HI GUYS, I HAVE A QUESTION, I AM A LAWYER FROM COLOMBIA, I GOING TO APPLY IN 15 LLM PROGRAMS HERE IN THE USA, BUT EACH PROGRAM ASK ME FOR TWO LETTER OF RECOMMENDATIONS, SO, MY QUESTIONS IS: HAVE I TO TELL TO MY RECOMMENDERS THAT I NEED 15 DIFFERENT LETTERS FOR EACH UNIVERSITY? OR THERE IS A WAY TO GET ONLY ONE LETTER FROM THE RECOMMENDERS AND SEND IT TO THE 15 UNIVERSITIES ADMISION PROGRAMS? PLEASE I APOLOGIZE FOR MY QUESTION BUT THIS PROGRAM IS NEW FOR ME, SO I WILL APRECIATE ANY HELP OF YOU GUYS. THANKS.

The only way around asking your recommenders for 15 letters of recommendation is to use the LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (https://llm.lsac.org/llm/logon/splash.aspx). The recommender sends them one letter, and the LSAC will distribute it to the law schools. However, this is only possible if the law schools you want to apply participate (most due though). I cannot tell you anything about the terms and conditions of the LSAC, but it has to be on their website.

On a sidenote, and please don't take it wrong - do you think 15 applications are necessary? I mean the amount of money you have to spent on application fees is huge. I don't know your background, neither the schools you want to apply to, but you could underestimate your possibilities of entrance into LL.M. programs.

Cheers and good luck,
JW

P.D.: Please don't use cap locks - on the internet the use of cap locks is considered as rude since it means you are screaming. :-)

JW, thank you so much for your answer, I'm sorry for the cap locks, I was so worried about the LOR'S question that I didn't realize that I was using cap locks.

So, did you send the letters of recommendation to the LSAC program for international students?. Or did you know someone who did it?.

And, What do you think about the admision process to the LLM programs of the University of Texas, University of Houston, Miami, Duke, Georgetown, George Washington, Boston University, Boston College University and Columbia University? Is it so hard to get into any of these Universities?

Background:
I am a lawyer from Colombia, from the best University of there in laws, I am in the 10% of my class. I took the Toefl Test and I get 95, I am planning to take it again in order to get the 100 points that many of the best Universities request for the LLM programs.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers.

A strong letter of recommendation should be addressed directly to the university you apply to. It should not only contain the address of that institution inside and on the envelope, but also refer to the program you apply to in its content explaining why you want to pursue LLM at a particular university. I would advise you not to send "to whom it may concern" letters but ask your recommender to personalize them with regard to each law school you apply to.

And I am not sure whether LSAC processes the LoR you should check it out directly with them.

Hi Ceballos, after Bober's comments, I'm not so sure anymore whether LSAC processes LOR's as well, better check it out with them directly. I think I've read it somewhere when I first heard about LSAC, but now after going through the recommendation forms at the universities I'll apply to, I'm a bit uncertain about it. However, if they don't, what's the point of paying $ 185 for their services, only for TOEFL and transcripts??

To your questions:
1) No, I didn't use LSAC, since I couldn't see any financial advantages. And I read the comments about LSAC here on the board and they haven't been too positive, to put it mildly. I requested 7 LOR's from my professors, and it was no problem for them, they also know that there are "dream law schools" for you where admission is far from guaranteed.

2) About the universities you mentioned: I assume that Columbia is the toughest one out of those you mentioned. But if you're in the top 10% of your class, you should have a shot at entering if your other credentials look good. However, they do require 105 in the TOEFL.

I got the impression on this board that admission is a lot about being in the x % of your class - so if you're in the top 10% of your class, I firmly believe that you have very good chances to get into most of the schools you mentioned. I would take a look at the US News Ranking (http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/law/brief/lawrank_brief.php), and the class size at the universities you mentioned and take it from there (the bigger the class + the lower ranked the university, the better the chance).

Good luck!
JW

-JW- and Bober

Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it.

ceballos_lm