Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we are talking about writing effectively in a summer legal job. Joining us as a guest is Doretta McGinnis, who has taught Legal Writing for many years and is now a Law School Toolbox tutor.
If you are working this summer in a legal context, tune in for tips on how to shine!
In this episode we discuss:
- How does writing in a legal job context compare to writing in law school?
- What will you be writing (and what you probably won’t be doing)
- Handling things you may be asked to do but haven’t seen in law school
- Getting guidance on your assignment and clarifying what you need to produce
- The importance of maintaining a record of what you do for research assignments
- What is an employer looking for in a summer employee?
- What should you be able to do in your summer job?
- What should your writing look like?
- Objective writing vs. persuasive writing
- The importance of asking questions
- Deadlines and how to meet them!
- How to anticipate the needs of your supervisor and why it’s important to check in
- What to bring to meetings
- Getting the backstory on a case
- Is it ever OK to turn in an incomplete first draft?
- Behaving like a professional
Thanks for listening!
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Resources:
How to Behave Like a Professional in the Legal Workplace
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Thanks for listening!

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