LNAT: Writing a Strong Section B Essay

Section B of the LNAT is a single essay, chosen from three prompts, written in about 40 minutes. Unlike the multiple-choice Section A, it is not computer-marked: the universities you apply to read it themselves, so it is a direct sample of how you argue in writing. No legal knowledge is required or expected.

1. Choosing the Question

Pick the prompt you can argue both sides of, not the one you feel most strongly about. The strongest essays acknowledge the best version of the opposing view and still reach a clear position. Spend a minute deciding before you commit.

2. Planning

Plan before you write. Decide your thesis in one sentence, choose two or three supporting arguments, and identify the strongest counterargument you will answer. Five minutes of planning saves a rambling answer.

3. Structure

Open with an introduction that states your thesis plainly. Give each argument its own paragraph with a reason and an example. Devote a paragraph to the counterargument and rebut it. Close with a conclusion that restates your position and why it holds. Aim for roughly 600 to 750 words.

4. Style

Clarity beats cleverness. Use precise, plain sentences, define any key term, and avoid sweeping claims you cannot support. Markers reward a disciplined, balanced argument far more than strong opinions or rhetorical flourish.

Common Mistakes

Conclusion

The LNAT essay tests judgement and clarity under time pressure. Choose a question you can argue both ways, plan a thesis with a rebuttal, structure it cleanly, and write plainly. That is exactly the reasoning a law degree will ask of you.