A memo or brief you prepared for lawyering seminar
can work well as a writing sample. Employers are looking for clear, effective legal writing and analysis. An objective interoffice memo or a persuasive brief are both acceptable vehicles for demonstrating your writing and analysis abilities.
How long should a writing sample be for a paralegal job?
1. Each writing sample submitted should be
no less than 5 and no more than 12 pages in length
. 2.
What kind of writing sample should I submit for a paralegal job?
A memo or brief you prepared for lawyering seminar
can work well as a writing sample. Employers are looking for clear, effective legal writing and analysis. An objective interoffice memo or a persuasive brief are both acceptable vehicles for demonstrating your writing and analysis abilities.
What type of writing does a paralegal do?
Paralegals spend much of their time writing:
drafting emails, letters, briefs, memorandum, agreements, resolutions, motions, contracts and many other legal forms
that are both simple and complex. Hence, good writing skills are a valuable asset and significant to a paralegal’s success.
Should you redact writing samples?
In particular, redact the client/parties’ names and any other key identifying items. It’s often best to play it safe by using
a brief, motion, or other writing that has been filed publicly
— if you don’t have to redact, the writing is likely to flow better. But client memos are just fine if properly redacted.
Can I use a motion as a writing sample?
ACCEPTABLE WRITING SAMPLES:
Work product such as
legal memoranda
, briefs, or motions written for a legal clinic student, law clerk/intern, or judicial extern can also be used, only with permission and subject to the guidelines below.
How long is a legal writing sample?
Typically, the length of a writing sample for legal jobs ranges from
8 to 20 pages
. This should be considered the legal writing sample format as it provides the firm with sufficient information for evaluation.
What are law firms looking for in a writing sample?
Legal Reasoning—A writing sample must
demonstrate your legal reasoning and analytical skills
, i.e., apply law to facts, and distinguish cases on their facts. Thus, an academic survey of case law or a note that summarizes a recently published decision is not the best choice as it does not include legal analysis.
Can a cover letter be a writing sample?
A cover letter should be
written fresh each time you apply for a job
. Tailor it specifically to the job posting, using keywords from that posting. By contrast, you may be able to use the same writing sample for several different job applications, as long as it is broadly applicable to the field.
What is an unedited writing sample?
Many employers will request an “unedited” writing sample. This means
that the work must be substantially your own and should not have been edited by another person
. You may personally edit any document, including one that was produced at a law-related job.
How do I write as a paralegal?
- Think. Before you type even one letter, be sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say. …
- Make a Plan. …
- Write. …
- Review for Content. …
- Consider the Beginning and the Ending. …
- Avoid Repetition. …
- Read the Document Aloud. …
- Read it Backwards.
Why is there a need for a paralegal to have good writing and reading skills?
Because the other employees in a law firm will not tolerate inadequate writing skills, all paralegals need to learn to
write in a concise and precise manner with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
.
How do I write a legal document for a paralegal?
- Know and Remember Your Audience. Whether you are writing to a client, the court, your attorney, or another paralegal, write the documents according to the needs of your audience. …
- Make an Outline. …
- Keep It Short and Simple—No Legalese.
What can you redact in a writing sample?
5. Redact: If you are using a piece of writing that you wrote for a past employer (such as a brief or memo you wrote during a previous job, externship, or internship) as your writing sample, you will most likely have to redact (remove) Page 3 3 certain types of information from the piece as you revise it.
Does a writing sample need a cover page?
Always include a cover page with YOUR NAME ON IT
!
If a writing sample is an excerpt of a longer piece, describe the nature of the larger document and provide context and background information regarding the excerpt.
Should a writing sample be double-spaced?
Provide clean copies of your writing and revise them as necessary. Unless it is a clip, your writing samples
should be double-spaced
.
