A successful letter of recommendation can open doors and make a lasting impression. A quick Internet search will tell you what to put in a letter of recommendation; but it is just as important to know what to leave out.
Crafting a compelling letter for a legal professional requires precision, clarity, and intentionality. Using vague language or unnecessary details can detract from your message and might cause the recipient to not admit your student or hire your former employee.
Follow these guidelines, and your letter recommendation will contain everything it needs—and nothing it doesn’t.
1. Avoid Vague Introductions.
Start strong by addressing your letter to a real person. Avoid beginning with "To Whom It May Concern." If you cannot locate the appropriate person’s name, send a professional recommendation to the “Hiring Manager” and an academic recommendation to the “Admissions Committee” or “Program Director.”
Also, while it is important to explain why you are qualified to write the recommendation, mention only your role in the candidate’s life and how long you have known them. This is not the place to expound upon your illustrious career. Write only what will allow the reader to weigh what you say about the candidate.
Example revision:
- Original: "To Whom It May Concern, I have had the distinct pleasure of knowing Alex for three years."
- Better: “Dear Hiring Manager, I’ve worked closely with Alex for three years as her supervising attorney at Mason, Biegler & Finch.”
2. Use Facts, Not Opinions.
Words like “think” or “believe” can dilute the impact of your recommendation. If you truly believe someone will be a good fit or has a certain quality, use facts to tell your reader a brief story. Facts are more convincing than opinions. (Aren’t you persuaded more by concrete evidence than supposition?)
If you think Bianca has strong public speaking skills, describe a great speech she gave and what made it memorable. Anecdotes and concrete words always persuade a reader faster than thoughts and feelings.
Example revision:
- Original: “I think Paloma is a caring, articulate individual.”
- Better: “Paloma is a caring, articulate individual who engages with clients warmly and conveys information effectively.”
3. Paint a Picture Instead of Using Clichéd Descriptions.
Common descriptors such as “quick learner,” “organized,” “team player,” “creative,” “passionate,” and “dedicated” are so overused they have become meaningless. Bring these traits to life with specific examples where the candidate demonstrated the qualities in context. This will make your letter fresh and original, your recommendation clear and meaningful.
Example revision:
- Original: “Ahmed is a true example of a team player.”
- Better: “During the strike, Ahmed worked 18-hour days to provide the media with the company’s up-to-the-minute information.”
What if you had an in-house editor at your fingertips?
WordRake enables you to create precise, highly polished writing.
4. Steer Clear of Personal Characteristics. Keep It Professional.
Colleges and businesses may not discriminate, but an innocent comment—even a well-meaning one—that alludes to someone’s race, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion might trigger unconscious bias affecting a reviewer’s opinion. Always steer the focus toward professional achievements and attributes instead.
Example revision:
- Original: “Jordan has achieved a great deal despite her youth.”
- Better: “Jordan quickly established herself as a valued associate, contributing legal research that helped win two critical cases.”
5. Eliminate Unnecessary Words with WordRake.
Letters of recommendation must be concise while thoroughly conveying the qualities of the person you’re recommending. Trim redundant phrases to retain only what strengthens the recommendation.
To ensure your writing is clear, concise, and convincing, use an editing tool like WordRake to get Track Changes–style editing suggestions to improve brevity and simplicity.
Here are some example WordRake revisions:
- For the reasons articulated above, I am happy to give Patrick my highest recommendation for your linguistics program.
- Ariel is always thoughtful and thorough when answering any questions our board members may have board member questions.
- Haedyn has a deep understanding of complex topics within his field, and he can explain them in a way that is easy to understand clearly to team members in other departments.
- Participating in team-building activities fosters Team-building activities foster better collaboration, and he uses this to improve his team's performance and work satisfaction.
WordRake is editing software that suggests changes to documents written in Microsoft Word and emails written in Outlook. You can try WordRake on your letter of recommendation and any of your other writing—it's free for 7 days.
Final Thoughts
Letters of recommendation are an essential element in advancing a lawyer's career, whether entering law school, changing firms, or securing a promotion. By avoiding the pitfalls outlined here and prioritizing clarity, precision, and supporting evidence, your recommendation will carry the weight and influence it needs to truly advocate for the candidate.
Remember, the goal is to make every word count—just like in the courtroom.
What if you had an in-house editor at your fingertips?
WordRake enables you to create precise, highly polished writing.
