Recommendation Letters For Law School

When Applying to law school it is necessary to submit recommendation letters for admission. You can check to see the number required and accepted for each school at the LSAC Letter of Recommendation List of Schools and Their Requirements site. We recommend that you have two or three good references to be a competitive candidate. If you do not have references already lined up, don’t worry, here are some tips on who to obtain them from and how.

How Do I Submit My Letters of Recommendation to Law Schools?
The Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) will hold and distribute your letters of
recommendation along with the rest of your information as part of the LSDAS service. You can submit up to four general letters and an unlimited number a school specific letters. The letters will be held for five years.

• First: Make sure you have registered with LSDAS on-line at the LSAC Web site. This is the same Web site you register for the LSAT.
• Second: Download and print out the recommendation letter request forms located on the LSAC Web site; it is necessary for you to print out a separate form for each reference. You complete the top portion and have your reference complete the bottom part. We recommend that you keep the letters confidential (waive your rights to see the letters). There may be the possibility of someone being on the admissions committee who has a bias against non-confidential letters. But it is your right to choose to waive or not to waive your right to see the letters.
• Third: Give the form to your references, also it would be a courtesy to give them a stamped envelope addressed to LSDAS, with no return address. Ask your reference to write their letter on their letterhead stationary. Now all of your schools will receive your recommendations without you having to send out multiple copies.

What Makes a Good Letter of Recommendation?
It is important for your reference to provide examples and show your potential to the schools and
why you will be a successful law student (not lawyer). The letter must have substance!

• Select as references, objective and responsible persons who you know well.
  Even if they hold a high level position, if they don’t know you then their letter will not help.
  (keep away from personal references)
• The letter should carry weight in its content, letters that are simply character references are rarely helpful.
• The more detail the recommender provides the better.
• The recommender should provide examples of: your analytical ability, communication skills, research
  abilities, thoroughness, how you follow through on projects and ideas, your reliability, how you work with others and individually, how you compare to other students, and your potential as a law student.
  

Who Should I Use as a Reference?

Professors

• Professors are the most important reference.
• At least one of your references should be a professor, preferably from your undergraduate major, but this is not a necessity.
• If you have attended a junior college prior to the university it is acceptable to have one write a recommendation, but it is strongly advised that it be in addition to a letter from a university professor.
• Schools are looking for candidates who have strong academic skills and will do well in their program and who is the best judge, a professor.

Ways to Get to Know a Professor

• If you have done well in a course, many times the professors expect you to ask them for a letter of recommendation.

 

• If you do well in a class sometimes the professors ask the top students in the class to work as Teaching Assistants for their class. You can also ask the professor.

 

• The majority of professors on this campus are involved in research. Find out about their particular project, if it interests you ask if you can work with them. You can also earn units for this experience. The Dean’s office of your college or the main office of your department may have a list of the professors’ on-going research projects.

 

• Visit your professor during their office hours andask them if they will be a reference and offer to meet with them so they can get to know you. It is wise to give them a copy of your resume, papers and exams from that class and your personal statement, or background information with a statement as to why you want attend law school.

 

• If you don't have any questions for the professor and feel you need an excuse to visit him/her during their office hours.

Teaching Assistants (T.A.)

• T.A.’s can make good references, they have a unique knowledge of your dedication in the classroom and in many situations know you better than a professor.
• You can obtain a joint letter of recommendation from your T.A. and your professor. Usually the T.A. will write the letter and the professor may or may not add to it and both will sign it.

Employers

• If you have had a job for a while with the same employer in which you believe your supervisor can highlight your reliability, organizational skills, strong work ethic and good moral character., he/she can write a letter of recommendation for you.
• Make certain the individual you select to write your letter can write! If the letter is filled with grammatical and spelling errors it could have an affect on the admissions decision.

Internship Supervisors

• If you have had an internship your supervisor is another option for a reference.
• It is not the title of the recommender that will impress the admissions committee, it is the substance of the letter! Choose the individual, usually your direct supervisor, who knows you the best.

Coaches

• Coaches can often show how a student performs whether on or off of the field.

Sponsors of Organizations

• Your membership or association with an organization can show your potential as a law student.
• If you have been active in an organization and the sponsor is aware of your activities, sometimes the sponsor can serve as a good reference.