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 can a legal writing sample be?
A writing sample should generally be between 7-10 pages unless otherwise requested.
Should you redact legal 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.
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.
What is 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.
What is good legal writing?
The Article then provides an analysis of the fundamental qualities that enable legal writing to do this, concluding that there are three such qualities: clarity, conciseness, and the ability to appropriately engage the reader .
Should a legal writing sample be double spaced?
What is the proper format? Page length: 5 to 10 pages, double-spaced. ... The writing sample, including the cover page, should fit into the employer’s given page limit . You should also include a header or footer with your name and page number on every page.
What are the categories of legal writing?
Categories. Legal writing is of two, broad categories: (i) legal analysis and (ii) legal drafting . Legal analysis is two-fold: (1) predictive analysis, and (2) persuasive analysis.
Can I edit my legal writing sample?
Edit the sample, check your footnotes, and update your relevant case law before sending. Double check redactions of party names and any other identifying information to ensure nothing is overlooked.
What is a legal brief used for?
The term is used primarily in common-law countries, and its exact meaning varies across jurisdictions. In the United States a brief is a written legal argument that is presented to a court to aid it in reaching a conclusion on the legal issues involved in the case .
How do you write a legal persuasive argument?
- Keep paragraphs within 2 to 7 sentences. ...
- Keep sentences under 60 words. ...
- Avoid unnecessary detail. ...
- Banish passive voice. ...
- Use key words to signify your argument. ...
- Define your opponent’s argument. ...
- Edit as you go.
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.
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.
How do you write a good redaction?
To redact a line or item in the document, double-click on a word or image. Press CTRL as you drag to select a line, a block of text, an image, or an area of the document. Click OK to remove the selected items. Keep in mind the items are not permanently removed from the document until you save the document.
What is a brief writing sample?
What is a writing sample? A writing sample is a supplemental document for a job application often requested for jobs that include a significant amount of writing , like those in journalism, marketing, public relations and research.
