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Has anyone heard of or have any experience with writing assessments as part of a lateral interview? I remember interviewing for a firm that asked me to work on a faux settlement agreement to see if I could spot the issues, but I haven't dealt with a writing test before. A friend of mine has an interview with a state-level attorney general and they've told her she needs to be prepared to submit her response to a writing assessment which is one hour, timed. The assessment is submitted inmedaitley before her interview.

I know judges who do this. Haven't really heard of it in other contexts.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I know judges who do this. Haven't really heard of it in other contexts.

Any insight as to what they usually want? I imagine a substantive assignment would take more than an hour, right? I can't remember the last time I was able to research and issue and put it together in a memo for a client in only an hour. My thoughts were maybe they'll provide her with a few cases and ask for a memo or something regarding a pointed question?

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I know judges who do this. Haven't really heard of it in other contexts.

Any insight as to what they usually want? I imagine a substantive assignment would take more than an hour, right? I can't remember the last time I was able to research and issue and put it together in a memo for a client in only an hour. My thoughts were maybe they'll provide her with a few cases and ask for a memo or something regarding a pointed question?

This was my experience with writing tests during an interview, also on the court/judicial side - you are given a few cases and fact pattern or pleading and are asked to draft a short section of a memo applying the law to the facts. In my experience no outside research is allowed, both for time reasons and to ensure that the test is more a test of writing skills than of researching skills.

mjb447 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I know judges who do this. Haven't really heard of it in other contexts.

Any insight as to what they usually want? I imagine a substantive assignment would take more than an hour, right? I can't remember the last time I was able to research and issue and put it together in a memo for a client in only an hour. My thoughts were maybe they'll provide her with a few cases and ask for a memo or something regarding a pointed question?

This was my experience with writing tests during an interview, also on the court/judicial side - you are given a few cases and fact pattern or pleading and are asked to draft a short section of a memo applying the law to the facts. In my experience no outside research is allowed, both for time reasons and to ensure that the test is more a test of writing skills than of researching skills.

Safe to say if the assessment was only 30mins rather than one hour, it would likely be a more simple assignment?

Anonymous User wrote:

mjb447 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I know judges who do this. Haven't really heard of it in other contexts.

Any insight as to what they usually want? I imagine a substantive assignment would take more than an hour, right? I can't remember the last time I was able to research and issue and put it together in a memo for a client in only an hour. My thoughts were maybe they'll provide her with a few cases and ask for a memo or something regarding a pointed question?

This was my experience with writing tests during an interview, also on the court/judicial side - you are given a few cases and fact pattern or pleading and are asked to draft a short section of a memo applying the law to the facts. In my experience no outside research is allowed, both for time reasons and to ensure that the test is more a test of writing skills than of researching skills.

Safe to say if the assessment was only 30mins rather than one hour, it would likely be a more simple assignment?

I'd think so - maybe fewer cases, a simpler fact pattern, or analyzing a less complicated legal standard (or fewer elements of a multi-element test).

Anonymous User wrote:

mjb447 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I know judges who do this. Haven't really heard of it in other contexts.

Any insight as to what they usually want? I imagine a substantive assignment would take more than an hour, right? I can't remember the last time I was able to research and issue and put it together in a memo for a client in only an hour. My thoughts were maybe they'll provide her with a few cases and ask for a memo or something regarding a pointed question?

This was my experience with writing tests during an interview, also on the court/judicial side - you are given a few cases and fact pattern or pleading and are asked to draft a short section of a memo applying the law to the facts. In my experience no outside research is allowed, both for time reasons and to ensure that the test is more a test of writing skills than of researching skills.

Safe to say if the assessment was only 30mins rather than one hour, it would likely be a more simple assignment?

I'd say the opposite.

Common in patent law for them to give u a simple hypo application to do

ballouttacontrol wrote:Common in patent law for them to give u a simple hypo application to do

i wouldn't say it is common, but it is something that is done.

As someone who is a far worse interviewer than worker I would be very interested in this.

Anonymous User wrote:Has anyone heard of or have any experience with writing assessments as part of a lateral interview? I remember interviewing for a firm that asked me to work on a faux settlement agreement to see if I could spot the issues, but I haven't dealt with a writing test before. A friend of mine has an interview with a state-level attorney general and they've told her she needs to be prepared to submit her response to a writing assessment which is one hour, timed. The assessment is submitted inmedaitley before her interview.

My friend at the CA AG told me they give a writing/grammar test. I have no idea if it's all departments. I also had to take a writing test when I interviewed with a business immigration firm. I had no idea it was coming and I was so surprised I did pretty badly (well I assume because I did not get the job)

Only firm of that I've heard requiring a writing component as part of the interview process is Schiff Hardin.

Anonymous User wrote:Has anyone heard of or have any experience with writing assessments as part of a lateral interview? I remember interviewing for a firm that asked me to work on a faux settlement agreement to see if I could spot the issues, but I haven't dealt with a writing test before. A friend of mine has an interview with a state-level attorney general and they've told her she needs to be prepared to submit her response to a writing assessment which is one hour, timed. The assessment is submitted inmedaitley before her interview.

My firm does this for both new and experienced hires; I did one when I first applied. Usually they give you a sample settlement agreement to see how you write and if you can spot issues, typos, etc. You have like a week or so to do it though.