Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: Federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Must be considered to avoid discriminatory language in recommendation letter.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Relevant when discussing educational matters in employment recommendations.

Defamation Laws: Legal framework protecting against false statements that could harm reputation. Ensures all statements in recommendation are truthful and verifiable.

State Employment Reference Laws: State-specific regulations governing what employers can disclose about current or former employees in recommendations or references.

EEOC Guidelines: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines ensuring fair and non-discriminatory employment practices, including in recommendation letters.

Company Confidentiality Policies: Internal organizational policies regarding disclosure of employee information and company-specific data in recommendations.

Intellectual Property Restrictions: Laws and policies protecting company trade secrets and proprietary information that must not be disclosed in recommendation letters.

State Privacy Laws: State-specific regulations governing the protection and disclosure of personal information in employment contexts.