<p>Many of the applications have a place for optional essays. How much weight is given to these and does "optional" mean you best write one?</p>
<p>If there is an essay that's specific to the law school and asks why you want to go there, you should definitely do it. I have seen that with Duke, Penn, and Michigan. The other type of essay is for diversity and if you meet the criteria for that, you should do it also.</p>