As a law school admissions counselor, I am often asked what makes a strong letter of recommendation. Who should you approach for a recommendation? How can you encourage your recommender to draft a strong letter? How many letters should you submit?
To help you secure recommendations that will best represent you to law school admissions committees, let’s look at the basic anatomy of a law school recommendation letter.
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Introduction: Whom You Should Ask
The opening paragraph of a recommendation letter should ideally introduce you as an applicant as well as introduce the individual recommending you. How does this person know you and for how long?
In what capacity has this individual observed your work — whether academic, extracurricular or professional? The recommender should briefly share his or her background and role in your life.
When choosing individuals to recommend you, ask those who can provide an enthusiastic and accurate assessment of your candidacy for law school. This means you should ask individuals who have actually observed you making accomplishments.
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Every admissions cycle, I have at least one client who asks about including a letter from a lawyer, judge or politician who is well-regarded in the legal sector. I advise they choose individuals who can give insight into the remarkable accomplishments they have made. Avoid asking high-ranking professors or supervisors who don’t know you personally .
On the flip side, character references from family and friends are unlikely to persuade the admissions committee unless these individuals have been in positions to directly oversee you and your work. It’s better to submit a rave review from a teaching assistant than a generic letter from a high-ranking individual’s office.
Letter: Evidence and How You Can Help
The body of the recommendation letter should not only describe your impressive qualities but also provide concrete examples that demonstrate those qualities. Remember, you are applying to law school — lawyers love to see evidence to support claims.
This is where you can make a big difference in the quality of the letters your recommenders upload to the Law School Admissions Council website. Once your recommenders have agreed to write a letter on your behalf, follow up and remind the individuals about your accomplishments under their supervision..
When writing letters of recommendation for former students, I have found it helpful when they refreshed my memory on papers they wrote, information they learned and ways my class shaped their goal of becoming a lawyer.
Identify how the experiences you shared with your recommenders fit with your professional and academic goals. Doing so will help them connect their recommendations to your motives and qualifications for attending law school.
Sometimes recommenders will ask for your resume or personal statement draft. While you can honor such requests, take the extra step of writing down the specific accomplishments you hope your recommenders will include in their letters.
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Recommendation: Quality Over Quantity
A recommendation letter must have an actual recommendation. The letter should tell the admissions committee in no uncertain terms that the the individual writing the letter supports your candidacy for law school.
This recommendation can come at the beginning, the end or at both points of the letter. Regardless of placement, the recommender needs to provide a wholehearted recommendation. Law school admissions is too competitive for lukewarm recommendations.
That’s why I advise applicants only submit recommendations that enhance their application. Most programs require at least two letters but some will accept up to four. You are better off submitting two really strong letters than submitting extras that are weaker just to fill a quota.
Also avoid overlap. For example, if you already have a strong recommendation from your current employer, consider asking a professor or volunteer coordinator who can discuss different components of your resume and background. Admissions committees do not need to read three letters that all describe the same information about you.
You can also avoid overlap in your application by asking your recommenders to expand upon experiences that you weren’t able to fully address in your personal statement.
Remember that your letters of recommendation are only one component of your application. Admissions committees will review everything you submit holistically.
Aspire to put together pieces that are complementary and consistent. It will not serve you well to have one recommender write about your desire to return to a corporate law firm if in your personal statement you discuss your commitment to pursue human rights work.
Want advice on who m to ask for a recommendation letter? You can email me at lawadmissionslowdown@usnews.com.
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Anatomy of a Law School Recommendation Letter originally appeared on usnews.com
