Personal Statement for Law Application

You definitely do not need to include personal interests in your PS if they do not relate, your PS can only be like 4,000 characters so every sentence must earn its place. Especially when you're applying to something as competitive as law in my opinion. As long as you show personality through how you write you will be just fine or you can add a tiny sentence at the end like “Outside my studies, I follow Formula 1 closely, drawn to the strategy, innovation, and debates about regulations themes not unlike those in law.”

Personal Statements are increasingly loosing credibility with Universities - Bristol as one example no longer reads them at all. And for those that do still use them, having 'a hobby' is not going to determine whether or not you get an offer.

Is it acceptable to not put any personal interests on my PS? Eg “I like to fence in my free time”
I just don’t see the point - anything I do socially does not relate to my interest in reading law at university.
Of course I bolster my passion for law by entering law related essay comps, work experiences in solicitors practices, attending court hearings to see how they play out in reality, and of course plenty of reading, but my love for F1 just isn’t relevant!
I’m concerned that I will sound dull on my application, , my A Levels are all essay-based too - I’m not a geek but I sound like one on my PS…
Thoughts anyone?

Hi @tinkerbello,
It’s completely understandable to feel unsure about including personal interests that don’t directly relate to law in your personal statement. The key thing to remember is that your personal statement isn’t just about proving you’re academically prepared for a law degree. It’s also your chance to show the admissions tutors a glimpse of who you are as a person.
You're right that things like fencing or a love of F1 may not initially seem relevant, but if you can find a way to link these interests back to skills or qualities that matter in law, such as strategic thinking, discipline, focus, or staying calm under pressure, then they can actually strengthen your application. That’s exactly what I did in my own personal statement: I only included hobbies if I could relate them to law in some meaningful way.
That said, even if you can’t make a direct link, I would still recommend including a brief mention of your hobbies and interests. Not pages of detail, of course, just a sentence or two towards the end. It helps to round you out as a multifaceted individual, not just someone who lives in textbooks. Universities are looking for people, not machines. Showing that you have a life outside academics can make you come across as more balanced and more engaging.
Ultimately, your passion for law should be the main focus, and it sounds like you’ve got that very well covered through your reading, essay competitions, work experience, and court visits. Just don’t be afraid to let a bit of your personality come through too.