letters of reccommendation - to late to ask?

[tordelay8]

I'm trying to get my applications completed by the end of the year, but still don't have any letters from anyone. Is it too late to start with new people, or should I just really get on the ones I talked to already?

[LawSchoolGuy]

How long ago did you ask your original people?

[tordelay8]

I asked one around the begining of Sept, and another one later, in October. The September one said he would have something for me in a few weeks, but I still haven't heard anything from him. I'm starting to get a little frustrated, so I was just thinking about getting someone else to do it.

[lawdog]

Have you checked back in with either of the two original recommenders? It's courteous to be patient, but you might just  want to check in, remind them that you appreciate their willingness to support your application, and ask if there is anything you could do to help out with the effort (such as sending a copy of your personal statement, e.g.). Hopefully their responses will give you a better idea of whether to stick with the first two or go back to the drawing board to find some new recommendations.

[Anne]

Have you checked back in with either of the two original recommenders? It's courteous to be patient, but you might just  want to check in, remind them that you appreciate their willingness to support your application, and ask if there is anything you could do to help out with the effort (such as sending a copy of your personal statement, e.g.). Hopefully their responses will give you a better idea of whether to stick with the first two or go back to the drawing board to find some new recommendations.

That was going to be my question. If you haven't checked in, then you definitely should. The September one should really have something done by now, but the October one might not. You typically need to give these recommenders a 2-month window to get something put together (yep, it seems like too long to me, too, but that's typically what I've seen).

[tordelay8]

ok, I checked in with my September person, who said they would have something ready after the Thanksgiving weekend, and I still haven't heard from my other person. What do you guys think, should I get new ppl?

[lawdog]

If you know other people that could give you legitimate recommendations, it certainly can't hurt to have a backup plan in case of problems with one (or both) of your top-choice recommenders.

[tordelay8]

yeah, but what are the chances I'll even get something in the next two months from new people?

[Anne]

yeah, but what are the chances I'll even get something in the next two months from new people?

Your chances are good if you state to your back-ups up front that you will need the letters by a certain date. Problems with LORs arise when recommenders aren't given concrete deadlines. Tell them that you will need your letters by January 1st or January 15th (or whenever it is you want them), and you will most likely have them (just don't forget to follow up with your letter-writers and make sure they are on track!).

[tordelay8]

I got the letter from the first person, and I heard back from the second who said they should have something by mid-December (WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO WRITE A ONE-PAGE LETTER?). Hopefully I will get them both. I still want to get backups just in case the 2nd one doesn't come thru.

[Anne]

I got the letter from the first person, and I heard back from the second who said they should have something by mid-December (WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO WRITE A ONE-PAGE LETTER?). Hopefully I will get them both. I still want to get backups just in case the 2nd one doesn't come thru.

Did they send it to LSAC, too? You can't send it in for them. They actually have to fill out the LSAC CAS forms and send them in. It can take up to two weeks for processing and for the letters to show up in your LSAC account.

[tordelay8]

I got the letter from the first person, and I heard back from the second who said they should have something by mid-December (WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO WRITE A ONE-PAGE LETTER?). Hopefully I will get them both. I still want to get backups just in case the 2nd one doesn't come thru.

Did they send it to LSAC, too? You can't send it in for them. They actually have to fill out the LSAC CAS forms and send them in. It can take up to two weeks for processing and for the letters to show up in your LSAC account.

!!!!! i didn't realize that they had to send it themselves. I thought I could send it!! Now I have to go back to this person and then talk to the other guy. 

[Anne]

I got the letter from the first person, and I heard back from the second who said they should have something by mid-December (WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO WRITE A ONE-PAGE LETTER?). Hopefully I will get them both. I still want to get backups just in case the 2nd one doesn't come thru.

Did they send it to LSAC, too? You can't send it in for them. They actually have to fill out the LSAC CAS forms and send them in. It can take up to two weeks for processing and for the letters to show up in your LSAC account.

!!!!! i didn't realize that they had to send it themselves. I thought I could send it!! Now I have to go back to this person and then talk to the other guy. 

Yup, LORs and transcripts have to be sent directly from the people that wrote them/institutions that issued them. My guess is that LSAC instituted this to avoid people tampering with the content of either. Sorry for the extra work, tordelay! Hopefully  your recommender won't give you too hard a time about having to do it LSAC's way. Make sure you get the Letter of Recommendation form from your LSAC CAS account and give it to them; they'll have to complete it and send it in along with the letter for LSAC to be able to process it.

It does depend on whether the schools you are applying to require that you submit letters through CAS (if they don't, you could just send the letter directly to them); the vast majority of them do.

More info: http://www.lsac.org/JD/apply/cas-lor-evaluations.asp