- READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST.
There was a requirement that we needed to staple our entries to Manila folders, with the text on one side and the footnotes on the other. On the day I had to mail in the competition, J didn't have the folders. I was in Brooklyn on a Jewish holiday, and all the stationery stores were closed. I had no idea what to do. - MARC WILLIAMS, NOTES EDITOR, Southern California
Don't lose out because you didn't follow the rules. The law review may require you to produce your writing sample in very specific formatting (font type/size, margins, and so on) or to abide by strict page lengths. Or it may require you to turn in a certain number of copies. Or it may require you to turn your work in at a different place from where you picked it up. Or there may be substantive requirements on how many sources you can/should/must cite. In short, the competition may have any number of obscure, technical requirements that can cost you big points or last-minute panic if you don't read the instructions carefully at the beginning of the process.
TIP: The technical instructions for the writing competition will probably be the same from year to year. If the law review provides examples of previous competitions, you can read the instructions from previous years and get a preview of things to come. But also read the instructions that come with the actual competition.
- ORGANIZE YOUR MATERIALS.
The writing competition itself will probably consist of a whole lot of paper. Most journals will provide you with all the research materials you need to complete the writing sample (although a few will have you do your own research). Have a couple of heavy-duty three-ring binders and your three-hole puncher ready on the first day of the competition. Or, if you are willing to spend a few bucks, go to a copy center as soon as you pick up all the materials and get the packet bound. Keeping the materials in order can avoid the chaos of a random heap of papers, as well as the crisis of lost materials.
- FIND A BUDDY.
The writing competition is bound to be a strain. Chances are, you'll have just finished your exams (not to mention the hardest year of law school), classmates will have already started their summer jobs and/or vacations, the weather will be nice, and all the temptations of procrastination will be magnified exponentially. A good strategy for surviving the writing competition is the "buddy system."
Find a friend who's also taking the competition and make a pact. Agree to call each other in the morning to make sure the other is up and working. Agree to take short breaks when necessary. Make sure the other isn't forgetting to do important things like eating and sleeping. In short, team up against the enemies- procrastination, stress, and exhaustion. The law review competition can be a nightmare, but like any nightmare, it's easier to get through with someone else.
TIP: The law review competition will probably forbid collaboration. Make sure that you and your buddy avoid talking about the substance of the competition.
- BEING A PRODIGY CAN BE PRODIGAL; JUST PRODUCE!
Pick your argument, describe it clearly, stick to it, and don't be tangential. Believe it or not, the most common complaint from people who grade competitions is that the sample didn't have a thesis! The author probably thought there was a thesis, but obscured it by trying to do too much (and inevitably doing nothing at all).
In general, your goal should be to produce a writing sample that is well-reasoned, well-supported, and well-written. By the time you've finished your One-L year, you'll be thinking like a lawyer (at least, that's what John Houseman playing Professor Kingsfield promised his class in the beginning of The Paper Chase). You will already possess the skills of argument and persuasion that will earn you big points on the writing competition. When doing the competition, stick to a specific and clearly defined argument or line of analysis that you can support well. If your argument happens to be pure brilliance, that's great But don't try to make your argument creative or original at the expense of clarity and support. A boring argument that works is better than a creative one that doesn't.
Focus on one thing. You have to understand the weaknesses but you don't have to take a balanced approach or throw out every possible argument for the other side. It's not like a law school exam. -MARC WILLIAMS, NOTES EDITOR, Southern California
- REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE.
Guess who usually grades the law review competition-the current editors, who happen to be law students, just like you. Knowing that students will be grading your competition should give you some insight into how to write and/or edit. Don't assume the reader knows arcane details about the law. In fact, don't assume that the grader knows much more about the law than you do. If you are annoyed by something you are writing, the grader probably will be, too. If you think what you are writing is great, there's a good chance the grader will, too.
When writing, consider that the grader may be reading your competition along with 40 others. The grader also may be doing it during the summer when time is scarce, especially if the grader is working for a big law firm. Clear writing and editing is rewarded handsomely. So is well-placed humor, but only good humor. Be careful. There is nothing worse than reading the work of someone who is trying to be funny... unsuccessfully.
- SET ASIDE TIME FOR PROOFREADING-YES, REALLY!
Many (if not most) students who take the writing competition complain that they never had time to thoroughly proofread their submission. Running out of time is understandable, but also avoidable. Don't put off the proofreading stage until the very last minute-or, worse, until after the competition is over. At some point, you need to accept that the piece is essentially finished and start to fine-tune it. Decide ahead of time what that point will be and stick to it. It will be tempting to continue struggling with your argument, reading new materials, or looking for new angles. But these efforts will tend to be less and less fruitful as time goes by. And the perils of punctuation mistakes are more serious than you might think.
On some journals' writing competitions, graders are instructed to take points off if an applicant makes a clear grammatical or spelling error. More importantly, if basic errors persist, then you're going to be hurt, no matter what the journal's policies. In any written work, errors will always undercut the author's credibility and give the readers less confidence in the document in front of them. Also, remember that a grader who has to read dozens of submissions may be more likely to notice typos and misspellings than substantive flaws. The lesson is not that you should sacrifice substance for form, but that you should allocate enough time to attend to the needs of both substance and form.
- TURN IT IN.
Even if you don't have time to "finish" the writing competition, you should always turn in what you have done. There's absolutely no cost to handing in a partially finished competition, when the alternative is to give yourself an automatic zero. After all, you wouldn't refuse to turn in an exam just because you ran out of time. No one's writing competition is perfect. Yours won't be either. If you want to work on a journal, give yourself a shot-almost everyone who is on a journal is surprised to have made it.
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published July 30, 2013
By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search 
About Harrison Barnes
No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.
A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter
Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:
- Immigration law
- Workers’ compensation
- Insurance defense
- Family law
- Trusts & estates
- Municipal law
- And many more...
This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.
Proven Success at All Levels
With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:
- Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
- Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
- Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
- Growing firms in small and rural markets
He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.
Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search
Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.
The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys
Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.
- His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
- He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
- His placement success is unmatched—see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
- He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.
Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes
If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.
Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.
With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.
A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success
Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.
Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:
- Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
- Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
- Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.
This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.
A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives
Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.
He has worked with:
- Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
- Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
- Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
- Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.
For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.
Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation
If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.
? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.
Alternative Summary
Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.
More about Harrison
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