How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

Having a professor write about your ability to learn, grow, and succeed will help improve the strength of your application. This is why it makes sense to choose someone you know can speak to those attributes, from either a relationship over multiple courses or from your improvement in one of their courses throughout a semester.

Applicants should make sure they only request recommendations from people they trust since they will not see the letter before it is sent. In our Office of Admissions, a letter of recommendation that tries to impress with only name recognition (congressman, senator, famous person) and not a personal relationship, is not helpful to your application.

It goes without saying that the law school application process is a thorough one, requiring lots of different documents and information. Letters of recommendation are a very important part of the application and should be taken seriously. Be considerate to your reference and to yourself by giving them information on your goals, accomplishments, and experiences that have shaped who you are. Additionally, your academic references are typically busy faculty or adjuncts, so make sure to ask for the recommendation letter with plenty of time for them to submit it. It is better to err on the side of caution by giving them too much time than not enough. With that said, make sure your reference is clear on the LSAC procedures for submitting their letter of recommendation. 

If you’re close with your reference and feel they know you very well, a phone call or an email asking them to write it will suffice. If you are not as close, request to meet with them or take them out for coffee to go over the qualities you want them to highlight in their recommendation. If you put in the effort, they will too.

You do not necessarily have to get an A in their class to receive a good recommendation from your professor. Sometimes students who struggle at first or overcome obstacles are the ones who have the best recommendations because they show strength, perseverance, or improvement. If you have a weak LSAT or GPA, it is very important that your reference focus on your overall academic performance in their letter, by highlighting development and progress, as well as characteristics like intelligence, diligence, focus, commitment, drive, responsibility, moral integrity, ability to overcome obstacles, passion for service and leadership.

For more tips on applying to law school, check out our post on How to Apply to Law School. For any additional questions, please reach out to the Office of Admissions.