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LOR Expiration

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:51 am
by PJG70
Hey guys,

Say if you have 3 professors write you a LOR, each of which is written in fall of 2010. You decide to get two years of work experience between undergrade and law school. This will set you up to start appliations during the fall 2012. Would you consider these LORs to still be valid?

Thanks

Re: LOR Expiration

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:52 am
by cinephile
They're valid for 5 years, so you should be fine.

ETA: if you're working for a few years, you might also want to include a LOR from your employer.

Re: LOR Expiration

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:53 am
by chem
PJG70 wrote:Hey guys,

Say if you have 3 professors write you a LOR, each of which is written in fall of 2010. You decide to get two years of work experience between undergrade and law school. This will set you up to start appliations during the fall 2012. Would you consider these LORs to still be valid?

Thanks

Definitely. only way they woouldn't be is if you continued your education elsewhere. Most schools want letters of recommendation to be concerned with your academic potential, so that won't change when you are working. It is even better to have them now because your academic career is still fresh in the minds of these professors. You didn't ask, but when you do apply I'd throw in just one employer recommendation, unless youre going to apply to NU.

Re: LOR Expiration

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:10 am
by PJG70
See, my only concern was what would law school admissions think when they read a LOR for 2-3 year ago.

Re: LOR Expiration

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:11 am
by PJG70
Thanks for the replies by the way. I was also considering one from any employer, only if I was completely confident that they would be a substantial help to my app.

Re: LOR Expiration

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:35 am
by Magnolia
PJG70 wrote:See, my only concern was what would law school admissions think when they read a LOR for 2-3 year ago.
Professors will write the best LORs when you're a current student and in their classes. Schools understand this. Their assessment of you doesn't somehow become invalid just because a few years have passed since you were a student. Get a LOR from your employer to attest to you being just as wonderful as your professors said you are and you'll be fine.

Re: LOR Expiration

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:48 am
by PJG70
Magnolia wrote:
PJG70 wrote:See, my only concern was what would law school admissions think when they read a LOR for 2-3 year ago.
Professors will write the best LORs when you're a current student and in their classes. Schools understand this. Their assessment of you doesn't somehow become invalid just because a few years have passed since you were a student. Get a LOR from your employer to attest to you being just as wonderful as your professors said you are and you'll be fine.
This is sound advice, thanks