Hi... Since you all seem to have experience, which are the best recommendation letters for international students??? Does the person has to hold a degree from US, do you have to explain the relationship??? Is it really better if they are important people? Because they might be important in my country, but not in the US... Thanx!!!

Well, I thought the most common thing to do was to get recommendation letters from either your professors or employer. I got one from a professor at my school and one from my employer. Both are lawyers, and they know me from class, exams and/or work. One was British and the other Norwegian. They had to explain their relationship to me.

Thank you hannenyh, my problem with the employer´s letter is that I work in a communications company, as legal manager. So, my bosses aren´t lawyers, and I am not sure if it would be convenient to get a letter from them. Anyway, I teach in a law school in my country... What do you think about the academic authorities? It worries me getting letters only from people in the academic field...

My letters were written by professors from my university (none of them with degrees in the States...simply experienced attorneys in my country and with many years in the teaching profession). So far, I got admitted to all the schools I applied...
Anyway, good luck with the application process (it's looooong! not to mention the waiting period)

I believe that the best recommendation letters come from professors. American law schools emphasize academic merit, and you cannot substitute work experience for it. At least the other one (if they request two) should be written by your former professor. Mine were both "academic", and I made it to Yale, Cornell, Michigan, and Virginia. I don't think it matters so much whether they are "big names" in the US, or have studied there. What really matters is that they know you well, and can convince the committee that you would make for a very good LL.M candidate.

Thanks Anushka and Tmalmine... I guess I´ll go for the professors. As a matter of fact, it´s going to be a lot easier for me to work it that way... About the process, I still have a long way, Anushka... I´ll apply for the 2006-2007 academic year, and before that I have to get a scholarship. So, you´ll probably here from me again. Thanx, and I´m glad everything´s going so well for you guys...

are you still able to apply for 2006-2007? i think many schools have application deadlines from Dec. 2005-Mar. 2006. it's late already and even if you find some schools who are still open to applicants, like boston university, you are still late as they have received many applications and already started admitting students. there is not much room for you unless some admitted students decline the offer.

sorry for dismissing you but i think you need to consider applying for 2007spring rather than 2006 fall.

My mistake... I meant 2007-2008, not 2006-2007... As a matter of fact, it would be for 2007 fall... The thing is I´m in another process in order to get a scholarship (deadline is in May 2006), and if I get it, they´ll apply for me to the schools I choose but with the same documents and letters I used with them... So, for application purposes, is early, but I still have to get the right recommendations if I want to get admitted next year. Thanks for the worry, havefun...

Out of curiosity, did anyone go out of their way to try to get the alumni of the school being applied to for recommendations?

hey guys thankx for ur post this has definitely helped me to get through the issue of reccomendation letters. but now theres another issues croping that of statement of purpose. and its drafting only if u guys could guide me thankx waiting to hear from u all.

Thanks Anushka and Tmalmine... I guess I´ll go for the professors. As a matter of fact, it´s going to be a lot easier for me to work it that way... About the process, I still have a long way, Anushka... I´ll apply for the 2006-2007 academic year, and before that I have to get a scholarship. So, you´ll probably here from me again. Thanx, and I´m glad everything´s going so well for you guys...

Josepidal... I don`t quite undertand your worry... Could u explain it with more details???
And Ketkipathak, I really hope we get some help there... I haven`t started either my personal statement, and it really has on the edge... I think it might be better if u open a new post for that specific issue...

hey also can any one tell me what really is the validity of the reccos as i have a prob, i wish to join univ for 2007 Fall Seession. how long would they consider any particular recco valid? and what if i dont get admitted within that period