CHAPTER 3: PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD

KNOW YOUR COMPETITION

Applicants to law school are, almost by definition, capable and accomplished. Many competitive candidates—particularly at highly selective schools—are recent college graduates or individuals with only a few years of work experience. While these applicants may have strong academic credentials, relatively few bring the depth of leadership, responsibility, and real-world decision-making experience that military veterans possess.

As a non-traditional applicant, you offer law schools something they actively seek: perspective. Admissions committees value classes composed of students with diverse backgrounds, professional experiences, and life paths. Your military service can be a meaningful asset—but only if you clearly demonstrate how that experience prepares you to succeed in law school and contribute to the legal profession.

A strong service record alone is not enough. Through your application, you must show that your experiences translate into intellectual engagement, professionalism, and readiness for the rigors of legal study. Law schools are not admitting you for what you have already done; they are admitting you for what they believe you will do as a student and alumnus.

STANDING OUT FROM YOUR PEERS

It is not enough to have served honorably. Particularly at more selective law schools, admissions committees are looking for evidence that you excelled relative to your peers. Your resume and letters of recommendation are the primary tools you will use to demonstrate this.

On your resume, highlight indicators of distinction and impact. These may include accelerated promotions, competitive selections, leadership positions, performance rankings, awards, or specialized training. Quantitative comparisons—such as being ranked first among peers, selected from a large candidate pool, or entrusted with responsibility beyond your rank—are especially effective.

If you received awards or commendations, list them thoughtfully. Admissions officers may not be familiar with military awards, so briefly contextualize those that are particularly competitive or meaningful. Even if you were not formally ranked at the top of your peer group, you can still stand out by emphasizing initiative, problem-solving, intellectual curiosity, and leadership in complex or high-stakes environments.

Letters of recommendation are equally important. What matters most is not the rank or title of your recommender, but how well they know you and how strongly they can advocate for you. A detailed, enthusiastic letter describing you as an exceptional performer is far more valuable than a generic letter from a more senior individual. Choose recommenders who can speak specifically to your abilities, growth, and potential.

In addition to your resume, recommendations, and academic metrics, demonstrating genuine interest in your target schools can strengthen your application. Engaging with veteran affinity groups, attending admissions events, or participating in veteran-focused visit programs can help you better understand each school’s culture and priorities. These interactions can also inform strong “Why X” essays and help you articulate a credible fit with a particular institution.

STEREOTYPES OF MILITARY APPLICANTS

Like all applicants, veterans are subject to assumptions, some positive, some less so. Admissions committees often associate military service with leadership, discipline, teamwork, and the ability to perform under pressure. These perceptions work in your favor, and your application should reinforce them through concrete examples.

At the same time, military applicants may also face unspoken assumptions about rigidity, overreliance on hierarchy, or limited creativity and communication skills. You do not need to directly address these stereotypes in an essay. Instead, rebut them implicitly by showcasing experiences that demonstrate adaptability, independent thinking, strong writing, intellectual curiosity, and initiative.

Your personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation should collectively present you as someone who can thrive in an academic environment that values nuance, debate, and original thought. Subtlety is key, let the evidence speak for itself.

DEVELOPING YOUR “NARRATIVE”

Law schools expect applicants to engage in self-reflection. They want to understand how your past experiences connect to your present goals and future aspirations. A compelling application tells a coherent story about who you are, what motivates you, and why law school is a logical next step—not a default option.

As a veteran, you already stand out from many civilian applicants. But you are also competing against other veterans, some of whom may have very similar backgrounds. To distinguish yourself, you need to articulate what makes you unique.

This is where your application “narrative” comes in. Your narrative is not a single essay; it is the unifying theme that ties together your personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation, and optional essays. You should be able to summarize this narrative in one or two sentences. Doing so helps ensure that every component of your application reinforces a consistent, compelling picture of you as a candidate.

For example:

“I am an Army infantry officer with a strong interest in writing and community service. My experiences leading soldiers in complex environments have shaped my desire to pursue a legal career focused on international humanitarian law and the modernization of the Law of Armed Conflict.”

This narrative works because it highlights leadership, adds personal depth, and clearly connects military service to a specific legal interest. It gives admissions officers a framework for understanding your application as a whole.

Developing your narrative early will guide key decisions throughout the application process—from choosing a personal statement topic, to selecting recommenders, to deciding which experiences to emphasize on your resume. It will also serve you well during interviews, where clarity of purpose and self-awareness are especially important.

Ultimately, your goal is to leave the admissions committee with a clear sense of who you are, what drives you, and how you will contribute to the law school community and the profession beyond it.