As part of the job interview process, many legal employers request a writing sample. Writing is about knowing your audience - providing them the information the reader is seeking in a package that is acceptable and meets their expectations. Whether you are applying for a FERP interview, a resume collect, or another job posting, providing an appropriate writing sample helps put you in front of the pack by providing a writing sample of an appropriate length. This means providing 8-12 pages of concise legal analysis that showcases your ability to research and synthesize information.You'll need to edit your longer pieces to highlight these portions of the sample, and providing an overview in a cover sheet that also offers to provide the reader the full version upon request. Providing a longer writing sample puts you at risk of not having the sample read, as most attorneys don't have time to find the core of the legal analysis in a longer sample. For further guidance, please see the Writing Sample Guide in the Symplicity Document Library.
