Information for Recommenders Forum

[thomas85]

I have an appointment to go see a professor in the morning to ask for a letter of recommendation. I was thinking that it might be nice if I make a packet of information that includes some really simple articles that explain what law schools are looking for in an LOR. Can anyone think of any such articles? Preferably, would like to have something that is pretty concise and aimed at instructors as opposed to applicants.

[CanadianWolf]

That might be insulting to your professor. If you do this, do not expect a glowing recommendation. Most would, however, appreciate any standard recommendation form supplied by a particular law school or schools. But every professor understands the basic ingredients of a law school recommendation.

[thomas85]

I considered that, but I don't think offering a little bit of extra information with my transcripts and other information is going to offend her. I know she doesn't write a lot of LORs for law school and my other recommender requested that I send him some information on the subject. Its not like I am going to sit there and depend a specific kind of letter or content. I should probably also note that I don't go to school in the US and my instructors don't necessarily write these kinds of letters everyday.

[CanadianWolf]

That certainly makes a difference.

[kalvano]

Law school LOR's are no different than other LOR's, really.

They want to know that you can handle the work and what kind of person you are.

[Aeroplane]

That might be insulting to your professor. If you do this, do not expect a glowing recommendation. Most would, however, appreciate any standard recommendation form supplied by a particular law school or schools. But every professor understands the basic ingredients of a law school recommendation.

Um, no.

Law school LOR's are no different than other LOR's, really.

They want to know that you can handle the work and what kind of person you are.

Many professors don't know exactly which traits are valuable for law school and what "the work" in law school is like.

I came to law school from a technical field and my recommenders appreciated my providing some guidance as to what to focus on.

[czelede]

That might be insulting to your professor. If you do this, do not expect a glowing recommendation. Most would, however, appreciate any standard recommendation form supplied by a particular law school or schools. But every professor understands the basic ingredients of a law school recommendation.

Um, no.

Law school LOR's are no different than other LOR's, really.

They want to know that you can handle the work and what kind of person you are.

Many professors don't know exactly which traits are valuable for law school and what "the work" in law school is like.

I came to law school from a technical field and my recommenders appreciated my providing some guidance as to what to focus on.

Agreed. For engineering professors especially, most are used to writing graduate school recommendations and have no idea what law schools are looking for. It is not the same, not by a long shot. I gave my recommendation writers some supplements on what the admissions committee is looking for (written by universities for their faculties, although I considered getting one of the little books form B&N), and my professor was not offended in the least. In fact, he ended up following the guidelines pretty closely and told me he used them to double-check that he had included all pertinent information.

[boilerjohn94]

Can anyone give tips on where to find information on what the schools will be hoping to see in the LOR's? I have been out of UG for over 15 years, so mine are going to be primarily professional references and everyone that I have approached asked for details on what direction to take in writing the letters.
Any help would be appreciated and I, admittedly, have not searched TLS much for this type of information.

[obsquared]

You should check out the book "How to get into the top law schools". You're likely to find it in a school or public library. There's a chapter in there about LORs. You can get very valuable information in there.

[boilerjohn94]

You should check out the book "How to get into the top law schools". You're likely to find it in a school or public library. There's a chapter in there about LORs. You can get very valuable information in there.

I'll look for it. Thank you.

[nycbiglawordie]

That might be insulting to your professor. If you do this, do not expect a glowing recommendation. Most would, however, appreciate any standard recommendation form supplied by a particular law school or schools. But every professor understands the basic ingredients of a law school recommendation.

Um, no.

Law school LOR's are no different than other LOR's, really.

They want to know that you can handle the work and what kind of person you are.

Many professors don't know exactly which traits are valuable for law school and what "the work" in law school is like.

I came to law school from a technical field and my recommenders appreciated my providing some guidance as to what to focus on.

+1. Don't assume that its the same as any other LOR.

Here's a decent link that may help you:
https://career.berkeley.edu/Law/LawLetter.stm

[okfine]

This is very helpful, especially the "guidelines for letter writers" link.