Employer asking for unusual writing sample Forum

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:27 pm

I can understand asking for writing sample that is already public, such as a court filing. I've been asked to provide a writing sample showing my meet and confer email. My concern is this is rather confidential even if I were to redact all sensitive info. Technically my firm still owns all my emails and I don't think the client/firm would be happy about that if they ever found out even after I leave. Court filings on the other hand, no one cares.

Is this something that I should accommodate?

LittleRedCorvette · Post by **LittleRedCorvette** » Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:07 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:27 pm
I can understand asking for writing sample that is already public, such as a court filing. I've been asked to provide a writing sample showing my meet and confer email. My concern is this is rather confidential even if I were to redact all sensitive info. Technically my firm still owns all my emails and I don't think the client/firm would be happy about that if they ever found out even after I leave. Court filings on the other hand, no one cares.

Is this something that I should accommodate?

No you should say they are confidential and technically the property of your firm and that you believe your client and current employer would not be comfortable sharing them. You can add that you'd be happy to provide any non-confidential writing sample, but that the level of redaction necessary to share what they've requested would render the request valueless.

GoneSouth · Post by **GoneSouth** » Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:24 pm

Does it have to be a real one? Maybe just draft a mock meet and confer email?

ninthcircuitattorney · Post by **ninthcircuitattorney** » Fri Jun 11, 2021 12:10 am

Do they mean a discovery dispute meet & confer email? How can they possibly assess your writing based on this type of email. Mine are usually 2 sentences long. Sounds like a set up.

Whatislaw · Post by **Whatislaw** » Fri Jun 11, 2021 1:39 am

That's a very unusual request. Like others said, often these emails can be short and to the point because both sides know the dance so it wouldn't serve as a writing sample.

nixy · Post by **nixy** » Fri Jun 11, 2021 9:09 am

Yeah, it’s weird to me that they want to see this, but I agree with the suggestion to draft a mock one?

UnfrozenCaveman · Post by **UnfrozenCaveman** » Fri Jun 11, 2021 9:57 am

Gonna start asking for writing samples of emails sending updated drafts of transaction documents with appropriate redlines.

lolwutpar · Post by **lolwutpar** » Fri Jun 11, 2021 12:37 pm

UnfrozenCaveman wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 11, 2021 9:57 am
Gonna start asking for writing samples of emails sending updated drafts of transaction documents with appropriate redlines.

Dinged for saying "please find attached" and not arranging the attachments in the proper order.

UnfrozenCaveman · Post by **UnfrozenCaveman** » Fri Jun 11, 2021 12:41 pm

Attached hereto, please find.

lolwutpar · Post by **lolwutpar** » Fri Jun 11, 2021 12:42 pm

Oh and for not arranging the recipients and the internal folks on the cc line in the proper seniority order.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Fri Jun 11, 2021 12:57 pm

Anonymous because I've asked for similar types of writing samples from candidates before. I would take a letter/email you attached to a discovery motion if you have one.

snehpets · Post by **snehpets** » Fri Jun 11, 2021 2:04 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 11, 2021 12:57 pm
Anonymous because I've asked for similar types of writing samples from candidates before. I would take a letter/email you attached to a discovery motion if you have one.

Genuine question: why?

2013 · Post by **2013** » Sat Jun 12, 2021 9:01 am

Maybe this is a test to see if you’d share confidential info?

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