Similar to the personal statement, a letter of recommendation is one of the best ways that a law school can gain an understanding of who you are as an individual. Recommendations are also helpful in providing law schools with an understanding of what kind of student you are in the classroom. Most law schools require 2-3 letters of recommendation and/or evaluation forms and CAS will process up to three.
As you start to think about who might write your letters of recommendation or complete the evaluation form, it is important to ask yourself the following questions:
Your recommender should be someone with whom you’ve had contact inside and outside of the classroom. In most cases, your recommenders should be professors, but for those who are taking gap year(s), you could include a recommendation from an employer or supervisor if needed.
The best way to form relationships with your professors is to:
Of course, you want to be sincere in your efforts and genuinely interested in the course and subject. It's best to take initiative early and start building relationships with professors during your freshman year. Remember: professors have chosen their profession because they want to have meaningful contact with students and help them achieve their goals, so they will appreciate you pro-actively taking the first step to establish a relationship. A professor will not be able to write a good recommendation if they don't know you.
As mentioned above, it's best to have your professors write your letters of recommendation, since law schools are most interested in what kind of student you will be. Professors are the most qualified to talk directly about your writing skills, ability to analyze an issue, and the quality of your work. When considering who to ask, focus on professors with whom you've taken more than one class and who can comment on your reading and writing abilities, analysis and research skills, and critical thinking skills. These are the characteristics most valued in law school. If you've had a meaningful work experience or internship, you can also ask a supervisor to write a recommendation, but make sure you educate them as to what law schools look for in a recommendation.
