hi im a prospective student for LLM for 2008-09...could somebody guide me as to how to write a good SOP.......

I would suggest the followings:
1. What is the course that I am applying for?
2. What is it that I want to get out of this course? i.e. your purpose of studying it!
3. What have I done to make me suitable for studying this course? things that would give you an edge...
4. What is my life experience?
5. Combining 3 and 4.

Apart from doing all those, I think the last two paragraphs you put on your personal statement are usually the most important ones. One would revolve around the reason for studying LLM, and the other would be on your choice of school. i.e. Why you would apply to that particular school.

I hope other friends leave you posts here, so that you get a general idea of what to write. Others might have different outlines.

Hi Nina...

Can you please suggest me what would be the fate of LL.M. application if the applicant is applying to a specilized LL.M., someting different to his/her past experience.....

I have around 3 years of experience in IP law and also two diplomas in IP law. Now I wanted to shift over to Corporate Laws. How badly it will affect my application for LLM - Corporate Laws....

regards

Dear Jaideep,

I don't personally think that there is anything wrong with it. In fact, I had the same problem, and asked a couple of members in the forum about this. In my humble opinion, you could write about your background in IP Law, and then write down what made you decide to choose corporate law. Try to establish a link whatsoever between IP and corporate law, no matter how difficult it is. e,g. sith happened and brought you to this conclusion, and don't just talk about, SHOWCASE it. Do it confidently and clearly. Hope that helps.

Dear Nina,

Thanx 4 ur reply... I m planning to apply to Stanford, UPenn, NYU.... R u already admitted to LL.M... If I provide you with my credentials, can you please give ur comments?

Jaideep,

I believe I am in no professional position to advise you on that, but if there is anything about writing your personal statement, I will be more than happy to help. (although I need to say that will be from MY prospective.)

Dear Nina,

So kind of you. I am on the way to select the Universities, I should apply for. In this month, I am very busy and may be able to write my SoP next month. At that time I may discuss the same with you.

Thanx & regards

Jaideep,

I will be more than happy to be of any help.
Best of luck to you.

Dear Nina,

Please find my message in your LLMGuide Mailbox.

regards

Dear Nina,
Could you also look at my personal statement, if you don't mind? By the way, my real name is Nina, so I find it kinda strange addresing you as Nina.

hi nina....thanx for ur advise....cud u also check ur LLMGUIDE mailbox.........i need help regarding SOP....cud i get sumbody's SOP who made it to gud universities in USA????

Petra,

I would be glad to do that, but I am terribly busy with preparing my personal statement and other documents. My suggetion for you is reading samples on the Internet.
That being said, I will be more than happy to read yours, although I am not sure whether I can be of any help, but if you allow me sometime, I will get back to you on that.

Attorney,

Unfortunately, I have no personal statements.
I have learnt a few things in the last two months and here I just share them with you:

a. One should not include any irrelevant work or life experience in the SoP
b. your essay should not be a list of your achievements, because those are already mentioned in the resume. One is better off mentioning things that might be new to the reader.
c. The depth of what you are writing is much more important than the breadth. Again, you are better off writing in details about two of your experiences for instance than touching on a lot of items.
d. You should not talk about your life or work experiences. You need to showcase them, which is very important.
e. Also the language should be something between conversational and formal. I personally have had to work hard on this part. Imagine yourself as being interviewed, you wouldn't use a lot of sophisticated words. your essay should talk to the reader.
f. Your opening sentence is also very important. It should give the reader some hint on the area of your interest, which the reader will read on in the rest of the eassy.
g. You need to mention why you have chosen that particular university, but you should not overdo that. A good university like Harward or Columbia, are the best, and everyone knows this. So, keep that short, and write something practical about the school.
h. Before doing all that you need to brainstorm. There are many things that you want to include in your essay, for which there could be no space. By brainstorming, you will be less confused, and can decide which items to include in the essay.

Good luck
Nina

Hi Guys ,

I have gone through your replies , even I am applying for year 2008-09 . U guys should also check accepted.com for good tips on SOP writing and much more info regarding application to law school.

Having said this I myself also need help drafting my SOP so if you guys help me do so plz ...........Can any one for that matter send me any copy of a specimen SOP ?

Regards
Keep posted

Hi Nina,

I am in the final stage of preparation of supporting documents including my SoP. I have sent a P.M.
Plz reply.

Regards

Any good example to send of a SOP for an LLM ? thanks.

could anyone mail me the propforma of Sop and CV at anurag.adv@gmail.com
thnx

Dear Nina,

I appreciate the tips you've given so far. I find it very helpful.

I just have one question. How should you answer the question of "what will you do with your LLM"?

I understand that the reality is most LLM's return to their home country. But on the SOP, should you say that is your intention? Or if you're aiming to get a job in the US, should you direct your writing on that instead?

On the one hand, I'm told for JD students it's crucial to discuss how one can contribute to the US legal community. But what should LLM's do?

Thanks for you input everyone.

Dear all,

Thank you very much for the useful information and tips. I am currently planning to apply to Georgetown LLM for Fall 2009. Any Georgetown LLM graduates? I have a JD equivalent from Europe and a Master's degree in international relations in Georgetown University. I am interested in working as a lawyer with international organizations or US Government. Could anyone please e-mail me a sample of Sop and CV at jihanebourjaoui@yahoo.com

Thank you so much for your advice

Hey!!
I am also planning for Georgetown LLM, after obtaining 3 years of professional experience in India. Kindly mail me the SOP and CV sample at akshayapurohit2006@gmail.com.
Thanks

hi guys,
this is my first post on this forum, though i have been following this on a regular basis since last year when i applied. i think some of the suggestions given have been very good, having said that a few general broad suggestions

- please be genuine and original, and while it is good to read an admitted student's sop, it should not be overdone, read it to get an idea f how they are written but the best essays always come out from originality of thought and not trying to develop or recast anyone else's thoughts.. also dont think there is one way of writing sops, i have read numerous and they are all in different styles and yet all have made it to the best colleges in us

- also be very honest with ur answers, but not at the cost of writing that you want to work in usa, u wudn't want to say that because the llm programs in all these colleges is geared towards providing u an international perspective, not for job search

- i personally feel that the essay ought to be somewhat academic and it should not be a cv narrative or life experience narrative, it should link and merge with one or two issues in ur interested area of study and how ur experiences have made u understand such issue, and how the llm will give u a broader perspective on those issues and addressing them, therefore it is important to have some part of ur sop reserved for an academic discussion and not about urself

- it is important to read about the course offerings, the special programs of each college u are interested in and want to apply to, and highlight that towards the end, shows u hve done ur research about that college - again why u want to do the llm is very important, whcih related to having a bit of discussion on certain issues which u can link to ur personal/ professional/ academic expereince

- dnt harp too much on a fancy intro, have 2-3 intro lines and come to the point as quickly as possible, but the intro could be made interesting... however, ur intro should flow into the essay, it cant be disjunctive.. in fact each paragraph and each point, aspect should flow into the other.. so ur college activities/ acheivements should flow into ur area of interest, and that should flow into ur professional experience and that should flow into issue u wish to address and then onto international perspectives, etc..

- finally the sop should read like a story - and it should read like ur own story, please remember u have to sell urself to the college, there is no objective criteria here, so the story should be attractive, written in lucid language, simple yet interesting and sound original...so language is important, it cannot be casual, but at the same time it should not have fancy language, it sounds fake.. simple short sentences with correct grammar is perfect.

i know its long and most of it sounds too general.. but i can assure u that ur essay will fall into shape with time, do give it time, 2 months at a minimum and few hours almost every day.. there is still time.. hls, cls, nyu all have dec 1 or beyond deadlines, only yale is early.. so u can relax and keep developing on it... it will go through many many drafts and revisions, and somtimes even chaning and rewriting but that's just part of the game.. its hard work and requires a lot of effort, but when the results come through, the rewards are worth it... just be yourself in ur essay, and it will automatically flow through...all the best :)