WRITING SAMPLES
Legal employers will usually want to see an example of your legal research and writing skills before making you an
offer. Below are some guidelines to help you select an appropriate piece of your work for this purpose.
Legal Reasoning—A writing sample must demonstrate your legal reasoning and analytical skills, i.e., apply law to
facts, and distinguish cases on their facts. Thus, an academic survey of case law or a note that summarizes a
recently published decision is not the best choice as it does not include legal analysis. Possible writing samples
include:
A memorandum from your legal writing class.
Your portion of your moot court brief. The best way to present an excerpt is to keep the statement of
facts, the table of contents, and your argument, or
a section thereof. You should indicate that sections have been redacted for length.
A memorandum of law or brief that you created during an internship. Redact any information such as
the client’s name or identifying characteristics to protect privilege. You should always ask for
permission from your employer first before
using your work product as a writing sample.
A memorandum or draft opinion you wrote for a judge during an internship. Again, you must ask for
permission. Your writing sample should always be what you provided the judge, and not the opinion
itself.
Length—Unless employers indicate otherwise, writing samples generally should be 7-10 pages (some employers
may request 5, in rare instances 12). You may excerpt if
necessary, but remember to describe the nature of the larger document and context of the analysis in your cover sheet. Re-read it to make sure the shorter version makes
sense and flows well.
Recent—Writing samples should be current, and reflect your best possible effort.
Practical
—Employers prefer to see work product from an internship or law clerk position.
Proofread—Typos, poor grammar, or incorrect citations will disqualify you for the job.
Blue Book—Cite legal authority accurately and in proper “Blue Book” format.
Confidentiality—As mentioned above, if you are using a sample from a job or internship be sure to obtain
permission for any documents not consi
der
ed public record. In addition, take out any confidential or privileged information. You should use fictitious names rather than blacking out the information, but indicate you have done
so in your cover sheet. For legal opinions, you must obtain the express permission of your judge and only submit
your draft of the opinion.
The Employer— Check whether the employer has specific writing sample guidelines, and consider your audience
when choosing a writing sample. If possible, choose a sample that pertains to the employer’s practice.
others and be sure to provide an explanation on your cover sheet. If the sample incorporates light editing from a
professor or employer, this should be noted on the cover sheet.
