Legal Writing Samples
Your writing sample should be the best error-free piece of appropriate writing that you can provide.
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Tips
- Do not send a writing sample until it is requested by the employer.
- Do take a short legal writing sample to every interview.
- A writing sample should generally be between 7-10 pages unless otherwise requested.
- It is acceptable to submit an excerpt from a longer document so long as you provide a frame of reference for the reader on a cover page.
- Most 1L students use a document prepared for their legal research and writing class (Research Memorandum, Trial Brief, portion of Appellate Brief).
- Upper-level students tend to use an excerpt from Law Review, Moot Court, or a document drafted through the course of legal employment or an externship experience.Ìý
- If you use a document prepared in the course of employment or an externship, be sure to get the permission of the employer to use it and change names/delete any client identification references to preserve confidentiality.
- You should provide a cover page with your writing sample using the header from your resume as the header for the cover page. Examples of writing sample cover pages follow.
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