Writing Sample: How Short is Too Short? Forum

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 4:15 pm

5 pages? 4?

Curious b/c it seems like some clerks/judges say they like shorter samples.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 7:32 pm

5-10 is the perfect range, IMO. We ask for 10-15, but, frankly, you can tell within very quickly if someone can write. I've stopped reading after a couple of (run on) paragraphs.

5 pages is more than enough to know if someone can't write, but anything under that is not enough to tell if they can handle complicated issues. 8-10 is generally enough to see if someone can clearly write facts/law/discussion/blah.

deng · Post by **deng** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 1:55 pm

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:08 pm

my most "impressive" paper is a 3 page decision i drafted for a judge, with his help in editing. My "other" writing sample is a 17 page seminar paper. What to do? Maybe send 2 3 page decisions to employers?

A. Nony Mouse · Post by **A. Nony Mouse** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 11:15 pm

Anonymous User wrote:my most "impressive" paper is a 3 page decision i drafted for a judge, with his help in editing. My "other" writing sample is a 17 page seminar paper. What to do? Maybe send 2 3 page decisions to employers?

Well, many (most?) judges prefer that you use a writing sample that hasn't been edited by anyone else, and 3 pages seems a little too short to me (I'd be reluctant to go under 5 pages).

Emma. · Post by **Emma.** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 1:40 am

A. Nony Mouse wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:my most "impressive" paper is a 3 page decision i drafted for a judge, with his help in editing. My "other" writing sample is a 17 page seminar paper. What to do? Maybe send 2 3 page decisions to employers?
Well, many (most?) judges prefer that you use a writing sample that hasn't been edited by anyone else, and 3 pages seems a little too short to me (I'd be reluctant to go under 5 pages).

Agreed. Sending a 3-page edited judicial decision (or even two) would potentially be a deal breaker in my chambers. If we otherwise really liked your app we might go to the trouble of asking you for something else, but there's a good chance your app would just wind up in the "no" pile. Send something unedited if at all possible.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 5:00 pm

So, should I send my seminar paper as well? Would that unbreak the deal? its 17 pages long...I honestly don't know what to think. Everyone at my internship said that the writing sample would be great for da offices and judges, I asked them about it plenty....

really confused at this point. I don't have much else.

BVest · Post by **BVest** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 5:41 pm

Anonymous User wrote:So, should I send my seminar paper as well? Would that unbreak the deal? its 17 pages long...I honestly don't know what to think. Everyone at my internship said that the writing sample would be great for da offices and judges, I asked them about it plenty.... really confused at this point. I don't have much else.

If using your seminar paper, only include an excerpt.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 6:11 pm

So should I call the two places I've sent applications to and ask to amend it with an additional writing sample?

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