Application Materials

i. Purpose of References and Letters of Recommendation—a few employers, and almost all judges, will require reference letters as a part of their applications. References would be individuals who potential employers can contact to find out about you.

ii. Tips for References

• Your list of references should include the following for each reference: name, title, phone number, email, and a short description of your relationship with the reference.
• References should be professional, either employers or professors, rather than friends or church leaders.
• By your second year of law school, references should consist mostly of legal employers and professors.
• Professors who write letters of recommendation should know you well enough to talk about your work and academic performance. Working for a professor as a research assistant or teaching assistant gives them time and exposure to you and your work. Doing well in a class does not provide the same familiarity.

iii. Material to Assist in Thinking About References and Reference Letters

• Reference and Letters of Recommendation Guidelines
• Reference List Template