Writing a Lawyer Recommendation Letter (with Sample)
Use this sample lawyer recommendation letter as a template for your formal notification.
Last updated on November 29, 2023
When a lawyer is looking for a job with a new law firm, he or she may be up against a lot of competition. All of the applicants may have excellent qualifications, but in order to get the job, it may help to have a recommendation letter from a reputable lawyer, senior partner, a colleague, judge or a satisfied client.
If a person is asked to write a lawyer recommendation letter to a firm or an individual, there is specific information the letter should contain. The letter should also clearly show that the writer knows the lawyer well and is confident about his or her abilities.
Reference Letter
As with any reference letter, a lawyer recommendation letter should express the candidate’s work ethic, abilities and good character. The letter should be very professional, because this will reflect on the candidate’s character. The first sentence of the letter should state its purpose.
The letter should highlight the candidate’s reliability and honesty. If the lawyer has previously worked for a law firm, and the writer also worked for the same law firm, the letter should clearly state that the candidate strictly followed the company policy. This is an essential point if a new law firm is considering the candidate.
If a person is asked to write a lawyer recommendation letter to a firm or an individual, there is specific information the letter should contain. The letter should also clearly show that the writer knows the lawyer well and is confident about his or her abilities.
Reference Letter
As with any reference letter, a lawyer recommendation letter should express the candidate’s work ethic, abilities and good character. The letter should be very professional, because this will reflect on the candidate’s character. The first sentence of the letter should state its purpose.
The letter should highlight the candidate’s reliability and honesty. If the lawyer has previously worked for a law firm, and the writer also worked for the same law firm, the letter should clearly state that the candidate strictly followed the company policy. This is an essential point if a new law firm is considering the candidate.
If the letter is for a specific person, the name should be spelled correctly and the proper title used. If it is to a company or other organization, it may be addressed to the hiring manager. The writer should use his or her company letterhead and include their contact information along with a business card.
The letter should clearly state how the writer knows the candidate and for how long. For example, the writer may have been the candidate’s professor in college or law school and seen that the candidate was an excellent student. The candidate may have worked at the same law firm as the writer, and the writer may have been a senior partner and overseen the cases on which the candidate was working.
Candidate's Strengths
The letter should clearly state the candidate’s strengths. It is important to mention whether the writer witnessed the candidate in action. Specific examples should be given as to how the candidate’s strengths were exercised during his or her practice of law.
For example, some qualities that can be mentioned are the candidate’s ability to relate to a jury, whether the candidate is reliable and punctual, and it may include the record of cases won, if applicable.
The letter should clearly state how the writer knows the candidate and for how long. For example, the writer may have been the candidate’s professor in college or law school and seen that the candidate was an excellent student. The candidate may have worked at the same law firm as the writer, and the writer may have been a senior partner and overseen the cases on which the candidate was working.
Candidate's Strengths
The letter should clearly state the candidate’s strengths. It is important to mention whether the writer witnessed the candidate in action. Specific examples should be given as to how the candidate’s strengths were exercised during his or her practice of law.
For example, some qualities that can be mentioned are the candidate’s ability to relate to a jury, whether the candidate is reliable and punctual, and it may include the record of cases won, if applicable.
Personal qualities may also be mentioned. For example, the candidate’s ability to maintain client confidentiality and his or her ability to be a team player can be mentioned. These qualities will help the candidate stand out from the competition.
Legal Organizations
A good lawyer recommendation letter should also contain any memberships and participation in legal organizations. For example, the letter can mention if the candidate has served on the board of their local bar association, and how devoted she was in the position. The writer can state if the candidate has done any pro bono work for the underprivileged, or if the candidate has published any articles in legal journals.
The letter should close with a statement that the writer is confident the candidate will be an asset to the firm, company or other organization. The writer should also invite the recipient of the letter to call or email if he or she has any further questions.
Below is a sample lawyer recommendation letter. It is a formal business letter and should be sent by certified mail. The tone should be professional, complimentary and positive about the candidate. However, it should also be honest and not contain any falsehoods.
Legal Organizations
A good lawyer recommendation letter should also contain any memberships and participation in legal organizations. For example, the letter can mention if the candidate has served on the board of their local bar association, and how devoted she was in the position. The writer can state if the candidate has done any pro bono work for the underprivileged, or if the candidate has published any articles in legal journals.
The letter should close with a statement that the writer is confident the candidate will be an asset to the firm, company or other organization. The writer should also invite the recipient of the letter to call or email if he or she has any further questions.
Below is a sample lawyer recommendation letter. It is a formal business letter and should be sent by certified mail. The tone should be professional, complimentary and positive about the candidate. However, it should also be honest and not contain any falsehoods.
Lawyer Recommendation Letter Sample
Name of Writer
Title of Writer
Company or Law Firm of Writer
Address of Writer
City, State, Zip Code
DATE
Name of Recipient
Title of Recipient
Company or Law Firm of Recipient
Address of Recipient
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Name of Recipient:
This letter is a formal recommendation for Name of Candidate for the position of lawyer in your firm. Name of Candidate worked in my firm for seven years and during that time was an exemplary lawyer. She is leaving my firm because her husband has been transferred to Your City, and she plans to move with him.
I am very sorry to let her go, but I understand why she wants to keep her family together as she has two young children. She would like to continue working in the legal industry and I offered to recommend her to your firm.
Name of Candidate has a strong eye for detail and this has served our firm on several occasions. She remains calm in and out of the courtroom, which is appreciated by our clients. She has won a large majority of her cases, mainly because she is extremely thorough in her due diligence and outshines the prosecution.
Name of Candidate has a strong sense of community and has taken at least two pro bono cases each year to help people who would have otherwise not been able to afford legal counsel.
She served as pro bono legal counsel for a group of people who did not want to be forced out of their homes to make way for a parking lot for the nearby mall. She won the case.
Everyone at the firm is sorry to see her go. She uses her many talents for the benefit of the clients and the firm. I believe Name of Candidate will make a valuable member of your team, and I heartily recommend that you give her a chance.
I can be reached at Phone Number or at Email Address if you have any questions or would like more details about her character and conduct. I have also enclosed my business card.
Sincerely,
Signature of Writer
Printed Name of Writer
By Andre Bradley
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What should be included in a lawyer recommendation letter?
Answer: A lawyer recommendation letter should include specific details about the lawyer's expertise, professionalism, and skills. Mention the lawyer's legal knowledge, their success in handling cases, effective communication skills, ethical conduct, and any other traits that make them exceptional. If applicable, include examples of their work, such as significant cases they have won or contributed to. It's also important to describe your relationship with the lawyer, whether as a client, colleague, or mentor, to provide context for your recommendation.
Q: How long should a lawyer recommendation letter be?
Answer: A lawyer recommendation letter should typically be one page long. It needs to be concise yet comprehensive enough to cover the lawyer's qualifications and strengths. The letter should be focused and to the point, avoiding unnecessary details or overly generic statements. It's essential to strike a balance between providing enough information to support your recommendation and keeping the letter succinct and readable.
Q: Can a non-lawyer write a recommendation letter for a lawyer?
Answer: Yes, a non-lawyer can write a recommendation letter for a lawyer. Clients, for instance, can provide valuable insights into a lawyer's client service skills, effectiveness in communication, and overall professionalism. What's important is that the writer can attest to the lawyer's abilities and character based on their personal or professional interactions with them.
Q: How can I personalize a lawyer recommendation letter?
Answer: To personalize a lawyer recommendation letter, include specific anecdotes or examples of the lawyer's work that you have witnessed or benefited from. Mention particular skills or attributes that stood out to you. Using personalized stories or observations makes your letter more credible and compelling, as it shows you have direct experience with the lawyer’s capabilities.
Q: Is it appropriate to mention a lawyer's academic background in a recommendation letter?
Answer: Yes, it is appropriate to mention a lawyer's academic background if it's relevant to their professional qualifications and achievements. This might include law school honors, participation in moot court, or other academic achievements. However, focus more on their practical skills and professional experience, as these are typically more indicative of their abilities as a lawyer.
Answer: A lawyer recommendation letter should include specific details about the lawyer's expertise, professionalism, and skills. Mention the lawyer's legal knowledge, their success in handling cases, effective communication skills, ethical conduct, and any other traits that make them exceptional. If applicable, include examples of their work, such as significant cases they have won or contributed to. It's also important to describe your relationship with the lawyer, whether as a client, colleague, or mentor, to provide context for your recommendation.
Q: How long should a lawyer recommendation letter be?
Answer: A lawyer recommendation letter should typically be one page long. It needs to be concise yet comprehensive enough to cover the lawyer's qualifications and strengths. The letter should be focused and to the point, avoiding unnecessary details or overly generic statements. It's essential to strike a balance between providing enough information to support your recommendation and keeping the letter succinct and readable.
Q: Can a non-lawyer write a recommendation letter for a lawyer?
Answer: Yes, a non-lawyer can write a recommendation letter for a lawyer. Clients, for instance, can provide valuable insights into a lawyer's client service skills, effectiveness in communication, and overall professionalism. What's important is that the writer can attest to the lawyer's abilities and character based on their personal or professional interactions with them.
Q: How can I personalize a lawyer recommendation letter?
Answer: To personalize a lawyer recommendation letter, include specific anecdotes or examples of the lawyer's work that you have witnessed or benefited from. Mention particular skills or attributes that stood out to you. Using personalized stories or observations makes your letter more credible and compelling, as it shows you have direct experience with the lawyer’s capabilities.
Q: Is it appropriate to mention a lawyer's academic background in a recommendation letter?
Answer: Yes, it is appropriate to mention a lawyer's academic background if it's relevant to their professional qualifications and achievements. This might include law school honors, participation in moot court, or other academic achievements. However, focus more on their practical skills and professional experience, as these are typically more indicative of their abilities as a lawyer.