Law and English Personal Statement Example 1

To me the written word has always been the most effective medium of communication. It has acted as a reliable canvas for the great writers to express their ideas to me, no matter how fantastical, detailed or controversial, from Bronte's ethereal, vivid descriptions of the Yorkshire Moors during twilight to the terrifying realism of Orwell's vision of a totalitarian future in Nineteen Eighty Four.

English as a subject and as a personal interest enthuses me and I wish to pursue my interest for it either in a career in the legal field or an area related to English and communications. From a young age I have always adored reading, diving into works such as Animal Farm, The Hobbit and His Dark Materials, now I take an interest in more adult works such as books by Camus and Cormac MaCarthy.

I also am a subscriber to newspapers such as The Guardian, The Irish Times, the current affairs magazine 'The Week' and I purchase the Thursday edition of The Times for its law supplement.

As a subject, English has cultivated my interests for reading and writing. Chaucer's The Wife of Bath particularly evoked my interests during my A2 year, as I was interested in the middle-English style of the language and how, through his fictional character, Chaucer challenged traditional ideals of this era.

My work experience involved spending time in a solicitor's office and shadowing a barrister; both experiences gave me a greater insight into the legal system and boosted my interest in pursuing law as a future career. I shadowed members of the partnership while they undertook cases and was present at various courts every day in the Laganside Court House.

I was very interested by each process and how each solicitor and barrister would have built his or her argument while remaining focused and composed during each case. I enjoyed reading through the legal documents on each case, working with paralegals at the office and meeting various clients. I found this to be an enlightening experience which cultivated my interest in pursuing law further at university.

I have followed my interests in literature and foreign language in the school community through contributing to literary productions as an active member of the Yearbook editorial team for three years and by being selected for the French debate team, competing externally on topical debates in French. I have also participated in the French exchange programme, I have represented my school on European Languages Day teaching French in my local community and through the community link programme where I prepared and taught a weekly French lesson for a primary school class.

I subscribe to Le Monde and have spent a week at a Private French school in Beziers and my passion for literature has extended into French literature; L'Etranger by Albert Camus had a strong impact on my perceptions of life, as I was introduced to the theme of Existentialism. Initially, the idea terrified me but I came to understand how we give our lives a sense of purpose through our own actions.

As a person, I am very sociable and I enjoy team activities be it sport or other accomplishments, I have completed my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, I was a member of Malone Rugby Club where I played for two seasons at under-sixteen level and from under ten to minor level for Bredagh GAC. I am a licensed Special Olympics coach of which I have been made prefect. I enjoy improving my coaching abilities as a member of the International Coaching group 'Peace Players'. My hobbies include running, swimming and I also enjoy playing guitar and theatre.

I am dedicated towards furthering my studies either in the legal field or in English and Communications. I look forward to immersing myself in my chosen study and surrounding myself with like-minded people at university.