Unsolicited Apps: How do you know what to send? Forum

[Anonymous User]

For those judges who do not have OSCAR postings up yet (2015-2016, for example), how do you know what exactly to send?

One judge is asking for one writing sample and two letters of recommendation, but I was operating under the assumption that two writing samples and three letters of recommendation was the norm. Can anyone share some insight here? And forgive me if this is a stupid question...

Thanks!

[ph14]

For those judges who do not have OSCAR postings up yet (2015-2016, for example), how do you know what exactly to send?

One judge is asking for one writing sample and two letters of recommendation, but I was operating under the assumption that two writing samples and three letters of recommendation was the norm. Can anyone share some insight here? And forgive me if this is a stupid question...

Thanks!

Not a stupid question. I would send 1 writing sample and 3 LORs, assuming that your letters are strong. If you suspect one is weaker than the others, then I might omit that one.

1 writing sample and 2-3 LORs seem to be the norm. 2 writing samples is pretty rare, and the judge will usually contact you to request it (say, if you send a memo and the judge instead wants a more academic piece). I feel like 3 LORs are more common than 2, but it's not a huge difference.

For the judge requesting 1 writing sample and 2 LORs, I would send only 1 writing sample (your best one) but I would feel free to send all 3 LORs. Sending 3 LORs when only 2 are required will not be viewed as being unable to follow directions or anything, barring any more specific instructions to the contrary.

[futurehorse]

Your law school may keep info on what judges require, too -- mine does. But frankly, that info may be out of date (given the flak career services offices take around here, it wouldn't surprise me at all), and not everyone has that kind of access, so you can't go wrong with ph14's advice above.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for the great advice!

[Anonymous User]

As noted above, 1 writing sample and 3 LORs are the norm. (also another thing you can try is to look at the previous year listings (under "closed" search instead of "open") and see what the previous requirements were--if oscar has not purged those closed listings).

[Anonymous User]

OP here: Yea, OSCAR seems to have purged the closed listings (at least for the judges that I'm looking at), and my CDO is pretty incompetent in this area so this advice is super helpful.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I agree about 1 WS and 3 LORs. Also, you probably knew this, but a LS transcript, too.

[Anonymous User]

OP here: Yup, I'm definitely including resume, cover letter, and transcript. But on that point, when direct mailing apps, is it better to include an official transcript from the law school or the more informal OSCAR-generated grade sheet?

[A. Nony Mouse]

OP here: Yup, I'm definitely including resume, cover letter, and transcript. But on that point, when direct mailing apps, is it better to include an official transcript from the law school or the more informal OSCAR-generated grade sheet?

I used an unofficial transcript from my school, because they were easy to get and looked better than the OSCAR sheet. But I'm sure judges are used to the latter.