Setting the Tone for Your Law School Addenda
When applying to your dream law school, you want to present yourself as an accomplished student and a principled citizen. This is, however, faulted by unavoidable circumstances that flaw many students' records. An addendum is a brief explanation of the underlying circumstances. Most students don't know when to include addenda in their application. In this article, we’re helping you understand what an addendum is, when to include one in a law school application, and how to set the tone for your law school addenda.
What is Law School Addendum?
As a prospective law student, you might have some parts in your application that need additional explanation or that you are not proud of. For instance, you may have several attempts on the LSAT to have a score that your school accepts. This is when you need an additional addendum to explain such peculiarities.
Encountering problems and setbacks during your academic journey to become a lawyer is normal. Such drawbacks in your applications should not hinder you from securing admission to your dream school when you account for them in your addendum. An addendum may not influence law school acceptance rates, but it provides a better perspective of yourself to the admissions committee.
When Do You Need a Law School Addendum? Types of Addenda
Not every imperfect situation needs an addendum. These are situations that you may need to address in an addendum when applying to law school.
Low GPA Addendum
This is also called a transcript addendum. You need to explain situations such as multiple class withdrawals, low grades or a low GPA, or leaves of absence during your undergraduate experience. It also includes any part of your transcript that may raise eyebrows. In this addendum, you need to explain the factors that contributed to the factors above. Here, you might raise circumstances, such as sickness, family emergencies, or work responsibilities.
LSAT Addendum
An addendum is rarely necessary to explain low LSAT scores. However, you should consider including an addendum in your application if the score didn't reflect your capacity and was adversely affected by unavoidable factors such as illness on the test day. Sound explanations express that you could have performed better if you retook the test.
If you have made several attempts on the LSAT, you should consider expressing yourself as an improved individual on an addendum. This would be great, especially if you have made a significant improvement. Some students may also consider an addendum to express concerns with standardized testing. For this explanation, you need to have a fairly high GPA and a low LSAT.
Character and Fitness Addendum
A criminal record is another issue that may raise eyebrows when applying to a law school. However, that doesn't mean you have to explain a misdemeanor such as a speeding ticket, although there are some schools that require them. Law schools are mainly interested in something that you have been sentenced or convicted for. It also applies to academic misconduct issues. This is not the chance to justify your actions. Instead, use this addendum to admit liability, express remorse, and explain how you have learned from the experience. Explain how you have changed from that situation, and it should not influence your eligibility into law school.
How to Write an Addendum
The most significant part of your law school addendum is the tone you write in. That is where admissions gauges your attitude. You need to write a piece that complements your application and not give excuses for what you could have done better. This is what to include in your law addendum:
The Explanation
This is the point where you state the facts. Express the issues you are writing about. This is followed by an explanation of the circumstances that contributed to the issue. Please note that when applying to a law school, you don't need to be embellish to prove a point. Be clear and concise, and maintain a neutral tone. Provide an explanatory statement but not excusatory.
The Impact
This is where you explain to the admissions committee how the situation or circumstances affected you at the time. Write this part as a cause-and-effect essay. Although you need to personalize this part, be careful not to be too defensive. Don't shift the blame to another person on the issue.
The Lesson
This is the point that reflects the new you. In the cases when you need to explain academic misconduct or a criminal record, you want to explain what you have learned from the situation. Express yourself as a remorseful and changed person. Be professional and detail how you have learned to avoid such mistakes in the future.
For instances that don't include your behavior, point out the courses you didn't perform to your potential. Highlight the upward trend and the measures you have taken to improve your ability to perform better. Don't force a personal spin or overly expose unnecessary details about yourself. Offer to provide additional details or to answer possible questions that the admission committee may need answers to in your conclusion. Ensure the statement ends positively.
Law School Addenda Length and Tone
The length of your law school addenda should be three paragraphs with four sentences per issue. Keep your details short, factual, straightforward, and clear. Your tone should be consistently objective and professional. Avoid flowery language, a sympathetic tone, excuses, or a bad attitude. You should also check and clear all spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. Make your addenda flawless for easy readability.
Final Thoughts
Law school applications may be stressful, especially when you believe you need to complement with an addendum. We're here to support you through the essay-writing and application process! You can receive comprehensive application support with our one-on-one private packages! We also offer sliding scale pricing to help make consulting accessible to all. If an online course is more your speed, make sure to check out our Master Your Soft Factors Package for just $25!