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Writing Sample Submission for Attorney

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 9:45 pm
by 84weeks
What should I submit with my federal district court clerkship applications. I graduated from law school a year ago and have been working in a boutique firm that primarily litigates federal causes of action.

Given the nature of my work, I rarely draft formal memos with legal analysis but often write demand letters and factual statements to submit to administrative agencies.

My 3L seminar professor thought highly of the note I wrote for his class in my last semester and submitted it for a graduation award (however, the valedictorian won it - not me).

I have yet to write a summary judgement brief but I have done mediation statements.

Ideas for what should I use?

Re: Writing Sample Submission for Attorney

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 7:39 am
by legalese_retard
Was your Note basically a law review article? If so, I wouldn't use it. Most judges prefer short samples (under 15 pages) that demonstrates your legal writing, researching, and analysis skills. If your demand letters include legal analysis (i.e. what the law is, standard of review, and how it applies to the facts), then it should be fine as a writing sample. A mediation statement will also be fine provided the same attributes above are met. Law review type submissions are typically a bad idea because most of them break the legal writing rules you should follow when writing legal orders and opinions. You want to be short, direct, and simple in your orders. Most people writing law review articles are trying to meet page limit requirements and write for the sake of writing.

This is just my observation when reviewing law clerk applications.