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Jesse completed a JD/MBA from the USC Gould School of Law, where he was Secretary of the Student Bar Association, Co-President of the Diversity Committee, and Founder and President of Gould's Legal Technology Association. Students he has helped have been accepted at various top schools, such as the University of Michigan School of Law, USC Gould School of Law, and Boston University.
As an admissions coach, Jesse excels at providing comprehensive strategies for the admissions process. He helps students craft persuasive narratives, optimally structure their arguments, and leverage their unique qualities to make an impression on top-tier law schools. He is committed to helping students reach their goals and become part of the nation's elite legal community. Having faced and overcome the challenges of applying to law school himself, he understands the stress and pressure students experience and works diligently to give them the best chance of success.
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Tamar spent a year in Taiwan as a Fulbright teacher before graduating from the University of Michigan Law School. At Michigan, she served as a student attorney for both the Child Welfare Appellate Clinic and the Child Advocacy Law Clinic. Her commitment to social justice earned her the prestigious Skadden Fellowship, through which she led a two-year project dedicated to enforcing the rights of LGBTQ+ foster youth.
Passionate about coaching, Tamar derives immense satisfaction from guiding students through the law school application process. She uses her experience as a graduate student instructor at the University of Michigan to help applicants prepare for the rigors of law school. She is also known for her ability to keep applicants organized and calm while also providing enthusiastic support and encouragement. She is very detail-oriented and is adept at helping candidates refine their application drafts to ensure they present their best selves. Tamar eagerly looks forward to assisting Juris students in achieving their law school aspirations.
Before we get going, my name is Andrea, and I will be your host for this evening. With me, I have Tamara and Jesse, who will be introducing themselves momentarily. We are part of the Juris Education team, and we’re super excited to be here tonight.
Tonight’s topic—tonight’s discussion—is all about how to build a unique application narrative. This is our first webinar of the year, so it’s a really great way to get things going and get the conversation started.
A couple of things, first and foremost: this webinar is recorded, so you will receive a recording in your inbox within a day or two. We’re looking at running this webinar for about an hour. We have a ton of content for you, obviously, so we’ll be speaking about describing your own story and creating a personal statement with impact, how to create a cohesive application, and some of the hurdles that come with the application process.
We’re hoping to cover all of this within an hour, and we’d love to leave some time toward the end for a Q&A. That means you’ll get to ask Tamara and Jesse questions—whether they’re about the application, about law school, or anything else regarding your journey. We encourage you to use the chat to drop questions, and no question is too big or too small.
We want to take just a quick minute to share a little bit about who we are. As mentioned earlier, we’re Juris Education. We’re a globally recognized law school admissions consulting firm, offering comprehensive support from test prep to law school admissions. We also offer bar exam tutoring, and we have a 94% acceptance rate. Our students get into the top law schools in the United States. Last cycle alone, our T14 acceptance rate was 34%, which is almost six times higher than the national average of 5.7%. That’s something we’re extremely proud of.
A part of what we do is start the law school application as early as possible, which is why we offer something called Pre-Law Advising & Profile Development. This focuses on building each student’s professional cover letter and résumé to highlight their most meaningful experiences. We also help candidates boost their academic transcripts and GPA, find stellar internships, and create a timeline for LSAT prep. All of this is done with one goal in mind: to get applicants into their dream law program, wherever that may be.
Our private LSAT tutoring assesses each student’s strengths and weaknesses. This helps create a study plan that is structured for the days, weeks, and even months ahead. We tailor our approach to each student’s unique needs and schedule, providing the right assessments and lessons as they become familiar with the test content, strategies, and, of course, format. On average, we see a 12-point increase for 40+ hours of tutoring. We also offer a 165+ LSAT score guarantee with our 60-hour program.
Once we’ve helped shape an outstanding candidate, we support them in creating the perfect application—which is what we’re all here for tonight. This support guides the creation of a well-balanced list of target, safety, and reach schools. We also help build strong résumés and obtain letters of recommendation from the right recommenders. Of course, our admissions counselors, who are also essay-writing experts, help brainstorm, outline, and edit your supplemental essays and personal statements until they are perfect. Our goal is to build the perfect candidate and application. We use every tool in our skill set to ensure the final product stands out from the rest.
We’re so happy to be here tonight, excited to share with you, and would now like to move on to our main discussion.
“Hi everyone, my name is Jesse. I am an admission counselor with Juris. I have been coaching and writing for application essays—undergrad, law school, grad programs—for about eight years now. I started off as a Writing Center consultant for Emory University, which is where I earned my undergraduate degree. Subsequently, I went to the University of Southern California, where I earned my JD/MBA, and I was also a writing and essay consultant there for four years.
In total, I’ve been working professionally for over eight years as a Writing Center coach. I know how difficult this process can be for a lot of people. I personally had a really tumultuous time going through the law school admissions process, so I want to be able to spread my knowledge and lived experience, and help you navigate that—hopefully with a smoother path than I had.”
Another panelist adds: “It’s so good to be here. My name is Tamara; I use she/her pronouns. Brief résumé: I grew up in the Chicagoland area and went to undergrad at Vanderbilt, where I majored in English and Gender Studies. At the time, I was not at all interested in law school. I did a year as a Fulbright scholar in Taiwan and then a year as an AmeriCorps member in Chicago before I decided to go to law school at the University of Michigan.
I also did not have a terribly fun time applying to law school. I don’t come from a family of lawyers. I hadn’t done any pre-law classes as an undergrad. I really didn’t know what I was doing. So, like Jesse, I love talking to people and telling them it’s okay if you haven’t followed a perfect path. Everyone has a great application story to tell; it’s just about figuring out the best way to do it. We do that at Juris Education. Hopefully, some of the tips we give you today will help as you start the process yourselves.”
Now, let’s talk about the personal statement and what you’re trying to relay with your application as you describe your own story. It all starts with reflection, looking inward at the moments that have shaped who you are and what you want to do. If you’re struggling to find an overarching theme, think abstractly.
One way is to review your résumé or any relevant cover letters, essays, or work samples. Imagine it’s someone else’s portfolio—ask yourself what topic or area of law would match that person’s background and experiences. That often reveals the first step in shaping your personal statement. It’s all about tying your story together with evidence from your lived experiences, extracurriculars, and professional background, then explaining how it points toward your future in law.
One helpful approach is listing every major formative experience you’ve had. Then you can see patterns or connections among them. If you’ve already had a clear “aha” moment—perhaps an internship in a courthouse or firsthand exposure to the criminal justice system—that can be your focal story.
But for many people who are stuck, listing your experiences can help you uncover a theme. Pick the stories that communicate the important values or character traits you want to highlight. Rather than simply saying, “I’m resilient,” show that resilience through specific, vivid storytelling.
The personal statement is not just a résumé in paragraph form. It’s a deep dive into one experience (or a connected set of experiences) that shaped who you are. You should show where the tension or obstacle was, how you tackled it, and what you learned.
Admissions officers want to see that you’ve overcome challenges or learned from mistakes. That tension shows growth. If everything sounds too perfect, it won’t feel authentic—and authenticity is key.
After writing your initial draft, prepare for multiple rounds of editing. Use vivid language. Avoid clichés. Show, don’t tell. Paint a picture with details about what you saw, felt, and heard.
Balance the personal and the professional. This is your story, but you should still follow formal grammar rules and paragraph structure. Many schools set a maximum length of two pages or 500–700 words, so you usually can’t address more than one theme in a single essay. Stick to your central argument and let each paragraph tie back into it.
Open strong, perhaps with a dramatic or engaging scene that captivates the reader. Then move into your background: who you are, what brought you to this pivotal moment, and why law school is your next step.
Don’t list every achievement (that’s the résumé’s job). Your statement is a story—a personal pitch about why you should be admitted.
As you craft your personal statement, remember your goal is to leave the admissions reader wanting to meet you. Show them who you are in a compelling, authentic way. Summarize your main theme succinctly in your conclusion so that it ties everything together.
Your entire application is a package. The personal statement should not simply repeat facts from your résumé or overshadow your supplemental essays. Each component should build on the others to present a unified narrative of who you are and what you hope to accomplish with a JD.
Law school is a serious commitment—both financially and academically—so show that you’ve done your homework. Explain why you’re pursuing a JD and give a sense of where you see yourself in the legal field.
All the materials—your résumé, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and optional essays—should form a consistent portrait of you. Show recurring themes and values that reinforce your story. Make sure dates and roles match precisely between your résumé and any descriptions in your personal statement or LSAC forms.
Choose recommenders who genuinely know you and can speak to your strengths. A letter from someone who only knows you earned an A in their class but can’t speak to your character is less valuable than a letter from someone who saw you strive and grow.
Take stock of any weaknesses, whether it’s a semester of low grades, a less-than-ideal LSAT score, or a gap in your work history. Don’t ignore them. A well-written addendum can explain circumstances without sounding like an excuse. Show how you overcame a personal challenge or learned from it.
Law schools value honesty and maturity; explaining your setbacks and demonstrating your resilience can bolster your application.
Above all, be authentic. You don’t need to fabricate dramatic stories. Your own experiences are enough if you present them thoughtfully. Proofread and double-check that every element aligns across the application. Seek feedback from mentors or pre-law advisors you trust, but be wary of too many conflicting opinions.
Proofread thoroughly. Because this is a relatively short document, even one typo can stand out. Ensure consistency with facts, dates, and the overall story. Give your recommenders helpful materials—like your résumé and personal statement draft—so they can tailor their letters to reinforce your narrative.
We ended the session with audience questions about optional essays, addressing weaknesses, and how law school fit into our personal journeys. We emphasized there is no single “right” path to law school—some decide late in college, others take time off to work or change careers. Each background can enrich your application if presented cohesively and authentically.
Thank you to everyone who joined. We hope this gave you fresh ideas and insights into the law school application process. If you have more questions or want to learn about Juris Education’s services, feel free to reach out or book a one-on-one call. We look forward to hearing from you and wish you the best in your application journey.
