hku law personal statement

18 Law School Personal Statement Examples That Got Accepted!

This blog contains law school personal statement examples written by applicants who were successfully accepted to multiple law schools after working with our admissions experts as part of our  application review programs . Your  law school personal statement  is one of the most important parts of your application and is your best opportunity to show admissions officers who you are behind your numbers and third-party assessments. Because of its importance, many students find the personal statement to be daunting and demanding of the full scope of their skills as writers. Today we're going to review these excellent law school personal statement examples from past successful applicants and provide some proven strategies from a former admissions officer that can help you prepare your own stellar essay. 

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Article Contents 44 min read

Law school personal statement example #1.

When I was a child, my neighbors, who had arrived in America from Nepal, often seemed stressed. They argued a lot, struggled for money, and seemed to work all hours of the day. One day, I woke early in the morning to a commotion outside my apartment. Police officers were accompanying my neighbors out of the building. They were being deported. In my teens, I was shocked to see that our kind, friendly neighbors had exhausted their last chance to stay in America as they lost a court appeal. 

Since that time, I have worked closely with the many immigrant families in my neighborhood, and now university town. I began by volunteering at a local community center. Together with social workers, I served food and gave out clothes to new arrivals. My diligent work ethic led to more responsibility, and I received training in basic counseling techniques, first aid skills and community services. Soon, I was tasked with welcoming new community members and assessing their health and social needs. I heard the many difficult stories of those who had traveled thousands of miles, often through several countries, risking everything to reach a safe, welcoming country. I was proud to contribute in some small way to making America welcoming for these individuals.

The community center is where I had my first formal contact with legal aid lawyers, who were a constant source of knowledge and support for those who needed assistance. I was struck by the lawyers’ ability to explain complex legal processes to nervous and exhausted incomers: law, I realized, was about more than procedure. I decided that I, too, would strive to balance a wealth of technical knowledge with my caring, compassionate personality.

As soon as I enrolled in university, I knew I had the chance to do so. In my very first week, I signed up to volunteer at the university’s legal aid center, where I worked closely with law professors and students on a range of cases. Academically, I have focused on courses, such as a fourth-year Ethics seminar, that would help me develop rigorous critical reasoning skills. More importantly, I knew that, given my experience, I could be a leader on campus. I decided to found a refugee campaign group, Students4Refugees. Together with a group of volunteers, we campaigned to make our campus a refugee-friendly space. I organized a series of events: international student mixers, an art installation in our student commons, and concerts that raised over $5,000 for the charity Refugee Aid. I am proud to say that my contributions were recognized with a university medal for campus leadership.

I have seen time and again how immigrants to the United States struggle with bureaucracy, with complex legal procedures, and with the demands of living in a foreign and sometimes hostile climate. As I plan to enter law school, I look back to my neighbors’ experiences: they needed someone who knew the law, who could negotiate with the authorities on their behalf, who could inform them of their rights—but they also needed someone who would provide a caring and compassionate outlet for their stresses. I know that Townsville University’s combination of academic rigor, legal aid services, and history of graduates entering labor and non-profit sectors will allow me to develop these skills and continue making contributions to my community by advocating for those in need.

• Thematic consistency: It focuses on just one theme: justice for immigrants. Each paragraph is designed to show off how enthusiastic the student is about this area of law. Personal statements—including those for law school—often begin with a personal anecdote. This one is short, memorable, and relevant. It establishes the overall theme quickly. By constraining their essay’s focus to a single general theme, the writer can go into great depth and weave in emotional and psychological weight through careful and vivid description. The personal statement isn’t a standard 3-paragraph college essay with a spotlight thesis statement, but it conveys similar impact through presenting a central focus organically, without resorting to simply blurting out “the point” of the piece.   
• Shows, rather than tells: Connected to this, this statement focuses on showing rather than telling. Rather than simply telling the reader about their commitment to law, the applicant describes specific situations they were involved in that demonstrate their commitment to law. “Show don’t tell” means you want to paint a vivid picture of actions or experiences that demonstrate a given quality or skill, and not simply say "I can do X." Make it an experience for your reader, don't just give them a fact. 
• Confident, but not arrogant: Additionally, this personal statement is confident without being boastful—leadership qualities, grades, and an award are all mentioned in context, rather than appearing as a simple list of successes. 
• Specific to the school: It ends with a conclusion that alludes to why the applicant is suitable for the specific school to which they’re applying and points to their future career plans. Thoroughly researching the law school to which you’re applying is incredibly important so that you can tailor your remarks to the specific qualities and values they’re looking for. A law essay writing service is really something that can help you integrate this aspect effectively. 

What Should a Law School Personal Statement Do?

1.      be unique to the school you’re applying to.

Students are always asking how to write a personal statement for law school, particularly one that stands out from all the rest. After all, advice from most universities can often be quite vague. Take this zinger from the  University of Chicago : “Write about something personal, relevant, and completely individual to you… Just be yourself.” Every school will have different requirements or content they want to see in a personal statement. This is why it’s a good idea to review specific guidelines for the school to which you’re applying. For example, you can read Yale Law School personal statement examples , Stanford Law personal statement examples , and an NYU personal statement to get an idea of what these schools look for.

2.      Demonstrate your skills and capabilities

For motivated students with the world at their fingertips, it’s a tough ask to narrow your character down into a few hundred words! But this is exactly the point of such generic guidelines—to challenge aspiring law students to produce something unique and convincing with minimal direction by the university. Law is, after all, a profession that demands your language to be persuasive, and the personal statement is merely one of many exercises where you can demonstrate your language skills. 

3.      Meet basic requirements

While the law school personal statement is about far more than just following essay directions, you still need to keep basic formatting and length restrictions in mind. Most law schools ask for a 2-page personal statement, but lengths can range from 2-4 pages. Georgetown Law School , for instance, recommends a 2-page personal statement but explicitly states that there is no official minimum or maximum. In general, length does not make a personal statement better. Rambling, meandering sentences and tiresome descriptions will only hurt the impact of your ideas, especially considering how many thousands of pages admissions committees have to churn through each year.  

In short, keep to 2 double-spaced pages, and only go below or above this is if you absolutely have to, and if the school to which you're applying allows it. You want to keep things as widely applicable as possible while drafting your personal statement, meaning that you don't want to draft a 4 page letter for the one school that allows it, and then have to significantly rewrite this for your other schools. Stick to 2 pages. 

4.      Embody what the school is looking for

Lastly, many law schools won’t offer hyper-specific prompts, but will give you general law school admissions essay topics to follow. For instance, the University of Washington’s law school provides a number of topics to follow, including “Describe a personal challenge you faced” or “Describe your passions and involvement in a project or pursuit and the ways in which it has contributed to your personal growth and goals.” These topics may feel specific at first, but as you begin drafting, you’ll likely realize you have dozens of memories to choose from, and numerous ways of describing their impact. While drafting, try to explore as many of these options as possible, and select the best or most impactful to use in your final draft.  

Want to write the perfect law school personal statement? Watch this video:

Law School Personal Statement Example #2

In my home community, the belief is that the law is against us. The law oppresses and victimizes. I must admit that as a child and young person I had this opinion based on my environment and the conversations around me. I did not understand that the law could be a vehicle for social change, and I certainly did not imagine I had the ability and talents to be a voice for this change. I regularly attended my high school classes because I enjoyed the discussions and reading for English and history, and writing came easily to me, but I wasn’t committed to getting good grades because I felt I had no purpose. My mindset changed as I spent time with Mark Russell, a law student who agreed to mentor and tutor me as part of a “high school to law school” mentorship program. Every week, for three years, Mark and I would meet. At first, Mark tutored me, but I quickly became an “A” student, not only because of the tutoring, but because my ambitions were uncorked by what Mark shared with me about university, the law, and his life. I learned grades were the currency I needed to succeed. I attended mock trials, court hearings, and law lectures with Mark and developed a fresh understanding of the law that piqued an interest in law school. My outlook has changed because my mentor, my teachers, and my self-advocacy facilitated my growth. Still, injustices do occur. The difference is that I now believe the law can be an instrument for social change, but voices like mine must give direction to policy and resources in order to fight those injustices.

Early in my mentorship, I realized it was necessary to be “in the world” differently if I were to truly consider a law career. With Mark’s help and the support of my high school teachers, I learned to advocate for myself and explore opportunities that would expand my worldview as well as my academic skills. I joined a Model UN club at a neighboring high school, because my own school did not have enough student interest to have a club. By discussing global issues and writing decisions, I began to feel powerful and confident with my ability to gather evidence and make meaningful decisions about real global issues. As I built my leadership, writing, and public speaking skills, I noticed a rift developing with some of my friends. I wanted them to begin to think about larger systemic issues outside of our immediate experience, as I was learning to, and to build confidence in new ways. I petitioned my school to start a Model UN and recruited enough students to populate the club. My friends did not join the club as I’d hoped, but before I graduated, we had 2 successful years with the students who did join. I began to understand that I cannot force change based on my own mandate, but I must listen attentively to the needs and desires of others in order to support them as they require.

While I learned to advocate for myself throughout high school, I also learned to advocate for others. My neighbors, knowing my desire to be a lawyer, would often ask me to advocate on their behalf with small grievances. I would make phone calls, stand in line with them at government offices, and deal with difficult landlords. A woman, Elsa, asked me to review her rental agreement to help her understand why her landlord had rented it to someone else, rather than renewing her lease. I scoured the rental agreement, highlighted questionable sections, read the Residential Tenancies Act, and developed a strategy for approaching the landlord. Elsa and I sat down with the landlord and, upon seeing my binder complete with indices, he quickly conceded before I could even speak. That day, I understood evidence is the way to justice. My interest in justice grew, and while in university, I sought experiences to solidify my decision to pursue law.

Last summer, I had the good fortune to work as a summer intern in the Crown Attorney’s Office responsible for criminal trial prosecutions. As the only pre-law intern, I was given tasks such as reviewing court tapes, verifying documents, and creating a binder with indices. I often went to court with the prosecutors where I learned a great deal about legal proceedings, and was at times horrified by human behavior. This made the atmosphere in the Crown Attorney’s office even more surprising. I worked with happy and passionate lawyers whose motivations were pubic service, the safety and well-being of communities, and justice. The moment I realized justice was their true objective, not the number of convictions, was the moment I decided to become a lawyer.

I broke from the belief systems I was born into. I did this through education, mentorship, and self-advocacy. There is sadness because in this transition I left people behind, especially as I entered university. However, I am devoted to my home community. I understand the barriers that stand between youth and their success. As a law student, I will mentor as I was mentored, and as a lawyer, I will be a voice for change.

What’s Great about this Second Law School Personal Statement?

• It tells a complete and compelling story: Although the applicant expressed initial reservations about the law generally, the statement tells a compelling story of how the applicant's opinions began to shift and their interest in law began. They use real examples and show how that initial interest, once seeded, grew into dedication and passion. This introduction implies an answer to the " why do you want to study law? ” interview question.
• It shows adaptability: Receptiveness to new information and the ability to change both thought and behavior based on this new information. The writer describes realizing that they needed to be "in the world" differently! It's hard to convey such a grandiose idea without sounding cliché, but through their captivating and chronological narrative, the writer successfully convinces the reader that this is the case with copious examples, including law school extracurriculars . It’s a fantastic case of showing rather than telling, describing specific causes they were involved with which demonstrate that the applicant is genuinely committed to a career in the law. 
• Includes challenges the subject faced and overcame: This law school personal statement also discusses weighty, relatable challenges that they faced, such as the applicant's original feeling toward law, and the fact that they lost some friends along the way. However, the applicant shows determination to move past these hurdles without self-pity or other forms of navel-gazing.  Additionally, this personal statement ends with a conclusion that alludes to why the applicant is suitable for the specific school to which they’re applying and points to their future career plans. The writer manages to craft an extremely immersive and believable story about their path to the present, while also managing to curate the details of this narrative to fit the specific values and mission of the school to which they’re applying.

What’s Great About This Third Law School Personal Statement? 

• Description is concise and effective: This writer opens with rich, vivid description and seamlessly guides the reader into a compelling first-person narrative. Using punchy, attention-grabbing descriptions like these make events immersive, placing readers in the writer's shoes and creating a sense of immediacy. 
• Achievements are the focus: They also do a fantastic job of talking about their achievements, such as interview team lead, program design, etc., without simply bragging. Instead, they deliver this information within a cohesive narrative that includes details, anecdotes, and information that shows their perspective in a natural way. Lastly, they invoke their passion for law with humility, discussing their momentary setbacks and frustrations as ultimately positive experiences leading to further growth. 

Want more law school personal statement examples from top law schools?

• Harvard law school personal statement examples
• Columbia law school personal statement examples
• Cornell law school personal statement examples
• Yale law school personal statement examples
• UPenn law school personal statement examples
• Cambridge law school personal statement examples

Law School Personal Statement #4

What’s great about this fourth law school personal statement.

• Engaging description: Like the third example above, this fourth law school personal statement opens with engaging description and first-person narrative. However, the writer of this personal statement chooses to engage a traumatic aspect of their childhood and discuss how this adversity led them to develop their desire to pursue a career in law.  
• Strong theme of overcoming adversity: Overcoming adversity is a frequent theme in personal statements for all specialties, but with law school personal statements students are often able to utilize uniquely dramatic, difficult, and pivotal experiences that involved interacting with the law. It may be hard to discuss such emotionally weighty experiences in a short letter but, as this personal statement shows, with care and focus it's possible to sincerely demonstrate how your early struggles paved the way for you to become the person you are now. It's important to avoid sensationalism, but you shouldn't shy away from opening up to your readers about adverse experiences that have ultimately pointed you in a positive direction. 

Why "show, don't tell" is the #1 rule for personal statements:

Law School Personal Statement Example #5

What’s great about this fifth law school personal statement  .

• Highlights achievements effectively: This writer does a fantastic job of incorporating their accomplishments and impact they had on their community without any sense of bragging or conceit. Rather, these accomplishments are related in terms of deep personal investment and a general drive to have a positive impact on those around them—without resorting to the cliches of simply stating "I want to help people." They show themselves helping others, and how these early experiences of doing so are a fundamental part of their drive to succeed with a career in law.   
• Shows originality: Additionally, they do a great job of explaining the uniqueness of their identity. The writer doesn't simply list their personal/cultural characteristics, but contextualizes them to show how they've shaped their path to law school. Being the child of a Buddhist mother and a Hindu father doesn’t imply anything about a person’s ability to study/practice law on its own, but explaining how this unique aspect of their childhood encouraged a passion for “discussion, active debate, and compromise” is profoundly meaningful to an admissions panel. Being able to express how fundamental aspects of law practice are an integral part of yourself is a hugely helpful tactic in a law school personal statement. 

If you\u2019re heading North of the border, check out list of  law schools in Canada  that includes requirements and stats on acceptance. ","label":"Tip","title":"Tip"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Law School Personal Statement Example #6

What’s great about this sixth law school personal statement .

• Weaves in cultural background: Similar to the writer of personal statement #5, this student utilizes the cultural uniqueness of their childhood to show how their path to law school was both deeply personal and rooted in ideas pervasive in their early years. Unlike the writer of statement #5, this student doesn't shy away from explaining how this distinctiveness was often a source of alienation and difficulty. Yet this adversity is, as they note, ultimately what helped them be an adaptable and driven student, with a clear desire to make a positive impact on the kinds of situations that they witnessed affect their parents.  
• Describes setbacks while remaining positive: This writer also doesn't shy away from describing their temporary setbacks as both learning experiences and, crucially, springboards for positively informing their plans for the future. 

What’s Great About This Seventh Law School Personal Statement? 

• The writer takes accountability: One of the hardest things to accomplish in a personal statement is describing not just early setbacks that are out of your control but early mistakes for which you must take responsibility. The writer of this personal statement opens with descriptions of characteristics that most law schools would find problematic at best. But at the end of this introduction, they successfully utilize an epiphany, a game-changing moment in which they saw something beyond their early pathological aimlessness, to clearly mark the point at which they became focused on law.  
• The narrative structure is clear: They clearly describe the path forward from this moment on, showing how they remained focused on earning a law degree, and how they were able to work through successive experiences of confusion to persist in finishing their undergraduate education at a prestigious university. Of course, you shouldn't brag about such things for their own sake, but this writer makes the point of opening up about the unique feelings of inadequacy that come along with being the first person in their family to attend such a school, and how these feelings were—like their initial aimlessness—mobilized in service of their goal and the well-being of others. Their statement balances discussion of achievement with humility, which is a difficult but impactful tactic when done well. 

Law School Personal Statement Example #8

What’s great about this eighth law school personal statement .

• Shows commitment to the community: Commitment to one’s community is a prized value in both law students and law professionals. This writer successfully describes not only how they navigated the challenges in their group environments, such as their internship, the debate team, etc., but how these challenges strengthened their commitment to being a positive part of their communities. They don’t simply describe the skills and lessons they learned from these challenging environments, but also how these challenges ultimately made them even more committed to and appreciative of these kinds of dynamic, evolutionary settings.  
• Avoids negative description: They also avoid placing blame or negatively describing the people in these situations, instead choosing to characterize inherent difficulties in terms neutral to the people around them. In this way, you can describe extremely challenging environments without coming off as resentful, and identify difficulties without being accusatory or, worse yet, accidentally or indirectly seeming like part of the problem. This writer manages to convey the difficulty and complexity of these experiences while continually returning to their positive long-term impact, and though you shouldn’t seek to “bright-side” the troubles in your life you should absolutely point out how these experiences have made you a more capable and mature student. 

Watch this for more law school personal statement examples!

Law School Personal Statement Example #9

What’s great about this ninth law school personal statement  .

• The writer effectively describes how their background shaped their decision to pursue law: Expressing privilege as adversity is something that very few students should even attempt, and fewer still can actually pull it off. But the writer of this personal statement does just that in their second paragraph, describing how the ease and comfort of their upbringing could have been a source of laziness or detachment, and often is for particularly well-off students, but instead served as a basis for their ongoing commitment to addressing the inequalities and difficulties of those less comfortable. Describing how you’ve developed into an empathic and engaged person, worked selflessly in any volunteer experiences, and generally aimed your academic life at a career in law for the aid of others—all this is incredibly moving for an admissions board, and can help you discuss your determination and understanding of exactly why you desire a career in law.  
• The student shows adaptability, flexibility, and commitment: Additionally, this writer is able to show adaptability while describing their more prestigious appointments in a way that’s neither self-aggrandizing nor unappreciative. One of the big takeaways from this statement is the student’s commitment and flexibility, and these are both vitally important qualities to convey in your law school personal statement.  

Law School Personal Statement Example #10

What’s great about this tenth law school personal statement .

Shows passion: If you’re one of the rare students for whom service to others has always been a core belief, by all means find a novel and engaging way of making this the guiding principle of your personal statement. Don’t overdo it—don’t veer into poetry or lofty philosophizing—but by all means let your passion guide your pen (well…keyboard). Every step of the way, this student relates their highs and lows, their challenges and successes, to an extremely earnest and sincere set of altruistic values invoked at the very beginning of their statement. Law school admissions boards don’t exactly prize monomania, but they do value intense and sustained commitment.  

Shows maturity: This student also successfully elaborates this passion in relation to mature understanding. That is, they make repeated points about their developing understanding of law that sustains their hopefulness and emotional intensity while also incorporating knowledge of the sometimes troubling day-to-day challenges of the profession. Law schools aren’t looking for starry-eyed naivete, but they do value optimism and the ability to stay positive in a profession often defined by its difficulties and unpredictability. 

Every pre-law student blames their lack of success on the large number of applicants, the heartless admissions committee members, or the high GPA and LSAT score cut offs. Check out our blog on  law school acceptance rates  to find out more about the law school admission statistics for law schools in the US . Having taught more than a thousand students every year, I can tell you the REAL truth about why most students get rejected: 

Need tips on your law school resume?

8 Additional Law School Personal Statement Examples

Now that you have a better idea of what your law school personal statement should include, and how you can make it stand out, here are five additional law school personal statements for you to review and get some inspiration:

Law school personal statement example #11

According to the business wire, 51 percent of students are not confident in their career path when they enroll in college. I was one of those students for a long time. My parents had always stressed the importance of education and going to college, so I knew that I wanted to get a tertiary education, I just didn’t know in what field. So, like many other students, I matriculated undecided and started taking introductory courses in the subjects that interest me. I took classes from the department of literature, philosophy, science, statistics, business, and so many others but nothing really called out to me.

I figured that maybe if I got some practical experience, I might get more excited about different fields. I remembered that my high school counselor had told me that medicine would be a good fit for me, and I liked the idea of a career that involved constant learning. So, I applied for an observership at my local hospital. I had to cross “doctor” off my list of post-graduate career options when I fainted in the middle of a consultation in the ER.

I had to go back to the drawing board and reflect on my choices. I decided to stop trying to make an emotional decision and focus on the data. So, I looked at my transcript thus far, and it quickly became clear to me that I had both an interest and an aptitude for business and technology. I had taken more courses in those two fields than in any others, and I was doing very well in them. My decision was reaffirmed when I spent the summer interning at a digital marketing firm during my senior year in college and absolutely loved my experience. 

Since graduating, I have been working at that same firm and I am glad that I decided to major in business. I first started as a digital advertising assistant, and I quickly learned that the world of digital marketing is an incredibly fast-paced sink-or-swim environment. I didn’t mind it at all. I wanted to swim with the best of them and succeed. So far, my career in advertising has been challenging and rewarding in ways that I never could have imagined. 

I remember the first potential client that I handled on my own. Everything had been going great until they changed their mind about an important detail a day before we were supposed to present our pitch. . I had a day to research and re-do a presentation that I’d been preparing for weeks. I was sure that I’d be next on the chopping block, but once again all I had to was take a step back and look at the information that I had. Focusing on the big picture helped me come up with a new pitch, and after a long night, lots of coffee, and laser-like focus, I delivered a presentation that I was not only proud of, but that landed us the client. 

Three years and numerous client emergencies later, I have learned how to work under pressure, how to push myself, and how to think critically. I also have a much better understanding of who I am and what skills I possess. One of the many things that I have learned about myself over the course of my career is that I am a fan of the law. Over the past three years, I have worked with many lawyers to navigate the muddy waters of user privacy and digital media. I often find myself looking forward to working with our legal team, whereas my coworkers actively avoid them. I have even become friends with my colleagues on the legal team who also enjoy comparing things like data protection laws in the US and the EU and speculating about the future of digital technology regulation. 

These experiences and conversations have led me to a point where I am interested in various aspects of the law. I now know that I have the skills required to pursue a legal education and that this time around, I am very sure about what I wish to study. Digital technology has evolved rapidly over the last decade, and it is just now starting to become regulated. I believe that this shift is going to open up a more prominent role for those who understand both digital technology and its laws, especially in the corporate world. My goal is to build a career at the intersection of these worlds.

Law school personal statement example #12

The first weekend I spent on my undergrad college campus was simultaneously one of the best and worst of my life. I was so excited to be away from home, on my own, making new friends and trying new things. One of those things was a party at a sorority house with my friend and roommate, where I thought we both had a great time. Both of us came from small towns, and we had decided to look out for one another. So, when it was time to go home, and I couldn't find her, I started to worry. I spent nearly an hour looking for her before I got her message saying she was already back in our dorm. 

It took her three months to tell me that she had been raped that night. Her rapist didn't hold a knife to her throat, jump out of a dark alleyway, or slip her a roofie. Her rapist was her long-term boyfriend, with whom she'd been in a long-distance relationship for just over a year. He assaulted her in a stranger's bedroom while her peers, myself included, danced the night away just a few feet away. 

I remember feeling overwhelmed when she first told me. I was sad for my friend, angry on her behalf, and disgusted by her rapist's actions. I also felt incredibly guilty because I had been there when it happened. I told myself that I should have stayed with her all night and that I should have seen the abuse - verbal and physical harassment- that he was inflicting on her before it turned sexual. But eventually, I realized that thinking about what could, should, or would've happened doesn't help anyone. 

I watched my friend go through counseling, attend support groups, and still, she seemed to be hanging on by a thread. I couldn't begin to imagine what she was going through, and unfortunately, there was very little I could do to help her. So, I decided to get involved with the Sexual Assault Responders Group on campus, where I would actually be able to help another survivor. 

My experience with the Sexual Assault Responders Group on campus was eye-opening. I mostly worked on the peer-to-peer hotline, where I spoke to survivors from all walks of life. I was confronted by the fact that rape is not a surreal unfortunate thing that happens to a certain type of person. I learned that it happens daily to mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends. I also learned that most survivors try to manage this burden on their own, afraid of judgment and repercussions and fearful of a he-said-she-said court battle.

I am proud to say that I used my time in college to not only earn an education, but also to advocate for survivors of sexual assault. I protested the university's cover-up of a gang rape that took place in one of the fraternity houses on campus. I spearheaded a 'no means no' campaign to raise awareness about consent on campus. I also led several fundraising campaigns for the Sexual Assault Responders Group that allowed us to pay for legal and mental health counselors for the survivors who came to us for support. 

One of the things that this experience helped me realize is that sexual assault survivors often do not know where to turn when the system tries to tell them that it'd be best to just keep quiet and suffer in silence. My goal is to become one of those people that they can turn to for counsel and support. I believe that a law degree would give me the knowledge and tools that I need to advocate for survivors on a more significant scale. 

Need tips for your law school optional essays? Check out this infographic:

Law school personal statement example #13

I grew up in two different worlds. My world at home was full of people of various skin tones and accents. It was small, loud, and often chaotic in the best ways. I remember walking home and getting to experience music from across the world before I got to my apartment building. Loud reggaeton and afrobeat were always playing somewhere in the distance. Aunties and uncles usually stopped by unannounced and slipped money in your palm when they hugged you goodbye. And the smell of fried plantains was almost always present. 

My other world was in school. It was a much quieter, more organized world with white hallways, navy blazers, and plaid skirts. It was full of people who did not look or sound like me and teachers who thought my hair was "interesting." It was also full of great books and engaging debates about everything from foreign policy to the influence of Jazz on hip hop. 

I lived in these two worlds because I was born and raised in Xtown, but I went to a private school in a much richer neighborhood. I loved both of my worlds, but I hated that I had to act differently in both of them. When in school, I had to "code switch" to sound like I belonged there. When I was at home, all the people who shared the interests I was developing in school were either working or in college, so I had no one to talk to about them. 

My words never felt more divided until I started considering a career in law. I remember telling one of my uncles that I wanted to become a lawyer and his response was, "So you want to become the man, huh?" 

I wasn't surprised by his response, or at least I shouldn't have been. One of the things that I know for sure about the first world I lived in is that many of its inhabitants do not trust the law. I had believed this for so long simply because of the conversations that I would hear around me. However, in my second world, I was learning about all of these great freedoms and rights that the law was designed to give all Americans, and I wanted to bring those to my community. 

I started working on this during the summer before my final year of high school. I got an internship with the legal aid office in my neighborhood and spent three months learning from people who, like me, had grown up in Xtown and wanted to help people. During my time in the legal aid office, I understood that the people in my community did not trust the law for two main reasons: 1. They did not understand a lot of it, and 2. It had been used against people like us many times. 

I remember one particular case that Ms. Sharma - the lawyer I was learning from then and who still mentors me today - handled that summer. It was the case of a young mother who had received a notice of eviction from her landlord two days after refusing his advances. The man claimed that she violated her contract because she made homemade shea butter that she sold on Etsy. Ms. Sharma had me look through her rental agreement. After she confirmed that I was right in determining that the young mother had not violated her contract, she contacted the landlord to advise him that what he was doing was intimidation and sexual harassment. 

My experiences in the legal aid office with Ms. Sharma opened my eyes to the disgusting behavior of human beings, but it also gave me the opportunity to see that the law was my opportunity to use what I learned in my second world to help the community that I was raised in. I returned to school with a new motivation that followed me to college. In addition to completing my bachelor's degree in sociology and African American studies, I spent most of my college years participating in legal internships and community outreach programs. 

I believe that these experiences have given me the foundation I need to be a successful law student and, eventually, a lawyer who can truly be an advocate for members of his community. 

Law school personal statement example #14

One day, my parents noticed that the other children in my age group had been speaking and communicating, but I had not. At first, they thought that my lack of speech was just me being shy, but eventually, they realized that on the rare occasions that I did speak, my words were practically incomprehensible. It wasn't long before they took me to a specialist who diagnosed me with a severe phonological disorder that hindered my ability to verbalize the basic sounds that make up words.

I started going to speech therapy when I was three years old. I saw numerous speech therapists, many of whom believed that I would never be able to communicate effectively with others. Lucky for me, my parents did not give up on me. I went to speech therapy thrice a week until the 8th grade, and I gave every single session my all. I also spent a lot of time in my room practicing my speech by myself. My efforts paid off, and even though I didn't become a chatterbox overnight, I could at least communicate effectively. 

This was a short-lived victory, though. A year later, my speech impediment was back, and my ability to articulate words was once again severely limited. This complicated matters because it was my freshman year of high school, and I was in a brand-new school where I did not know anyone. Having been bullied in middle school, I knew first-hand how vicious kids can be, and I didn't want to be the butt of any more jokes, so I didn't try to speak at school. I knew that this was preventing me from making new friends or participating in class and that it was probably not helping my impediment, but I was not ready to face the fact that I needed to go back to speech therapy. 

Eventually, I stopped resisting and went back to speech therapy. At the time, I saw it as accepting defeat, and even though my speech improved significantly, my self-confidence was lower than it had ever been. If you ask any of my high school classmates about me, they will likely tell you that I am very quiet or timid – both of which are not true, but they have no way of knowing otherwise. I barely spoke or interacted with my peers for most of high school. Instead, I focused on my studies and extracurricular activities that didn't involve much collaboration, like yearbook club and photography. 

It was only when I was getting ready for college that I realized that I was only hurting myself with my behavior. I knew I needed to become more confident about my speech to make friends and be the student I wanted to be in college. So, I used the summer after my high school graduation to get some help. I started seeing a new speech therapist who was also trained as a counselor, and she helped me understand my impediment better. For example, I now know that I tend to stutter when stressed, but I also know that taking a few deep breaths helps me get back on track. 

Using the confidence that I built in therapy that summer, I went to college with a new pep in my step. I pushed myself to meet new people, try new things, and join extracurricular organizations when I entered college. I applied to and was accepted into a competitive freshman leadership program called XYZ. Most of XYZ's other members were outgoing and highly involved in their high school communities. In other words, they were the complete opposite of me. I didn't let that intimidate me. Instead, I made a concerted effort to learn from them. If you ask any of my teammates or other classmates in college, they will tell you that I was an active participant in discussions during meetings and that I utilized my unique background to share a different perspective.

My experience with XYZ made it clear to me that my speech disorder wouldn't hold me back as long as I did not stand in my own way. Once I understood this, I kept pushing past the boundaries I had set for myself. I began taking on leadership roles in the program and looking for ways to contribute to my campus community outside of XYZ. For example, I started a community outreach initiative that connected school alumni willing to provide pro bono services to different members of the community who were in need. 

Now, when I look back at my decision to go back to speech therapy, I see it as a victory. I understand that my speech impediment has shaped me in many ways, many of which are positive. My struggles have made me more compassionate. My inability to speak has made me a better listener. Not being able to ask questions or ask for help has made me a more independent critical thinker. I believe these skills will help me succeed in law school, and they are part of what motivates me to apply in the first place. Having struggled for so long to speak up for myself, I am ready and eager for the day when I can speak up for others who are temporarily unable to. 

“ You talk too much; you should be a lawyer.” 

I heard that sentence often while growing up because Congolese people always tell children who talk a lot that they should be lawyers. Sometimes I wonder if those comments did not subconsciously trigger my interest in politics and then the law. If they did, I am grateful for it. I am thankful for all the experiences that have brought me to this point where I am seeking an education that will allow me to speak for those who don’t always know how to, and, more importantly, those who are unable to. 

For context, I am the child of Congolese immigrants, and my parents have a fascinating story that I will summarize for you: 

A 14-year-old girl watches in confusion as a swarm of parents rush through the classroom, grabbing their children, and other students start running from the class. Soon she realizes that she and one other student are the only ones left, but when they both hear the first round of gunshots, no one has to tell them that it is time to run home. On the way home, she hears more gunshots and bombs. She fears for her survival and that of her family, and she starts to wonder what this war means for her and her family. Within a few months, her mother and father are selling everything they own so that they can board a plane to the US.

On the other side of the town, a 17-year-old boy is being forced to board a plane to the US because his mother, a member of parliament and the person who taught him about the importance of integrity, has been executed by the same group of soldiers who are taking over the region. 

They met a year later, outside the principal’s office at a high school in XXY. They bonded over the many things they have in common and laughed at the fact that their paths probably never would have crossed in Bukavu. Fast forward to today, they have been married for almost two decades and have raised three children, including me. 

Growing up in a Congolese household in the US presented was very interesting. On the one hand, I am very proud of the fact that I get to share my heritage with others. I speak French, Lingala, and Swahili – the main languages of Congo – fluently. I often dress in traditional clothing; I performed a traditional Congolese dance at my high school’s heritage night and even joined the Congolese Student Union at Almamatter University. 

On the other hand, being Congolese presented its challenges growing up. At a young age, I looked, dressed, and sounded different from my classmates. Even though I was born in the US, I had picked up a lot of my parents’ accents, and kids loved to tease me about it. Ignorant comments and questions were not uncommon. “Do you speak African?” “You’re not American! How did you get here?” “You don’t look African” “My mom says I can’t play with you because your parents came here to steal our jobs”. These are some of the polite comments that I heard often, and they made me incredibly sad, especially when classmates I considered my friends made them. 

My parents did not make assimilating any easier. My mother especially always feared I would lose my Congolese identity if they did not make it a point to remind me of it. She often said, “Just because you were born in America doesn’t mean that you are not Congolese anymore.” On one occasion, I argued that she always let me experience my Congolese side, but not my American side. That was the first time she told me I should be a lawyer. 

Having few friends and getting teased in school helped me learn to be comfortable on my own. I Often found refuge and excitement in books. I even started blogging about the books I read and interacting with other readers online. As my following grew, I started to use my platform to raise awareness about issues that I am passionate about, like climate change, the war in Congo, and the homeless crisis here in XXY. I was able to start a fundraising campaign through my blog that raised just under $5000 for the United Way – a local charity that helps the homeless in my city. 

This experience helped me understand that I could use my skills and the few tools at my disposal to help people, both here in America and one day, maybe even in Congo. I realized that I am lucky enough to have the option of expanding that skillset through education in order to do more for the community that welcomed my grandparents, uncles, aunties, and parents when they had nowhere else to go. 

The journey was not easy because while I received immense support and love from my family for continuing my education, I had to teach myself how to prepare and apply to college. Once there I had to learn on my own what my professors expected of me, how to study, how to network, and so much more. I am grateful for those experiences too, because they taught me how to be resourceful, research thoroughly, listen carefully, and seek help when I need it. 

All of these experiences have crafted me into who I am today, and I believe that with the right training, they will help me become a great attorney.

Law School Personal Statement Example #16

During my undergraduate studies, in the first two years, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my career. I enjoyed doing research, but I found that I became more interested in presenting the research than the process of contributing to it. I spoke to most of my science professors to ask if I could participate in their research. I worked in biology labs, chemistry labs, and in psychology classrooms working on a variety of projects that seemed meaningful and interesting. I gained new perspectives on study habits and mental health; the influence of music on the human mind; and applications of surface tension. I noticed that I was always taking the lead when we were presenting our findings to peers and research groups. I enjoyed yielding questions and addressing the captivating the audience with engaging gestures and speech. This was what led me to consider a career in law.

I always thought that I would become a scientist, so when I discovered that there were aspects of law that could be considered “scientific”, I was all ears. Still during my second year of undergraduate studies, I wanted to join an environmental awareness group, but noticed there weren’t any active. So, I took it upon myself to create my own. I wanted to do cleanup projects across the city, so I mapped out parks and areas that we could walk or drive to. I advertised my project to other students and eventually gained approximately fifteen students eager to help out. I was struck by the pollution in the water, the negligence of park maintenance. I drafted a letter to the municipal government and petitioned for a stricter environmental compliance approach. I wanted to advertise fines to hold polluters accountable, as there were hardly any to enforce the rules. A letter was returned to me stating that the government would consider my request. I felt a sense of gratification, of purpose; I discovered that I had the ability to enact change through policy. This drew me closer to the prospect of building a future in law, so I looked at other avenues to learn more.

I still wanted to find a way to bring together my love of science and discourse/communication. As a science student, I had the privilege of learning from professors who emphasized critical thinking; and they gave me a chance to learn that on my own. I took an internship as an environmental planner. There, I helped present project ideas to various groups, updating demographic/development information, and managing planning processes. I engaged in analytical thinking by looking at maps and demographic information to develop potential plans for land use. It was also the experience I was looking for in terms of a balance between science and oral communication. Using data analysis, I spoke to other planners and review boards to bring ideas together and execute a plan.

Through science, I learned how to channel my curiosity and logical thinking; as an advocate, I learned how to be creative and resourceful. Presenting research findings and being questioned in front of a group of qualified researchers, having to be sharp and ready for anything, taught me how to be more concise in speech. Developing an advocacy group dedicated to improving my community showed me what it lacked; it opened my eyes to the impact of initiative and focused collaboration. I was eager to begin another science project, this time with the environment in mind. It was titled “determining and defining the role of sociodemographic factors in air pollution health disparities”. I compiled and summarized relevant research and sent it over to a representative of the municipal government. In a couple of weeks, my request to increase advertising of fines in public areas was agreed to.

This Juris Doctor/Master in Environmental Studies program will allow me to continue deepening my knowledge of environmental law. With my goal of developing a career in environmental affairs, overseeing policies that influence land protection/use, I know that this program will give me the tools I need to succeed. With my experience working with large groups, I also believe I will fit into the larger class sizes at your institution. I understand the value of working together and how to engage in healthy discourse. With your Global Sustainability Certification, I will equip myself the expertise I need to produce meaningful change in environmental policy.

Here's how a law school advisor can help you with your application:

Law School Personal Statement #17

Growing up in a poor neighborhood, what my friends used to call “the ghetto”, I was always looking for my way out. I tried running away, but I always ended up back home in that tiny complex, barely enough room to fit all my brothers and sisters with my parents. My dad was disabled and couldn’t work, and my mother was doing her best working full-time as a personal-support worker. There was nothing we could do to get out of our situation, or so it seemed. It wasn’t until years later when I started my undergraduate degree that ironically, after I found my way out, that I began looking for a way to come back. I wanted to be a voice for people living in those bleak conditions; hungry, without work. Helpless.

Getting my degree in social work was one of the best decisions of my life. It gave me the tools to lobby for solutions to problems in poor communities. I knew my neighborhood better than anyone because I grew up there. I had the lived experience. I started working with the local government to develop programs for my clients; the people living in those same neighborhoods. We worked to provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, and medical treatment—all things sorely lacking. My proudest moment was securing the funds and arranging surgery for my father’s bad hip and knees. I’m currently working on a large project with one of the community legislators to lobby for a harm reduction model addressing addiction in our communities.

With five years of experience as a social worker, I knew it was time for a career change when I learned that I could have more influence on public opinion and legislative decisions as a social-security disability lawyer. I knew firsthand that people victimized from racism, poverty, and injury needed more help than they were currently allotted. I knew that, from becoming and advocate and communicating with influential members of the local government, that I could do more with a law degree helping people attain basic needs like disability benefits, which are often denied outright.

This desire to help people get the help they need from local programs and government resources brought me to Scarborough, a small town outside of Toronto. I was aware of some of the issues afflicting this community, since I’d handled a few clients from there as a children’s disability social worker. Addiction and homelessness were the two main ones. I worked with children with ADHD or other physical/mental disabilities impairing their ability to attend school and function normally. I helped many of them get an IEP with the details of the special services they require, long overdue. I made sure each child got the care they needed, including special attention in school. Also noticing that so many of these families lacked proper nutrition, I organized a report detailing this finding. In it, I argued that the community needed more funds targeting lowest income families. I spoke directly with a legislator, which eventually got the city on board with developing a program more specifically for the lowest income families with residents under 18.

My goal has always been to be a voice for the inaudible, the ignored, who’ve been victimized by inadequate oversight from the ground up. Many of these groups, as I’ve witnessed firsthand, don’t have the luxury of being their own advocates. They are too busy trying to support their families, to put food on the table for their children. I’ve realized that it isn’t quite enough to work directly with these families to connect them with resources and ensure they get the support they need. Sometimes the support simply doesn’t exist, or it isn’t good enough. This is why I’m motivated to add a law degree to my credentials so I can better serve these people and communities. As a future social-security disability lawyer, I want to work with local governments to assist clients in navigating an assistance system and improving it as much as possible. This program will give me the access to a learning environment in which I can thrive and develop as an advocate.

Law School Personal Statement #18

“You’re worthy and loved”, I said to a twelve-year-old boy, Connor, whom I was supervising and spending time with during the Big Brother program at which we met. A few tears touched my shoulder as I pulled him into me, comforting him. He was a foster child. He didn’t know his parents and never stayed in one place longer than a few months; a year if he was lucky. I joined the program not expecting much. I was doing it for extra credit, because I wanted to give back to the community somehow and I thought it would be interesting to meet people. He confided in me; he told me that his foster parents often yelled at each other, and him. He told me he needed to escape. I called Child Protective Services and after a thorough investigation, they determined that Connor’s foster parents weren’t fit for fostering. He was moved, yet again, to a different home.

I wrote an op-ed detailing my experience as a Big Brother. I kept names anonymous. I wanted people to know how hard it was for children in the welfare system. Many of them, like Connor, were trapped in a perpetual cycle of re-homing, neglect, and even abuse. He and other children deserve stability and unconditional love. That should go without saying. I sent the op-ed to a local magazine and had it published. In it, I described not only the experience of one unfortunate kid, but many others as well who saw their own stories being told through Connor. I joined a non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to quality education for young people. I started learning about disparities in access; students excluded by racial or financial barriers. I was learning, one step at a time, how powerful words can be.

With the non-profit organization, I reached out to a few public schools in the area to represent some of our main concerns with quality of education disparities. Our goal was to bring resources together and promote the rights of children in education. We emphasized that collaboration between welfare agencies and schools was critical for education stability. Together, we created a report of recommendations to facilitate this collaboration. We outlined a variety of provisions, including more mechanisms for child participation, better recruitment of social service workers in schools, risk management and identification strategies, and better support for students with child protection concerns.

The highlight of that experience was talking to an assembly of parents and school faculty to present our findings and recommendations. The title of the presentation was “The Power of Words”. I opened with the story I wrote about in the op-ed. I wanted to emphasize that children are individuals; those trapped in the welfare system are not a monolith. They each have unique experiences, needs, and desires they want to fulfill in life. But our tools to help them can be improved, more individualized. I spoke about improving the quality of residential care for children and the need to promote their long-term development into further education and employment. Finally, I presented a list of tools we created to help support a more financially sustainable and effective child welfare system. The talk was received with applause and a tenuous commitment from a few influential members of the crowd. It was a start.

Although I lost contact with Connor, I think about him almost every day. I can only hope that the programs we worked on to improve were helping him, wherever he was. I want to continue to work on the ground level of child welfare amelioration, but I realize I will need an education in law to become a more effective advocate for this cause. There are still many problems in the child welfare system that will need to be addressed: limited privacy/anonymity for children, service frameworks that don’t address racism adequately, limited transportation in remote communities, and many more. I’ve gained valuable experience working with the community and learning about what the welfare system lacks and does well. I’m ready to take the next step for myself, my community, and those beyond it.

Assuredly, but this length varies from school to school. As with all important details of your law school application, thoroughly research your specific schools’ requirements and guidelines before both writing and editing your personal statement to ensure it fits their specifics. The average length is about 2 pages, but don’t bother drafting your statement until you have specific numbers from your schools of choice. It’s also a good idea to avoid hitting the maximum length unless absolutely necessary. Be concise, keep economy of language in mind, and remain direct, without rambling or exhaustive over-explanation of your ideas or experiences.

You should keep any words that aren’t your own to a minimum. Admissions committees don’t want to read a citation-heavy academic paper, nor do they respond well to overused famous quotes as themes in personal statements. If you absolutely must include a quote from elsewhere, be sure to clearly indicate your quote’s source. But in general, it’s best to keep the personal statement restricted to your own words and thoughts. They’re evaluating you, not Plato! It’s a personal statement. Give them an engaging narrative in your own voice. 

Admissions committees will already have a strong sense of your academic performance through your transcripts and test scores, so discussing these in your personal statement is generally best avoided. You can contextualize these things, though—if you have an illuminating or meaningful story about how you came to receive an award, or how you enjoyed or learned from the work that won you the award, then consider discussing it. Overall though, it’s best to let admissions committees evaluate your academic qualifications and accomplishments from your transcripts and official documents, and give them something new in the personal statement. 

When you first sit down to begin, cast a wide net. Consider all the many influences and experiences that have led you to where you are. You’ll eventually (through editing and rewriting) explain how these shape your relationship to a career in law, but one of the best things you can give yourself during the initial drafting phase is a vast collection of observations and potential points for development. As the New England School of Law points out in their, “just write!” Let the initial draft be as messy as it needs to be, and refine it from there. It’s a lot easier to condense and sharpen a big draft than it is to try to tensely craft a perfect personal statement from nothing.  

Incredibly important, as should be clear by now! Unlike other specialties, law schools don’t usually conduct interviews with applicants, so your personal statement is in effect your one opportunity to speak with the admissions committee directly. Don’t let that gravity overwhelm you when you write, but keep it in mind as you edit and dedicate time to improving your initial drafts. Be mindful of your audience as you speak with them, and treat writing your personal statement as a kind of initial address in what, hopefully, will eventually turn into an ongoing dialogue.  

There are a variety of factors that can make or break a law school personal statement. You should aim to achieve at least a few of the following: a strong opening hook; a compelling personal narrative; your skills and competencies related to law; meaningful experiences; why you’re the right fit for the school and program.

Often, they do. It’s best for you to go to the schools you’re interesting in applying to so you can find out if they have any specific formatting or content requirements. For example, if you wanted to look at NYU law or Osgoode Hall Law School , you would find their admissions requirements pages and look for information on the personal statement.

There are lots of reasons why a personal statement might not work. Usually, applicants who don’t get accepted didn’t come up with a good strategy for this essay. Remember, you need to target the specific school and program. Other reasons are that the applicant doesn’t plan or proofread their essay. Both are essential for submitting materials that convince the admissions committee that you’re a strong candidate. You can always use law school admissions consulting application review to help you develop your strategy and make your essay stand out.

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How long should a Personal Statement be? Is there any rule on that?

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello V! Thanks for your question. Some schools will gave very specific word limits, while some will not. If you do not have a limit indicated, try to stick to no more than a page, 600-800 words. 

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HKU Faculty of Law

HKU-UCL Dual Degree Program

How To Apply

• Submit a JUPAS application with the HKU LLB programme (i.e. JUPAS Code JS6406) listed as one of their Band A choices; AND
• Submit a separate online application form for this dual degree programme; AND
• Submit the following via Qualtrics no later than 23:59 (Hong Kong Time) on February 9, 2024.
• Submit a non-JUPAS application with the HKU LLB programme (i.e. Non-JUPAS code 6406) placed as the first choice; and
• Indicate their choice for this programme in the “Dual Degree and University Collaborative Programmes” section under the “Choice of Programme” tab in the HKU online application form ; and
• Submit a separate personal statement for this dual degree programme and other information as instructed.
• There is no separate JUPAS or non-JUPAS code for the HKU-UCL Dual Degree Programme in Law.
• Applicants who have applied for this programme and for the HKU LLB programme will be considered for both programmes.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a panel interview in March of each calendar year by email.
• Personal statement submitted via email shall not be entertained.
• LNAT requirement is waived for applicants applying through HKU.
• Late applications will not be considered.
• All information regarding this Dual Degree is subject to change without prior notice. Please check the website for the information of this programme from time to time.

For all enquiries, please contact [email protected] . Last update: 1 November, 2023

• LLM(Arb&DR)
• LLM(ChineseLaw)
• LLM(T&IPL)
• Master of Common Law
• Peking University (PKU)
• University of Zurich (UZH)
• Current Students

Master of Laws (LLM)

Mode of Attendance

Full-time | 1 Year Part-time | 2 Years

Programme Director

Prof. Ying ZHU

Tuition Fees*

HK$200,200 p.a. *Subject to University’s approval

Application Deadline

Main Round: 12:00 PM (GMT+8), 5 January 2024 (Friday) Clearing Round: 12:00 PM (GMT+8), 29 February 2024 (Thursday) Clearing Round for Specialisations: 12:00 PM (GMT+8), 28 March 2024 (Thursday)

The Master of Laws (LLM) programme at HKU Law is a highly competitive course for those who have already received outstanding results while studying for their first law degree at top universities worldwide. Many come to the programme already with exceptional legal experience and postgraduate degrees. The programme also provides students with maximum flexibility in developing their legal interests and expertise in a friendly, engaging and international environment.

Admitted candidates can pursue a specialised LLM degree by completing a series of modules towards a specific area of law. Candidates have an alternative option to select from a wide range of modules for a general award. Specialisations are available in the following fields: • Competition Law and Policy^ (Subject to the University’s approval for 2024 Entry) • Medical Ethics and Law^

^Open to non-law graduates, i.e., achieving your LLM without a prior Law degree.

Students must complete 72 credits, including a capstone experience, following the regulations and syllabuses for this programme. Students may also choose courses from the individual areas of law below and courses from our LLM specialist programmes in any given academic year.

Candidates who opted for a general award may also select a range of modules in the following areas of law: • Admiralty and Shipping • Commercial, Corporate and Financial Law • Competition Law and Policy (Subject to the University’s approval for 2024 Entry) • Human Rights and Public Law • Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law • International and Comparative Law • Medical Ethics and Law • PRC Law

Please refer to the Regulations and Syllabus of your respective intake for more details.

Remark: Not all courses will be offered in any given year. You may also refer to the course schedule per academic year for actual classes available.

To be eligible for admission to the courses leading to the degree of Master of Laws, a candidate: (a) shall comply with the General Regulations and the Regulations for Taught Postgraduate Curricula;

(b) shall either: (1) hold the degree of Bachelor of Laws with at least second-class honours of this University; or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose; or

(2) obtain either the Common Professional Examination of England and Wales or the Common Professional Examination Certificate of this University provided that in either case the candidate has also obtained a degree with at least second class honours of this University, or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose; and

(c) for a candidate who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English, shall satisfy the University English language requirement applicable to higher degrees as prescribed under General Regulation G2(b).

The Faculty has its specific requirements with regard to IELTS and TOEFL tests*: - IELTS (Academic): An overall band of 7.0 or above with no subtest below 6.5 - TOEFL (Paper-based Test): A score of 593 or above - TOEFL (Internet-based Test): A score of 97 or above

*The Faculty accepts the TOEFL/IELTS score report as valid when obtained within two years of the application deadline.

To be eligible for admission to the courses leading to the degree of Master of Laws (with specialisation in Medical Ethics and Law, Competition Law and Policy^), a candidate: (a) shall comply with the General Regulations and the Regulations for Taught Postgraduate Curricula;

(2) obtain either the Common Professional Examination of England and Wales or the Common Professional Examination Certificate of this University provided that in either case the candidate has also obtained a degree with at least second class honours of this University, or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose; or

(3) hold a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than law with at least second class honours of this University, or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose, and have at least two years of relevant experience or professional qualifications; and

^Subject to the University’s approval for 2024 Entry

“The LLM programme at HKU is an unrivalled opportunity to develop relevant, practical skills for the evolving Asian legal market. In my time in the programme I was able to take a diverse curriculum, including courses in business and corporate finance, Hong Kong constitutional and human rights law, technology law, and PRC law, all taught by experienced practitioners from business and legal backgrounds. For an aspiring American lawyer with an interest in Asia it was a truly unique experience, and I’m sure the impact on my career will be palpable in the coming years.”

Mr. Judd Abramson (from the US, UPenn JD, HKU LLM 2012), Associate, The Law Firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, USA.

“The LLM at HKU is about diversity. I had the opportunity to choose from an extremely wide range of courses, be that human rights, intellectual property law, arbitration, or international economic and financial law. The LLM programme has allowed me to explore legal fields previously unbeknown to me as well as to deepen my knowledge of areas I was already familiar with – and all this in one of the world’s most fascinating jurisdictions: Hong Kong is deeply rooted in the common law tradition, yet its laws and culture have been and will continue to be influenced greatly by Mainland China and the rest of the world. This diversity is ever-present in the daily life on campus, too, where scholars and students from all legal traditions and from every corner of the world come and work together, and one can be sure to not just acquire valuable legal skills, but also form friendships for life.”

Ms. Michelle Kalt (from Switzerland, LLM 2014), Legal Intern with the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

“The LLM programme at HKU provides an excellent foundation for aspiring legal scholars. Those passionate about the law are given the opportunity to learn and contribute to a range of specialist areas: from International Humanitarian Law to PRC Law, with a great deal in-between. Teaching is of the highest quality, with local and international academics nurturing legal scholarship with patience, care and skill. Yet the greatest achievement of the LLM at HKU is its multi-dimensional focus: critical legal analysis is not limited to issues raised in Hong Kong and China but across Asia, Europe and the United States. In sum, the LLM broadens the scope and depth of a candidate’s legal knowledge to an unprecedented level – which is ultimately what every lawyer, whether in academia or in practice, truly desires.”

Mr. Justin Ismail (from Hong Kong; Oxford BA, HKU LLM 2014)

“The LLM programme at the University of Hong Kong has unique features. It offers a great opportunity to learn about the most relevant current legal issues both in Asia and internationally. If you take into consideration the increasing importance that Asia, especially China, has gained in the world economy, being able to understand the major challenges that the region is facing and its global implications is a significant asset for any international lawyer. Besides, living in Hong Kong is an outstanding experience since it is one of the most dynamic and prosperous cities in the world. Not only can you learn about Asia, but you can also live it. That is why the LLM programme at HKU is highly recommendable.”

Mr. Juan Ignacio Stampalija (LLM 2012), Assistant Professor of Law, Universidad Austral School of Law, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“The law keeps on changing everyday. Good command of legal theory and awareness of its contemporary development are important for every legal practitioner. The LLM programme of HKU offers a great variety of courses for practitioners to pick and choose according to their professional needs and provides them an excellent opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge.”

Mr. Lewis Law (LLM 2013), Senior Government Counsel in the Civil Division, Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Master of Laws with Specialisation in MEDICAL ETHICS AND LAW: Information Session for September 2024 Intake

HKU Law offers a Medical Ethics and Law Specialisation in the Master of Laws (LLM) programme. The specialisation is open to both (1) holders of non-law degrees with at least 2 years of relevant experience or professional qualifications and (2) holders of law degrees. For details on the admission requirements, please see https://llm.law.hku.hk/llm/ under "Admission requirements".

The specialisation is designed as an integrated interdisciplinary course of study that addresses contentious issues of great importance affecting the health, law and business sectors. It aims at empowering students with knowledge about the big ethical and legal questions of medicine and health. The specialisation, with modules taught by experts from the HKU Centre for Medical Ethics and Law (CMEL), offers healthcare professionals, lawyers, policymakers, and scientists, among others, insights to deal with ethical, legal and policy challenges confronting healthcare and the public health system.

Key Courses of the Medical Ethics and Law Specialisation [IMPORTANT NOTE: The following is subject to approval to be granted by the University. It is possible for some of the courses below not to be offered in any given year.]

(Compulsory) LLAW6272 Medical Law and Ethics (Compulsory) LLAW6274 The Beginning and End of Life LLAW6291 Mental Disability and the Law LLAW6318 Public Health Ethics and Law LLAW6054 9-credit Dissertation

Details of Information Session Date: 20 February 2024 (Tuesday) Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (GMT +8) Mode: Hybrid (Physical and Zoom) Venue: Kai Chong Tong Communication Resources Centre, 1/F, Postgraduate Education Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong

The September 2024 Intake - Information Session recording is now available!

Master of Laws with Specialisation in Competition Law and Policy (“CLP”) - Information Session for September 2024 Intake

HKU Law plans to offer a specialisation in Competition Law and Policy in the Master of Laws (LLM) programme for its September 2024 intake. The proposed specialisation is open to both (1) holders of non-law degrees with at least 2 years of relevant experience or professional qualifications and (2) holders of law degrees.

The new specialization (subject to university approval) will leverage the Faculty’s long-standing strength and course offerings in competition law, with staff members who are leading competition law scholars in the region. With competition law being one of the fastest growing areas of law in Asia, the specialization will help fulfil needs for postgraduate education in competition law (taught in English) in the East Asian region.

Date: 22 February 2024 (Thursday) Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (GMT +8) Venue: Live Zoom Session

For 2024-2025 Intake - Main Round: 12:00 PM (GMT+8), 5 January 2024 (Friday) - Clearing Round: 12:00 PM (GMT+8), 29 February 2024 (Thursday) - Clearing Round (for Specialisations only): 12:00 PM (GMT +8), 28 March 2024 (Thursday) - Interested applicants should submit their application at https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg/programme-list - Applications maybe processed on a rolling basis, and hence early applications are strongly encouraged.

Programme-related Enquiries ✉ [email protected]

Contact Info

Faculty of Law, 10/F, Cheng Yu Tung Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong

T. (852) 3917 2953 E.  [email protected]

About University

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• The University of Hong Kong
• Faculty of Law

Copyright © 2024 Master of Laws Programmes (LLM & MCL), Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong. All Rights Reserved.

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HKU International Affairs Office

10. what should i write in my personal statement.

You may wish to explain why you are interested in the exchange programme, and why have you chosen HKU as host university. There is no word limit.

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• +91 9048815031

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Lack of engagement:

The write-up contains only statements.

Not self-reflective:

The document looks too detached from the writer. 

Not tailor-made to HKU:

The personal statement looks too generic.

Not genuine:

The writer has included fabricated info to impress the committee. 

Plagiarism:

The document is a copy of another Hong Kong university personal statement sample. 

How Do Professionals Write Personal Statements for HKU? The Secret Tips

Check out these secret tips from experts and use them diligently as you write your document.

Strictly adhere to the requirements:

First and foremost, write your personal statement exactly as you are expected to write it. Be it adhering to the format or meeting the requirements, do not fail.

Answer the personal statement prompts:

Answering the question prompts we shared earlier in this blog is necessary to ensure the completeness of your document.

Catchy introduction:

Selectors will not read your personal statement word by word. They will mostly scan it. By making your introduction attractive, you can win their attention quickly.

Do revision:

Sometimes, you may have to rewrite an entire paragraph or a point. Only through multiple revisions, you can know which one needs a bit of revamping.

Submit on time:

Don’t wait for the deadline to submit your personal statement. Submit it at least a week or two earlier. This will enable you to enjoy the benefit of early bird applications. 

Use standard English:

The quality of the language used in your personal statement HKU influences what and how selectors understand your story. So, it is inevitable to use standard English without errors. 

Why Study in Hong Kong?

A lot of students, not only from Asia but also from Europe, America, Africa and the Pacific, flock to Hong Kong for higher education. Why do they prefer to study in Hong Kong? 

Here are some reasons.

Fastest-growing metropolis:

Hong Kong is one of the fastest-growing metropolises in the world. Needless to say, the sheer number of opportunities it offers is on the rise.

The major hub of higher education:

Hong Kong is a major hub for higher education in Asia. Universities like HKU offer a myriad of higher study programs for students from all academic and professional backgrounds. 

Diverse culture:

Hong Kong is a hugely multicultural city with people from all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. It is a place where everyone can feel at home.

Safe for everyone:

 Hong Kong has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Any incident of crime is taken seriously by authorities. The safety of the inhabitants is a priority concern for the government.

Well connected:

Hong Kong is well connected with other cities in the region as well as international capitals through direct flight services. 

How to Apply for HKU?

• Register an account at the university’s official application portal. 
• Begin your application process. 
• Keep track of the date for the first round of evaluation and submit your application
• Submit all your supporting documents including Hong Kong university personal statement and LORs 
• Wait for the response from the admission committee.

Importance dates to remember

Please note that this is a tentative chart of dates. Dates are subject to changes each year based on public holidays and weekends. 

Top Higher Study Programs That HKU is Known For

• Social Sciences
• Architecture
• Business School
• Engineering

Did We Clear All Your Doubts?

We are confident that we did. Do you have anything to suggest to us? 

We are on a mission to make this blog the ultimate source of information for everyone out there who wants to make an impact on their application through a strong HKU personal statement. 

Feel free to share your suggestion, feedback, doubts or questions regarding this blog in the comments below. 

We greatly appreciate your time.

I am Anjit.V.S, a freelance writer, overseas education consultant and an academic documentation expert. Over the years, I have written documents for thousands of students and hundreds of businesses and individuals worldwide. Many of the prominent study abroad counsellors in India refer me to their students for SOP, LOR, admission essays. personal statements and other similar documents. Not just the academic documents but whatever content needs you have, stay assured. Perfectly impeccable services are delivered.

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Future engineers and leaders of innovation are expected to have the solid engineering skills and in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge needed to take on many of the global challenges that humankind faces. This course is a 5-day introductory course for S4-S6 secondary school students who want to have an overview in engineering science at the university level. Through lectures and hands-on opportunities such as problem-solving and various activities, students will learn about the latest development in the engineering science field. This course covers 5 rapidly developing engineering research areas: industry 4.0, robotics, extended reality, healthcare systems engineering and 3D printing .

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• appreciate the latest development in the engineering science field;
• understand the contemporary knowledge related to industry 4.0;
• gain an understanding of the key issues for robotics;
• understand the technology, methods and components of extended reality;
• understand the current applications and impact of extended reality technology to society;
• gain a general understanding of healthcare systems engineering;
• understand several key analytic techniques for solving healthcare systems engineering problems;
• gain working knowledge on the applications of 3D printing technology.

Monday to Friday (09:30 - 12:30; 14:30 - 17:30)

* All discounts are  NOT in conjunction with any other discounts.

• Students of non-credit bearing programmes will receive a  Certificate of Attendance  upon completion of the programme. Students of credit-bearing programmes can apply for a transcript stating  HKU credits . Please contact your home institution regarding the recognition of HKU credits.
• It is understood that you must be available for the entire duration of the programme, from the start to the end. A  20% absence allowance  is permitted for emergencies or sick leave, provided there is a legitimate reason and official letterhead proof for the absence. Students are responsible for contacting the programme coordinator and/or the relevant teacher in advance regarding any anticipated absence. No exceptions will be made unless prior approval has been granted. Punctuality is expected for all classes and tutorials. Unexcused lateness may be considered as an absence. Students who fail to achieve an 80% attendance rate or who are absent without legitimate reason and official letterhead proof will not be awarded HKU Credits or the Certificate of Attendance.

For Undergraduate/Postgraduate Students ONLY

Students whose first language or teaching medium in the home institution is not English are required to submit one of the following test types to prove your mastery of the English Language:

• International Baccalaureate Diploma
• GCSE / GCEO
• SAT Reasoning Test
• CET Band 4 and Band 6
• Others (e.g. a letter of reference from your institution to prove that your English ability is sufficient enough for learning and communication)

If a student’s first language or teaching medium in the home institution is English, please upload a declaration statement for our reference.

• Declaration Form  - if English is the applicant’s first language or teaching medium at home institution.

Remark(s) for English proficiency documents: Unless otherwise specified, there are no minimum score requirements for language tests, programme host will determine if the applicants are capable of the programme. Please refer to the programme page to view the specific admission criteria of programme concerned.

Applying to HKUSI

Applications for the HKU Summer Institute 2024 Summer Programmes will be available on a rolling basis in Mid-November, 2023. All applications must be completed via the HKU Summer Institute Online Application System . Undergraduate/Postgraduate and Secondary School Programmes will be conducted in face-to-face or online mode. Applicants are reminded to carefully review on the requirements of the respective programme webpage before applying.

Application Opens

November 28, 2023

Application Deadline

10% Early Bird Discount: January 31, 2024 

For Non-local students: March 31, 2024

(Various Undergraduate Programmes have extended their application deadlines to April 7, 2024, at 12:00 noon . Please refer to the specific programme for details.)

For Local students: May 31, 2024

*We offer a variety of discount offers, and you are likelty to be eligible for at least one of our discounts, please check it out now!

To find out the specific requirements and application deadlines of individual programmes, please check the links below:

Undergraduate/Postgraduate Programmes

Secondary School Programmes

Rolling Admission

Your application, together with the materials submitted, will be reviewed once accepted by the system. Admission results will be announced on a rolling basis after January 31, 2024 , subject to the decision of the offering Units/Faculties/Departments. The earlier you apply, the better your chance of securing a place in the summer programmes.

Application Materials

An applicant should submit a complete application online before the application deadline, please prepare the following documents before you start the online application process:

Personal Identification

• Size should not be smaller than 40 mm (W) x 50 mm (H)  or  1200 pixel (W) x 1600 pixel (H)
• Image file type: PDF or JPG
• Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card
• Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents (港澳居民來往內地通行証或回鄉咭) (if applicable) for multi-location programme travelling to China
• Personal particular page of passport with validity period for at least 6 months
• Validated study visa (if applicable) Hong Kong Identity Card (if applicable)

Education and Qualification

• If these are not in English, they must be accompanied by a translation in English
• The documents must indicate: full name of school, full name of student and grading system/scale (e.g. 7=Excellent; 6=Very Good; 5=Good)
• e.g. HKCEE/DSE certificate with English Language subject result or IELTS/TOFEL result slip, etc.; or
• Declaration Form - if English is the applicant’s first language or teaching medium at home institution.

Additional Supporting Documents

Additional documents as required by individual programme(s) e.g. recommendation letter from school principal, personal statement, short essay, additional form.

Visa application

• If you do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong, regardless of the length of study, you are required by law to obtain a Student Visa for the purpose of education , issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD).
• Students must to submit the Student Visa Application online, if needed, as soon as you receive a Notice of Admission from HKUSI . Please visit the following link for online application: https://www.studentvisa.hku.hk/
• The Student Visa Application process takes approximately 10 to 12 weeks upon receipt of a complete set of application documents. The actual processing time could be longer for individual cases, especially if your set of documents is incomplete.
• Upon successful application, a visa/entry permit will be granted by ImmD, which will be collected by HKU Admissions Office for onward transmission to the applicant.
• One entry permit is applicable for one programme only , and the cumulative duration of a short-term study should not exceed 180 days within any 12-month period according to the Immigration guidelines.
• For Mainland Chinese applicants , you should reserve additional  2 weeks to apply for an Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) (港澳通行證) and the relevant exit endorsement (逗留D簽).

For students currently staying in Hong Kong holding a valid student visa (NOT a dependent visa) , if you are currently studying at another local university, you are not eligible to apply for any courses at HKU. This restriction is due to the conditions of your current student visa.

• Holding a valid Student Visa is important as you will be checked by the ImmD upon arrival in Hong Kong and also by HKU staff on the first day of class.
• It is the responsibility of individual students to make appropriate visa arrangement before they come to Hong Kong.

For more details, please refer to the following links:

• HKU Student Visa Application Website: Click Here
• Student Visa Application Timeline: Click Here
• Student Visa Application Procedure: Click Here

For inquiries, please contact us .

Academy for the talented – We’re searching for talents and YOU are wanted!

For Secondary School Students ONLY

Want to join the HKU Academy for the Talented Family? Students who are currently in Form 2/Grade 8 or above can submit a Talent Search application now! For more details, please visit https://talented.hku.hk/

HKU Academy for the Talented offers Summer Scholarships to the Academy members joining summer programmes offered by the HKU Summer Institute. Members who have successfully received an offer from the summer programmes will receive a scholarship which is equivalent to a 10% discount on the programme fee.

Level of Study Comparison Chart for Secondary School Students:

• When uploading the files to our Online Application System, please use the type of supporting document and your full name as the file name. (e.g. Passport LEE Tai Man Harry). The file name must be in English .
• Maximum uploading size for each file is 25MB .
• Please do not send any original documents to us by post. HKUSI is not responsible for any documents lost in the process.
• Application will only be processed after ALL supporting documents and application fees are successfully submitted to the Online Application System before the deadline.
• HKU Summer Institute (HKUSI) reserves the right to cancel a programme in the event of insufficient enrolment or any unforeseen circumstances. Programme dates, content, application period, and fee are subject to change without prior notice, students should keep an eye on our website and email notification for programme updates.

Application Fee

HKD 350 - For the first programme and any subsequent application is HKD 200 per programme.

• The application fee is a non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Students may enrol in more than one programmes as long as it does not cause any scheduling conflict.

Programme Fee

The fees for each programme vary. Please refer to the individual programme for detailed information.

We offer a variety of discount offers, and you are likelty to be eligible for at least one of our discounts, please check it out now!

Student Visa Application Fee

• Student Visa Online Application: https://www.studentvisa.hku.hk/
• You are required to settle the fee using a credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Unionpay;  please try to avoid using a Debit card )

Accommodation Fee

We offer HKU Residential Hall or Recommended Hotel Accommodation for students to choose from. Please refer to our Summer at HKU - Accommodation Webpage .

You can make a reservation using our Online Reservation Platform. An email containing instructions will be sent to you.

Social & Cultural Activities Fee

A variety of social and cultural activities, both fee-paying and free-of-charge, will be arranged. For details on these activities, please visit our Summer at HKU - Social & Cultural Activities Webpage .

*Fees are non-refundable after your acceptance of the offer. *Payments must be settled online via credit card or ePayment.

Payment Methods - Online credit card payment (Application fee/Programme fee)

Once your application is successful, the online credit card payment will be made available to process payment for your application fee, accommodation fee, and programme fee (if applicable) by the deadline.

• If the credit card information you submit is incomplete or if the credit card payment is unsuccessful, you will not be registered in your course(s). To avoid a delay in the admission process, please make sure your credit card's daily charge limit is sufficient for the total course payment.
• HKU Summer Institute is not responsible for fluctuations in international exchange rates or interest charges due to the timing of credit card charges or refunds.
• A small number of programmes may have specific payment requirements for programme fees. If your application is successful you will receive relevant instructions on fee payment.

*Offers will be issued on a rolling basis after January 31, 2024 , for details, please refer to the respective programme webpage. The successful application will be notified and asked to confirm acceptance by settling the programme fee within 5 calendar days . We will confirm your place only after you have paid in full.

• Read the programme information and specific requirements carefully. The programme list can be found in the Undergraduate Programmes and Secondary School Programmes .
• Ensure that you have fulfilled the Language Requirements of HKU Summer Institute and the Eligibility for the programme(s). 
• Register and create a personal application account on HKU Summer Institute Online Application System . An acknowledgment will be sent to your registered email address immediately.
• Complete the online application form and upload all the requried supporting documents.

* Application will be processed only when ALL supporting documents and application fee are submitted successfully before the deadline.

* Once submitted, amendments to the application are NOT allowed. Please contact us if you want to change your personal particulars after submission. Applicants are strongly advised to check their details carefully before submitting the application. We recommend that you keep records of your submission.

• Confirm your acceptance of the offer via the Online Application System when you received the notice. This must be done before the acceptance deadline set by the HKU Summer Institute or related Faculties.
• Log in to HKU Summe r Institute Online Application System .
• Click “ Accept Offer ”. (Some programmes will require your to upload the reply slip, please refer to the admission letter).
• Click “ OK ” to confirm your acceptance. Please click “ Upload Reply Slip and Accept Offer ” to upload the reply slip for acceptance.
• Payment of programme fee : Please read the payment instructions carefully to settle the programme fee, accommodation fee (if applicable), and social & cultural activities fee (if applicable) before the deadline.
• Application of Student Visa : If you do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong, regardless of the length of study, you are required by law to obtain a Student Visa issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD). You must to submit the visa application online as soon as you receive a Notice of Admission from HKUSI. The visa application process takes  approximately 10 to 12 weeks . For Mainland Chinese applicants , you should reserve additional  2 weeks to apply for an Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) (港澳通行證) and the relevant exit endorsement (逗留D簽). Holding a valid student visa is important as you will be checked by the ImmD upon arrival in Hong Kong and also by HKU staff on the first day of class.  It is the responsibility of individual students to make appropriate visa arrangement before they come to Hong Kong.

*Please quote programme code (if applicable), your application number, and your full name in all future correspondence with the HKU Summer Institute. Enquiries without sufficient information will not be entertained.

*Please read our Pre-Arrival Guide for your study journey with us: Click Here (MUST READ!)

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions by students, please note that the answers are for your reference only. Should you have further enquiries, please feel free to contact us at:

• [email protected] (for Undergraduates/Postgraduates Programmes issues)
• [email protected] (for Secondary School Programmes issues)

If you do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong, regardless of the length of study, you are required by law to obtain a Student Visa for the purpose of education, issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD). 

Students must to submit the visa application online as soon as you receive a Notice of Admission from HKUSI. The visa application process takes approximately 10 to 12 weeks . For Mainland Chinese applicants , you should reserve  additional  2 weeks to apply for an Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) (港澳通行證) and the relevant exit endorsement (逗留D簽).

One entry permit is applicable for one programme only, and the cumulative duration of a short-term study should not exceed 180 days within any 12-month period according to the Immigration guidelines. It is the responsibility of individual students to make appropriate visa arrangement before they come to Hong Kong.

Please click here for online submitting the Student Visa Application. For inquiries, please contact here .

In any case, you are strongly recommended to make your own insurance arrangements throughout the entire period of your studies in Hong Kong. Students will be responsible for their own medical and dental costs during the period of the programme. If you have to travel outside Hong Kong, you should make sure that your existing insurance policy covers your destination. Otherwise, you are advised to buy additional travel insurance before your trip.

Please check with your insurance agent and ensure that the scheme covers travel /flight delays, theft of personal belongings and medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad for the programme period.

We offer a variety of discount offers, and you are likely to be eligible for at least one of the following discounts:

1. Early Bird Discount - Enjoy 10% Off

2. HKUSI Alumni Discount – Enjoy 20% Off

3. HKU Family Discount – Enjoy 10% Off

4. Partnership Discount – Enjoy 10% Off

5. Academy for the Talented Summer Scholarships - Enjoy 10% Off

6. Referral Discount – Enjoy 10% Off

7. Special Discount – Enjoy 10% Off

Please read the eligibility criteria for each discount to determine which one(s) you may qualify for: Featured Discount Offers

1. All discounts are NOT in conjunction with any other discounts.

2. Discount eligibility varies for different programmes and programme offerings/details are subject to change; please refer to the respective programme webpage for the most updated information.

3. To activate the promotional code, students must type the code in the discount box during the application process on the HKU Summer Institute Online Application System . No discount will be given if applicants fail to enter the promotional code appropriately. Discounts cannot be claimed retrospectively.

HKU has now resumed normal operations, subject only to Covid regulations mandated by the HKSAR Government ( https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html ). This means we no longer require a Vaccine Pass for campus access and we no longer expect close contacts of Covid cases to stay away from work or study.

* Starting from 30 January 2023, the Government will no longer issue isolation orders to infected persons. Students requiring sick leave may apply for leave of absence if necessary.

University students, secondary school students and anyone who meets the entrance requirements of HKU Summer Institute programmes.

Yes, you may apply for more than one programme as long as the programmes do not have conflicting schedules.

Our programmes are instructed in English with exception in a small number of language courses.

All online programmes will be conducted primarily via Zoom as the virtual classroom platform. Please ensure that Zoom is accessible in your area before deciding to join our summer programmes as all application fees and programme fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

The availability of credit transfer arrangements is determined by your home institution. Please confirm with your home university whether HKU credits could be transferred toward your degree.

When you create the account, the online application system will send you an email with the application number. Please refer to the email you received when you first created your account.

Yes. You may combine your transcripts to upload as a single file.

Once you have submitted your online application, you will receive an email confirmation. Please read the application instructions carefully and ensure that you have provided all the requested documents.

The application fee is a non-refundable and non-transferable one-time fee. Applicants are required to pay the application fee for each programme.

If your first language is English, please upload a paper with a statement written that your first language is English.

You cannot make amendments to your application once it has been submitted, but you can upload the document anew. Please indicate “revised” in the file name if you would like to upload a new version of supporting documents.

Yes. You can cancel your application through your registration account by clicking “Cancel” beside the column. However, both the programme fee and application fee are non-refundable.

Depending on the programme you have registered for, there may or may not be an interview. Please refer to the programme webpage for detail

Students of non-credit bearing programmes will receive a certificate, while students of credit-bearing programmes can apply a transcript stated with number of credits upon completion. Link to apply for transcript: http://www.ase.hku.hk/asoffice/ .

Please proceed to your online account to accept the offer before the acceptance deadline. Click https://summerapplication.hku.hk/application/auth/login to login your account.

Please ensure that Zoom is accessible in your area and be punctual for the classes.

You must be in a quiet environment and limit any noise distractions during live in the Zoom classroom. If you are not speaking, please make sure your microphone is muted to avoid looping echoes.

• You must have your webcam on to show your face clearly during live in the Zoom classroom.
• The audio and video material, text, images and other content of the online summer programme are properties of the University. You are not allowed to record, reproduce, or republish the video, links, login or any other content. You are also not allowed to modify the video or any other content, including but not limited to, adding any advertisement or other material or by interfering with the viewing of any content. A breach of these regulations may lead to legal action.
• Please be respectful to others. You are solely responsible for your comments, actions, profiles and/or other content in relation to the online summer programmes, including but not limited to posting/submitting online or before, during or after live in the Zoom classroom.
• The University reserves the right to ask you to leave the Zoom classroom and/or terminate your student status from the programme anytime.

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While you are working hard on your university application, we are here to assist you in every possible way! Here is a virtual information session to guide you through the preparation of a compelling personal statement, and you can also learn more about the scholarships available from HKU! Register now and get some tips from our students

Webinar Topic: Tips on Writing Personal Statements and Sharing from HKU Scholarship Recipients

Date: 4 November 2022 (Friday)

Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm (HKT)

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Breaking news, ex-army financial counselor admits to defrauding grieving gold star families in life insurance scheme.

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A former financial counselor with the US Army has pleaded guilty to defrauding grieving Gold Star families out of millions of dollars worth of life insurance payments, the Department of Justice said Tuesday.

New Jersey resident Caz Craffy, 41, pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud and one count each of securities fraud, making false statements in a loan application, committing acts affecting a personal financial interest, and making false statements to a federal agency.

If found guilty he could spend 8 to 10 years in prison under recommended federal guidelines. He’s also agreed not to appeal a sentence up to that range and to make full restitution.

When a member of the armed forces dies during active duty their surviving beneficiary — a Gold Star family member — is entitled to a $100,000 payment and the servicemember’s life insurance up to $400,000.

From November 2017 to January 2023, Craffy was responsible for providing general financial education to Gold Star families but instead used his position to “target” these vulnerable families, court documents revealed.

“Nothing can undo the enormous loss that Gold Star families have suffered, but the Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to protect them from further harm,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

The 41-year-old was an employee of the Army working as a financial counselor with the Casualty Assistance Office and has also been a major in the Army Reserve.

He was prohibited from offering any personal opinions regarding the beneficiaries money and was “not permitted to participate personally in any government matter in which he had an outside financial interest in,” court filings read.

Craffy admitted that he’d encouraged Gold Star families to invest in accounts he managed in his outside employment with two separate financial investment firms. The families mistakenly believed this was with the authorization of the Army.

From May 2018 to November 2022, Craffy cheated the beneficiaries out of more than $9.9 million. 

He used the money for trades without the family’s authorization earning Craffy high commissions.

Gold Star family accounts lost more than $3.7 million, while Craffy earned more than $1.4 million in commissions taken from their accounts.

“Craffy disgraced his entrusted position to care for our nation’s military families when he allegedly took advantage of them during a vulnerable time of grief,” Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark said.

Craffy entered his plea before US District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton, New Jersey and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21.

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Terminally ill father shot son's ex-wife, her husband during Vegas custody hearing, reports say

A custody dispute for children turned deadly in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday when a father with terminal cancer allegedly killed his son's ex-wife and her new husband, according to multiple reports.

Joseph Houston, a 77-year-old Las Vegas attorney, is accused of shooting his ex-daughter-in-law Ashley Prince, 30, and her husband, Dennis Prince, 57, minutes into a deposition hearing at Prince Law Group, the New York Times reported.

After allegedly killing the Princes, Houston took his own life, according to the outlet.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMP) has not identified the victims or the suspect but did say a female in her 30s and a male in his 50s were found on the fifth floor of the six-story building, according to a Facebook post shared on Monday . The alleged shooter is a man in his 70s, the department added.

Based on interviews, LVMP detectives learned about the "ongoing deposition hearing regarding child custody," the department said in the Facebook post.

"At some point during the deposition, the suspect got up and shot the two victims from across the table," according to the police. "The shooter died on scene."

USA TODAY contacted the Clark County Coroner in Las Vegas but did not receive an immediate response.

'Tragic violence,' Dennis Prince's law firm says about the shooting

During a news conference on Monday, LVMP Sheriff Kevin McMahill said police had "a theory" about what transpired at the law office but did not share any details.

People in the law office were evacuated and took refuge at the Red Rock Casino, Clark County Fire Chief John Steinbeck said during the news conference.

Although authorities have not confirmed the victims' identities, Dennis Prince's law firm, Prince Law Group , has a statement at the top of its website addressing the shooting.

"With profound sadness, Prince Law Group would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us with heartfelt messages of concern and sympathy over the tragic violence that occurred this morning in our offices," the law firm said. "We ask that you please respect the privacy of the families involved."

Friend of Dennis Prince says Houston had terminal cancer, reports say

Robert Eglet, a Las Vegas trial attorney who was friends with the Prince family, told Fox News Digital that Houston had confided in him about his terminal cancer diagnosis before the shooting.

"Joe told me this not long before the shooting, that he was dying of terminal cancer," Eglet said, according to Fox News. "Makes me wonder if he felt like he had nothing to lose? I really don't know though, I can't make any sense of this all."

Eglet also said Houston's son, Dylan Houston, was a father of three children and shared a 6-month-old baby with Ashley Prince. Dylan Houston filed a divorce suit against his ex-wife in October 2021, according to court records.

'Our family is in a state of profound shock,' Houston's family says in a statement

The Houston family released a statement to KVVU-TV requesting the public not jump to conclusions until the LVMP completes its investigation.

"Our family is in a state of profound shock and sadness at yesterday’s events. We ask for prayers and privacy as we try to navigate the coming days," a spokesperson for the family said, according to the Las Vegas-based TV station. "The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is still conducting their investigation and as that continues, speculation about details of the incident only serves to add trauma to our already grieving and overwhelmed families. We have full faith in Metro’s efforts and will leave all future comment to them as their investigation unfolds."

Joe Houston was legal counsel for his son in the case against his ex-wife, who filed for sole custody of their children together, Eglet told KVVU-TV.

Las Vegas law firm offers condolences to the Prince family

Burk Injury Lawyers, another law firm in Las Vegas, offered its condolences to Dennis Prince's family through a Facebook post.

"We lost a titan in the legal world today," the law firm said in a Facebook post. "Dennis Prince was widely considered a top 5 trial attorney in Nevada. One of our very best! A passionate seeker of justice. A warrior advocate for those fighting incredible odds... Our prayers go out to Dennis and Ashley’s friends & family, especially their children."

How jurors will be selected in Trump’s legal cases - a criminal law expert explains

Professor of Law, Harvard University

Disclosure statement

Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Every defendant is entitled to a fair and impartial jury.

But the process to find one can be long and taxing, particularly in a high-profile trial such as the one in New York, in which Donald Trump stands accused of fraud in his efforts to cover up his relationship with porn star Stormy Daniels by paying her US$130,000 in hush money.

In this case , Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged the former president with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump entered a plea of not guilty.

Since then, Trump has unsuccessfully tried to delay the trial , including a last-minute attempt on March 18, 2024, when Trump’s lawyers claimed in a motion that he needed more time because of “prejudicial” publicity that made it nearly impossible for Trump to receive a fair trial.

Despite those attempts to postpone the trial, jury selection is scheduled to begin on April 15, 2024. Once the members are selected, the trial is expected to feature testimony from both Daniels and Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen , who has admitted making the unlawful payments to Daniels.

In an unusual move, Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, had already released the questionnaire for potential jurors and said he would use an anonymous jury. In his ruling on March 7, 2024, Merchan cited “a likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of jurors.”

Given all the news coverage of Trump’s legal woes and antics, just how does the court select a fair and impartial jury?

An imperfect system

Regardless of how long it may take, selecting an impartial jury is fundamental to a defendant receiving a fair trial and is enshrined in the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution :

“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed …”

In order to select an impartial jury, judges and lawyers engage in what is called “ voir dire ,” a French phrase taken from the original Latin that means “to speak the truth.”

A civil or criminal trial presents the opportunity for the judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers to ask potential jurors questions to ensure that each meets the constitutional requirement of being impartial and able to deliver a decision free of any prejudice and based on the evidence.

A popular misconception is that an impartial juror is one who does not know anything about the case before them.

That is inaccurate.

Through a series of questions asked by judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys and answers from potential jurors, the judge will ultimately have to decide whether a prospective juror can put aside any beliefs, biases or preconceptions and render a verdict based only on the evidence presented at trial and in accordance with the judge’s rulings.

The process often starts with potential jurors completing a questionnaire before a trial starts. Typical questions include whether a potential juror has been involved in a criminal case either as a defendant or victim. Another question might ask whether a potential juror has been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony.

Once the questionnaires are reviewed by the judge and attorneys on both sides, the pool of potential jurors is reduced by certain automatic disqualifications, such as no longer residing in the jurisdiction or being related to a court officer involved in the case. Once those disqualifications are completed, the judge and lawyers can then ask questions of potential jurors in the courtroom until they agree on 12 jury members and one or two alternates.

In the case against Trump, lawyers may ask questions that would allow the lawyers to draw inferences about the ability of the prospective juror to be fair and determine which jurors are more disposed to vote for their side of the case.

They could include questions such as: “What station do you watch for your news?” “What newspapers and magazines do you read?” “What part of town do you live in?” “Did you attend the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally?” “Did you attend the ‘Black Lives Matter’ rally?” “What clubs and organizations are you in?” “Do you believe that the election was stolen?” “Do you believe Biden is the lawfully elected president?” “Do you believe Trump is being treated unfairly by the legal system?”

Potential juror disqualifications

There are two ways that prosecutors and defense attorneys can remove a prospective juror from the jury pool.

The first is disqualifying a juror “ for cause .” This is permitted when a potential juror responds to a question in a way that makes the court believe that the juror cannot be impartial. For example, a juror may say that he has made up his mind on the case from media accounts and no amount of evidence could sway his opinion. Such a juror would be disqualified for cause.

The second way to remove a juror from the pool is known as a peremptory challenge , in which a potential juror can be disqualified for almost any reason, even if the juror is otherwise eligible and not susceptible to be removed for cause. One important limit on the peremptory challenge is that the Constitution forbids the use of race as the basis for excluding a juror.

Significantly, while the number of “for cause” strikes is unlimited, each side is given only a few peremptory strikes to use.

In the New York case, for instance, the lawyers on both sides will look for political affiliations, among other factors, in order to determine whether to exercise their peremptory strikes. The prosecutor might reasonably infer that a prospective juror who watches Fox News, reads the local conservative newspaper and volunteers as an organizer for the Republican Party is pro-Trump. Because of that, the prosecutor might exercise a peremptory strike.

The same is true for the defense lawyers. If many details about the prospective juror’s life suggest they are a liberal Democrat, then the defense lawyer would consider a peremptory strike, even if that juror swore under oath that they could be fair.

The role of a judge

As a longtime criminal law scholar and a practicing criminal defense attorney, I have seen how judges tend to be more concerned with quickly empaneling a jury than making sure potential jurors are able to be impartial. Consequently, judges tend to rehabilitate borderline jurors by asking them questions that nearly always elicit a “yes” answer.

A conversation like the following is not uncommon:

Judge: Mr. Smith, even though you told us that you have followed this case closely on the news and firmly believe that the defendant is guilty, can you set aside those beliefs and render a verdict based on the evidence produced at trial?

Juror: Yes.

Judge: I find this juror qualified to serve.

Judges often limit and restrict lawyer questioning during voir dire. This disserves the criminal legal system. If lawyers were more involved in the questioning, they would ask more probing questions and expose disqualifying biases. But to do a full and robust voir dire takes a long time.

The point here is that the voir dire process is imperfect, even if it does work to ferret out the deepest and most strongly held biases.

We can and should do better. The Constitution demands nothing less.

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