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Letter of rec candidate question.
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:24 pm
by Steven Perry
I was having a discussion with a professor of mine about some of my ideas for people to write my letters. I mentioned that I have a cousin who is a district judge in my hometown and I was thinking about having him write one of my letters. My professor told me that it's usually best to have professors, but he wasn't sure how law schools would view a judge. I'm planning on shadowing my cousin for most of the summer (running his errands, doing low level paperwork, being his slave, ect) so he could write a well-detailed letter.
Would he be an acceptable candidate or would law schools frown on 1) having a nonacademic writing one of my letters and 2) receiving one from a family member?
Re: Letter of rec candidate question.
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:33 pm
by 1Levening2013
both
you need two from professors, and i i'd say one from a boss if you have real work experience
Re: Letter of rec candidate question.
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:15 pm
by Hattori Hanzo
If the judge wasn't your cousin and you were doing research/clerical work for him, that could be good but since he is your cousin and your work for him is not of meaningful academic/clerical nature, I'd say you'll be better off with an academic LOR instead.
Re: Letter of rec candidate question.
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:22 pm
by oshberg28
I've read interviews of law school deans who say they do not want a letter from a family member...I would assume this also applies even if the family member is in the legal field.
Re: Letter of rec candidate question.
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 6:58 am
by wjun15
does it have to be professor? i have one from a professor and one from a teacher who taught a class as a grad student. is that ok?
i also have one from work
Re: Letter of rec candidate question.
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 3:52 pm
by Hattori Hanzo
It doesn't HAVE to be a professor as long as he has worked with you directly and can attest to your academic capabilities. All else equal I think a professor would be better but an enthusiastic recommendation from a lecturer beats a lukewarm rec from a professor.