http://www.prelawhandbook.com/letters_o ... mendationsPREPARING THE RECOMMENDERS
The following list, inspired by Boston College, the University of California at Berkeley Career Center, University of Chicago Pre-Law Guide, and Lowell House Pre-Law Advising, indicates some items that should be given to your recommenders at your meeting with them:
WRITING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FOR APPLICANTS TO LAW SCHOOL should be helpful to a faculty member writing a law school letter of recommendation. You may want to give a copy of this to each faculty member who will be writing a law school letter of recommendation for you.
The first paragraph of this fact sheet must be modified unless
you are attending or have attended the University of Virginia.
An unofficial transcript (with the courses you took with the recommender indicated).
A copy of your LSAT score.
A copy of your best work (term papers, essays, tests, etc.) in the course or courses that you took with the possible recommender (make sure to photocopy the copy with the instructor's comments, if any. If the possible recommender is a faculty member who currently has you in class or who knows you very well, bringing this best work may not be necessary.
A personal RESUME (curriculum vitae) including a clear statement of why you want to go to law school.
A draft of your law school personal statement; if the possible recommender has comments about it, so much the better.
Other information that may be useful to the possible recommender.
For each preprinted letter of recommendation form, fill out the information that is required of the applicant (including waiver of your right of access to see the letters of recommendation) and, to ease the recommender's burden, fill out the recommender's name, title, and contact information (telephone, fax, address, etc.). Despite the preprinted form, most recommenders write a letter on letterhead stationary and put ''See Attached Letter'' on the form.
As a courtesy to the recommender, provide a stamped envelope addressed appropriately; you may want to indicate to the recommender that it would be best if this recommendation were sent on the recommender's letterhead stationary. If there is a preprinted letter of recommendation form, fold this form and put it into the appropriate envelope.
Also include a cover note that includes:
Information on how to get in touch with you (e-mail address or phone number).
A list of schools to which you are applying and the due date for these letters of recommendation.
Make the due date the same for all the letters.
The request that they begin the letter of recommendation with ''Dear Law School Admissions Committee.''
If relevant, delicately suggest that the letter be tailored to law schools.
If recommenders ask what to cover in the letter, tell them to focus on your writing ability, your analytical skills, your performance in their course, your personal qualities, etc..
Other information that is relevant.
Open and close your note with thanks and the acknowledgement that the letter of recommendation is important to your professional future.
Some addition advice and comments are:
If you are prepared when you see your recommender, a return trip should not be necessary.
Thank the recommender after you find out that all his/her letters of recommendation have been received.
You may want to notify the recommenders to which law schools you were accepted.
Remember that the recommender has taken valuable time to write this letter for you and that the letter might have a direct bearing on your admittance to law school. Also, you may need that person to write another letter of recommendation in the future.
I don't see the linked document available online anymore, but I still have it on my computer, so I thought I would share it in case anyone else finds if helpful:
WritingRecsLaw.pdf - from UVA's career center
My only caution is to ensure the specific LSAC policies mentioned in this pdf have not changed since it was written. As far as content goes, I think this pdf still has value.
Yay! Thanks friend.
