Your chances at a clerkship: my thoughts Forum

[Myself]

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[lolwat]

No, not everyone can submit a good writing sample. You should see some of the samples that come through chambers. Most are sections of notes/commentaries . . . some of which were lightly edited and give the judge no insight into whether you can actually write an internal memo or a draft opinion. This doesn't include ones that contain grammatical errors, etc some of which come from students from national law schools. That's why there's a trend among judges to ask for two writing samples. Better sample size from which to figure out how well you can actually do the job they're hiring you to do.

Good/bad writing appears from all schools, sure. It's not the only job that you're being hired to do, though.

[Arbiter213]

Exactly- there is no way for a judge to know if you are a good writer by looking at your application. Anyone can submit a good writing sample.

No, not everyone can submit a good writing sample. You should see some of the samples that come through chambers. Most are sections of notes/commentaries . . . some of which were lightly edited and give the judge no insight into whether you can actually write an internal memo or a draft opinion. This doesn't include ones that contain grammatical errors, etc some of which come from students from national law schools. That's why there's a trend among judges to ask for two writing samples. Better sample size from which to figure out how well you can actually do the job they're hiring you to do.

I hope not. It's hard enough finding an appropriate writing sample.

Seriously. Every piece of workproduct that's halfway decent I've ever produced has been privileged or heavily edited by others except for one (which I use, but is hideously boring for most people).

I didn't realize academic samples were so frowned upon.

[lolwat]

I didn't realize academic samples were so frowned upon.

They're really not, but this is another highly judge-dependent thing. Some tell you they prefer them and others tell you not to submit them because they want something else.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I didn't realize academic samples were so frowned upon.

They're really not, but this is another highly judge-dependent thing. Some tell you they prefer them and others tell you not to submit them because they want something else.

Yes, it varies. Total generalization is that COA judges will be more interested in academic samples and district ct. judges will be more interested in practical samples, but even that will vary. And the problem with academic samples is not always so much that they're academic, as much as that if it's your note, they're heavily edited (especially for publication, but even if you don't publish they usually go through editing by casenote/comment editors).