Do employers care how recent writing samples are? Forum
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432857
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Do employers care how recent writing samples are?
I just passed the Feburary bar and was recently sworn in. I'm now looking for a position at a firm. Would it be ok to use a legal memo or a brief from a writing class I took during school about 2 or 3 years ago?
-
deference
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2016 9:34 pm
Re: Do employers care how recent writing samples are?
It’s best to submit something working, like from an internship or summer position, but if something from class is the only available option there’s no harm in submitting it.
The employer likely knows that you have limited experience anyways given the fact you’re applying for an entry level.
The employer likely knows that you have limited experience anyways given the fact you’re applying for an entry level.
-
biglaw_advice
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Jun 05, 2019 3:09 pm
Re: Do employers care how recent writing samples are?
I'm a midlevel associate on recruiting committee at a big firm. I'd prefer something work-related but it's not very important to me and I would completely understand if all you have is something from class. When I go through a writing sample, I am making sure that the writing isn't absolutely terrible. I want to make sure the applicant has not demonstrated a lack of judgment and submit something that shows obvious errors. For what it's worth, I've never come across a really bad writing sample. Most of the attorneys I talk to on recruiting don't put too much stock in the writing sample.
