Motivation to Apply to Law School - Admission/Application Essay Example

Through this work, I have derived the intellectual foundation and the concrete experience to be a successful advocate for citizens’ rights. Personally, pursuing legal education is not merely a terminal accomplishment, but rather a step in broadening my engagement with the community and allowing me to play a more central and productive role in the community. In this personal statement, I intend to explain how I gained expertise in community engagement, as well as academic and professional work
Discussion
I have a firm commitment to fighting for progressive causes via legislation, grassroots organization and policy. My initial experience as a community leader came when I was engaged in the local Buddhist temple where I was managing a young organization. My engagement provided an opportune platform to implement annual outreach events designed to aid the poor and the needy in society. The program featured a food drive to feed the homeless and a clothing drive, primarily rural communities living in conflict-prone areas of Sri Lanka. My core drive in these engagements was to generate and radiate positivity, compassion, and humanity in the community. Presently, I am involved in addressing the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami given that some of the displaced communities are still struggling to reclaim their land largely owing to a lack of understanding of the law. The initiative by the organization to provide communities with legal counsel has been both a successful and humbling experience.

In addition to organizing diverse outreach and fundraising events such as dental clinics, medical clinics, and fundraisers such as auctions, I also desire to involve in availing legal counsel to vulnerable communities.
I initially gained an appreciation of accountability and responsibility when I went to England to study my GCE A levels where I was living alone. During my time in England, I had to manage my school work and my part-time job, which taught me the value of hard work. Most importantly, my stay in England provided an opportunity to interact with different people coming from all walks of life. In the University, I studied Bachelor’s degree in Biology and graduated with first-class distinction. After graduation, I secured a job at the university in the position of research assistant to one of my biology professors. After a brief practice, I decided to join my father in running the family import business. My stint in the family business, where I held the position as the director of import, was a tremendous success since I got the opportunity to travel widely in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, India and Singapore.
My job experiences as a director of imports also played a critical role in improving my communication skills, negotiation skills, as well as confidence. Nevertheless, working in business did not bring much satisfaction as I always felt that something was amiss in my life. My stint in the business world was never fulfilling, which informed my decision to quit running the business and follow my passion for activism. My experiences in community engagement have driven me towards a career in the law, given that studying law will give me the requisite skills and knowledge to function effectively in this endeavor. Presently, I am a President scout in Sri Lanka (which equates to Queen’s Scout in Canada). Other interests include Ayurvedic medicine, which promotes the use of natural remedies over pharmaceutical drugs. At high school, I have actively engaged in the varsity field hockey team as well as the track team. I have also developed a fondness towards soccer, whereby I play indoor and outdoor competitive or recreational soccer. Last summer I was involved in the Reach forth ministry soccer league in Hamilton, Ontario.
I affirm that the key to academic success and success in life rests on pursuing what one enjoys. This informs my decision to pursue what I have recently come to enjoy, and that which will bring job satisfaction and success. I am confident that law school will be worth the investment, especially given that such a pursuit will herald immense professional opportunities and intellectual experiences to mold my new role in society (Barnard, O’Sullivan, & Virgo, 2011). Although, I do not have any legal experience, practicing law presents a perfect niche for me, which I consider professionally and personally fulfilling.

My diverse educational background and work experience provide a perfect foundation to pursue law education.  I believe that my background in community engagement will bring a unique perspective to the classroom and will make me highly useful in my community upon graduation.  In pursuing a law degree, I seek to enter a profession that is universal and that aligns with the aptitudes and interests, which I have discovered and developed via real work experience.  Based on my deep personal reflection, I am convinced that law is a natural extension of my personality, training, and talents. I believe that studying law is a natural extension to my work practice, and relevant to community activism and do not feel that one can exist without the awareness of the other.