Hey Im applying to law school this fall - had some questions for people who have already applied regarding the letters of recommendation....

-when they say "at least 2" does that mean send only 2 if you're a slacker?

-Should people who are writing them reference the individual school I'm applying to? (ex. "this is why I recommend ---- to UNC Law school....)

-They say they "recommend" you send them to LSDAS first, do they 1) HAVE to be sent through this third party and 2) do the envelopes need to be sealed with a signature across the crease? and 3) on the outside envelope do I reference what school I need them to forward it too??

ahhh so confused - any help would be great. thanks

9/15/2006 1:07:40 PM

If you're a slacker don't even think about applying.

9/15/2006 1:08:22 PM

yes, they ordinarily have to go through LSDAS.

After you pay them, you'll get an interface for the LOR. You fill it out with your recommender and it puts a barcode on it. You print it out and hand it to them. They write a letter and send it to LSDAS. The law schools you apply to will be able to see them.

you're never supposed to be in posession of the letter.

[Edited on September 15, 2006 at 1:11 PM. Reason : .]

9/15/2006 1:09:02 PM

do they need to be sent to LSDAS BY the recommender?

9/18/2006 11:34:05 PM

Quote :

"do they need to be sent to LSDAS BY the recommender?"

That doesn't matter. However, sometimes your recommender will do that themselves. The professor I had at NC State sent it directly to the LSDAS so I couldn't read it (which kind of worried me). However, I had my boss at my regular job and my boss at my internship at the DA's office give the letter to me and let me send it to the LSDAS.

So it's up to the person giving the recommendation. Most of the time they'll just give it back to you and let you send it.

And if it says "at least 2"...then give 3...but no more. Anything more than three is overdoing it. Get two from teachers and one from someone from a job or an internship. In my case I got one from three different areas. They want to see differen't people's opinions of you...not just three teaching saying..."oh, he's been one of my best students...blah blah...he works so hard...etc."

And if your teachers ask your opinion about what they should write, tell them to write something about how good of a student you were compared to everybody else they've taught over the years. EX: "I've been teaching at XXXX for 10 years and John Doe is easily one of the 5 best student's I've ever had." Law School admissions people see "He's a great student" all the time...they like to see stuff that will quantify applicants.

That's about all I have right now. I have to do some reading.

9/19/2006 12:05:30 AM

Quote :

"2) do the envelopes need to be sealed with a signature across the crease?"

I also didn't read this. It's been about two years too...so it's now all coming back to me.

The only things that I remember had to be "sealed" by the university were the transcript form and the form from the office of student conduct. Just go to the Dunn building at State and they do all of that for you. They'll give you your transcript and other stuff and put it in an envelope and seal and you put the address on there and mail it off.

I'm about 99.999% sure that you don't have to do that with the letter of recs. But it's nice if the letter itself looks professional. My letter of rec from the Wake County DA's office was on a nice letter head as was the letter from my place of employment. I have no idea what the one from my professor looked like...but I'm sure it was nice.

9/19/2006 12:09:18 AM

I got one from an English professor for obvious reasons.

One from a professor in my major, Econ.

And one from my six years working as a chem-e from the vice president of my company who is a phD chem-e.

At least 2 means three.

I just provided all of them with the form from LSDAS, a copy of my Personal Statement so they could gear their letter towards my goals, and an addressed stamped envelope so that they could just seal up their letter and mail it off to LSDAS.

Once LSDAS receives the letters they scan them as an Adobe file and you just attach them to your electronic application that you will complete on LSDAS. You can fill out a paper app., but most schools prefer electronic apps



Also, I bought everyone who wrote a letter a thank-you gift.

9/19/2006 3:10:48 PM