A Letter of Recommendation is a document that describes why a person is a suitable candidate for a particular application.

Use LawDepot’s Letter of Recommendation template when giving (or asking someone to give) a reference. Simply answer our questionnaire to generate a thorough and descriptive reference letter.

Choose between four different types of references:

• Professional: use for job applications and employment opportunities
• Academic: use for scholarships or college applications
• Rental: use for rental applications
• Personal: use for immigration applications, court testimonies, and more

A reference letter is a detailed account of a person's character, which can include descriptions of qualifications, skills, and personality traits. It should identify at least one of the candidate's best skills or traits and provide an example of a time the candidate demonstrated this skill.

Aside from describing the candidate, you should also include:

• How you know the candidate
• How long you've known them for
• Your contact information

A reference letter should be clear, concise, and only include information that is relevant to a specific purpose. It’s typically no more than a page long.

While anyone can write a reference, the best person is someone who can speak about your quality of work and personal character. It's likely this person has known you for an extended period of time and can provide clear examples of your qualifications and achievements.

However, you should avoid obtaining a reference from anyone who could be considered biased, such as a family member. Depending on your circumstances for requiring the reference, there may be certain people better suited to the task. For instance, many rental applications require a reference letter from your previous landlord to get an idea of your behaviour as a tenant.

A professional reference can come from someone who worked with you, such as a:

• Client
• Co-worker
• Current or former employer
• Fellow volunteer

An academic reference can come from someone who’s a mentor to you, such as a:

• Academic advisor
• Coach
• Professor
• Tutor

A personal reference can come from anyone who knows you well and is commonly used in situations that require a character reference, such as a:

• Child custody hearing
• Court appearance
• Job where ethics and morals play a large role (like with senior care)

A rental reference can come from:

• Previous landlords
• Roommates
• Neighbours