Your Guide to Letters of Recommendation 

Letters of recommendation hold a paradoxical role in the admissions process. On the one hand, they rarely make or break an application by themselves. On the other, a sharp, detailed letter can be the difference-maker when two candidates look the same on paper.

Think of it this way: your GPA and LSAT prove your ability. Your personal statement shows your voice. Your résumé shows your path. But your recommendations? They prove that others (professors, supervisors, mentors) see you the same way you see yourself. That credibility carries weight.

What Kinds of Letters Should You Include?

Most applicants submit two letters, and some schools allow a third. Quality matters far more than quantity, but a good mix usually looks like this:

1. Academic Letter
2. • From a professor who taught you in a rigorous course.
   • Highlights your intellectual curiosity, research, writing, and class participation.
   • Ideally, someone who can compare you to peers (“one of the top 5% of students I’ve taught in 20 years”).
2. Professional Letter
3. • From a supervisor, mentor, or employer who knows you well.
   • Speaks to your work ethic, leadership, or initiative.
   • Shows how you function outside the classroom, especially in roles with responsibility.
3. Optional Third Letter
4. • Use only if it adds something new.
   • A second academic letter can work if both are from professors in different contexts.
   • Avoid redundancy (“hardworking,” “reliable,” “a pleasure to have in class” repeated twice is just wasted space).

Length and Substance

Admissions officers skim everything, including letters. Most won’t read more than one page carefully. That means your recommender should aim for a focused, detailed letter that balances narrative with evaluation.

A single, vivid anecdote is worth more than a page of adjectives. For example:

• Weak: “Alex is intelligent, hardworking, and dependable.”
• Strong: “Alex wrote a 40-page paper on international trade law, incorporating primary sources in Spanish and French. It was the only undergraduate paper I nominated for publication last year.”

The second not only conveys intelligence and work ethic, but proves it.

Key Principles of Strong Letters

1. Specificity Over Superlatives
“Best student ever” doesn’t impress without context. “Top 5% of students in a 300-person lecture” tells the admissions officer something measurable.

2. Narrative Over Adjectives
Letters should describe a moment that demonstrates a quality. “She showed resilience when she…” is more memorable than “she is resilient.”

3. Context Over Vagueness
If you won an award, the letter should explain what it is, who grants it, and how selective it is. Without context, admissions officers won’t know if it’s prestigious or just perfunctory.

4. Consistency Over Contradiction
Your letter should echo the themes of your personal statement and résumé. If your essay emphasizes leadership but your letters only mention your quiet reliability, the story feels incomplete.

The Mistakes Applicants Make

• Waiting Too Long
  Professors get flooded with requests, especially in the fall. Asking early shows respect, and gives them time to craft something thoughtful.
• Choosing Prestige Over Knowledge
  A letter from a famous professor who barely remembers you is less useful than one from a TA or adjunct who can describe your work in detail. Depth beats name recognition.
• Providing No Guidance
  Your recommenders aren’t mind readers. Share your résumé, a draft of your personal statement, and a note about what you’d like highlighted. The best letters come from collaboration, not guesswork.

How to Make It Easier for Your Recommenders

Admissions officers can usually spot a rushed, generic letter. To prevent that:

• Give plenty of notice—ideally 6–8 weeks.
• Provide materials—résumé, transcript, draft essays, and reminders of your best work.
• Clarify logistics—let them know how to submit through LSAC and by what deadline.

The easier you make the process, the better the letter you’ll get.

Final Thought

Letters of recommendation won’t outshine your LSAT, but they can shape the impression admissions officers carry into committee. A strong letter doesn’t just confirm your record, it brings your file to life through the eyes of someone who knows you well.

At LexPrep, we guide applicants through every part of the process, including choosing the right recommenders and framing what they should emphasize. Join the waitlist at www.lexprep.ai to be first in line when we launch. Because in law school admissions, sometimes the quietest part of your file carries the loudest message.