Anonymous User wrote:So maybe I'm not sure how I didn't know this, but apparently you are supposed to make a cover sheet for your writing sample? I'm sending out apps to 1L federal externships, and I mention briefly in my real cover letter what the memo basically is (an open memo i wrote for legal writing). Do I really need a separate cover letter just for the writing sample?
My career services did not say a thing about one, but maybe that's because it's just generally common knowledge? I really don't want to print 50 more pages of paper, after spending 90 something dollars on stamps already..
You do not have to, but I think the writing sample looks better with one. I use the same heading as my other materials and then write a brief explanation of where the writing sample is from (this is a good place to explain if you used an excerpt, something from class, that names and whatnot have been changed, that you have permission, etc.).
I think it is something that everybody just decides for themselves (unless an application or inside information tell you a specific format for that employer).
In your situation, I think that leaving the explanation in your cover letter OR putting the explanation on the cover sheet OR putting a heading and the explanation on the page just above the beginning of your writing sample are all fine. By moving it out of the cover letter, though, you make the cover letter shorter.
Also, I'm not sure from your comment if you are concerned about using 50 pages of nice paper or just plain paper, but writing samples don't have to be on the same nice paper as other materials. It should look nice, but plain white paper is fine. I've actually had some interviewers tell me that they prefer not to get the heavier, nicer paper, because then they have to carry it all. (I believe there is a thread on that here as well.) That probably doesn't apply as much here, but just an fyi.