HLS Recommenders Question Forum

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HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Sep 29, 2022 7:34 pm

The strong conservative profs for LOR are pretty well known (Sachs, Vermeule, Goldsmith).

Outside of Lazarus, who are the left leaning profs or not ideologically oriented profs known for writing strong recs/making calls?

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:59 am

Back in the day Sunstein was, not sure if still is. Same with Larry Tribe.

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Sep 30, 2022 1:09 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:59 am
Back in the day Sunstein was, not sure if still is. Same with Larry Tribe.
Larry took emeritus status and doesnt teach classes anymore. Sunstein teaches and hires TF/RA's, he is probably a good bet. Not sure who else is helpful. Seems like the corporate skewing profs probably are not though!

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Sep 30, 2022 2:04 pm

Clerkship recs aren’t really ideological unless maybe if you’re really gunning for SCOTUS and targeting particular judges. No judge is going to discount a rec because it comes from Steve Sachs.

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Sep 30, 2022 4:50 pm

Goldsmith absolutely makes recs for liberal students

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Sep 30, 2022 5:57 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Sep 30, 2022 4:50 pm
Goldsmith absolutely makes recs for liberal students
Yeah anecdotally several liberal friends of mine have gotten LOR from him - he is one of few profs that genuinely cares abt all his students and tries to help out anyone who asks, liberal or conservative.

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:00 am

Maybe Jeannie Suk Gersen?

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Oct 01, 2022 10:35 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:00 am
Maybe Jeannie Suk Gersen?
Absolutely. Also Randall Kennedy.

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Oct 01, 2022 5:51 pm

Speaking of JSG, does Feldman write LOR?

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Oct 01, 2022 6:27 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Sep 29, 2022 7:34 pm
The strong conservative profs for LOR are pretty well known (Sachs, Vermeule, Goldsmith).

Outside of Lazarus, who are the left leaning profs or not ideologically oriented profs known for writing strong recs/making calls?
Fallon's a great guy and his recommendation would probably carry weight across the ideological spectrum.

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:34 pm

Fallon, mark tushnet, manning (who is conservative but not like vermuele) if he still teaches.but also don’t discount the younger profs that maybe don’t have the widespread name recognition but are either considered rising stars in their field (like sitkoff) and/or have recently clerked and so still have a network and understand the game.

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:49 pm

Opinions on Stephanopolous? Very relevant in election law albeit niche area

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Oct 01, 2022 8:05 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:49 pm
Opinions on Stephanopolous? Very relevant in election law albeit niche area

If you are actually interested in election law, his clinic (along with the class) is a great way to get to know him. He is personable and I have no doubt he writes good LOR (and also can get you into the network of democratic election lawyers, which is not a big field). He is a good and organized teacher.

I will warn you though that, unless you are actually truly interested in election law, I might think twice about the class. He’s a great, thoughtful, and organized teacher but election law as a field is a total mess and is obviously quite political, so it’s one of those where you end up pretending you are searching for principles when there are none (or very few). Kind of an overlap of the worst parts of first amendment, fourteenth amendment, and standing where it feels very much “make it up as we go along”. Also, it’s a low key gunner class given how important and relevant election law has become in the last few years. So just be prepared for a big class with all the most political people (from both sides) plus a bunch of gunners.

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Re: HLS Recommenders Question

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Oct 04, 2022 10:12 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Oct 01, 2022 8:05 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:49 pm
Opinions on Stephanopolous? Very relevant in election law albeit niche area

If you are actually interested in election law, his clinic (along with the class) is a great way to get to know him. He is personable and I have no doubt he writes good LOR (and also can get you into the network of democratic election lawyers, which is not a big field). He is a good and organized teacher.

I will warn you though that, unless you are actually truly interested in election law, I might think twice about the class. He’s a great, thoughtful, and organized teacher but election law as a field is a total mess and is obviously quite political, so it’s one of those where you end up pretending you are searching for principles when there are none (or very few). Kind of an overlap of the worst parts of first amendment, fourteenth amendment, and standing where it feels very much “make it up as we go along”. Also, it’s a low key gunner class given how important and relevant election law has become in the last few years. So just be prepared for a big class with all the most political people (from both sides) plus a bunch of gunners.
Agree with pretty much all of this. No idea if he is a frequent recommender though. He is a genuinely personable and approachable, which is not always the norm with law professors

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