Advice on Letters of Recommendation
Who should I choose to write letters of recommendation?
Along with your personal statement, your letters of recommendation are the items in your application that say the most about who you are and what you will contribute to your law school.
It is very important to choose recommendation writers carefully. In addition, you will appear more trusting of your letter writers, if you sign the waiver component of the LSDAS Letter of Recommendation form.
You may be asked to complete a Dean's Certificate that certifies your academic standing at TTU. The Prelaw advisor can assist you with completing this form.
When are letters of recommendation for law schools most useful?
When written by people who know you (e.g., professors in small, upper-level courses you have taken.)
When it refers to specific experiences
If it is able to say something that is not obvious in other parts of the application
If it is able to say something relevant to your academic ability and potential for success in law school
Who should write your letter of recommendations and why?
Faculty
- They can put your transcript into context (e.g., explain what a "B" in their class means),
- Highlight your strengths (e.g., writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills),
- Emphasize your personal qualities (e.g., persistence, empathy, etc.)
Supervisors
- They can emphasize your personal qualities
- Confirm your achievements
- Confirm your commitment of time and energy
- Highlight other successes relevant to success in law school.
Who should not write your letters?
- High school teachers - High school teachers should not write letters of recommendation unless you have done recent work with them.
- 'Influential' people - Be careful of selecting influential people, especially judges or politicians unless they know you (not your parents or family) personally.
- It will not be beneficial to have any individual write a letter of recommendation if they are unable to express anything unique or profound that is not evident in your application packet.
How to request letters of recommendation?
Think about the relevance of your experience with the writer, not his/her status.
Select the appropriate number of people to ask.
Notify your letter writers 3-5 weeks in advance of the time the letters should be sent.
Make an appointment to talk with the prospective writer. Bring the following to the meeting:
- A copy of your law school resume
- Good examples past papers/writing samples for the writer
- A copy of your personal statement
- Stamped envelopes addressed to the LSDAS
- An LSDAS Letter of Recommendation Form with a signed confidentiality waiver (if you wish to use one)
- A time-line for when the letter should be mailed