How to Write a Letter of Recommendation for Law School Candidates

Preparation and information gathering

Before you start writing your letter of recommendation, it is advisable to have a conversation with the person you are recommending to understand their goals, objectives and motivations for wanting to go to law school. If you don't know this person very well or if there has been some time since you last interacted, make sure to ask some of these questions:

• Why do you want to go to law school?
• Why are you applying to these schools specifically?
• What are the key traits these schools are looking for in a candidate?
• Are there specific examples or characteristics you want me to emphasize in this letter?
• What are you writing about in your personal statement? How can my letter complement the whole package of your application?
• When is the letter due?
• How many schools are you applying to? Do they have different requests/requirements for the content of the letter?
• Should I write one letter for all the schools or do you need a customized letter for each? Are there specific topics I should address in each of the letters to meet each school's expectations?
• Also, make sure that you have ample time to write the letter. If the deadline is too soon for you, don't commit to writing it. Law school letters of recommendation are a crucial component of the application: if you know your letter will be generic and written in haste, you are not doing the applicant any favors by committing to it. Your letter of recommendation for law school needs to be credible, detailed and persuasive.

If after this initial conversation you feel that you are not well prepared to write the letter, let the person know. Additionally, if you feel that you don't have enough strong examples of this person's ability, character and motivation to allow you to write a glowing, positive recommendation, you will likely do this person a disservice by committing to write the letter of recommendation. They will be better off receiving a letter from someone that will be able to speak to all their attributes and capabilities in depth and with specific detail.

Remember, you don't have to share your letter with the person you are recommending. If you are comfortable sharing it, you can always let them know the extent of your comfort level in accepting their edits and comments.

What law school admission committees look for in a candidate

Although schools often provide different criteria, all admissions committees are looking for well-rounded candidates who show strong promise to excel academically and professionally. Each school may specify certain criteria over others in their recommendations but overall the characteristics below exemplify the traits admissions committees look for:

• academic fortitude and ability to excel in a rigorous academic environment
• ability to respond with resilience and efficiency to change, difficulties, problems
• diversity of background and experience
• intellectual curiosity
• ability to think analytically and solve complex problems
• strong interpersonal skills
• exceptional communication skills especially in writing and oral presentation
• self-motivation, drive, ambition, desire to excel, persistence
• time management: ability to juggle multiple competing priorities with ease
• diligence and conscientiousness
• maturity, concern for others, integrity, honesty
• determination; goal orientation
• potential for success

Remember, you don't necessarily need to write about why this candidate would make a good lawyer. You need to demonstrate that he or she has the skills and experience necessary to excel in everything they undertake and to make a strong, unique contribution to the school.

Brainstorm and outline

If you have committed to writing a letter of recommendation, keep in mind that the earlier you send it in, the more beneficial it will be for the candidate. Make sure to block some time in your calendar right away for a brainstorming and planning session as well as for the writing piece. It may take 2-3 hours to complete the letter depending on how well you know the candidate, your experience writing these letters and your knowledge of the law school letter of recommendation process.

In your letter of recommendation, it's important that you demonstrate a deep knowledge of the person you are recommending. It's best to start the brainstorming and planning session as early as possible. Start by making a list of the attributes law schools typically look for and then jot down examples of how the person you recommend meets these criteria.

Give yourself a week or two to gather different examples and jot down a structure for the letter. Your letter of recommendation should be very well written, organized and structured. Creating an outline will help keep you organized and on track.

To help you start brainstorming, answer these questions:

• In my letter, how can I address whether this person is a strong candidate for law school and a career in law? What examples can I use?
• What 4-5 characteristics really stand out about this person that match what law schools are looking for?
• What is this person's potential for success in school? In the legal profession?
• What special interests, extracurricular activities etc. can I highlight about this person?
• Does this person have an exceptional background or a unique story?
• What has impressed me the most about this person?
• When have they demonstrated particular strengths, maturity, leadership etc?
• How will this person contribute positively and uniquely to the diversity of a law school?

How to structure a letter of recommendation

When writing a letter of recommendation, keep in mind that the structure is of utmost importance. Your letter should be well-organized and well-written. You should have a strong introduction that immediately catches the focus of the admissions committee and highlights the key traits of the candidate that your letter will elaborate.

Your letter should be longer than a page - the more detail you can infuse and the more examples you can provide, the more effective your message will be.

In your introduction, specify your relationship to the candidate and how long you have known this person. It is important for your letter to exude credibility - you need to show that you know this person very well and you need to establish that you have spent enough time with this person to be able to provide an accurate reference.

Next, provide 2-3 key sentences on why you believe this person is an excellent candidate for law school. Your sentences should provide a strong sense that this candidate has the academic fortitude to excel in law school and the innate characteristics to excel and contribute as a lawyer.

If you are a professor writing on behalf of a former student, give a brief explanation of the work that this student was asked to complete and emphasize how demanding and arduous the curriculum was. If the student received straight A's and also exceeded your expectations, make sure to address this specifically.

If you are an employer, describe what this person was required to do in his/her position and detail how he/she excelled.

The body of the letter of recommendation should go in depth about the key characteristics you have decided to highlight about this person. Your content should be well-organized and easy-to-read. Each paragraph should be infused with details and positive examples. It is crucial that you be as specific and detailed as possible in your letter. Remember, your goal is to demonstrate that you know the candidate extremely well and that your experience (as explained by your examples) with this candidate reflects the person's ability to excel in law school and contribute positively to the legal profession. You also want to make sure your letter is unique - it is best to not reuse a template for these letters.

In addition to describing the candidate's academic excellence or professional achievements, make room to also describe this person's character and moral fortitude. This section will emphasize that you are a credible reference by showing that you know t

Lastly, if the candidate has a unique experience or background, you my chose to include a paragraph that describes the extent to which this candidate will make a unique contribution to the diversity and quality of learning in law school.

If you are a professor, focus on the candidate's ability to excel academically and his/her ability to handle a heavy workload. If you are an employer or colleague, attempt to speak to this person's aptitude for learning, analytical thinking and problem solving. Use examples that demonstrate the candidate's ability to manage time efficiently and produce quality results. Also, focus on this person's ability to write and conduct effective and powerful oral presentations as well as their integrity and relations with others. Think about examples where this candidate went above and beyond, demonstrating dedication, diligence, drive and an ability to overcome obstacles.

A strong letter of recommendation will stand out from thousands of others because of it is infused with personal detail and solid examples. It will also provide in-depth context into the candidate's experience, character and potential. Superfluous and overly positive language may be detrimental and will sound insincere; instead, let examples speak for themselves and take time to think through the key points you want to highlight. In the end, don't forget to proofread your letter and to follow the instructions on the forms you have received to ensure that the letter is received in a timely manner.