Now that you have written a superb personal statement, let’s focus on another aspect of your law school application – Letters of Recommendation (LORs). A strong LOR can be the factor that turns a solid application into a standout one.

Although you do not have control over what your letter writer(s) may write, you do control the process. Be intentional in selecting recommenders who know your strengths well and can speak to them with confidence. Provide them with the context and materials they need to write a letter that supports your candidacy and, if needed, helps explain any weaknesses in your application.

Remember, a great recommendation often starts with how you initiate the process. Once you’ve decided who you want to write your letter, it is important that you ask them if they can write you a strong letter of recommendation. While it may seem obvious that you are asking for a strong or good letter, you should leave nothing to chance.

It is also important to note that your relationship with the recommender matters more than the title that the recommender carries. So, make sure that your choice of recommenders ‘makes sense’.

So, for example, if your personal statement discusses a professor who has been highly influential to you, ideally you would also have a law school letter of recommendation from that professor. And, in terms of addressing weaknesses, if your record reflects academic challenges or non-academic infractions, it’s helpful to include a letter from someone who can speak to your growth, persistence, and the steps you’ve taken to address those issues. These letters will add much more value to your file than a generic letter from a Senator, Congressperson, or prominent business leader.

Law school is an academic experience, so for many schools (including Seton Hall Law), the general expectation is that letters of recommendation are from a professor whose class you have taken or under whom you have done research. This is particularly important for recent graduates, as the absence of an academic reference may raise concerns for admissions committees, even if your academic record appears strong.

If you are a few years beyond graduation and have not stayed in contact with faculty, then at least one letter should be from a current supervisor or another individual who can speak to your work ethic, character, and other traits that make you well-suited for law school.

While academic and professional letters are the most persuasive (in that order), other types of letters can also be impactful. Letters from individuals with whom you worked in volunteer pursuits and through social justice projects can be helpful alternatives. Even if these letters are peer (rather than supervisory) – they can be quite effective in further detailing positive personal qualities and characteristics. Only in rare circumstances should you approach individuals from before college for letters of recommendation.

Under no circumstances, should a letter of recommendation be purely personal in nature. Regardless of the name or title of a personal friend or friend of the family, admissions committees generally do not view personal letters as appropriate or effective in assessing an applicant’s readiness for the rigors of law school.

Here are a few helpful hints to keep in mind:

• Follow instructions carefully. If a law school requests two letters of recommendation, it means exactly that … two. Each school sets specific minimum and maximum letter limits through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS), and no, these are not suggestions- they are firm requirements. You must submit at least the minimum to complete your file for review, and you should not exceed the stated maximum. At Seton Hall Law, applicants are required to submit two letters and may submit up to three.
  
  
• Time Management is key. Give your letter writers sufficient time and information to provide you with the best possible recommendation. Set an appointment to meet with your recommender and update them about what you’ve been doing since you last were in contact. The difference between a good and a great letter is one that contains specific and concrete examples that back up an adjective or accolade. In-person meetings are the best for this kind of thing, but the phone works also, or as a last resort, you can send an email summarizing your recent activities.
  
  
• To reiterate, these recommendations are meant for a professional school environment – these are NOT personal references. Letters from relatives or friends of the family (regardless of stature in the community) are not appropriate.
  
  
• Send law school-specific (directed) LORs appropriately. If you are receiving a letter that is intended for a specific law school (i.e. Alumni LOR), be sure that you correctly identify the school(s) to which they should be sent in the CAS process.
  
  
• Follow up with your recommender(s) with a thank you note. You will know that the letter has been added to your CAS file by monitoring your LSAC account. Consider the thank you note to be one of many ways to maintain contact with individuals who are part of the professional network that you are building!

I hope you find this helpful in navigating and requesting outstanding letters of recommendation. If you have any questions about Letters of Recommendation ask me in the comments below or email me at admitme@shu.edu.