When to Write a Law School Letter of Continued Interest

Learn how to get off the waitlist and into your top-choice law school by writing a letter of continued interest

When and to which law schools should you send a letter of continued interest?

Part 1: Introduction

If you've been waitlisted for your top-choice law school, you're probably feeling disappointed. Applying to law school is a daunting process, and waiting to hear back from schools can be exhausting. And if you're feeling let down because you weren't accepted right away, you're not alone.

Being waitlisted, however, is far from the end of the story. It certainly doesn't mean you're less qualified to attend than other candidates. Some top programs will even waitlist competitive candidates because they assume those candidates will get into other law schools.

You may be wondering how to maximize your chances of being accepted off the waitlist. And while you can't control everything, sending a strong letter of continued interest can go a long way.

At the end of the day, top law schools want to admit students who are dedicated to their program and will choose to attend them over other law schools. The letter of continued interest (sometimes abbreviated as LOCI) allows you an opportunity to convince the admissions committee that you are exactly that applicant.

But where do you start? How do you write a letter of continued interest, and when is it appropriate to send one?

This guide will help you figure out if you should send a letter of continued interest and what you'll need to include. We'll also provide you with a strong example of a law school letter of continued interest and answer some questions about LOCIs that we get asked frequently.

What is a letter of continued interest?

A letter of continued interest is a letter that informs a law school that you are interested in remaining on the waitlist and that you are committed to attending said law school, should you be admitted.

For the letter to be most effective, you have to be earnest in your desire to commit to that school. They're not looking to pull people off the waitlist only to have them attend another school instead.

In other words, writing a strong, thoughtful letter of continued interest can be a means for you to stand out amongst others on the waitlist. For example, if there are twelve candidates on the waitlist, and only two of them write a genuine letter of continued interest, the admissions committee will likely look to those candidates first.

The letter of continued interest can also be a place for you to update the admissions committee on any new accomplishments that might help boost your application.

Writing a letter of continued interest is a bit like putting all your cards on the table. While there is no guarantee that you'll be pulled from the waitlist, it can be a powerful tool to signal to the admissions committee that you would excel in their program, given the chance.

Part 2: How to write a law school letter of continued interest

Which law schools should I send a letter of continued interest to?

While you could certainly write letters of continued interest to every school you've been waitlisted at, we don't recommend it. A letter of continued interest does the most good for you if you honestly feel that the program is one of your top choices, if not your ultimate top choice. Don't waste your time, or the admissions committee's, by sending a disingenuous letter.

To determine where to send a letter of continued interest, start by evaluating your options. Before deciding to write a letter of continued interest, you should consider any acceptances, rejections, or other waitlist notifications. That way, you can assess whether or not it's advantageous to send a letter of continued interest to a given law school.

For example: Liz, a prospective law school student, has a strong LSAT score and has spent the last couple of years working as a paralegal. She graduated at the top of her class at a small liberal arts school. She's a competitive applicant who wrote compelling personal statements and secondary essays.

Liz was accepted by a Tier 1 law school (meaning it's ranked in the top 50), and while she'd be happy to attend, it's definitely not her first choice. Liz has also been waitlisted at two other programs. She has to evaluate her options so that she has a clear idea of her next step.

Liz was waitlisted at Notre Dame, a similarly ranked school that would allow her to get an excellent education in law while staying close to her family in Indiana. Perhaps they waitlisted Liz assuming that she could get into other, more prestigious law schools.

But Liz has also been waitlisted at Harvard Law. And though it would require a major cross-country move, an education at an Ivy League law school is an opportunity she would be hard-pressed to ignore.

Because she's already been accepted at Boston University, Liz decides to put her time and energy into writing a continued letter of interest for Harvard Law School. She can genuinely say that if they let her off the waitlist, she would absolutely commit to attend.

Your situation might be different than Liz's, but it's important to evaluate your unique situation, so that you can send a genuine letter of continued interest to the institution that's right for you.

While it may be tempting to hedge your bets and write multiple letters of interest, being honest about your preference will allow you to write the strongest letter possible. Furthermore, by focusing on one school, you'll limit the chances of making mistakes that might hinder your application's chances, like writing a letter addressed to the incorrect institution.

When is it appropriate to send a letter of continued interest?

Once you've decided to write a letter of continued interest, it's generally best practice to write it as soon as possible.

Usually, law schools will send you instructions on what to do now that you're on the waitlist. This might mean submitting additional essays or filling out forms. Whatever it is, it is important to carefully read these instructions and follow them to the letter.

In rare cases, a school may specifically ask you to not send a LOCI. If that is the case, definitely do not send a letter of continued interest!

Otherwise, you'll want to follow the school's instructions and write your letter as quickly as possible. Admissions committees go through a lot of application material, and they appreciate timely responses. And while a quick response doesn't exactly put you on the top of the pile, it does demonstrate your enthusiasm for the program.

If you haven't received an admissions decision from the school, we usually recommend that you do not send a letter of continued interest. However, it may be appropriate to do so if you have a significant update to your application, such as an increased LSAT score.

So, to review, when you receive notice that you're on the waitlist, you want to be sure that you quickly and thoroughly follow all instructions given to you by the law school. You also want to ask yourself: if I was admitted off the waitlist, would I absolutely attend this school?

If the answer to that question is yes, start your letter of continued interest.

What should my letter of continued interest say?

Your letter should contain these essential parts:

• A genuine thank you to the admissions committee

• A commitment to attendance

• Any relevant updates to your application

• A description of why you feel you are a strong fit for that law school

The first part is key. You should always begin the letter by thanking the school for their consideration and for the opportunity to be put on the waitlist. You should also end the letter by reiterating the same sentiment.

We recommend this approach because we find that the tone of your letter is incredibly important. The goal is to be enthusiastic, humble, and genuine. While it's understandable to be upset about being put on the waitlist, the letter of continued interest is absolutely not the place to suggest that the admissions committee made a mistake in not admitting you outright.

By starting and ending with a "thank you," you're demonstrating to the committee that you value the school's time and consideration. There are a lot of students who didn't make the waitlist, particularly at top schools, and you want to show them that they made the right decision in giving you the opportunity.

Another essential aspect to the letter of continued interest is a commitment to attendance. This is where you'll articulate both your intention to stay on the waitlist and your intention to attend the law school, if admitted off the waitlist.

Guaranteeing that you'll attend if admitted is more important than you may think. The percentage of accepted students who decide to attend—a statistic known as "yield"—is a critical part of a top school's ranking. For example, the average yield rate across top-10 law schools is typically more than double the average yield rate of law schools as a whole. That's why, to protect their yield rate, top schools want to keep acceptance rates relatively low in order to maintain their status as a top-ranked law school.

Therefore, honestly and earnestly committing to attend will make you a far more attractive candidate.

The letter of continued interest is also a place for you to update the admissions committee with any new information regarding your application. For example, if you've continued studying for the LSAT, retaken the exam, and have increased your score, you want to tell them about that. Any awards, accolades, or promotions you've received since applying are worth mentioning as well.

While the strength of your writing and your commitment to the school are important, ultimately, increased test scores and continued accomplishments can be the best ways to increase the likelihood that you'll be admitted off the waitlist.

You may not have any strong updates, and that's okay. In that case, you'll want to focus on your commitment to attendance and your enthusiasm for the program.

To demonstrate that enthusiasm, we recommend spending some time explaining why that particular law school is your top choice and why you feel you'd be a strong fit for them. Think of this as a condensed "Why us?" essay. Include details and information that are tailored to this specific school, and not general criteria that may apply to other top schools, like small class sizes or well-regarded alumni.

Further, don't make the mistake of telling the school about itself by just listing these attributes back to the school. They want you to articulate why those aspects are meaningful or important to you.

For example, rather than saying "Columbia Law School has a clear commitment to diversity," an applicant might say:

As a Black woman, it's important to me to feel supported by both faculty and my peers. In a law school, I'm looking for an environment that contributes to, rather than hinders, my ability to develop as a human rights attorney. Columbia feels like a place where, because of its clear commitment to diversity, I could truly thrive.

In addition, a letter of continued interest can be a great place to bring up any recent campus visits or alumni interactions. Bringing up these interactions can demonstrate to admissions committees that your interest in their program is genuine, as you've gone over and above to learn more and get involved.

Part 3: Law school letter of continued interest example

Here's an example of a letter of continued interest for Yale Law School. All identifying details have been altered.

Dear Yale School of Law Admissions Committee,

Thank you so much for considering my application and offering me a place on your waitlist. In April, I had the pleasure of talking to Jorge Hermida-Gonzáles, a recent alumni, and we spoke at length about growing up blocks away from Yale Law in New Haven. As a fellow Latino, hearing about his experiences attending Yale Law was incredibly profound. We talked at length about how we grew up seeing Yale as a place where he might learn skills that could directly enhance outcomes for his community, and as we talked, I became all the more assured that Yale Law was the place I most wanted to be.

I'm writing today to let you know that Yale Law School is, without a doubt, my top-choice program, and if admitted off the waitlist, I would absolutely attend Yale Law, without reservation. I'm happy to remain on the waitlist as long as that may take.

In addition, I wanted to update you on what has happened since I submitted my application. This December, I retook the LSAT, and my score has increased from a 171 to a 176. In addition, the nonprofit organization that I founded in 2017 has been awarded an American Savings Foundation Grant. My organization develops after school programs that gives free meals to New Haven teenagers, while offering free tutoring and college prep opportunities. Receiving this grant will allow me to spearhead our efforts to advance the program to New Britain, and I'm very excited about the prospect of helping more students like me.

When I talked to Jorge, I had the additional pleasure of getting to witness a Yale Law Journal Football Game. I was blown away by the players, who managed to laugh while pushing each other. I admired the passion to win, but more than that, the passion to win with a team. In my community, certainly, I am a leader, but I am a leader who knows full well that we move forward best when we learn and enrich each other. To me, rigor and teamwork are the hallmarks of a strong lawyer.

I see these qualities reflected in both the culture and the students of Yale Law School. I would be honored to bring my own enthusiasm and dedication to your incredible institution.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

All my best,

David Garcia

Part 4: Frequently asked questions

How should I format my letter of continued interest?

You'll want to use a standard font, such as Times New Roman, in 11- or 12-point font, along with one-inch margins.

How long should my letter of continued interest be?

Though you may be tempted to write a longer letter, it's best to keep your LOCI under one page.

Many students think that because law schools want to see qualified candidates with strong writing skills, longer letters might be more impressive. Or, they might think that if they write a shorter letter, admissions committees might assume that their interest in the school isn't particularly high.

But remember, with all writing, it's important to keep your reader in mind. Admissions staff read quite a bit of material. So, rather than writing something lengthy, focus on writing strong, clear prose, and edit your letter wisely. A succinct and thoughtful letter can go a long way.

I've been waitlisted at my top-choice law school, but haven't heard back from them since I sent them my continued letter of interest. Should I send another?

If you've already written a letter of continued interest, we usually recommend that you continue to wait without sending any additional materials, as hard as that may be.

However, if you've had a major update, such as an increased LSAT score, you will want to send along another letter, so that the admissions committee has the most up-to-date information.

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Source: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/law-school-letter-of-continued-interest

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