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Hey guys,

I'm asking this for a friend who is applying to transfer but only one of his professors is willing to write a letter of recommendation. Can he use a legal writing instructor (3L who teaches legal writing and has direct supervision over his work) or legal writing professor as a recommender even though his legal writing is pass/fail?

Thanks

You could use a legal writing professor, I guess. I would think he should have some better options, but if that is really the case, he may have to use the LRW professor. With that said, in no way should he ever consider having a student write a LOR for him, so tell him to scratch that idea immediately.

i used my legal writing professor; wrote me a terrific letter. do NOT use a 3L instructor though.

OP: Your post reads as if your friend has no other choice than to use his 3L pass/fail writing instructor as a recommender if no other professor will do so & two recommendations are required. Read the instructions on the transfer apps regarding recommendation sources.

P.S. Hopefully your friend got a "pass" in legal writing.

I used my LRW prof, and it was my best letter. Year-long relationship + small class size + getting to know her in office hours going over each assignment = great letter (assuming your friend did well).

Yale Law explicitly discourages using a LRW instructor.
http://blogs.law.yale.edu/blogs/admissi ... emand.aspx

wiglaf1228 wrote:Yale Law explicitly discourages using a LRW instructor.
http://blogs.law.yale.edu/blogs/admissi ... emand.aspx

My understanding, though, is that Yale is an entirely different beast from any other transfer game in the country. And what they're really saying is "anyone applying to Yale really oughtta have outstanding relationships with multiple professors who gave them A+s", not "we'd rather your second letter be from a graded prof you got a mediocre grade in who doesn't really know your name, rather than a LRW prof."

Go with whoever can give you the best overall letter. Factor in the possibility that a graded prof might carry a bit more weight, but realize that can easily be outweighed if your LRW prof can write you a much better letter than anyone else.

Your understanding of Yale's transfer process is incorrect.

I admit it probably is.

So, yeah, takeaway, OP: Don't use a LRW Prof if you're applying to Yale.

Edit: Note, though, all I hear on transfer threads is "Yeah, OP, sneak into the top 5%, apply to Harvard. And, by the way, if you also have a Nobel Prize, you wouldn't be wasting your money by applying to Yale either"

-edited by mod-

wiglaf1228 wrote:Your understanding of Yale's transfer process is incorrect.

Care to explain what a correct understanding of it would be?

The answer to your question can be found here:
1) Look in the top left corner. See that? It says "TOP-LAW-SCHOOLS.COM"
2) Look at the links below that and count the links from left to right up to 3. You should land on "Forum Search"
3) Click on "Forum Search"
4) Type your question and SUDDENLY 1,000,000,000 results pop up with the answer to your question.

I'm glad I could help you out during my finals study period.

Coolgrnmen wrote:The answer to your question can be found here:
1) Look in the top left corner. See that? It says "TOP-LAW-SCHOOLS.COM"
2) Look at the links below that and count the links from left to right up to 3. You should land on "Forum Search"
3) Click on "Forum Search"
4) Type your question and SUDDENLY 1,000,000,000 results pop up with the answer to your question.

I'm glad I could help you out during my finals study period.

Whatever doosh.

Sapientia wrote:

Coolgrnmen wrote:The answer to your question can be found here:
1) Look in the top left corner. See that? It says "TOP-LAW-SCHOOLS.COM"
2) Look at the links below that and count the links from left to right up to 3. You should land on "Forum Search"
3) Click on "Forum Search"
4) Type your question and SUDDENLY 1,000,000,000 results pop up with the answer to your question.

I'm glad I could help you out during my finals study period.

Whatever doosh.

Wasn't addressing you...the availability of info for Yale transfer is pretty thin; ask away. I was talking to OP.