Law School Addendum Example

The law school addendum can be one of the most confusing components of a law school application. What is it? When is it needed? How should you write one?

The addendum is a short written attachment that allows you to add some clarifying information about your candidacy. There are plenty of ways to write an addendum, but there are even more ways to write a bad addendum. The last thing you want to do is to overburden admissions officers with unnecessary information or leave them with a poor impression.

This post will cover the key information you need to craft an effective addendum: when to write one, what format to use, and how to strike the right tone. 

I also want to share a couple of good examples of application addendums that you can use for inspiration. Let's jump in. 

When is an Addendum Worth Writing? 

A law school addendum makes sense when something in your application may raise a red flag. The most common reasons are: low grades, a low LSAT score, a big jump in LSAT scores, a discrepancy in your transcripts, a leave of absence, a long gap in your resume, evidence of academic misconduct, or disciplinary or criminal issues. 

Don't write an addendum just because you’re embarrassed by run-of-the-mill underperformance. For example, let’s say you started college on a premed track but switched majors after falling flat in an organic chemistry class freshman year. Admissions officers have read hundreds of applications from former premeds, and they don’t need a long-winded explanation of what happened, even if the experience is burned into your memory.

The Format of a Law School Addendum

In the header, include your full name, your LSAC number, and the title of your addendum. Unlike your personal statement, which should just be entitled “Personal Statement," a law school addendum should have a title that reflects the subject of the addendum.

If you're writing about a grade drop, you might title it "Transcript Addendum." If you're writing about a conspicuous LSAT score increase of 10+ points, you might title it "LSAT Score Addendum." Be more specific than "Law School Addendum." But don’t get too descriptive, this isn’t a creative writing assignment.

Try to keep your addendum short and professional. This is not an opportunity to shoehorn in a second personal statement. Keep your addendum between 1-3 paragraphs double spaced, ideally under one page in length. 

Like most other application materials, keep it consistent with 1-inch margins and a standard 11- or 12-point size. Use standard fonts like Times New Roman or Calibri. 

[Next Read: How to Write a Great Addendum For Your Law School Application]

How to Write a Law School Addendum

Whenever you're writing about a failure, setback, or mistake, it's best to avoid a self-pitying or self-justifying tone.

The best approach is to take ownership of the mistake, address the steps you took to mitigate or resolve the problem, then conclude the addendum. Use fair-minded and neutral language and avoid casting blame on others. Even if others were at fault, assuming responsibility for yourself conveys the maturity valued by admissions officers.

For example, let’s say you’re writing about a road collision that led to legal trouble. Instead of writing a long explanation of how you were rushing to work on the same route you take every day and suddenly a car came out of nowhere, driven by an obvious maniac who was probably texting … just say, “I was rear-ended while waiting at a stoplight.”

Your goal should be to provide context that helps an admissions officer understand more exactly what happened, not to make excuses. If there were unforeseen events not reflected in your records, an addendum is a good place to talk about how they impacted you. 

There may be other contributing factors that you also want to address. Maybe your transcript is weaker than it should have been, because you had to work a full-time job while you were in school, or because you were struggling with a serious illness or a family emergency. Just let the relevant context speak for itself. 

Finally, make clear how you tried to resolve the issue or how you learned from it, so you won't face the same problem again in law school. An addendum can cut both ways. It can give an admissions officer an important insight into why a part of your application may be lackluster, but it can also raise concerns about your ability to avoid a similar situation going forward. Ideally, you want to provide assurances that you'll be prepared for law school if they admit you. 

For example, if you had health problems, make it clear that they're resolved or under control. If you performed poorly in school, show how you improved your study skills. 

Try to end your addendum on an upbeat, forward-looking note. 

An Example

When I was a junior in high school in May 2010, I made the terrible decision to sell alcohol to a classmate and was dismissed from my school. I was overconfident and reckless, and while at the time I was angry I now obviously realize I was willfully violating the rules and oblivious to how I was potentially putting my classmates in danger. I learned a lot from the incident and have become more aware of the impact of my actions on my community. To this day I still feel guilt for letting down those close to me. Since then, I have not been involved in any disciplinary infractions, and I try to draw from my experience to empathize with others who have made regrettable choices.

[Next Read: What to Send Law Schools After You Apply, from Updates to Letters of Continued Interest]