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When given the option of submitting "Why X" law school statements. applicants should usually do so. A "Why X" statement is much more likely to help rather than hurt your chances of admission, but you have to be careful when you're writing it; falsity is usually pretty transparent in admissions essays, so at its base, your statement has to be sincere.

Is the law school located in the area or state in which you would eventually like to practice? Do you already have ties to that community? These are good things to mention in a "Why X" statement.

Conversely, if you don't know where you'll find yourself after law school, you might mention the school's strong national reputation as one of the reasons you've chosen to apply there; as a graduate of a well-respected law school on the national level, the essay might go, you will have the freedom to take the bar and practice anywhere in the country because it is so highly regarded.

This one applies, of course, only if the school does, indeed, have a strong national reputation, and you don't want it to be the only reason you give.

Don't be afraid to get specific in your "Why X" statement by naming particular faculty members, courses, programs, or clinics you would like to take part in; maybe those professors will even be reading your application.

Some law schools have reputations for being collegial, highly competitive, or even intellectual; some are particularly known for diversity of students in age, race, gender, ethnicity, previous work experience, nontraditional students. etc. If any of these appeal to you about a particular school, this can be a good reason to include a "Why X" statement.