Letters of Recommendation are an integral component of your application to law school. They help admissions committees understand your strengths and weaknesses as a person and may help compensate for weak components such as lower undergraduate GPA.
The LSAC suggests asking professors and work supervisors who know you well to write letters that demonstrate your intellectual abilities, character traits and potential as a student.
Academic Letters
Many law schools specifically request letters of recommendation from professors because they believe professors are best equipped to assess a student’s abilities within an academic environment. It is an integral component of your application process and you should aim to include at least two faculty recommendations as part of it.
However, if you are applying out of school it may be more challenging to obtain letters from professors (unless applying to Columbia who does not require this requirement). Therefore it would be a good idea to supplement any academic letters with professional letters from employers or internship supervisors that emphasize your intellectual capacity and work ethic.
Make sure that the people you select as recommenders know and can write an effective letter about you. Reach out early, provide all materials they require such as transcripts, resume, test scores and goals for law school in an organized package format and remind them about submitting letters a week before submission deadlines.
Employer or Internship Supervisor Letters
Law school applications often require professional letters of recommendation in addition to academic ones. Letters from employers or internship supervisors provide admissions committees with valuable insight into your work ethic, ability to handle challenging environments successfully and other skills essential for law school success.
When seeking professional letters, make sure you choose individuals who can attest to your abilities and character – this may include supervisors, mentors and colleagues with whom you have worked professionally or those whom have volunteered alongside you.
Many students struggle to locate recommenders that can write strong professional letters of reference after graduation; try cultivating relationships early on so potential recommending experts can write strong letters even if you are applying multiple years later.
Personal Letters
Letters of recommendation play an integral part in your application package. An outstanding recommendation letter can elevate it further; but finding and cultivating appropriate recommenders, writing and submitting their letters of rec, and managing logistics involved are time-consuming tasks that take effort and dedication to complete successfully.
Admissions committees don’t just consider GPA and LSAT scores when considering applicants; they also want a comprehensive picture of who you are as an individual and what qualities or traits can contribute to law school community life. Letters of recommendation provide this insight by outlining qualities or traits not easily visible through grades or tests.
Most law schools prefer letters from professors (or, for older applicants, teaching assistants; TAs), as they have greater insight into your academic work. Letters from supervisors or mentors at work/internship sites such as Environmental Protection Agency internship sites would also be accepted – for instance a letter from their manager would suffice.
Other Letters
Letters of recommendation provide qualitative insights about candidates that may not be evident from grades and LSAT scores alone. When an applicant’s GPA or LSAT scores place them in contention for admission, strong letters of recommendation can often help tip the scales in favor of acceptance.
Request recommendation letters early; recommenders often require several weeks to compose their recommendations at busy times of year. Don’t select recommenders solely based on status or title – doing so rarely leads to strong letters of advice.
Although each law school varies in their requirements for letters of recommendation, two to three quality letters is generally sufficient for consideration. Be cautious not to submit too many as weak ones could potentially compromise an otherwise strong application.