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I recently graduated and I worked for two law firms and inhouse while in law school but I don't have proper writing samples from my former employers. The IP law firm that I am interviewing wants a writing sample before the callback interview.

I have several memos from one law firm but it was about bankruptcy, etc and I am interviewing firms for soft IP, which is totally different practice. I worked for an IP law firm as a SA but I don't have writing samples from it - they preferred an informal but faster version of memos so it's not a good sample and I don't even have it with me now.

Instead, I have a writing sample for IP from law school class and I got an A. I also have a paper that was published in journal that is loosely related to IP but I am not that proud of the quality.

Would it be better to submit the bankruptcy memo as a law clerk or a law school paper for IP? Would I look bad if I submit a paper, instead of an actual legal memo?

Please do not quote my post. Thank you so much.

I’d be careful about sending something from the firm without prior approval. No one would ever find out, and it’s probably fine - but in the off chance it’s not, may be a problem.

I think the law school paper is better. Be sure it give it an edit before you send. Also, it’s more relevant to the firm.

Personally, I submitted my note. A strong title that is obviously relevant to your practice group (and/or the specific interests of the Partner that's interviewing you) can go a long way.

On topic helps, but make sure it's very well edited. IT may be you had more time to edit the note, so it might be the better document overall.

I'm surprised by the resumes I see accompanied by first year writing assignments that clearly haven't been edited since they were submitted (right before exams started). Typos abound. Pin cites are still in Kalamazoo. I usually don't read the whole thing, it's not a great way to discern someone's legal analytical skills, especially as they may have had assistance (not sure if that's more or less likely if the sample is from firm work product). I will look at a couple of pages and see if I can easily follow what's going on and check there's citations where needed. You'd be surprised how often that is a challenge.