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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 04/15/24
If you’re wondering how to write a law school diversity statement, this article will provide insight into what you need to do to write a stellar statement.
Deciding to write a diversity statement for law school is not always the easiest call to make. Writing a diversity statement requires you to be vulnerable and speak candidly about factors that have contributed to your identity. You'll have to talk about the core of who you are, which can often be challenging.
This article will cover when and how to write your diversity statement and dissect a few successful diversity statement examples. We will also go over some other burning questions you may have about writing a diversity statement.
Now we’ll be looking at one of our students’ law school diversity statement examples and breaking down what makes it a great one.
This diversity statement starts strong as the writer dives straight into their story.
“In the sweltering backseat of an air-conditioned car in the middle of the street in [REDACTED LOCATION], I was just a curious nine-year-old girl eagerly awaiting the traffic lights to change with my mother and sister. Suddenly, a young girl appeared by my side window. She was nine years old, the same age as me at the time. Dressed in baggy clothes, a messy ponytail, and a nose piercing, the girl did something unexpected. She leaned in and licked my window.”
Why this is a strong start: This diversity statement begins with a vivid, unexpected moment that immediately draws the reader in. The writer’s opening scene sets the stage for a deeper exploration of identity, cultural contrast, and personal growth, giving the reader a clear sense of the themes that will follow.
While this is only one of many great ways to start your statement, remember that your goal is to captivate your reader’s interest so they keep reading. Don’t meander too much here, and make every sentence count!
As the writer progresses through their statement, they illustrate their evolving awareness of cultural disparities and their deepening understanding of identity.
"Right after, the girl smiled, and our car moved forward as the light turned green. As the driver drove us away from her, I was disgusted by what I saw. I immediately asked my mom, ‘Why did she do that?’ Then, my mom explained to me the realities for many children in [REDACTED LOCATION], where many children must work to survive and lack the opportunity to make friends. After spotting me in the car, this girl likely wanted to play with me instead of continuing her work."
Why this body paragraph is successful: The writer effectively introduces a pivotal moment of realization, allowing the reader to witness their shift from confusion to awareness. This kind of personal reflection not only strengthens the narrative but also adds depth to their journey of cultural understanding and growth. When crafting your diversity statement, consider how your experiences have shaped your worldview and personal development over time.
A compelling diversity statement provides insight into the writer’s formative experiences and how they shape their understanding of the world. The writer expands on their cultural immersion and global perspective, which has influenced their outlook on identity and representation.
"This experience catalyzed my cultural immersion when, at nine, my parents relocated my little sister and me to [REDACTED LOCATION] for a year. During our time there, we explored religious [REDACTED RELIGION] temples and various historic sites, shedding light on the profound reasons behind the rituals and traditions that have been part of my family’s heritage… When I returned home to [REDACTED LOCATION], I realized my peers here did not understand as much about the world as I did, and that did not change even as I got older. Time and again, I have had to explain my background and what [REDACTED RELIGION] is, even in my college seminar discussions."
Why this body paragraph is successful: The writer demonstrates how their diverse experiences have shaped their ability to navigate cultural differences and educate others.
This highlights their unique perspective—an essential component of a strong diversity statement. When writing your own, consider how your background has given you insight into issues others may not have encountered, and use that as a foundation for your essay.
The strongest diversity statements end with a sense of purpose and direction. Rather than focusing solely on the struggles they’ve faced, the writer emphasizes how these experiences have empowered them to foster greater understanding and inclusivity.
"My encounter with that young girl was brief and fleeting, but the memory has stayed with me throughout my life, pushing me to explore diverse perspectives and experiences that exist in the world. I aspire to continue expanding my understanding of the world while sharing my experiences to foster greater understanding. Through my journey, I aim to bridge gaps in others’ viewpoints to make the world more inclusive and compassionate. I am excited to continue this journey within the esteemed community of [REDACTED UNIVERSITY] Law."
Why this ending was successful: The writer ties their experiences into their future aspirations, demonstrating how their background will contribute to their legal career. They focus on growth, resilience, and how their unique perspective will help them make an impact.
When crafting your conclusion, think about how your experiences have not only shaped you but also how they will drive you forward in law school and beyond.
By analyzing successful law school diversity statements, you can refine your own essay to highlight the strengths, experiences, and perspectives that make your story unique.
As you write your diversity statement, think about how you can approach your experiences from the vantage point of growth. Ask yourself the following questions:
These are some great questions that will ultimately highlight your strength, resilience, and character as you write your law school diversity statement.
By studying law school diversity statement examples, you can develop a stronger understanding of how to effectively communicate your strengths, resilience, and character, enhancing your own diversity statement.
Much like your personal statement, your diversity statement gives the admissions committee a chance to get to know you and the experiences that shape you. Though it isn’t the be-all and end-all of your application, an excellent diversity statement can definitely help you stand out.
On the other hand, it’s also important to understand that a weak diversity statement can compromise the impact of your overall application. So, think about how this might affect your application.
Diversity within any student body strengthens the community and expands the breadth of ideas and perspectives within it. As an aspiring law school student, writing a diversity statement allows you to talk about your life experiences. Doing this allows the admissions committee to get to know what makes you you.
By the time you get to writing your diversity statement, you probably would have looked over your entire law school application about a million times. Going over parts of your application, like your personal statement, for example, should give you an idea of whether or not you should consider writing a diversity statement.
Before you start writing your statement, ask yourself the following questions:
If you answered yes to both of those questions, it probably means that writing a diversity statement for your law school application may not be necessary.
If you feel that your personal statement covers your background adequately, and you’re finding writing an additional diversity statement isn’t coming naturally to you, you’re probably better off skipping this part of the application.
Generally speaking, the key to writing a diversity statement for your law school application is genuinely having something to write about.
In the same right, it is crucial to consider what you have to offer in terms of diversifying the school community. If you're looking to better articulate your unique experiences and qualifications, the consulting team at Juris Education can provide personalized guidance in highlighting your strengths. Seriously think about your background and the experiences you have faced, and how they enable you to contribute diverse perspectives and ideas to the community.
Now that we’ve covered whether or not writing a diversity statement is best for your application, we’ll go over a few tips on how to write a stellar diversity statement.
As with any supplemental essay or statement, you’ll want to research what is required to write a successful one. While this article will leave you with less guesswork on how to approach your diversity statement, you must know what each school’s requirements are to write a successful statement.
This includes how each law school defines diversity and what they expect in terms of statement length and formatting. For instance, Harvard and Yale law diversity statement prompts are vague, stating that you write about how you can contribute to their community based on your breadth of experience.
In contrast, some law schools like Duke provide a more detailed set of sample topics to guide your writing, which include the following:
While some schools may consider diversity socio-cultural (things like race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual identity), others may also consider factors like age, career shifts, and socio-economic status, so make sure you know what each school expects.
Once you have reviewed the prompts and guidelines for each diversity statement, it’s time to find a topic. You’ll want to write about something memorable and impactful. All law schools look for a common factor: your ability to contribute diverse perspectives to the school community.
With this said, use your background and life experiences to guide your writing. Although these things can often feel vulnerable and challenging to write about, whatever topic you choose should come naturally to you–but more on this later!
Many experiences highlighting diversity often go hand in hand with some hardship, challenge, or adversity. Though it might not be your intention, these statements can sometimes come across as a victim’s narrative. As you write your diversity statement, make sure you write from a place of empowerment instead of victimhood.
Regardless of what experience you choose to write about, center your statement around how you were able to persevere against all odds. Talk about what you learned and how that impacted and expanded your perspectives.
An essential aspect of any essay or statement is having a strong beginning and end. Your diversity statement should catch your reader’s attention, keeping them interested until the end.
Once you’ve chosen your topic, there are many ways that you can go about starting a strong essay and finishing it off with a bang. To do this effectively, you’ll want to draft a strong trajectory for your diversity statement. See your statement as your hero’s journey, and tell your story.
After going over what makes a great diversity statement, you might still have some questions about writing a diversity statement for your application. Below, we will cover some frequently asked questions that might clarify any concerns you might still have.
You should only write a diversity statement if you have something thoughtful to say. Remember that, at times, what you say in your personal statement may overlap with your diversity statement–if this is the case, you may want to skip it.
Your diversity statement will be no more than 1-2 pages long, but remember to research each school’s requirements.
Generally, you’ll be asked to write about how your diverse experiences have shaped your perspective. While each school might provide a different prompt, you’ll want to write about experiences or parts of your life that are less conventional.
If you’re an aspiring law school student who might be switching career paths or returning after a long hiatus, you might consider writing about what has led you to law.
Similarly, you can also write about your experiences as a socio-economically or culturally diverse student if that applies—make sure you pick one that is true to you.
There are many elements you should avoid in diversity statements (and personal statements), including rehashing stories you’ve already shared in your application, using quotes, being too ambiguous, and focusing your story on others rather than on your own experiences.
Figuring out whether or not to write a law school diversity statement can be tricky, and writing one can be even more challenging. Remember that this statement is a great opportunity for you to introduce yourself and share your background with the admissions team.
Make sure that your statement highlights what you have to bring to your school community. Best of luck!
Reviewed by:
Former Head of Northeastern University's Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University
