Requesting a Law School Letter of Recommendation
Requesting a Law School Letter of Recommendation is a Villanova Pre-Law Advising resource that provides a sample email students can use when asking a professor, supervisor, or professional contact for a law school recommendation letter. The sample shows how to make a respectful request, explain the purpose of the letter, provide helpful supporting materials, and give the recommender enough context to write a strong recommendation.
This resource is especially useful for students applying to law school through the Law School Admission Council and preparing materials for recommenders.
The sample request explains how students can:
- Address a professor or supervisor professionally
- State that they are requesting a letter of recommendation for law school
- Explain why the recommender is a good person to speak about their academic ability, professional work, or personal strengths
- Include the submission method and deadline
- Offer supporting documents to help the recommender write a detailed letter
- Ask to meet and discuss academic ability, personal qualities, and interest in law school
- Give the recommender space to decline if they do not feel comfortable writing a strong letter
- Thank the recommender for their time and consideration
Documents students may want to provide include:
- Transcript
- LSAT score or scores
- Resume
- Personal statement
- Academic summary
- Relevant papers, tests, projects, or work samples
The resource also reminds students that the email is only a guide and should not be copied word for word. Students should customize the message based on their relationship with the recommender, the reason they are asking that person, and the specific law school application timeline.
