AI tools such as ChatGPT offer LL.M. applicants unprecedented access to language generation capabilities and writing assistance. While these tools can undoubtedly aid in crafting compelling admissions essays, they also present potential pitfalls for prospective LL.M. students seeking to maintain authenticity in their narratives.
The temptation to rely too heavily on AI-generated content runs the risk of diluting the genuine voice and personal authenticity that admissions committees seek, law schools warn.
“Some schools may expressly state that applicants are not to use generative AI to write application essays. One potential drawback is running afoul of a school’s application requirements,” says Martin Slavens, Director of Graduate Admissions at Fordham Law School in New York.
He adds: “Generative AI may impact the authenticity readers of application essays are seeking. We do want to learn more about each applicant and rely on the essay for much of this insight. Generative AI is not very good at choosing the content of an essay.”
When it comes to law school admissions, the personal statement has long served as a cornerstone of LL.M. applicants’ narratives, offering a glimpse into their experiences, aspirations, and unique perspectives. But increasingly, admissions committees are prioritizing authenticity over perfection, seeking candidates who can articulate genuine insights and personal journeys rather than merely conforming to a predetermined formula.
This shift is driven by tools such as ChatGPT, which law schools caution against using to help craft LL.M. applications. “The potential drawback is that they lose out on the opportunity to use the essay or personal statement to show their personality and showcase their uniqueness,” stresses Karen Jones, UH Law Center’s Executive Director of Global and Graduate Programs.
“The essay is not just about how well you can write; it is an opportunity to show in your own words who you are,” she adds. “Relying on AI-generated content can often make a candidate sound inauthentic, which often is counter to what is being sought by the admissions committee. With your essay you want to stand out, show how you are unique and different, not just sound like everyone else; no matter how well-crafted and AI-generated essay might be.”
The perils of over-reliance on AI
She notes that ChatGPT has already been integrated into the process of creating LL.M. application essays in some specific ways, particularly among foreign-trained lawyers applying to U.S. programs. “Sometimes, when reviewing an application and then the personal statement, it appears that the two might have been written by two different people because of the language choice, use of punctuation and syntax,” says Jones. “So, although we encourage candidates not to use AI for their applications or essays, we suspect that it is being used.”
She feels that AI-generated content “does a dis-service to the candidate”, especially when a large part of the goal of the application is for the admissions committee to get a sense of who they really are. “AI-generated content might arguably provide a well-structured, well-written essay, but it also removes some of the personality of the candidate. Also, if the candidate has been warned about the use of AI and the committee suspects the application is AI-assisted, then that does not reflect well on the candidate,” Jones adds.
Adam Nguyen, Founder and CEO of the Ivy Link admissions agency used by LL.M. applicants, strongly agrees. “Applications that are perceived to have been written by AI will almost certainly get rejected,” he states. “Relying on someone else to write your essays is hugely problematic, especially if you are seeking to enter a profession that requires strong writing skills.”
Furthermore, he points out that AI-generated content is still very generic, trite and impersonal. “If you rely solely on AI to write your essays, you’ll get a B-level work product that’s not going to get you into a selective law school,” Nguyen says.
The role of AI in overcoming writing challenges
While he has not seen any formal or widespread integration of AI into the writing of law school application essays, he has worked with applicants who struggle with writing. In such instances, ChatGPT can assist in generating ideas and getting the writing process started, Nguyen says: “AI has been very effective in helping students overcome writer’s block.”
His general rule is that if your essay isn’t at least 70-80% written by you, then don’t submit it. “Law school application essays are in part personal statements. Accordingly, they have to capture your individuality and personal details. Your writing also showcases how well you think, and you can’t entirely outsource your thinking to AI,” Nguyen clarifies.
Indeed, law schools would seem to agree. “Generative AI tools may be a useful resource for students to check for grammatical or language errors in statements they have already drafted,” concludes Maureen Tracey Leo, Director of International Graduate Programs at Boston University (BU) Law School.
“However, students should avoid using these tools to write the entire personal statement for them because the products generated by these tools often lack character, humor, and all the things that make the best personal statements unique.”
