When should you ask for letters of rec for law school?

Asked by: Blanca Abernathy  |  Last update: December 5, 2023
Score: 5/5 (45 votes)

Ask for a letter as early as possible
Ask for a letter as early as possible. Professors are generally willing to write letters of recommendation (it's part of their job), but they need enough time to write a good letter. You don't want to rush them because of a lack of preparation on your part.

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

College professors and instructors are the best recommenders for law school. Law schools are most interested in academic letters of recommendation and some will specifically indicate that the letters of recommendation must be academic. Even if the schools don't specify, academic letters are preferred.

Do I need letters of rec for law school?

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.

How far in advance should you ask your professor for a letter of rec?

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.

Is 6 weeks enough time to ask for a letter of recommendation?

ASK WELL IN ADVANCE of the deadline.

Give 2 weeks at minimum, or 4-6 weeks for a longer letter. For grad school, this means asking your recommenders in September or October.

Law School Admissions—Asking for a Letter of Recommendation

22 related questions found

Is 3 months enough time for a letter of recommendation?

Plan on timing your request so that you give your recommender enough time to write you a strong letter; two to three months in advance is ideal. If a letter writer has plenty of time to prepare a letter and is not asked at the last minute, you are more likely to get a glowing recommendation.

Should I submit 4 letters of rec to Yale law?

Use good judgment about how many letters to submit!

o We require two letters of recommendation and allow up to four. o If submitting more than two, ask yourself whether the additional letters are as strong as the first two are, and whether they are duplicative.

Do rec letters matter a lot?

What role do letters of recommendation play during the college admissions process? They help round out your applicant profile, provide insights into what you are like as a student and person, and put the rest of your application in context.

How many pages should letter of recommendation be for law school?

Letters should be 1 to 2 pages long, written on letterhead, and signed by the recommender. They should be submitted directly to LSAC.

Can you use the same letter of recommendation for multiple law schools?

Yes, you can use the same letter of recommendation for multiple law schools. If you've asked for general recommendations, you should tag them as “General References” in your LSAC application.

What to do before asking for a rec letter?

How to request a letter of recommendation
  1. Choose who you want to write your letters. ...
  2. Prepare a resume or brag sheet. ...
  3. Ask in person first. ...
  4. Send a formal letter of recommendation request. ...
  5. Follow up before the due date. ...
  6. Say a final thank you. ...
  7. Ask early to give ample time. ...
  8. If you sense hesitation, ask someone else.

How many rec letters do you need?

Most colleges will ask for up to three letters of recommendation, so keep that in mind and don't overdo it. If a school wants two recommendation letters, only submit two.

How many pages does an average law student read?

In law school, you will be reading and writing a ton.

How much exactly will depend on the class, of course, but 50–100 pages of reading a night is not uncommon. However, you will also take special legal writing and academic support classes early on that teach you how to read cases and analyze information quickly.

How many letters of recommendation does Harvard law require?

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.

Can a friend write a letter of recommendation for law school?

If you have not had recent contact with past professors (say, the last five years), think about requesting letters from employers and/or colleagues. Never submit recommendations from relatives or family friends. Most admissions committees will not consider them.

Is it rude to ask for more than one letter of recommendation?

Consider asking for more letters of recommendation than required for the application. For example, if you're required to submit three letters, you may ask five references to write recommendations for you.

Is it bad to send too many letters of recommendation?

We at CollegeVine recommend against ever sending more than one additional letter of recommendation, for a total of 4 recommendations (one counselor, two teachers, and one additional letter), but if you're confident that one additional letter would make a substantial positive contribution to your application, go for it!

What if you don't have enough letters of recommendation?

Reach out to your academic advisor

Even if you didn't take a class with your academic advisor or get to know them on a personal level, it's likely that they will be happy to write a letter in support of your application.

What is the lowest LSAT score accepted at Yale?

There is no minimum GPA or LSAT score for applicants, but the recent statistics show that the lowest GPA and LSAT scores received by a member of Yale Law School's most recently admitted class were 3.32 and 155 respectively.

What is the average LSAT score?

Data Summary. The average LSAT score for first-time takers was 151, according to scores tracked from 2006-2013. During this period, second-time test takers had the highest LSAT average score of about 152. The average national LSAT score for full-time, first-year JD enrollees for fall 2022 was about 159.

What is the highest LSAT score you can get?

To make it easier to compare scores earned across different LSAT administrations, your “raw score” is converted to an LSAT scale. This is the score you receive in your score report. The LSAT scale ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest possible score.

Is one month too late to ask for a letter of recommendation?

Three weeks is the minimum acceptable notice; one to two months is appreciated. Insufficient notice is a common reason that recommenders decline to write for students! A little secret: graduate admissions committees will forgive late letters of recommendation. They won't forgive late applications to their program.

Do professors say no to letter of recommendation?

Give Them an Out. Not every professor may have the time to write a letter of recommendation for you or they might not be comfortable doing it, for whatever reason. Give them the chance to decline your request easily and gracefully, so it's not awkward for either party and doesn't damage your relationship.

Is 10 days enough time for a letter of recommendation?

It's helpful to ask them to write you a letter well in advance of your application's due date. It may be beneficial to provide those recommending you with a minimum of three weeks to write your letter and submit it, so they have enough time to devote to the writing process.

Is law school a lot of memorization?

The type of memorization required for law school is a bit different than what you dealt with in undergrad and high school. You'll need to memorize a lot more in a shorter amount of time. And, beyond just memorizing rules and elements, you'll also be required to understand and apply what you've memorized.