Who should I ask for law school letter of recommendation?
Asked by: Clinton Hilpert | Last update: January 23, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (50 votes)
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.
Who do you address a letter of recommendation to for law school?
Overall, it is best to address your letter in a more general manner (e.g., Dear Admissions Committee, etc.).
Who to ask for a letter of recommendation in law school?
Who should I ask to write my letters of recommendation? We prefer to see at least one letter of recommendation from a professor, lecturer, or teaching assistant who has had significant exposure to your academic work. Choose your recommenders carefully.
Who is best to ask for a letter of recommendation?
Ask a trusted adult who is not your family member. 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.
Who are the best recommenders for law school?
Whom to Ask for a Recommendation Letter
Unless you are an older applicant who has been in the workforce for many years, you should get at least one law school recommendation letter from a professor. Others might come from other professors, mentors or supervisors from an internship, job or activity.
Law school recommendation letter advice
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.
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.
Who is it most impressive to get letters of recommendation from?
Junior or senior year teachers are usually the best for writing recommendations, since they are more likely to have taught you in a high-level course, taught you over a few years, and/or know you in different capacities.
Who not to 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 many letters of recommendation for law school?
Each institution will let you know how many letters it requires – usually two to three.
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.
How many letters of recommendation for law school at Harvard?
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 I read my law school letters of recommendation?
You will be able to see when recommenders have submitted their letters of recommendation, but you won't be able to read them unless the author consents to sharing the letter with you. Learn more about the Credential Assembly Service and the Law School Admissions Council, here.
Who to ask for law school letter of recommendation?
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.
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.
Who should I address my letter of recommendation to?
Times New Roman font always looks very professional, and the font size should be 11 or 12 point. You should address the recommendation letter directly to the person responsible for the application or to the Human Resources department if you don't have a name (in the case of a company).
Who is the best person to ask for a letter of recommendation?
Teachers who know you outside of the classroom are a good choice. Consider a teacher who led a club you were in. If requested by the college, you can also think about other adults who know you well. A coach, employer, or club adviser can say a lot about your skills and character.
How do you decide who to ask for a letter of recommendation?
It's important to choose teachers who know you well and can provide specific examples of your strengths and personal growth. It's better to ask teachers that you had recently, preferably during your junior year, as they would have a more accurate picture of your current skillset.
Is it rude to ask for a letter of recommendation via email?
However, during the current pandemic and remote learning situations, it's perfectly fine to ask via email. Just make sure to be polite, express your gratitude, and explain why you think they would be a good person to write the recommendation.
Who to ask for letters of recommendation if you don t know anyone?
- Reach out to your academic advisor. ...
- Reach out to former professors. ...
- Ask your boss (or former boss) ...
- Take a class and build a relationship. ...
- Talk to Admissions.
What are the 6 details that should be included in a letter of recommendation?
- 1 Date. Provide the date you send your letter, especially if there are specific application cycles or deadlines to adhere to. ...
- 2 Greeting. ...
- 3 Introduction. ...
- 4 Overview. ...
- 5 Personal anecdote. ...
- 6 Closing statement. ...
- 7 Signature.
Who should not write letters of recommendation for you?
Unfamiliar Professors or Employers
Recommenders who don't know you well cannot give detailed, specific examples. Recommendations may come off as generic, which weakens their impact.
How long should a letter of recommendation for law school be?
Template for Letter of Recommendation for a law school applicant. Ideally, the person writing the letter has worked or studied with the applicant. The letter should be one page and have three sections: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
How many is too many law schools to apply to?
And while spreading a wide net over schools can be a good thing in certain scenarios, you should try to avoid overapplying (think 20 or more applications) unless absolutely necessary, as this can be expensive and take up a lot of time and mental effort.
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.