OCI Writing Sample Question Forum

[TFALAWL]

Our LRW brief had two issues. At first, I was just going to use the argument section from one of the issues, but it occurred to me that if I eliminated the argument entirely - and just used the QP's through the Summary of the Argument, I would be at 9 pages. I feel that doing it this way is more engaging. Thoughts?

Additionally, is using a memo over a brief TCR, b/c my legal writing improved dramatically over the spring, and my fall memo would probably be too difficult to fix.

[mushybrain]

Brief is fine, but I think it's weird to cut out the argument and give them the fluff that comes up front. We were advised to do the reverse, and cut back the fluff to a very short summary of the issue we were presented with in the class, and then put in the excerpt. That way there's context but you still show some analysis.

[Devlin]

Our LRW brief had two issues. At first, I was just going to use the argument section from one of the issues, but it occurred to me that if I eliminated the argument entirely - and just used the QP's through the Summary of the Argument, I would be at 9 pages. I feel that doing it this way is more engaging. Thoughts?

Additionally, is using a memo over a brief TCR, b/c my legal writing improved dramatically over the spring, and my fall memo would probably be too difficult to fix.

Do not cut out your argument section. I edited mine in away that had the facts and two argument sections. I ended up cutting the conclusion and my third argument. Make sure whatever you cut, you keep the section title in and say "intentionally omitted" or something similar.

[bdubs]

Try to get a writing sample from your summer job if you can. An LRW brief is probably not going to be a great writing sample.

[Anonymous User]

I cut my LRW memo in half so it was just one issue. It wasn't a good writing sample (my LRW grade was median), but it's doubtful anyone actually read it--multiple callbacks where grades were below many firm's cutoffs.