Do I need a work LOR? Forum

[TUP]

I've been out of school for four years. I worked one corporate job for ~2 years and have worked another the remaining ~2 years. I will have two LORs from professors, but I'm pretty sure neither remembered me. One I sent resume/transcript/etc. and also a writing sample from one their classes, and the other I went in and met with. I never went to office hours and, considering I've been out of school four years, this is probably as good as could be expected.

For my work experience, I don't have any great options from the first job for a LOR. In my current job, I'm pretty sure I could get a solid LOR from my current boss, but I have no idea how my intent to apply to law school would be viewed. If I had an LSAT score this would be easier, but I'm taking in October.

Given my work experience, would applying with only 2 academic LORs look strange to adcomms? Is there an expectation of a work-related LOR for someone that has been out of school as long as I have? Is anyone else out of school for a few years and facing a similar decision? I can definitely ask my current boss later in the cycle if I'm on any wait lists, but I really don't want to ask now if I don't have to.

[whymeohgodno]

It's probably better if you have at least 1 from work. 4 years is a pretty long time.

[TUP]

Any other viewpoints on this?

[Knock]

Any other viewpoints on this?

I agree with whymeohgodno.

[094320]

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[St.Remy]

I will have two LORs from professors, but I'm pretty sure neither remembered me.

If you had two academic LORs that you though would be excellent I would say that there was no reason to get a work LOR. Because it sounds like your academic LORs will be nothing special it behooves you to get a work LOR, since it should be more positive and it will help you to establish a narrative of what you have been doing since undergrad.

[forward]

I've been out for 3 years. I'm going with two academic and one professional.

[TUP]

I really wish I had an LSAT score. This LOR could hold up my app for a month after score release, because I really don't feel comfortable asking until I have at least taken the LSAT.

As far as the academic LORs, it's not that I know they won't be great. And even if I had gotten to know the professors well I don't know how I could be confident they'd write in the kind of hyperbole exhibited by some of sample "good" LORs I've seen. This is the worst part of the process for me. I didn't realize something so subjective held so much weight. I guess I'll have to ask and hope it doesn't cause any issues.

[St.Remy]

I really wish I had an LSAT score. This LOR could hold up my app for a month after score release, because I really don't feel comfortable asking until I have at least taken the LSAT.

You really shouldn't wait for your LSAT score to ask for recs. The sooner you get your apps in the better, which means that ideally as soon as you get your LSAT score you would be good to go. It's not like you would want recommenders to write you a different letter depending on what score you got, you'll always want them to write the best recommendation possible. Even if you aren't totally sure that you want to go to law school what's the harm in asking them to write you a recommendation? Worse comes to worse they'll write one and you won't use it and they will have no idea.

[TUP]

I really wish I had an LSAT score. This LOR could hold up my app for a month after score release, because I really don't feel comfortable asking until I have at least taken the LSAT.

You really shouldn't wait for your LSAT score to ask for recs. The sooner you get your apps in the better, which means that ideally as soon as you get your LSAT score you would be good to go. It's not like you would want recommenders to write you a different letter depending on what score you got, you'll always want them to write the best recommendation possible. Even if you aren't totally sure that you want to go to law school what's the harm in asking them to write you a recommendation? Worse comes to worse they'll write one and you won't use it and they will have no idea.

It's not about the score impacting the letter, as I doubt it would make a difference to the recommender. My concern is that there's only a limited number of schools I'd attend since it means leaving a good finance job. That's why I was questioning whether adcomms even expect a work LOR from someone in "career-track" job considering most people plan on spending at least another 6 months at work before starting law school.

[094320]

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[sarahh]

I think Yale is a little unique. Most schools say something along the lines of: We prefer two academic LOR, but you can substitute an employer one if you have been out of school for serveral years. I don't think the two academic letters in an of themselves are the problems - it is that it seems they will not be strong. I was nervous about asking my boss for a letter of reccomendation, but she was very understanding and supportive. (Then again, I work for a non-profit where it is common for people to move on after a few years.) If your gut is telling you that your boss would hold in against you, and you are not certain you will apply, it may be best to go with just the academic LOR. Otherwise, I would ask.

[TUP]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I think I might ask the week after the LSAT. If it can be sent out mid-October it should be there by the end of the month for when I get my score back. This way I'll at least know how the LSAT went. Staying at this job any longer would be worst case scenario anyway, but I'm not about to attend a school without decent career prospects either.