Waiting on significant 3rd letter from employer -submit now? Forum

[nsnSF]

Hello TLSers,

I had a quick question I wanted to submit to the community.

I have two quality LORs from a professor and TA from undergrad at Cal. I'm finishing up my personal statement and hoping to submit by/on Thanksgiving day. However, I'm waiting on a third letter of recommendation from my employer. She is the executive director of the legal non profit I've been working at for the past two years. She's connected to the local law schools and was a CA Super Lawyer in 2010. I've given her the deadline of December 10th so she has ample time, and I also know LSAC takes some time to process LORs.

My question is: should I submit on my original schedule or possibly wait? I'm not sure how easy it is to submit additional letters once your app is submitted. My biggest fear is being denied before the letter could be submitted and actually make a difference.

Some background, I have a 3.3 from Berkeley undergrad and a 161 LSAT. However, I've been working in the Public Interest legal community for the past 2.5 years and I'm the administrator for http://www.LawHelpCalifornia.org, which I'm hoping will carry some weight. I'm below target numbers but hoping my softs will pull me through. I'm shooting for UC Hastings and Davis if possible.

Will also be applying to USF and Santa Clara and am more confident about those schools. Hastings would be ideal.

Thanks!

[AntipodeanPhil]

Law schools don't accord much weight to LORs, especially non-academic ones.

The fact that you have spent x amount of time working for a non-profit will help you much more than a letter from the non-profit director.

If waiting for the third letter will delay your app by more than a week or two, submit without it.

[ashleyrenee]

Agreed. Submit without it - your school will get an update once the LOR is on file.
Some schools receive updates every Monday, some on the 1st and 15th of each month.
If it's a school that requires 3 LOR's (not sure if there even are any) - then your file will be incomplete until that 3rd LOR is there.

[nsnSF]

Ok, thanks for the advice!

I had a feeling I should just go ahead and submit, but the idea of submitting with everything included and not having the anxiety of following up again hanging over my head was enticing.

Good to hear that it's the work experience, and not necessarily the letter than will help me, I know the work experience will get in front of the admissions committee.