Letters of Recommendation: Proving Your Law School Readiness

When requesting a letter of recommendation for law school, it’s essential to ensure that your recommenders can speak to specific traits that highlight your readiness for graduate studies. Here’s a guide to help you make a clear and focused request:

Steps to Request a Letter of Recommendation

1. Identify Suitable Recommenders:

   • Choose supervisors or professors who have overseen your work and can speak to your academic or professional readiness for law school.

   • Ensure they know you well and can provide detailed insights into your abilities and experiences.

2. Clarify the Scope:

   • Clearly communicate the specific traits you want them to highlight in their letter.

   • Provide examples of your experiences under their guidance that demonstrate these traits.

3. Attach Your Resume:

   • Include your resume with your request to give your recommenders a comprehensive view of your achievements and background.

     
     

“Law School Ready” Traits

When requesting a letter of recommendation, ask your recommenders to focus on three specific traits that showcase your readiness for law school. Here are some examples:

1. Leadership:

   • Demonstrate your ability to lead projects, teams, or initiatives.

   • Highlight instances where you have taken charge and driven success.

2. Critical Thinking:

   • Show your capacity for analyzing complex issues and developing well-reasoned solutions.

   • Provide examples of your problem-solving skills in academic or professional settings.

   • Critical thinking separates successful learners from average students, empowering them to analyze the materials presented, ask questions, and make educated judgment calls.

3. Communication Skills:

   • Emphasize your ability to articulate ideas clearly and effectively, both in writing and verbally.

   • Include examples of presentations, reports, or other communication tasks you have excelled in.

4. Clear Sense of Purpose:

   • Highlight your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree and how it aligns with your career goals.

   • Ensure you self-advocate and receive an education that meets your end goals.

5. Support System:

   • Mention the importance of having a solid support system comprised of family, friends, mentors, classmates, and professors.

   • Emphasize how you have built and relied on your support network to succeed.

6. Confidence:

   • Showcase your confidence in your ability to learn new materials and concepts.

   • Provide examples of how you have thrived in challenging academic or professional environments.

7. Research, Writing, and Public Speaking Skills:

   • Highlight your proficiency in research, writing, and public speaking.

   • Provide examples of sophisticated and polished assignments or presentations you have completed.

8. Genuine Passion for Learning:

   • Demonstrate your enthusiasm for learning and how it drives your academic and professional pursuits.

   • Share examples of how your passion for learning has contributed to your success.

9. Originality:

   • Emphasize your ability to develop unique research questions and contribute new ideas to your field.

   • Provide examples of independent research projects or innovative solutions you have created.

     
     

Making the Request with our Request Email Template

Subject: Request for Letter of Recommendation

Dear [Recommender's Name],

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to request a letter of recommendation for my law school applications. Having worked under your guidance, I believe you can provide valuable insights into my readiness for graduate studies.

I would be grateful if you could highlight my leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Attached is my resume for your reference. Please let me know if you need any additional information.

Thank you for your support.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

By following these steps and clearly communicating your needs, you can help your recommenders write strong, focused letters that enhance your law school application.

Remember, it’s important to be clear about the purpose of submitting letters of recommendation. Clear communication can make the process easier for recommenders, and in turn, can make your letters more in-depth by showcasing your best traits!

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