Psychmama, where are you??
Okay, so here are my thoughts as someone who switched from law to psych after many years of law practice (which is a bit different than your situation, obviously).
1) Do you have a strong background in psychology from undergrad? Obviously, if this is the case you'll have much more to say about research interests, clinical experiences, and the like. I did not have this, so I had to construct a story for myself about how I arrived at applying to clinical psych programs from a background as a lawyer. Not surprisingly, this approach worked best for me at programs that were practice-heavy, especially PsyD programs. Your situation may be different if you have a strong research background and/or well-developed research interests.
2) In any case, I'd definitely own your law training -- not as a mistake but as a part of your evolution as someone who's passionate about clinical psychology. Do this in whatever way works for you -- maybe it was what got you jazzed about forensic work, maybe it was the rigorous analytical training of law school, interest in policy-making and health care -- whatever, just think about how you ended up where you are and spin it to your advantage. Having a law degree is not a substitute for the prereqs to a psych program, but it is definitely an advantage because it shows you can do academic work at a very high level, that you know how to think on your feet and express yourself well, and that you can cope with stress.
3) Think about your goals in psychology and make sure you can relate them to what you've already done. Are you research-minded? Then make sure you have enough research experience from undergrad to make you competitive with other applicants. If not, take a year off and try to do some research. Are you more focused on practice? This should be easier to sell as related to your law degree -- assuming you've had clinical experiences inside and outside of law school that relate in some way to your burgeoning interest in psychology. If you feel at a loss to make these connections (in your personal statement or in an interview), perhaps think about taking a year to refine your clinical interests and make sure clinical psych is for you.
These are just some general ideas. Obviously, I don't know how applicable they may be to you. In any case, I'd try to strike a balance in terms of how much to emphasize your law degree -- do not make it the focal point of your statement (after all, the focus should be on why you want psychology) but do not ignore it either. Admissions committees will see you went to law school and naturally want to know why you now want to be a psychologist. There's just no way to not address that. Turn it into a strength in whatever way you can.
