Top Law Schools

So for OCI I used a research memo I drafted during my small firm SA I did this summer. The firm primarily dealt with matters in California courts so I wrote all my research memos using the California Style Manual, not Bluebook. I didn't change the citations to bluebook b/c I wanted to provide the firms with a wholly unedited copy.

Is this an issue? Will firms read my memo and think I don't know how to use the bluebook, or will they put in the little bit of time to realize that I am using the Cali style manual. Keep in mind that 98% of the big firms I applied to are CA offices (I realize this may have been a legit mistake for the 1 or 2 NY offices I applied to).

It's obviously too late for OCI, but now resume-drop firms are asking for a writing sample. Should I update the citations to bluebook or keep it as-is for Cali firms?

Have a cover sheet for the writing sample. Explain the citation format. And if it is 1L work product, make sure you have permission and there is nothing that could identify the client.

Most firms in Cali have to file something occasionally in state court. If you're coming from a Cali law school and applying to cali law firms, nobody will be confused by your use of Cali citations (though the reminder cover page is a good idea, because not all attorneys at any given firm will have filed in state court - particularly if you're into IP or one of those exclusively federal areas). And trust me. Even if they didn't file in Cali court sometimes, half of the attorneys suck at bluebooking and wouldn't notice the difference anyway.