More than 40,000 individuals will apply to law school this fall. Some of them no doubt work in your law office, and may be asking you to write a letter of recommendation to add to their application materials. You may be surprised to learn that these letters do get read. In fact, a strong letter of recommendation from someone familiar with the applicant’s strengths and level of exposure to the realities of day-to-day legal practice can make a big impact. These letters often tip the scales when an admissions committee is uncertain whether to admit a candidate with a perceived weakness in her application.

My colleagues and I are often asked what we look for in a letter of recommendation and how to ensure that the letter adds value to the application. The following five tips are designed to help you avoid sending an unintended message to the admissions committee, while providing meaningful information about an applicant you wish to support.

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