LORs
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:05 pm
I just put together this article about getting LORs. Feel free to provide feedback or point out anything I missed. I tried to cover everything but I'm sure I missed something.
20 Frequently Asked Questions about Letters of Recommendation
1. What is a letter of recommendation?
A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a roughly one-page letter written by a professor, teaching assistant or work supervisor that tells a law school about your past achievements and your ability to succeed in law school.
2. How many LORs do I need?
It depends on the school, but the majority of law schools require two. Some only require one, and a few do require three.
3. Who should write my LORs?
The most ideal person to write for you is a professor who knows you very well. Perhaps your senior thesis advisor or a professor who you got to know well during office hours would be a good fit. The longer and better you have known the person, the better it is for you.
4. What if I don’t know any professors very well?
If you don’t know professors well, and you are still a student, then it’s time to start talking to them! Get to know a professor that you like, and seek out a letter from that person. If that isn’t an option, think about classes where you got an A or a certain professor that always seemed friendly and approachable. Asking a graduate teaching assistant or lecturer is fine as well.
5. I have been out of school for years, and I don’t remember any of my professors. What should I do?
If you are out of school and have been working, it’s also okay to ask your employer or supervisor to write a letter for you. It is better if you can find at least one academic letter, so see if any of your old professors are still teaching and try to contact them. If you refresh their memory as to who you are, they may be willing to write for you.
6. I’ve met a famous person once and they said they could write one. Is this a good idea?
No, it’s not. The content of the letter matters more than how famous the writer is. If it is a well-known person that also knows you quite well and can attest to your academic potential, then it’s fine. If not, seek one from someone else.
7. My professor said I could write my own letter and he/she would sign it? Is this a good idea?
No, it’s not a good idea. Everyone has a unique writing style, and a school could notice that the writing style in your personal statement and LOR are very similar. If possible, find a different letter writer.
8. How do I ask someone to write for me?
Ideally, go in person to ask. Go to office hours or make an appointment. If this isn’t feasible, asking through e-mail is fine.
9. What should I give my LOR writer when I ask them?
The most important thing to give an LOR writer is a signed copy of the LOR form from LSAC. It’s available on http://www.lsac.org. Both you and the letter writer need to sign it. Give your writers a signed copy when you meet with them.
Additionally, you should give your LOR writers some information about you. Give them a copy of your resume, a draft of your personal statement, and your diversity statement if you have one. Rough drafts are fine if you aren’t finished. The more information you can give them, the easier their job is.
10. When should I ask for a letter? How long should I wait for them to write it?
Ask as soon as you can. Asking the summer before you apply is probably best. As for how long they need to write it, each professor is different. Some will give it to you a week later and some will take 6 months. Giving them a deadline of about 2 months should be sufficient. It is a good idea to give a deadline before you actually intend to apply. That way in case a letter is a bit late, you have time to remind them to send it in.
11. What should an LOR say?
To be general, it should say positive things about you. The more specific the LOR writer can be the better. For example, it is more useful to say “Student X always raised engaging and thoughtful questions in class, and his final paper was well-researched and one of the finest pieces of writing I have seen in my years of teaching” than “Student X was a very good student.”
12. How long should an LOR be?
It should be roughly one page.
13. My LOR writer is taking forever. What do I do?
You can send a polite reminder. Remember, professors are busy and they may have forgotten. Send a polite e-mail asking if they think it will be done soon. If you are not getting a response, perhaps think about getting another writer.
14. What does the LOR writer do after writing it?
The writer sends it directly to LSAC. The mailing address is on the signed form that you gave to them. They can also fax it to LSAC.
15. Do I get to see the letter?
On the form from LSAC, there is a box you check waiving your right to see the letter. The letter is sent to LSAC and you should not see it. LSAC’s policy is very strict about this.
16. Can I ask a professor from study abroad/another country?
Yes, you can. However, keep in mind that professors from another country might not be familiar with the American education system, and they may not have written a letter like this before. Make sure they are comfortable writing it. It may be a good idea to show them a sample.
17. What if my LOR is not in English?
It probably won’t help you, as few law school admissions representatives will be able to read it. Use English LORs only.
18. If the application asks for 2 letters, is it better to send 3?
If you have 3 spectacular letters to send, then go ahead. However, it is better to send 2 excellent LORs than 3 mediocre ones. The quality is more important than the quantity.
19. If I am waitlisted, can I send an additional LOR?
Yes, you certainly can. However, you should send it directly to the school and not through LSAC.
20. Is there a maximum number of letters I can send?
Try to stick to the guidelines of the application. If they ask for one, sending two or perhaps three is okay. More than that is not.
20 Frequently Asked Questions about Letters of Recommendation
1. What is a letter of recommendation?
A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a roughly one-page letter written by a professor, teaching assistant or work supervisor that tells a law school about your past achievements and your ability to succeed in law school.
2. How many LORs do I need?
It depends on the school, but the majority of law schools require two. Some only require one, and a few do require three.
3. Who should write my LORs?
The most ideal person to write for you is a professor who knows you very well. Perhaps your senior thesis advisor or a professor who you got to know well during office hours would be a good fit. The longer and better you have known the person, the better it is for you.
4. What if I don’t know any professors very well?
If you don’t know professors well, and you are still a student, then it’s time to start talking to them! Get to know a professor that you like, and seek out a letter from that person. If that isn’t an option, think about classes where you got an A or a certain professor that always seemed friendly and approachable. Asking a graduate teaching assistant or lecturer is fine as well.
5. I have been out of school for years, and I don’t remember any of my professors. What should I do?
If you are out of school and have been working, it’s also okay to ask your employer or supervisor to write a letter for you. It is better if you can find at least one academic letter, so see if any of your old professors are still teaching and try to contact them. If you refresh their memory as to who you are, they may be willing to write for you.
6. I’ve met a famous person once and they said they could write one. Is this a good idea?
No, it’s not. The content of the letter matters more than how famous the writer is. If it is a well-known person that also knows you quite well and can attest to your academic potential, then it’s fine. If not, seek one from someone else.
7. My professor said I could write my own letter and he/she would sign it? Is this a good idea?
No, it’s not a good idea. Everyone has a unique writing style, and a school could notice that the writing style in your personal statement and LOR are very similar. If possible, find a different letter writer.
8. How do I ask someone to write for me?
Ideally, go in person to ask. Go to office hours or make an appointment. If this isn’t feasible, asking through e-mail is fine.
9. What should I give my LOR writer when I ask them?
The most important thing to give an LOR writer is a signed copy of the LOR form from LSAC. It’s available on http://www.lsac.org. Both you and the letter writer need to sign it. Give your writers a signed copy when you meet with them.
Additionally, you should give your LOR writers some information about you. Give them a copy of your resume, a draft of your personal statement, and your diversity statement if you have one. Rough drafts are fine if you aren’t finished. The more information you can give them, the easier their job is.
10. When should I ask for a letter? How long should I wait for them to write it?
Ask as soon as you can. Asking the summer before you apply is probably best. As for how long they need to write it, each professor is different. Some will give it to you a week later and some will take 6 months. Giving them a deadline of about 2 months should be sufficient. It is a good idea to give a deadline before you actually intend to apply. That way in case a letter is a bit late, you have time to remind them to send it in.
11. What should an LOR say?
To be general, it should say positive things about you. The more specific the LOR writer can be the better. For example, it is more useful to say “Student X always raised engaging and thoughtful questions in class, and his final paper was well-researched and one of the finest pieces of writing I have seen in my years of teaching” than “Student X was a very good student.”
12. How long should an LOR be?
It should be roughly one page.
13. My LOR writer is taking forever. What do I do?
You can send a polite reminder. Remember, professors are busy and they may have forgotten. Send a polite e-mail asking if they think it will be done soon. If you are not getting a response, perhaps think about getting another writer.
14. What does the LOR writer do after writing it?
The writer sends it directly to LSAC. The mailing address is on the signed form that you gave to them. They can also fax it to LSAC.
15. Do I get to see the letter?
On the form from LSAC, there is a box you check waiving your right to see the letter. The letter is sent to LSAC and you should not see it. LSAC’s policy is very strict about this.
16. Can I ask a professor from study abroad/another country?
Yes, you can. However, keep in mind that professors from another country might not be familiar with the American education system, and they may not have written a letter like this before. Make sure they are comfortable writing it. It may be a good idea to show them a sample.
17. What if my LOR is not in English?
It probably won’t help you, as few law school admissions representatives will be able to read it. Use English LORs only.
18. If the application asks for 2 letters, is it better to send 3?
If you have 3 spectacular letters to send, then go ahead. However, it is better to send 2 excellent LORs than 3 mediocre ones. The quality is more important than the quantity.
19. If I am waitlisted, can I send an additional LOR?
Yes, you certainly can. However, you should send it directly to the school and not through LSAC.
20. Is there a maximum number of letters I can send?
Try to stick to the guidelines of the application. If they ask for one, sending two or perhaps three is okay. More than that is not.