So you want to ​go to law ​school?

Letter of Recommendation

GUIDE

Steps + Tips

1.

Choose Who You Want To Write ​Your Letter

Choose someone who knows your ​character, achievements, and your goals ​well. The better they know you, the ​stronger the recommendation will be.

2.

Ask In Person First

Asking in person first is more personal ​and allows for a quick acceptance or ​decline of your request.

3.

Follow-up with a Formal Request

By doing this step, you can include more ​information about yourself, your goals, ​and why you are applying for the ​position.

Choose someone who is:

credible ​relevant to your goals ​is prepared to meet deadlines

Choose people from different areas: academic,

professional, or mentorship

Choose an appropriate time. Perhaps schedule a ​meeting ​Look for any hesitation. This might be a sign to ​ask a different person ​Be direct, but polite ​Mention deadlines

Prepare and attach your resume to your request ​Follow up before the due date

4.

Send a Thank You Note

This shows your genuine appreciation for ​the letter and strengthens the professional ​relationship.

This can be in the form of an email, but a physical ​card is always a nice touch

MORE INFORMATION AT: HTTPS://WWW.COURSERA.ORG/ARTICLES/HOW-TO-ASK-FOR-A- ​LETTER-OF-RECOMMENDATION-TEMPLATE-TIPS

Common Advice

What do classes look like?

Did you know?

• Stick to a schedule that works for you
  
• Keep something for yourself to do daily - ​could be cooking dinner, going to the gym, ​watching a show, or going on a walk
• Be consistent with your readings
• Treat school like a 9 to 5 to find balance
• Get involved - helpful to meet people and start ​to form close connections
• Build relationships with professors and be ​intentional about who you spend time with, as ​they may become future colleagues or ​business partners
• Understand what you are getting into before ​you get into law school - it is not for everyone!
• Take your 1L year seriously - your grades will ​determine your first internship
  

Readings:

Readings are to prepare you for class and will generally be case ​law or the decisions judges have handed down. You can have ​anywhere from 30 to 100 pages of reading a night, but it really ​depends on your classes.

Class:

Classes again depend heavily on your professor and the subject. In ​1L you will be taking the same basic classes with your year (ex. ​torts, criminal law, contracts, civil procedure and legal ​research/writing). Generally, you will be going through the different ​cases you read for class. Beware of cold-calling.

Exams:

Exams are generally made up of two parts: issue spotters and ​policy questions. Issue spotters are when they give you a scenario ​and you assess the legal claims of different people and their ​likelihood of success based on cases you’ve studied. Policy ​questions are big picture questions on theories of law. Most are ​open book, and you create an outline to help you during the exam. ​Your outline is a condensed way of organizing your notes from the ​semester.

• The majority of T14 students go into big law firms after ​graduating - the internship they get after 1L they often ​return to and then work for once they graduate
• Public interest internships and jobs recruit later than ​corporate ones
• Recruiting for clerkships come the summer after 2L, and ​firms will often hold a spot for you if you receive a ​clerkship offer because it looks good for the firm
• Most people will be looking into transactional law, ​litigation is very competitive though
• If you want to be a public defender, they really care about ​previous experience, and that you are committed to that ​line of work
• Apply early to law schools, it helps to prepare your essays ​over the summer
• Apply to schools with similar rankings to your top pick, if ​you get money from them you can negotiate your ​monetary package
  

Attorney (Lawyer)

• Private Practice: Lawyers working in law firms handling various cases from different areas of law such as corporate, criminal, family, and more.
  
• Corporate Counsel: In-house attorneys working directly for corporations handling their legal matters, compliance, and litigation.
  
• Public Interest Lawyer: Lawyers working for non-profits, advocacy groups, or governmental organizations focusing on public interest issues.
  
• Government Attorney: Lawyers working for federal, state, or local governments in roles such as prosecutors, public defenders, or regulatory agencies.
  

Judge

• Trial Judge: Presides over court proceedings at various levels, including district, circuit, or municipal courts.
  
• Appellate Judge: Reviews decisions from lower courts and makes rulings on appeals.
  

Academic

• Law Professor: Teaching law at universities and law schools, conducting legal research, and publishing scholarly articles.
  
• Legal Researcher: Conducts in-depth legal research and contributes to academic and professional publications.
  

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Specialist

• Mediator: Facilitates negotiations and conflict resolution between disputing parties to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
  
• Arbitrator: Conducts hearings and makes decisions on disputes outside of the court system.
  

Compliance Officer

• Ensures that a company or organization adheres to legal standards and internal policies, often focusing on regulatory compliance in various industries.
  

Policy Advisor

• Works with governmental or non-governmental organizations to develop and influence public policy on various issues.
  

Legal Consultant

• Provides specialized legal advice and services to businesses, organizations, or individuals on a contract basis.
  

Legal Analyst

• Analyzes legal documents, conducts research, and provides insights and summaries of legal information, often for media or corporate purposes.
  

• Corporate Law: Focuses on the legal aspects of business operations, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and securities.
  
• Criminal Law: Deals with offenses against the state or public, including prosecution and defense of criminal charges.
  
• Family Law: Covers legal issues related to family relationships, such as divorce, child custody, and adoption.
  
• Intellectual Property Law: Protects the rights of creators and inventors in their intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
  
• Labor and Employment Law: Governs the relationship between employers and employees, including workplace rights, discrimination, and labor unions.
  
• Environmental Law: Focuses on regulations and issues related to the environment, including pollution control, natural resource management, and sustainability.
  
• Immigration Law: Deals with legal issues related to immigration, including visas, residency, and citizenship.
  
• Health Law: Involves legal issues in the healthcare industry, including medical malpractice, healthcare policy, and bioethics.
  
• Real Estate Law: Governs property transactions, including buying, selling, leasing, and land use.
  
• Tax Law: Involves regulations and issues related to taxation, including corporate taxes, income taxes, and estate planning.
  
• International Law: Covers legal relations between countries, including trade, human rights, and international agreements.
  
• Bankruptcy Law: Deals with legal processes for individuals or businesses that cannot repay their debts, including reorganization and liquidation.
  
• Civil Rights Law: Focuses on the protection of individuals' rights and freedoms against infringement by governments or other entities.
  
• Entertainment Law: Covers legal issues in the entertainment industry, including contracts, intellectual property, and labor issues for artists and creators.