<p>How early into the process did you get yours? I plan on beginning my LSAT study next summer then applying after that in the fall. Guess it's time to start going to office hours and forming relationships with my teachers...</p>
<p>My 2nd semester Junior Year I took probably my most favorite classes in school. That is, if I ranked my top 5 classes, 3 of them would have been in that semester.</p>
<p>Being naturally engaged by the material, I was an active participant and even brought unresolved discussions from class into office hours. 80% of that motivation was genuine, another 20% was to form a relationship with those professors.</p>
<p>2 of those 3 professors are my recommenders. I asked them in May after finals and they both were very delighted to do so. One described the recommendation she would write as "glowing." It probably helped that there were only 2 other students in the class beside me. She also became the chair of a highly acclaimed history department soon after, which is nice to have at the bottom of a LOR.</p>
<p>Now, I am fairly confident that my LORs will be a help even if my LSAT isn't so great.</p>
<p>So my advice is: take seminars, take seminars on topics you like, be active, engaged and professional, and the letters will come</p>
<p>PS: Ask at the end of Junior Year. Give them the whole summer to write them. If you ask them in September, they probably won't have it finished until November, and you will be waiting on them to get your apps complete.</p>
<p>Very good advice about the timing, I wish I had asked for mine a bit earlier...although i really doubt the validity of saying "my LORs will be a help even if my LSAT isn't so great." LORs are probably the third most important part of your application, but they don't even come close to LSAT scores (or GPA).</p>
<p>I asked at the start of the year. It's better to ask professors that you had recently - and obviously ones that know who you are and are directly familiar with your work.</p>
<p>I also agree with taking seminars, always being professional, and at least trying to participate and improve (even if you don't constantly participate, any effort will help)</p>