Law School or Clerkship Recommendation Letter Draft

What a good one includes

• A clear statement of the recommender's credential and their specific professional relationship to you, including the duration and context of your work together.
• A highly specific, narrative-driven example of your legal research and writing skills, such as a complex memo or brief you drafted.
• An explicit evaluation of your intellectual horsepower, ranking your analytical abilities compared to other law students or junior associates they have mentored.
• Concrete evidence of your attention to detail, citing tasks like rigorous cite-checking, bluebooking accuracy, or meticulous document review.
• An assessment of your professional temperament, demonstrating how you handle constructive feedback, tight deadlines, and high-stakes legal environments.
• A strong, unequivocal concluding endorsement that explicitly states why you are an ideal fit for the specific clerkship, firm, or academic program.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing a generic letter filled with cliché praise like hardworking and smart without providing concrete, situational examples to prove those claims.
• Failing to match the tone to the specific target, such as using an overly casual corporate style for a formal federal judicial clerkship recommendation.
• Exaggerating the recommender's relationship or voice, which can make the letter feel disingenuous or easily exposed during an interview.
• Neglecting to mention the applicant's specific legal writing and oral advocacy skills, which are the primary competencies judges and hiring partners look for.

Frequently asked questions