Preparation for the Study of Law

Faculty and Letters of Recommendation

Introduction:
It is critical for applicants to any post-graduate study program to get to know the faculty well. Faculty are a valuable source of advice, plus they alone write the all-important academic letters of recommendation (LOR). Law school applicants should plan on submitting at least two faculty letters, more if possible. Keep in mind that you should apply to law schools by Thanksgiving of your senior year. Thus, you must start accumulating letters when a junior at the latest, and preferably when you are a sophomore. Ask for a letter when your performance is fresh in the mind of the recommender, and open a letter of recommendation file with the HPPLC Recommendation Service.

It is often wise to seek out smaller classes, and perhaps repeat a professor with whom one has been successful. We suggest that you try to get to know at least one professor per semester. Go to office hours even if you do not have questions about the material. Truly great letters can make a difference; a poor letter may make admission difficult.

HPPLC's optional Recommendation Service will assist you in obtaining letters, and will forward them to the Credential Assembly Service ("CAS", formerly known as the Law School Data Assembly Service or "LSDAS") or directly to the schools when the time is right.  Click HERE for more information.

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT LOR FOR LAW SCHOOLS and HOW TO SET UP YOUR CAS ACCOUNT:
Not sure who to ask, or how? Can't figure out how to get these letters to the law schools?  Confused by the CAS procedures and how to set up this mandatory account? For details about how to ask for letters, whom specifically to ask, what forms and guidelines you'll need to give the writers, and for STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS for the complex process of arranging for your letters to be sent to the CAS and the law schools themselves, PLEASE REVIEW THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE!!!

Remember, the application process is complicated and arcane. Expect confusion.
If you have questions or problems, please email your HPPLC Prelaw Advisor ASAP!