Thank you for taking the time to review this portfolio. Outlined below is a list and brief introduction of the enclosed writing samples from my time as a Legal Studies student at the College of Lake County. The selected pieces are organized by level of detail and complexity, with the first writing sample being the least complex and the final document being the most detailed.
1| CLIENT INTAKE FORM The client intake form is an essential document that a paralegal must draft to help an attorney determine their level of involvement in a prospective case. I chose this intake form to demonstrate by ability to draft well-formatted documents in Microsoft Word with features that are convenient for the person completing the intake form. Having all of the necessary f ields on the form is paramount in gathering the information necessary to screen a client and the issue being presented at the introductory meeting. The intake form can be modified to fit the needs of any legal practitioner or support staff utilizing the form.
2| LETTER TO JUDGE The enclosed letter to a judge is included to highlight my ability to communicate as a paralegal in a professional capacity with a judge. This letter also shows how I can format a letter according to the standards accepted by the legal community and successfully research the location, time, and parties involved in a pending legal matter. This letter, much like the client intake form, can be adopted as a template and restructured to suit the needs of any legal office.
3| CASE BRIEF The case brief is an informal, interoffice document that provides a brief overview of the essential facts of a case involving an animal bite. This document accurately reflects my writing ability, legal research skills, and analytical thinking in the IRAC format. This brief shows my ability to identify legal issues, analyze case law, interpret court opinions, and demonstrate my understanding of legal holdings.
4| CONFLICT OF INTEREST LEGAL MEMORANDUM While legal memorandum samples are often included in these kinds of portfolios, I specifically chose this legal memorandum simulating a conflict of interest because it is a situation that law firms experience every now and again, but not often enough for a paralegal to understand the complications of having a potential conflict of representation arise in their workplace. The enclose memorandum not only demonstrates my understanding of the legal memorandum structure, but it also shows my ability to research the corresponding rule of law regarding conflicts, apply the legal facts to the facts presented at the firm, and communicate these results to the attorney or support staA who needed this information.
5| OPINION LETTER Opinion letters are usually drafted to clients by attorneys, but it is important that paralegals and legal support staA know how to draft or dictate these complex letters. This letter was a great exercise in how attorneys transmute the law into explanations that regular people can understand and apply to their legal issue. While this letter reflects an ability to cohesively communicate information in the form of a letter, the research that went into this document is equally important to consider when reviewing this opinion letter. I considered several diAerent sources of law to address the questions the client had. The problem-solving skills I developed over the course of this project helped me to craft a legal determination that helped my client continue to progress towards a resolution of their legal problem.
6| MEMORANDUM OF LAW The Memorandum of Law in this portfolio shows my ability to not only draft documents for the oAice but also legal pleadings that will be filed with the court. I chose the memorandum of law because it is a more involved legal pleading than a Motion for Summary Judgment or a Statement of Facts. I wanted to showcase my ability to structure a sound legal argument as well as use consistent formatting when citing case law and court transcripts from a deposition. Paralegals should be well-versed in drafting diAerent forms of pleadings and the type of pleading that is required for each case type. This Memorandum positively reflects my ability to keep up with an attorney at a very chaotic and paper-dense stage in the litigation process.