I have gained so far, developing new skills and deepening my understanding of a captivating subject.

Want more tips for writing a law school personal statement? Watch this video!

Cambridge Law Personal Statement Example #2

Education, and ensuring everyone has the right to education, has been my crusade for many years. For me, the law has become a vehicle that will help me effect real change in education around the world.

I was fortunate to attend a private school in my formative years, and so I saw firsthand how exclusionary it can be to some students. There is a distinct lack of equal access to quality education for all students, and typically money and privilege are the biggest obstacles. However, around the world I know there are far larger barriers for some young students who crave access to education, and are denied it. In my private school, the few students who could attend on merit scholarships were considered lucky, but they should be able to access quality education without winning some type of lottery.

In my passion for the right to education, my initial plan was to become a teacher and bring education directly to students. But I also realized as a teacher I would not have the level of influence needed to effect real and lasting change. I decided to switch my focus, and I started volunteering with Oxfam. I took my summer off, and volunteered my time as a girls’ teacher in remote villages in Malawi. Oxfam has long been dedicated to providing access to education, and it was fulfilling to be able to help provide educational resources to students even more underprivileged than the peers I’d met in private school. To be able to witness the difference I was making every day as a teacher to young girls. Still, I had lofty goals, and I wanted to continue my humanitarian aid and continue to work towards the right to education for all students.

I delved into researching the global issues and obstacles surrounding education. It soon became clear to me that it was not always a lack of access blocking students from going to school, but a lack of educational rights. I knew I would need to pursue a career in international law, if I wanted to see through my goal of breaking down barriers to education on a global level.

For me, the law is a tool, a resource I can use to help effect change in the lives of young students eager to learn and grow. So I know I must be eager to learn and to develop my legal knowledge as well. I am committed to the studying of the law, so it might serve as my foundation in bringing education to students around the world.

Your personal statement for Cambridge law will be submitted through UCAS, so it should follow UCAS personal statement guidelines. Your personal statement for Cambridge college of law will highlight why you want to study law and what you have done to prepare yourself to become a lawyer.

Your Cambridge law personal statement should cover your motivations for studying law, your specific interests within the field, how you are suited to the study of law and independent learning you’ve done to further your passion for the law.

To write a strong personal statement, ensure it is error-free, flows naturally and is well structured. It should also demonstrate a strong enthusiasm for the study of law, an intellectual aptitude for the field and some experience with law.

Your UCAS personal statement should be no longer than 4,000 characters or around 500 words or less. At minimum, your personal statement should be 1,000 characters or 250 words.

Your law school personal statement should share why you want to study the law, what first sparked your interest in the law or a particular field of law, and what actions or pursuits you’ve taken to deepen your understanding of the law.

A law school personal statement uses a short essay format.

Yes. Your Cambridge law personal statement will be the basis of discussion at your interview, so it is important to present a well-written personal statement. While Cambridge focuses heavily on academic qualifications in applicants, your personal statement provides context and further information about you as a candidate.

Avoid using irrelevant anecdotes or personal stories, unless they provide important context to your motivation to study law. Also avoid using any cliches or often repeated phrases, informal language and merely providing a list of your accomplishments. Remember to use your word count wisely and get straight to the point!

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• Housing, local and community
• Planning and building
• Building regulation

Government to lay new law to halt the march of gender-neutral toilets in buildings

New requirements will be brought forward for single sex toilet facilities in new non-domestic buildings to alleviate safety, privacy and dignity concerns.   

The new legislation follows the results of a consultation on the proposals, where responses showed 81% agreed with the intention for separate single-sex toilet facilities and 82% agreed with the intention to provide universal toilets where space allows.  A universal toilet is self-contained, and a fully enclosed toilet room with a wash hand basin for individual use.

Responses highlighted particular concerns from women, elderly and the disabled who felt unfairly disadvantaged as publicly accessible toilets are increasingly being converted into gender neutral facilities where users share cubicle and hand-washing facilities. This leads to increasing waiting in shared queues, decreased choice and less privacy and dignity. 

The new requirements will mean everyone can access appropriate facilities either through a separate single-sex space or a self-contained, universal toilet.   

Changes to building regulations will mean that new non-domestic buildings, including restaurants, shopping centres, offices and public toilets will be required to provide separate single-sex toilets for women and men. Self-contained, universal toilets may be provided in addition, where space allows, or instead of single-sex toilets where there isn’t enough space.   

In addition to single-sex toilets becoming the default for new non-domestic buildings and places undertaking major refurbishment, the policy encourages provision of self-contained universal toilets, which are a fully enclosed toilet room with a washbasin and hand-drying facilities for individual use.   

Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch said:

These regulations will guide organisations to design unisex and single-sex toilets, ending the rise of so-called “gender-neutral” mixed sex toilet spaces, which deny privacy and dignity to both men and women. Today’s announcement will also create better provision for women so that our particular biological, health and sanitary needs are met. This is following our work last week limiting the use of mixed-sex wards in the NHS and demonstrates how this government is committed to ensuring single-sex spaces are protected for all.

Housing Minister Lee Rowley said:

We know all members of society value safety, privacy and dignity, and this new legislation will help ensure the right facilities are in place for everyone.  It is vital that new buildings, particularly in public spaces, are serving the community with right toilet provision.

The government is clear that single-sex spaces are essential for ensuring privacy and dignity for the elderly, women, and girls. 

The move comes following a set of announcements of firm action to protect spaces for women and girls, such as the government’s introduction of a new NHS constitution which put patient safety and dignity at the heart of care, including reinforcing the NHS’s commitment to providing single-sex wards. It also follows the Minister for Women and Equalities’ call for examples of organisations issuing incorrect guidance on single-sex spaces. 

In addition, the Department for Education re-enforced that schools are required to comply with minimum standards, including that separate toilets for boys and girls aged 8 years and over are to be provided. While colleges are not subject to the same legal requirements, they should take the same approach given the same safeguarding considerations apply.

Changes to building regulations will ensure that:   

• separate single-sex toilets facilities are provided for men and women
• self-contained, universal toilets may be provided in addition to single-sex toilets, where space allows
• self-contained universal toilets may be provided instead of single-sex toilets only where lack of space reasonably precludes provision of single-sex toilet accommodation

Further information

The new requirement will apply to new non-domestic buildings, or buildings which undergo a material change of use, with some exceptions.   

These exemptions are:   

• residential homes
• en suite facilities in individual rooms for residential purposes 
• residential rooms in care homes
• premises used wholly or mainly for early years provision 
• cellular accommodation in custodial facilities

While separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over must already be provided in schools, except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil at a time.  

The changes will affect England only.  

In the Building Regulations 2010 Part T and Approved Document T, the phrase universal toilets is used. This refers to self-contained, private toilets, which are a fully enclosed toilet room with a wash hand basin for individual use.

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Teaching personal statement examples

Giving you the chance to show why you'd be a great teacher, your personal statement is an important part of your application and worth taking the time over

What is a teaching personal statement?

Your personal statement is used to explain why you want to become a teacher and your suitability for the role. While your application form briefly outlines your qualifications, skills and work experience, your teaching personal statement is where your personality shines through.

Take your time with it. Many candidates often spend a few weeks on this part of the application as you don't have to write it all at once. You should get someone to read over it and be prepared to receive constructive feedback and write a few drafts before you send it off.

It's important to:

• use examples based on your recent teaching experience
• tailor your personal statement according to the school/age group
• use good, clear, written English, using first person terms such as 'my' and 'I'
• be original and honest
• avoid clichés and general statements, such as 'I've always wanted to teach'
• demonstrate a passion for teaching.

While it's crucial to get it right, your teaching personal statement is only a small part of the application process. Find out how else you'll need to prepare to  get a teaching job .

How to write a personal statement for teaching

Your personal statement should be between 500 and 1,000 words. It's crucial that you  don't copy  and that the statement you provide is  your own work .

This is your opportunity to:

• write about any relevant skills and experience you have
• explain your understanding of why teaching is important
• detail why you want to become a teacher
• list any extra skills or experience you have, such as volunteering or first aid.

See  personal statements for postgraduate applications  for more guidance.

The nature of your personal statement will vary, depending on the type of teaching you'd like to pursue. Take a look at some of our example personal statements to get an idea of how they differ.

Personal statement for PGCE primary

As well as focusing on roles in which you've gained experience with primary-age children, a PGCE primary personal statement should demonstrate your well-rounded personality and any skills that could be useful for the range of extra-curricular activities primary schools provide (such as the ability to read music for recorder lessons, or drama experience to help with school plays).

Personal statement for PGCE secondary

Many good PGCE secondary personal statements acknowledge the challenges involved in teaching older pupils and provide examples of where the candidate has worked to overcome these problems. As secondary teaching roles are geared towards teaching a specific subject, training providers are looking for more evidence of your subject and degree knowledge.

Personal statement for School Direct

If you're applying for the salaried School Direct route, you should discuss the experience you've gained in the classroom prior to your application. One of your references will need to be from an employer, or someone who can comment on your work ethic and suitability for teaching. Don't worry if your degree is unrelated to the subject you'd like to teach - you may still be able to apply by completing a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course .

Find out more

• Discover how to structure a teaching CV .
• Find out what it's really like to be a primary or secondary school teacher .
• Search postgraduate courses in teaching .

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PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLE Law and Criminology Personal Statement

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Law and Criminology Personal Statement

A recent trip to the Royal Courts of Justice reaffirmed my interest in law and criminology  degree. Firstly, I sat in on cases which particularly interested me as I was able to see court in practice. Secondly, I also took part in a mooting case within a court room, presenting my case as a barrister to the judge, which made me realise that I would love to do this as my future career. Therefore, studying law and criminology appeals to me even more to help me with my career ambitions. I love the criminal side of the law and the statutes behind criminal acts. I find the cause of crime to be of interest to me, as well and I love focusing on different theories and perspectives as to why people commit crime.

My currents subject relate to my course of law and criminology. Within A-level Law I am learning parts of compulsory modules that are taught in university such as Criminal Law. I enjoy law as I find it interesting and I love learning about different cases that have occurred that are used in court today. In Law I am developing my critical analysis skill which enables me to present clear and concise points. In addition, Sociology relates as I am learning about crime and deviance, which relates to the criminology aspect. I enjoy learning about the different social aspects as to why people commit crime, such as subcultures and ethnicity. I recently achieved an A grade essay on the relationship between social problems and levels of crime. This is useful as it is an important aspect that will be taught in criminology. Psychology relates as it gives me an insight into the criminal mind. In psychology I particularly enjoyed the topic of eye witness testimonies and examining the different factors that can improve the reliability of eye witness testimonies like age, anxiety and misleading information.

One of my biggest achievements is being a volunteer police cadet for five years. Volunteer police cadets are partnered with the London Metropolitan Police Service. Being a volunteer police cadet has given me confidence, organisational skills, and made me more open to valuing other people’s opinions. I am able to communicate with people at all levels and within a team. I completed my two weeks’ work experience with the police force and had various opportunities to work with police officers gaining a further insight into law enforcement.

I also have a part-time job waitressing at a catering service. This job has enabled me to become more independent, organised with my time and how to use my own initiative. Furthermore, I play football; in secondary school I was on my school team and I was captain for both the junior and senior team. This was a big achievement as it showed my coach recognised the effort I made within the team. It taught me to be a team player and to use other people’s strengths to help when necessary. It also taught me to be a leader and communicate with my team. As well I play the guitar and I taught myself to play with only a few lessons. By learning the guitar it taught me to dedicate myself to a cause even if I found it hard.

Overall, I believe my passion for law and criminology comes across from all aspects, such as my recent visits to court rooms, my academic suitability, my voluntary experiences and my extra-curricular activities.  I am particularly interested in joining the mooting club as I think it will be very interesting and it will further help me develop my skills and knowledge about the criminal side of law. I am keen to start university as I believe it will be a new stage in my life, which will teach me many vital lessons in which I will need in later life. Although I know it will require hard work, I am prepared to dedicate myself and I am excited to achieve my full potential.

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Infection Control Basics

• Infection control prevents or stops the spread of infections in healthcare settings.
• Healthcare workers can reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections and protect themselves, patients and visitors by following CDC guidelines.

Germs are a part of everyday life. Germs live in our air, soil, water and in and on our bodies. Some germs are helpful, others are harmful.

An infection occurs when germs enter the body, increase in number and the body reacts. Only a small portion of germs can cause infection.

Terms to know

• Sources : places where infectious agents (germs) live (e.g., sinks, surfaces, human skin). Sources are also called reservoirs.
• Susceptible person: someone who is not vaccinated or otherwise immune. For example, a person with a weakened immune system who has a way for the germs to enter the body.
• Transmission: a way germs move to the susceptible person. Germs depend on people, the environment and/or medical equipment to move in healthcare settings. Transmission is also called a pathway.
• Colonization: when someone has germs on or in their body but does not have symptoms of an infection. Colonized people can still transmit the germs they carry.

For an infection to occur, germs must transmit to a person from a source, enter their body, invade tissues, multiply and cause a reaction.

How it works in healthcare settings

Sources can be:.

• People such as patients, healthcare workers and visitors.
• Dry surfaces in patient care areas such as bed rails, medical equipment, countertops and tables).
• Wet surfaces, moist environments and biofilms (collections of microorganisms that stick to each other and surfaces in moist environments, like the insides of pipes).
• Cooling towers, faucets and sinks, and equipment such as ventilators.
• Indwelling medical devices such as catheters and IV lines.
• Dust or decaying debris such as construction dust or wet materials from water leaks.

Transmission can happen through activities such as:

• Physical contact, like when a healthcare provider touches medical equipment that has germs on it and then touches a patient before cleaning their hands.
• Sprays and splashes when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This creates droplets containing the germs, and the droplets land on a person's eyes, nose or mouth.
• Inhalation when infected patients cough or talk, or construction zones kick up dirt and dust containing germs, which another person breathes in.
• Sharps injuries such as when someone is accidentally stuck with a used needle.

A person can become more susceptible to infection when:

• They have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer or organ transplantation. These can decrease the immune system's ability to fight infection.
• They take medications such as antibiotics, steroids and certain cancer fighting medications. These can decrease the body's ability to fight infection.
• They receive treatments or procedures such as urinary catheters, tubes and surgery, which can provide additional ways for germs to enter the body.

Recommendations

Healthcare providers.

Healthcare providers can perform basic infection prevention measures to prevent infection.

There are 2 tiers of recommended precautions to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings:

• Standard Precautions , used for all patient care.
• Transmission-based Precautions , used for patients who may be infected or colonized with certain germs.

There are also transmission- and germ-specific guidelines providers can follow to prevent transmission and healthcare-associated infections from happening.

Learn more about how to protect yourself from infections in healthcare settings.

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• Project Firstline : infection control education for all frontline healthcare workers.
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