Should I ask my employer for a letter of recommendation for law school?

Asked by: Brielle Dickinson  |  Last update: July 29, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (47 votes)

If you are either still in college or less than two years out, one recommender should be academic. If you have been working for more than two years, you can have another recommender be academic, but you can also have a work reference instead.

Should I ask my boss for a letter of recommendation for law school?

Law schools prioritize academic recommendations, so you should still get recommendations from your professors even if you've been working for a year (or more). It can be a good idea to get a letter of recommendation from a work supervisor, but only if it's in addition to 1 or 2 academic recs.

Should I ask my employer for a letter of recommendation for college?

1 Answer 1 Yes, get the letter from your employer. In general, people reading letters want to see assessments of your skills, work ethic, etc., and these can certainly be provided by someone not in academia.

Who should I ask for letters of recommendation for law school?

Law school admissions officials tell us the following make the best letter writers:
  • Someone who knows you well.
  • Someone who has academically evaluated you in an upper-division class such as a professor or graduate instructor.
  • Someone who has supervised you in a meaningful job or internship.

Is it appropriate to ask your boss for a letter of recommendation?

Asking for a reference letter is a favor, not a right, so you should always be respectful and grateful to your boss for their time and effort. You can express your appreciation by using polite and courteous language, such as "please", "thank you", "I appreciate", or "I would be honored".

Law School Admissions—Asking for a Letter of Recommendation

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Who should you not ask for a letter of recommendation?

Don't ask a family member or a friend for a recommendation as a college may not take them seriously. You should always follow the guidelines from the colleges you are applying to when choosing who to write your letter of recommendation.

How to ask your boss for a letter of recommendation for school?

  1. Ask in person first. Before you send a formal, written request for a letter of recommendation, speak with each individual in person. ...
  2. Send a formal letter of recommendation request. ...
  3. Follow up before the due date. ...
  4. Say a final thank you.

Do any law schools require 3 letters of recommendation?

Most law programs require two or three reference letters for admission, although they may accept more than just three. While references from faculty members are ideal, law schools may seriously consider nonacademic references as well, especially if applicants have been out of school for several years.

Is 4 letters of recommendation too much for law school?

Schools vary on the number of letters of recommendation they require, so make sure to check each school's requirements in LSAC. Typically, two-four letters are required, meaning schools most commonly require two letters but will accept up to four.

Can I write my own letter of recommendation for law school?

Law School Applicants: Don't Write Your Letters of Recommendation. Self-written recommendation letters are easy to spot and are seen as inauthentic.

Is it awkward to ask for a letter of recommendation?

Requesting a letter of recommendation can be an uncomfortable thing. You are asking a person of authority to write a good review of you. You want to ask someone who you have a positive relationship with, someone who may also be invested in your success. This ensures that you will more likely be painted in a good light.

Do employers care about letters of recommendation?

References and/or letters of recommendation are usually a necessary part of your job search. In fact, once an employer narrows their list of potential candidates, references are often the determining factor for which candidate gets offered the position.

Who is the best person to write a letter of recommendation?

This could be a teacher, a coach, a mentor, someone from your faith community, a boss, someone who you have volunteered with, etc. Pro Tip: Ask someone who has known you for a long time or who has seen you work hard at school, a job, or an extra-curricular activity.

How early should you ask for letters of recommendation for law school?

That means that you should request recommendation letters more than a month before you plan to apply. Law School Admissions Process: A Month-By-Month Guide.

Can I ask my employer for a letter of recommendation for college?

Tips to ask for a letter of recommendation

Offering specific information can help your employer write a tailored letter that can impress a hiring manager or college admission team. You can provide additional documents that can serve as a guide, including: The job description or information on the college or program.

How many letters of rec for Harvard law?

Two letters of recommendation are required, but you may submit up to three. We strongly recommend that at least one letter of recommendation come from an academic source.

Who to ask for a letter of recommendation in law school?

The most effective letters of recommendation are written by professors or work supervisors who know you well enough to describe your academic, personal, or professional achievements and potential with candor, detail, and objectivity. Letters that compare you to your academic peers are often the most useful.

How many law schools is too many to apply to?

Generally, 15 schools is the maximum number of schools you should apply to. If you apply to different types of schools, as we have suggested here, you'll have good odds of getting into at least one of these 15.

Is it bad to have too many recommendation letters?

Typically, it's best to have one professional and one academic reference letter. Some universities may ask for three or more.

What do law schools look for in letters of recommendation?

The Strategy of the Letter

Applicants for law school will be judged on their ability to do academic work, their intellectual capacity and motivation, their ability to communicate.

What GPA do I need for law school?

Obtain High GPA & LSAT Scores

According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools. However, that is the bare minimum, and you should aim higher if you want to increase your chances of getting into the top 3.

Can you submit a law school application without letters of recommendation?

You may submit applications before LSAC has the letter on file, but if a law school requires letters of recommendation your file will not be deemed “complete” without the minimum number of letters, and your application will not be reviewed without them.

How far in advance should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

Start early.

Ideally, give the person three to four weeks, but never less than two weeks to complete the recommendation. Most faculty and staff are very busy and have numerous recommendations to write, so you want to be courteous.

How to get letters of recommendation if you don't know anyone?

If you don't feel like you know anyone well enough yet, set up some time to meet with mentors regularly so that they know you well by the time you need a letter of recommendation. Tip: Do not damage your credibility by asking family members to write your letter of recommendation!

Should you ask your current employer for a letter of recommendation?

Importance to potential employer: If a reference from your current employer is unimportant to a potential employer, you might choose not to request one. If the potential employer asks for one, you can express your reservations about disclosing your job search or follow their wishes.