When and How to Ask for Letters of Recommendation

Once You Get a Yes

If the person says “yes,” then put together a packet for him or her that includes:

• A brief cover letter that states your gratitude to the recommender, some background on why you want to go to law school, and your agreed-upon deadline for emailing or mailing your LOR to LSAC.
• Your unofficial transcript (if the person is a professor or TA).
• Your updated resume.
• Other relevant materials (some professors and TAs want copies of the best essays that you wrote for their class).

Once you fill in your recommender information online, LSAC will email your recommender to upload his/her LOR online. Some recommenders prefer to mail in a paper LOR. In that case, make sure to give your recommender the signed LSAC LOR form that you can print out from LSAC.org.

Lastly, make sure that the deadline that you and your recommender agree upon is one that is actually 2–4 weeks earlier than when you actually need the LOR, but don’t let your recommender know that you’re asking for it early. I’ve seen too many cases where recommenders put off writing the LOR for so long that she/he actually made the applicant late in applying. Don’t let that happen! So, for example, if you want your LOR at LSAC by October 30, then ask your recommender to submit it or mail it by October 1.

That’s the lowdown on when to ask, and how to ask, for letters of recommendation. Now, stop reading and go ask for your letters!