Greetings Alekb:
I located the following guidelines for a law school letter of
recommendation at http://career.berkeley.edu/Letter/LetterGuidelines.stm#law:
"Law schools are primarily interested in recommendations that come
from professors who know the student and his/her academic work, as
well as from employers who can write about the factors noted below.
They are interested in summary estimates of the candidate's general
promise as a student of law. The more the evaluation reflects real
knowledge of the student and his/her performance, the more useful the
letter is to the law school's admissions committee and thus to the
student. Indicate how long you have known the applicant and in what
capacity. It should address the following questions:
Personal effectiveness: Is the applicant the kind of person you
would choose to consult as a lawyer? Does the applicant enjoy the
trust and respect of professors and fellow students?
Intellectual qualifications: What is your assessment of the
applicant's analytical skills and ability to grasp new ideas? Has the
applicant's academic record been affected by any special circumstances
such as work, social or academic background? What is the applicant's
ability to deal with complex or abstract matters?
Ability to communicate: Is the applicant an effective writer? Does
the written work submitted demonstrate a mastery of the conventions of
English? Is the written expression clear, well-organized and forceful?
Is the applicant articulate in oral expression?
Industry and self-discipline: To what extent does the applicant
possess the traits of persistence, efficiency and motivation? Is there
any reason to doubt the applicant's commitment to law study or the
applicant's diligence as a student?
Potential for the study of law: What is your prediction of the
applicant's probable performance in the study of law? Would the
applicant stand in the top quarter, near mid-class or simply make the
grade in a rigorous program? Do you have any special familiarity with
the process of legal education?
Is there any other information about the applicant which you would
like to share with admissions committees? "
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The PDF document at http://laus.la.psu.edu/pdf/lsr/letters.pdf covers
some guidelines but none of the document would copy to here. Please
visit the URL for the complete document. It states what the applicant
might include for the recommender.
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The site at http://www.accepted.com/law/letter_rec.htm covers "10 Tips
for Recommenders" and also suggests phrasing for specific areas.
EXAMPLE:
"4. Discuss how well you know the applicant.
I was able to get to know Mr. Doe because he made it a point to attend
two of my sections every week when only one was required.
Ms. Smith reported directly to me for two years prior to her
well-deserved promotion to the position of Senior in our Big Six
Accounting Firm."
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The site at http://www.asu.edu/duas/advising/prelaw/lettersofrec.htm
also covers what should be provided by applicant to recommender:
"In order to expedite the process, the applicant should provide the
person writing the recommendation with the following:
A brief resume (not necessarily the finished form one would send to a
prospective employer but one containing all essential data).
An unofficial set of transcripts, perhaps highlighting courses taken
with the recommender.
All applicable forms provided by the law schools. Be sure to indicate
that you waive your right to see the recommendations. Nonconfidential
letters are of little or no value. Besides, if you can’t trust your
recommender to write a good letter, you should not be making the
request of that person.
A stamped envelope addressed as directed by the law school."
The article covers many other points as well including:
"Situations under which the applicant might solicit a letter of
recommendation from other than an academic are the following:
From a long-time employer who can state that the applicant was
employed full time (half time, etc.) during his/her college career.
This would verify that the applicant’s GPA was achieved under
difficult circumstances in addition to commenting on work ethic.
From an athletic coach who can state that the applicant was a
(three-year, four-year) member of the team and indicate the amount of
time devoted to practice, road trips, etc. This would verify that the
applicant’s GPA was achieved despite the time demands of varsity
athletics.
Law schools are generally not impressed with letters of recommendation
obtained from political office-holders and other persons of
“influence,” including judges and attorneys, unless those persons also
meet one of the criteria listed above. Indeed, letters that give the
impression that the school is being “leaned on” by a person of
presumed influence to accept a particular candidate may have a
negative effect on that person’s chances of admission."
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Should you require clarification of any of the links or information I
have provided, please request it and I will be happy to respond.
SEARCH STRATEGY:
"letter of recommendation" law school guidelines
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