COA Writing Sample Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I am 3L with D.Ct. clerkship this fall, applying for COA clerkship for the following years. Want to get my apps in soon, but I am little worried about my writing sample. I currently have an 8-page sample that I wrote during summer work; it's a motion response. I worry that this might seem to icky District Courtish for a circuit judge.

COA Clerks, how would you look on that? Should I be looking for another type of sample? Something a little longer?

EDIT: To be clear, I feel good about the substantive analysis, style, and cleanliness of the sample.

[theaccidentalclerk]

I'd use a published or soon-to-be-published note if you have one (unless you hate it). If you don't, a brief is fine. Better than a class paper.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 2L. My note won't be finished until May and I'd like to apply to the off-plan COA judges in the spring. Is it ok to use a brief from my 1L Brief Writing course?

[Anonymous User]

As long as it's not super-technical, I think a motion response makes for a fine writing sample, unless of course you have specific knowledge that a judge you are applying to prefers something different. I was in a similar situation (DCt=>COA) and I used a MTD I wrote for an advanced legal writing class. It wasn't a problem at all. Go with your best(read:cleanest) writing.

[forza]

I'd use a published or soon-to-be-published note if you have one (unless you hate it). If you don't, a brief is fine. Better than a class paper.

Aren't most judges finicky about the fact that it's been edited, though? If not, I'd love to use my note for COA apps...

[Anonymous User]

I'd use a published or soon-to-be-published note if you have one (unless you hate it). If you don't, a brief is fine. Better than a class paper.

Aren't most judges finicky about the fact that it's been edited, though? If not, I'd love to use my note for COA apps...

Is there a page limit on notes? I have one that is 50 pages. I imagine that's too long but I can't really send excerpts because the entire thing only works as a whole.

[GertrudePerkins]

I'd use a published or soon-to-be-published note if you have one (unless you hate it). If you don't, a brief is fine. Better than a class paper.

Aren't most judges finicky about the fact that it's been edited, though? If not, I'd love to use my note for COA apps...

I don't think so. I think pretty much everyone on HLR uses some published piece (Case Comment or Note), and judges all know that those have been heavily edited.

[Anonymous User]

What about a brief for Fed. App. Adv. versus a memo I wrote during my 1L SA? My note will also not be finished until May. The memo has been redacted and approved for use as a writing sample.

[ClerkAdvisor]

I'd use a published or soon-to-be-published note if you have one (unless you hate it). If you don't, a brief is fine. Better than a class paper.

Aren't most judges finicky about the fact that it's been edited, though? If not, I'd love to use my note for COA apps...

I don't think so. I think pretty much everyone on HLR uses some published piece (Case Comment or Note), and judges all know that those have been heavily edited.

I would recommend that you use the version that was not edited. There's no reason that you can't use the pre-outside editing version.