Asking for LORs -Anything I should be aware of before asking Forum

[thatsnotmyname]

Hey guys, I've actually been out of school for a couple of years now but was going to try and e-mail a couple of my old profs and see if they'd be willing to write LORs for me. Before asking them I was just going through each school's website that I was interested in to make sure that they all accept LORs sent to LSAC.

I've noticed on a few of the websites that they either say the evaluations are optional or not accepted. I haven't seen a school that says it's required. Is it worth it to have a prof fill one of these evals out or should I not even have them bother. Is there anything else I should be aware of or do before asking my recommenders? I was really just gonna e-mail them and see if they would be comfortable writing one and to let me know if they need further information if they do feel comfortable.

[Ti Malice]

Forget the evaluations -- ask only for LORs.

Also, if at all possible, go see your former profs in person instead of asking by email.

[malleus discentium]

If you have anything you did for their class, provide a copy of it alongside your transcript and PS, if written. And, yeah, meet with them in person unless basically impossible (in that case I would call or skype).

[thatsnotmyname]

Asking my profs in person is entirely out of the question given how far I would have to drive to get to the school just to ask them if they would feel comfortable writing it for me and it's summertime and they have no posted office hours on their websites anyways and even if they did they probably wouldn't be there. If I try just calling out of the blue, I have a feeling that they won't remember me off the top of their heads given that I was last in their class 2-3 years ago and haven't contacted them since.

Best way to do this would seem to be to initiate via e-mail so they have a chance to recollect their memories of me and decide whether they would like to write the letter or recommendation and make it clear that I am available to catch up in-person or via phone call at a time that would be convenient for them if further info/detail is needed.

Has anyone who has been out of school for a couple of years gone this route? It's really the only way I can think of that I could get academic LORs. I will ask for a LOR from a work supervisor also, but looking at all the schools websites it seems like they really want the two academic references unless you've been out of school since forever and none of your professors would be able to remember you at all.

[middlebear]

Asking my profs in person is entirely out of the question given how far I would have to drive to get to the school just to ask them if they would feel comfortable writing it for me and it's summertime and they have no posted office hours on their websites anyways and even if they did they probably wouldn't be there. If I try just calling out of the blue, I have a feeling that they won't remember me off the top of their heads given that I was last in their class 2-3 years ago and haven't contacted them since.

Best way to do this would seem to be to initiate via e-mail so they have a chance to recollect their memories of me and decide whether they would like to write the letter or recommendation and make it clear that I am available to catch up in-person or via phone call at a time that would be convenient for them if further info/detail is needed.

Has anyone who has been out of school for a couple of years gone this route? It's really the only way I can think of that I could get academic LORs. I will ask for a LOR from a work supervisor also, but looking at all the schools websites it seems like they really want the two academic references unless you've been out of school since forever and none of your professors would be able to remember you at all.

I'm in just about the same boat. One of my profs is hopping around abroad and I couldn't reach him by phone if I wanted to. I think just beginning a friendly, polite email, asking them for the letter, offering to provide resume/PS/any other materials they want, and giving them the option to request a phone call if they want. (Honestly, if I were a prof, I wouldn't want to bother, but whatever.)

So yeah. I've been out for a bit, and I'm emailing them--an in-person request just isn't an option. I think as long as you're gracious, the fact that it's an email isn't a negative factor.

[oxie]

I'd also been out of school for a couple years and got in touch with my academic recommenders via email (because I hadn't been in touch with them since graduating and I didn't want to spring it on them by phone call) and it worked out pretty well for me.

Here are a few things that help in terms of asking for an LoR via email:
-Be upfront about why you're getting in touch (include "request for letter of recommendation" in the subject line and within the first few sentences)
-Talk about the specifics of the classes you took and/or projects you worked on with them and what you learned, especially if it influenced your decision to apply to law school -- it'll give them specifics to draw on in their letters plus professors are people too and I think most like to hear when their work has had an impact on students
-Give them a brief update on what you've been up to since graduation and why you want to go to law school
-Tell them you'd be honored if they felt able to write you a strong letter of recommendation and give some basics about the logistics of submitting an LoR through LSAC
-Attach a resume and a couple good papers you wrote for their classes or under their supervision
-Offer to set up a time to talk with them on the phone or send more material if they'd like

[03152016]

yea what oxie said

also make sure to ask early, one of my profs took a few months

first lor was easy
she was a mentor, i took a course with her every semester i was in ug
and i wrote her an LOR when she was up for tenure

second lor was tougher, chair of the dept, not super close
but we had a good conversation over the phone about things both related to academics and not, i thought this was useful, was hoping the lor would have a personal touch
sent copy of transcript and some work i've done during ug and since
sent some brief notes about things i was hoping to emphasize in my application
seemed to do the trick, though i never saw the results