A useful law school letter evaluates future potential through work the writer actually observed. It should not merely repeat grades or recite a résumé.
Begin with the relationship, develop one or two evidence-rich examples, and make the level of endorsement easy for an admissions reader to interpret.
Establish the basis of your judgment
Name the course, project, employment setting, duration, and level of interaction. If you taught the applicant in more than one setting or reviewed substantial written work, say so. This context tells the committee how much weight your evaluation can carry.
Show law-school-relevant ability
Describe a paper, discussion, research problem, client issue, or professional decision that revealed careful reasoning. Explain the applicant’s action, the quality of the work, and how the person responded to questions or criticism.
- Analysis and written communication
- Intellectual independence
- Ethical judgment
- Persistence through difficult work
- Ability to improve after feedback
Use comparison with context
If you compare the applicant, define the group and dimension: students in a particular course, analysts at a similar career stage, or researchers supervised over a stated period. Explain the behavior behind the ranking so it does not read as empty superlative.
Close candidly
State whether you recommend the applicant and how strongly. A measured, well-supported conclusion is more credible than an enthusiastic ending that the evidence does not justify.
Make the applicant’s reasoning, judgment, and growth visible through firsthand evidence, then give the reader an honest, contextual assessment.
Keep the law school requirements in view.
Applicants enter each recommender in JD Services, assign letters to specific schools, and trigger the official request. LSAC notes that detailed, candid letters from professors or work supervisors—and contextual comparisons with peers—are especially useful. Always confirm each school’s current LOR requirements in JD Services.
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