How To Get Great Law School Recommendation Letters

How To Get Great Law School Recommendation Letters

Today, we want to talk about one of the often-overlooked parts of your law school application: the recommendation letters. As you juggle studying for the LSAT, boosting your GPA, and preparing your essays and other materials, it’s important to make sure you’ll get the letters you need in time to submit your applications. If you’re wondering how to get great law school recommendation letters, you’ve come to the right place!

How To Get Great Law School Recommendation Letters

Who Should You Ask for a Law School Recommendation Letter?

No matter what, remember that good recommendation letters for law school should be individualized and speak to your unique strengths. Generic letters typically do not add much to your application, and may even hurt your chances!

The number of letters you’ll need and the best people to ask will depend on factors like your relationships with professors and whether (and how long) you’ve worked after college. The first thing you should do is check the requirements of your target law schools, since they may require a certain number of academic or professional references.

Keep in mind that these are academic or professional letters, not personal letters of recommendation. If your friend is the CEO of a major company but you’ve never worked with him in a professional setting and only play golf on the weekend, then despite his title being impressive, this is not the person you want to ask to write your letter. Instead, you should find people that have either supervised your work in a professional setting or who taught you and are familiar with your work ethic through a class.

What’s the Best Way to Ask for a Recommendation Letter?

The best way to ask for a recommendation letter depends on your relationship with that person. If possible, office hours are usually a good way to ask professors. Clearly and politely explain what you need and when you need it. Your professor may ask for a writing sample, copy of your resume, or other materials — especially if it’s been a while since you were in their class! Have those things ready to go so you can provide them to the person on the spot. Also, be sure to fill them in on what your future plans are and what your goals are in attending law school.

If asking a potential recommender to write a letter in person is not possible, you can turn to email. Again, be clear and polite in your request. And, if a potential recommender says no, try not to take it personally — often it has everything to do with that person’s busy schedule and nothing to do with you.

Check out these additional tips on how to ask a person for a letter of recommendation, including a template for asking them.

When Should You Ask for a Recommendation Letter?

The timing of your request is key. Professors are busy people, and no one appreciates a last-minute addition to their workload. Instead, aim to ask your professors for letters well in advance of the date you hope to submit your applications.

We often recommend that students ask their recommenders for letters during the summer so that you can have it in hand (figuratively speaking) when you’re ready to apply in the fall. Give your professor months to write it so it doesn’t interfere with teaching or grading schedules. It’s never too early to start thinking about your recommendation letters!

• Pursuing Law School? We’ve Got You Covered!

  🌟 Special Offer: Enroll in our FREE on-demand law school prep course, meticulously crafted by a top-ranked law student. Secure your spot now