Top Law Schools

What are the general rules? Two academic, one professional? Do I have my recommenders give me copies of their letters so that I can mail my entire application package together or do I have them mail the letters separately? How far in advance should I request the letters?

I have two academic and one professional and that should be sufficient.

I requested mine around March, since I had a deadline in May. At least a couple months, because professors are slow.

For federal, they will just upload their letters to OSCAR. It's likely they already have procedures set up for it with their assistant. For state clerkships that require a paper application, I gave them ample time to prepare, and picked up sealed copies of the letters to include in my application packet so it was complete when they got it. I think that works better.

Our clerkship advisors have told us to use three academic references. Rather than using my 1L summer judge (state CoA) as a letter, he made calls to some federal judges that he knew (and other NDLS grads), and that was a big help.