SOP for Law: Importance, Sample, Tips & Guidelines

When I was a kid, I was fond of speaking and presenting arguments. As I was growing up I started getting suggestions for my career. One voice indicated towards Science, the other spoke for IAS, and so on. However, deep down I always wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to speak confidently and represent the agony of the poor. This thinking of mine led me to selecting Law as a career.

While still in my decisive years, I started collecting information related to Law such as the academic qualifications required for becoming a Lawyer, the tests that I had to pass in order to practice Law, etc.

Gradually, I started making a list of things that I have to accomplish in order to excel in the field of Law. I chose Arts stream in higher secondary and kept studying Social Sciences with keen interest. After completing my higher secondary from CBSE and scoring an aggregate of 90%, I went to study LLB at the University of Calcutta (CU).There I flourished in my studies and scored the top most marks of my college, and sometimes, the university.

While still pursuing my graduation, my college organized several mock trials in which various Law students participated as lawyers, victims, witnesses, etc. I played the Lawyer most of the time owing to my speaking skills. Curricular activities like these have helped me a lot in presenting the facts in an efficient way. These have also taught me the etiquette of a court-argument, when to start and when to stop.

I graduated this year with flying colors and now I wish to become a part of your prestigious institutions in order to complete a Master of Law (LLM). I have researched a lot about your institution and I can conclude that Columbia University has produced numerous legends in the field of Law that have been the voice of victims and needless, many a times.

Patience and working under pressure are some of the most essential features that a Law practitioner must possess. There have been several cases where I was asked to present a case in a tiny amount of time as a college activity, and I have excelled in most of them, losing only a handful.

In the light of the above-mentioned activities and qualifications, I find myself fit for your prestigious university and LLM as the most appropriate program for me. Now, I, finally, rest my case and leave the decision of my candidature for LLM at Columbia University in the hands of the admission committee.

Best Regards,

Rohitash Gaud

Immediately after I finished High School, I had no direction as to what career path I would take because I didn’t find anyone interesting. Then I got admitted into the university and until my sophomore year in the university, I was still in search of a subject or specialization that would change the course of my studies. I got myself into learning a lot about different programs, courses, and subjects in various departments. I tried my hands on calculus, art, literature, philosophy, statistics, English, logic, politics, psychology, relativity, and what have you, while searching for a calling. Of course, I learned a great deal from these subject areas but the most valuable things I learned were about me. To hit the hammer on the head I would say; none of them gave me the sense of purpose that I was searching for and probably none will ever will. However, during this period, I have learned that I have a good set of skills, zeal, and natural abilities that would see me excel in Law.

I settled to study economics for my undergraduate major and this was influenced by the fact that I realized that I enjoy rigorous thinking of math and statistics but then, the world is never straight or simple; there is always a gray area and economics does the work of blending abstract theory with real-world applications, to complement it. So far, I have studied several mathematical models and for every single one, I have trained to apply this model to birth positive changes in everything around me; both on a global and domestic scale in different aspects of life. In that same vein, the law requires a certain type of abstract thought while still being firmly rooted in reality; this is daunting. However, I believe that the full knowledge and understanding of the law sphere can be really useful in catalyzing change in the right direction. Since my high school to date, I have learned to look at problems from several angles, thanks to my education. I participated in various public speaking and various debating competitions both at state and national levels during my High School and I won several awards such as the Peter Obi High School Debate competition 2018. I also represented my country in the High Scholars Public Speaking and Debating Championship. These experiences have been the collective reason I see things from both sides before judging, think fast and critically, address people confidently, and engage in meaningful, productive conversations, and arguments.

My collective education experience has also taught me to learn and this has been rewarding in me holding a record-breaking 4.99/5.00 CGPA in this department and this is not attributed to my natural intelligence or obsession with grades, but rather, hard work and my constant desire to always learn. For the past couple of years, I have come to know and understand what gives me fulfillment and it comes from my desire to help people overcome the limitations that life has placed against them or that the system has unfortunately assigned to them. I realized this when I interned in my third year at a Consultancy firm and had the opportunity to work with a lawyer who was attached to our firm. Most times, I took out my time to personally read files of small cases as he permitted me and tried to solve them. Eventually, he became impressed with my analysis and allowed me to listen carefully to the ordeals of the victims and with the help of an NGO, we sponsored some of the cases for a few people and we won some of them as well, thereby restoring their faith in the belief of fundamental human rights. I still relinquish those moments and I realize nothing has given me more satisfaction than this, thus, my intentions of applying for a Masters in Law (LLM).

I can agree that my career path has not been a straightforward one but the self-awareness and knowledge that I have gained over the years have made me realize that this is the right choice. My undergraduate major has given me an unreal deep understanding of how the world works and where I am placed but just understanding the system is not enough. I also want to effect a positive and conscious change in people’s lives through working to better the system that puts them in these situations.

Nevertheless, I am prepared for whatever challenges will be laid before me because I know that reality can be harsh. I know life is not a fairy tale and talk is cheap. I know I may not be able to do as much as I want the way I want but if at the end of the day, I am satisfied that I did good, that will be enough for me. Having said that, I believe an LLM degree from your university is a very important step in achieving this dream. I want to attend Furlough University because from my research, I have seen that the university is top-notch when it comes to the quality of education, student life, and faculty members, coupled with the fact that Law students at Furlough University do not even have to graduate before they have positive impacts in their community due to the mechanisms that the university have put in place that enable them to take part in various legal clinics and pro bono work. This university's concern for the community, both locally and on an international scale, has also been a major attraction for me.

I hope I am granted this admission.

Peter Jack.