Writing Sample for BigLaw Lateral Interviews: Expert Guide

Dear Aidan U.,

The Strategic Approach to Writing Samples

Your writing sample carries more weight in lateral decisions than many candidates realize. Firms use it to evaluate not just your writing ability, but your analytical depth, attention to detail, and how you'll represent their clients from day one.

Corporate associates should steer away from heavily marked-up transaction documents or basic deal summaries. Instead, focus on substantive analytical work that demonstrates your legal reasoning. A well-crafted opinion letter analyzing a complex regulatory issue or a detailed memorandum on novel corporate governance questions will serve you better than a standard credit agreement markup.

What Hiring Committees Actually Read

The reality is that partners reviewing your application want to see samples that mirror the work you'll be doing at their firm. In growing markets like Charlotte, where financial services practices are expanding due to Bank of America and Wells Fargo headquarters, samples showing banking regulatory knowledge may be well-received.

Optimal characteristics for your writing sample:

• 5-10 pages maximum (excerpt longer documents if necessary)
• Demonstrates issue-spotting and analytical reasoning
• Shows clear, persuasive writing without excessive legalese
• Recent work product (within the past 18 months)
• Properly redacted to protect client confidentiality

Seattle firms, given their tech-heavy client base with Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta driving corporate practices, may value samples involving technology transactions, data privacy issues, or cross-border regulatory analysis.

Practice Area Considerations

Corporate associates have several strong options. Opinion letters addressing securities law compliance, complex entity formation issues, or regulatory interpretations typically showcase the analytical skills firms want to see. Detailed memoranda analyzing proposed transaction structures or regulatory compliance strategies also work well.

Avoid samples that are primarily form documents, even if you drafted them. A merger agreement you prepared shows drafting ability, but a memorandum analyzing the regulatory hurdles in that same deal demonstrates legal thinking.

The Customization Question

While you don't need entirely different samples for each firm, minor customization makes sense. If you're targeting a firm known for its fintech practice, choose the sample that best demonstrates relevant regulatory knowledge. For firms with significant cross-border practices, emphasize work involving multi-jurisdictional analysis.

Many candidates overthink this aspect. A single, strong writing sample that represents your best analytical work will serve you well across most applications. The key is selecting something that genuinely reflects the complexity and quality of your current work.

Red Flags to Avoid

Certain writing samples can actually hurt your candidacy. Avoid anything with obvious errors, even minor ones—partners are likely to notice typos and formatting inconsistencies. Don't submit samples where your individual contribution isn't clear, especially heavily collaborative documents where your specific analysis gets lost.

Never submit a sample you didn't primarily author, regardless of how impressive the final product appears. Experienced lawyers can often identify writing styles and may probe your authorship during interviews.

Technical Execution Tips

Proper redaction is crucial but often handled poorly. Replace client names and identifying details with generic placeholders like "[Company]" or "[Target]." Remove specific dates, dollar amounts, and other identifying information while preserving the legal analysis.

Include a brief cover note explaining the context: "This memorandum analyzed the regulatory implications of a proposed acquisition structure under [relevant regulation]." This helps readers understand the stakes and complexity without compromising confidentiality.

Market-Specific Insights

The lateral market's competitiveness varies significantly by region and practice area. In high-demand markets where lateral demand is outpacing supply, firms may be more flexible about writing sample requirements. However, maintaining high standards here signals your attention to detail and professionalism.

For associates considering markets like Charlotte, where major firms are actively recruiting from DC, Atlanta, and NYC, a polished writing sample becomes even more critical as a differentiator among strong candidates.

Remember that your writing sample often determines whether you advance to the interview stage. Invest the time to select and prepare something that truly represents your capabilities and the value you'll bring to your next firm.