Who would be a good reference for law school?

Law School Letter of Recommendation

• One of the requirements for law school applications are letters of recommendation. What are the themes for the recommender to think about when writing such letters of recommendation? In particular, the recommender is an employer of the applicant, and the applicant has been out of school for a while and considers experience since undergrad a strong point. The LSAC gives the following instructions for the recommender (taken from http://www.lsac.org/pdfs/2002-2003/LOR-form-2002.pdf): "Law schools value your candid appraisal of the applicant’s ability, academic and otherwise, to study law, including qualities of mind and character, dedication, responsibility, and readiness for the rigors of advanced academic study. Evidence of overcoming adversity, rising to challenges, and achieving beyond expectations are helpful in assessing candidates for admission. You may wish to include how well you know the candidate and in what capacity, your assessment of the relative strength of the candidate within the reference group in which she or he is being compared, and how the candidate will add to the diversity of the law school." The answer I am looking for would thoughtfully expand on these instructions. Also, I'm looking for suggestions on what background info that can be provided by the applicant might be useful to the recommender.

• Answer:

  Greetings Alekb: I located the following guidelines for a law school letter of recommendation at http://career.berkeley.edu/Letter/LetterGuidelines.stm#law: "Law schools are primarily interested in recommendations that come from professors who know the student and his/her academic work, as well as from employers who can write about the factors noted below. They are interested in summary estimates of the candidate's general promise as a student of law. The more the evaluation reflects real knowledge of the student and his/her performance, the more useful the letter is to the law school's admissions committee and thus to the student. Indicate how long you have known the applicant and in what capacity. It should address the following questions: Personal effectiveness: Is the applicant the kind of person you would choose to consult as a lawyer? Does the applicant enjoy the trust and respect of professors and fellow students? Intellectual qualifications: What is your assessment of the applicant's analytical skills and ability to grasp new ideas? Has the applicant's academic record been affected by any special circumstances such as work, social or academic background? What is the applicant's ability to deal with complex or abstract matters? Ability to communicate: Is the applicant an effective writer? Does the written work submitted demonstrate a mastery of the conventions of English? Is the written expression clear, well-organized and forceful? Is the applicant articulate in oral expression? Industry and self-discipline: To what extent does the applicant possess the traits of persistence, efficiency and motivation? Is there any reason to doubt the applicant's commitment to law study or the applicant's diligence as a student? Potential for the study of law: What is your prediction of the applicant's probable performance in the study of law? Would the applicant stand in the top quarter, near mid-class or simply make the grade in a rigorous program? Do you have any special familiarity with the process of legal education? Is there any other information about the applicant which you would like to share with admissions committees? " ************** The PDF document at http://laus.la.psu.edu/pdf/lsr/letters.pdf covers some guidelines but none of the document would copy to here. Please visit the URL for the complete document. It states what the applicant might include for the recommender. ************** The site at http://www.accepted.com/law/letter_rec.htm covers "10 Tips for Recommenders" and also suggests phrasing for specific areas. EXAMPLE: "4. Discuss how well you know the applicant. I was able to get to know Mr. Doe because he made it a point to attend two of my sections every week when only one was required. Ms. Smith reported directly to me for two years prior to her well-deserved promotion to the position of Senior in our Big Six Accounting Firm." ************** The site at http://www.asu.edu/duas/advising/prelaw/lettersofrec.htm also covers what should be provided by applicant to recommender: "In order to expedite the process, the applicant should provide the person writing the recommendation with the following: A brief resume (not necessarily the finished form one would send to a prospective employer but one containing all essential data). An unofficial set of transcripts, perhaps highlighting courses taken with the recommender. All applicable forms provided by the law schools. Be sure to indicate that you waive your right to see the recommendations. Nonconfidential letters are of little or no value. Besides, if you can’t trust your recommender to write a good letter, you should not be making the request of that person. A stamped envelope addressed as directed by the law school." The article covers many other points as well including: "Situations under which the applicant might solicit a letter of recommendation from other than an academic are the following: From a long-time employer who can state that the applicant was employed full time (half time, etc.) during his/her college career. This would verify that the applicant’s GPA was achieved under difficult circumstances in addition to commenting on work ethic. From an athletic coach who can state that the applicant was a (three-year, four-year) member of the team and indicate the amount of time devoted to practice, road trips, etc. This would verify that the applicant’s GPA was achieved despite the time demands of varsity athletics. Law schools are generally not impressed with letters of recommendation obtained from political office-holders and other persons of “influence,” including judges and attorneys, unless those persons also meet one of the criteria listed above. Indeed, letters that give the impression that the school is being “leaned on” by a person of presumed influence to accept a particular candidate may have a negative effect on that person’s chances of admission." ************ Should you require clarification of any of the links or information I have provided, please request it and I will be happy to respond. SEARCH STRATEGY: "letter of recommendation" law school guidelines employer "letter of recommendation" law school