writing samples & follow-up letters/notes professor dionne anthon professor amanda smith
TRANSCRIPT
Writing Samples & Follow-Up Letters/Notes
Professor Dionne AnthonProfessor Amanda Smith
Legal Writing & Job Hunting
Writing samples
Interview follow-up letters/notes
Today’s presentation & sample documents will be posted to all
Legal Methods II TWEN pages
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Based on “Creating a Writing Sample” by Herbert N. Ramy
Writing Samples
Choosing Best Writing Sample 1L Summer Job
“Open” office memo “Closed” assignment
Beyond 1L Summer Job See above 1L appellate brief, LM III paper Moot court brief Memo, brief, etc. from job Seminar paper Law Review comment Other (e.g., articles)
* warning
permission
preferable to “closed”
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More Important Than Type of Document Chosen
Well written Grammatically correct No punctuation errors No typographical errors Not overly long
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Length of Writing Sample
If employer does not indicate desired length:
No right answer – advice here varies anywhere within 5-10 pages range
Recommendation: 8-10 pages
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Entire Paper Is Too Long
Include most important section(s) of paper:Memo – Discussion sectionBrief – Argument section
If entire section is too long, use one or more of the better arguments
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Omission Within Sample
Indicate omissions of text within sample in square brackets:
[Material has been omitted due to length but will be provided upon request.]
Keep any sub-headings within Discussion or Argument and indicate omission:
[This section has been omitted due to length but will be provided upon request.]
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Cover Sheet to Writing Sample
Include the following information:
1. For whom paper was written and, if for a class, which class
2. Whether sample is solely your work or has been edited
3. Quick summary of factual scenario and legal issue(s)
4. Whether sample is written objectively or persuasively
5. Offer to provide entire document, if you had to omit any of it
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Cover Sheet (cont.)
Possible information:
1. If sample is from a class, grade received
2. If sample is from job, internship, clinical, etc.:
Whether document submitted to court Outcome of case Permission to use as sample
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Changes to Sample
If using an assignment, make changes based on feedback from professor
Other potential changes:NamesConfidential or identifying
information
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Format of Writing Sample
Unless instructed otherwise:
Font type/size – use basic, “readable” fonts (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt)
Spacing – double-spaced main text Margins – one-inch margins on all
sides Page numbers – include at bottom of
each page Header – provide your name &
“Writing Sample” at top of every page12
Sample Header
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Submission of Writing Sample Paper
Use high-quality paperCheck all printed pages before
sendingTake extra copies to interview
ElectronicPDF version
Free conversion to PDF tools online - for example:
www.freepdfconvert.com
Proofread, proofread, proofread!!!14
Review Sample
Be sure to review your writing sample before every interview
Do a quick KeyCite/Shepard’s on sample to determine if legal authority used is still good law
Review any published papers referenced in your resume
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How Many Writing Samples?
1L – 1 sample Beyond 1L – multiple samples
(choose depending on employer):Objective writingPersuasive writingScholarly or practice-related
writing (e.g., law review comment, seminar paper, article)
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When to Work on Writing Sample
Start NOW with your Office Memo!!!
Do not wait until you are interested in a job that requires a writing sample.
Appellate brief?
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QUESTIONS?
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Follow-Up Letters/Notes
Think about a time when you received a particularly meaningful thank-you.
What made that thank-you memorable?
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Why Send a Follow-Up Letter?
Demonstrates courtesy Differentiates you from the
crowdOnly 5-10% send
Reminds the interviewer who you areCrucial if there were multiple
interviewees Shows you care about the job
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Why Send a Follow-Up Letter?
Allows you a second chanceTo answer an important question
you didn’t adequately addressTo make a point you forgot to
emphasize
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Should You Send the Letter
If you have decided you don’t want the job?Yes - the legal community is a
small place
If you are certain the interview went so badly that you are out of contention?Yes - you may be wrong about the
impression you made
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Handwritten or Typed? No right answer – can be one or the
other or both Things to consider:
What is the culture of the firm or office? How formal?
Larger firms and offices tend to be more formal
A judge would be formal What was the tone of the interview?
Where is the office or chambers located?
How well do you know the interviewer? How legible is your handwriting?
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Is E-Mail Okay? It depends . . .
Did the firm invite you to interview by e-mail? Is the firm’s atmosphere very casual? Do you need to respond ultra-fast (i.e., you were e-mailed an
offer)? Do they use e-mail extensively to conduct business with
clients?
Even so . . . Consider following up with “snail mail”
NEVER use your email account from a current employer
Use a professional email address NO [email protected]
Should be written in professional business format
Include message in the body of the email, do not attach it
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If you type . . .
Use high-quality paperNot printer paperNot Elle Woods’ pink, scented
paper
If you have personal letterhead, you should use it --- but do not use your current employer’s letterhead
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If you handwrite . . . Use high-quality stationery
No “Hallmark” cards If you do not have personal
stationery, it is okay to use résumé paper
Use neat, legible writing
Consider typing first so you can spell & grammar check. Then, copy by hand.
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When to send?
A.S.A.P.Generally speaking, within 24
hours of the interviewSome employers will see
timeliness as an important indicator of interest in the job
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Who gets a letter/note? Each interviewer should get a
separate, personalized letter or noteGet the names from business
cards, the receptionist, or the webTake extra care with professional
titles and the spelling of namesUse professional titles (Judge, Mr.,
Ms., etc.) unless you were told to use the interviewer’s first name
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Contents of letter/note Keep it short
One page, single-spaced, 2-3 paragraphs
Make it personalForm letters are okay as a starting
point but, unless customized, do more harm than good
Expect your letter/note to be circulated among all interviewers at the office
Tip: Jot notes about interviews as soon
they’re over
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Contents of letter/note - Samples will be on TWEN
1. Most of all, remember to say “thank you” for his/her time
2. Summarize a few key points discussed during the interview or that you noticed at the interview
3. Comment specifically on why, now that you have gotten to know the firm better, this would be a great place to work and you would be an asset
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Contents of letter/note
Drawing a blank at what happened at the interview?Don’t panic – see whether the web
site or finding one of the interviewer’s recent cases on Westlaw/Lexis gives you some ideas
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Closing and polishing Reiterate your appreciation State a plan-of-action if there is one
(e.g., Enclosed is the writing sample that you requested at the interview.)
Closing: Respectfully Sincerely Very Truly Yours
Signature over typed name Blue ink
Proofread, proofread, proofread
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Practice, practice, practice
Take opportunities to send follow-up & thank-you letters/notes Increases your visibility while
networking
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QUESTIONS?
Professor Anthon:
Professor Smith:
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