Most law schools ask for letters commenting on an applicant's background and preparation. Letters of recommendation can play an important role in the admissions process. Information about each law school's requirements or preferences can be found at the law school's admissions web site and also at www.lsac.org (Online Services, Letters of Recommendation).
As a general guideline, look for two letters from faculty and a third letter from another relevant experience (job, internship, extracurricular activity). The guiding principle should be "who knows you best?" Law schools are interested in letters of recommendation from faculty who can assess your work, ability, character, and other attributes relevant to law school and a legal career. Two strong academic letters from people who recognize your strengths and understand your goals are the most effective. Law schools expect faculty letters of recommendation from all applicants, wherever possible. If you have been out of school for a number of years and have difficulty obtaining faculty letters, letters from employers or others who can address your background and preparation are usually acceptable.
If you are a current student at Binghamton, we recommend that you establish a credentials file at the Career Development Center (CDC) in LSG 500 to gather letters of recommendation for law school. The CDC Credentials Service can be used in conjunction with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). If you are applying to law school as a senior, these letters can be requested during junior year or in the early fall of senior year. There is no need to include a transcript in your CDC credentials file if you are using the file only for law school application purposes.
For students who plan to apply to law school after graduation, it is very important to request faculty letters of recommendation before you graduate, to be placed in a your file at either the CDC or LSDAS. CDC will keep letters in your credentials file for ten years from last use; your LSDAS registration is valid for five years from your LSDAS registration date, and will be extended for five years from your latest LSAT registration.
Most law schools require applicants to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) for processing of undergraduate records and reporting of LSAT results. A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) service is included in the LSDAS registration fee. LSDAS accepts letters sent directly by the recommender, or from the CDC credentials service. Each letter sent to LSDAS, including those sent by CDC from a credentials file, must be accompanied by the LSDAS Letter of Recommendation (LOR) form, found in the applicant's online LSAC account at www.lsac.org. It is now possible to direct letters to certain law schools through the LSAC online account. When you click on a law school to direct a letter of recommendation, a box will appear describing the law school's letter of recommendation requirements (i.e. how many letters are accepted). For detailed instructions on using the LSDAS Letter of Recommendation Service, review the LSAC web site at www.lsac.org.
Some law schools provide letter of recommendation forms in their application materials. Check the law school's web site to determine whether these forms are required; in many cases, the school-specific forms are not needed if applicants use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation service.
Make an appointment with your recommender, and bring the following:
• a copy of your transcript
• a copy of your resumé
• a copy of your personal statement for law school, if available
• a list of courses you have taken with the recommender, if a faculty member
• a list of positions you have held, if recommender is an employer
• relevant forms required by CDC, LSAC, or law schools
Tell your recommender why you are asking for the letter, and review the points you would like the letter to cover. Give the recommender the option to decline by asking the question, "I will be applying to competitive schools; do you feel you could write a strong recommendation?"
Law schools value letters of recommendation that address a student's writing, class participation, research, analytical and other academic abilities. They are especially interested in a professor's assessment of a student, as compared to other students s/he has taught over the years. Recommendations that include information and perspectives not included elsewhere in your application are particularly valuable.
Remember to write a thank you note to your recommenders!
