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Recommendations / Nepotism...the wave of the future
« on: April 22, 2011, 02:19:43 PM »
Alright. Here's where I stand:
I have two recommendation letters from people that know me by work ethic and ability alone:
A manager from my Fortune 100 company that I worked closely with in an area of contract interpretation and ALJ hearings; AND
Well known in house counsel for a large insurer (actually practicing and trying cases before the Bar, not doing "doc review")
I've requested a couple others, but they most likely aren't going to be submitted anytime soon. However, a large amount of my legal work in the past has been done in my father's practice acting as his assistant and in-court support (basically clerking for him). My father,as a member of the Bar, is offering to write a letter speaking solely to my responsibilities and performance in his office . He's more than capable of doing this (my father makes no bones about loving his children, but being completely candid as to their abilities, especially where his profession is concerned), and I know that most admissions departments will look at it as a "supplement" and not a letter of recommendation, which is fine by me.
Still, I was wondering if anyone has an opinion. I spent a good portion of my adult life (since 18) working for him before working full time as his assistant/clerk. Knowing my father, he'll acknowledge I'm his son, then state he's making his statement based off of my actual work product in his office. I still have letters from other recommenders submitted...I don't see a downside, but then again I'm not in admissions.
Thoughts?
I have two recommendation letters from people that know me by work ethic and ability alone:
A manager from my Fortune 100 company that I worked closely with in an area of contract interpretation and ALJ hearings; AND
Well known in house counsel for a large insurer (actually practicing and trying cases before the Bar, not doing "doc review")
I've requested a couple others, but they most likely aren't going to be submitted anytime soon. However, a large amount of my legal work in the past has been done in my father's practice acting as his assistant and in-court support (basically clerking for him). My father,as a member of the Bar, is offering to write a letter speaking solely to my responsibilities and performance in his office . He's more than capable of doing this (my father makes no bones about loving his children, but being completely candid as to their abilities, especially where his profession is concerned), and I know that most admissions departments will look at it as a "supplement" and not a letter of recommendation, which is fine by me.
Still, I was wondering if anyone has an opinion. I spent a good portion of my adult life (since 18) working for him before working full time as his assistant/clerk. Knowing my father, he'll acknowledge I'm his son, then state he's making his statement based off of my actual work product in his office. I still have letters from other recommenders submitted...I don't see a downside, but then again I'm not in admissions.
Thoughts?