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How disastrous is it to use a brief written for LRW during spring of 1L as a writing sample for a clerkship?

I think that if you're applying during 2L, the 1L brief is fine - something written during 1L summer might ideally be better, but not everyone gets a decent/substantial writing sample out of their summer. And especially if you're applying January/February after first semester 2L grades are in, you probably won't have your note finished (if you're on a journal and applying to judges who might want a note). The further you get from 1L, the more I'd rather see a sample from a job you've had, but even then, if the 1L brief is your best work, then send that.

I was using my journal write-on competition piece for a long while until I got approval from my 2L summer employer to use a summary judgment memo as a writing sample. I got interviews from judges using it, written in like May 2012, but as soon as I got approval to use the 2L summer piece I sent that in to judges with later (august) deadlines. It's best to have as recent a piece as possible.