You might focus on one theme only or try to incorporate all three. There are several different ways to approach each one of these themes. The more common of these approaches are outlined below with tips and advice for how to best handle each approach. We covered this in chapter 1 but it bears repeating. No matter how well written or how personal your essay is, if it doesn't ultimately express your motivation for attending law school and pose an argument for why you should be accepted than you've missed the mark.
Most students write generic personal statements which are then sent to every school.
That's fine, and to a degree it is expected. You can, at the very least, find out about the school's general reputation by scanning the guidebook and catalog. Better, though, is to research the faculty and familiarize yourself with a school's specific strengths. All of this becomes fodder for the statement and will be crucial later when you are invited to interview. This can mean a couple of different things.