To Whom it May Concern:

My name is David White and I am a second-year student at Mississippi College School of Law.  I have been asked to describe briefly how my experiences in writing classrooms have benefited me on a daily basis – specifically, with how I perform in law school.  Writing plays a vital role in my life, both as a law student and as an individual looking for a career.  Below are some examples of how my experiences in writing classes have helped me – and will continue to help me – as I go along in life.

First, my training in the written word was instrumental in getting me admitted to law school.  Nearly every law school requires an essay to be submitted along with an application.  The essay must answer the basic question, ‘Why do I want to attend law school?’  Drawing from all the practice I have had in my years in writing classes, I planned, drafted, and submitted my essay, and it was good enough to get me into school.  The essay also helped me earn a tuition scholarship.

My experience with writing also helps me to excel in the classroom in law school.  The vast majority of law practice and study involves writing, and a student or attorney who cannot write efficiently and clearly will not succeed in the legal field.  Consequently, most law schools place a major emphasis on legal writing – Mississippi College itself requires two semesters of Legal Writing (including four major papers), one semester of Appellate Advocacy (in which the student crafts a 40-plus-page document in just under six weeks), two semesters of Legal Research (in which the student must submit two major research projects), and a writing requirement (a research project, supervised by a professor, which must be at least 20 pages long).

Any type of legal writing forces the student to use two aspects of his writing skills:  The skills that are unique to the legal profession and the basic skills of writing that apply to any professional writing.  While the former skills can only be learned in a law classroom, I was exposed to the latter skills many times over before I even left high school.  All that time spent practicing good grammar, accurate spelling, and other basic writing techniques meant that I began law school with a sufficient proficiency in those writing skills.  Consequently, when I am working on a legal document I need not waste much time with poor syntax or run-on sentences; rather, I am able to focus most of my time and efforts on the unique writing techniques necessary to excel at legal writing.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, though, are the few students who did not spend as much time and energy learning basic writing skills.  These students are at a disadvantage when, for example, they are given back a rough draft of a paper only to find that their faulty legal arguments are not the only problems with their papers. These students have two hills to climb, whereas I must climb only one.

Finally, my training in good writing will (hopefully) help me to find a job after I finish law school.  The importance of a well-written cover letter and résumé cannot be understated.  I am very thankful that I was able to practice writing such documents under the guidance and watch of a well-trained writing professor.

There are certainly other instances in which the skills I learned in writing classes have helped me in day-to-day life.  But as my mind is focused on nothing but law school at the moment, the three examples I have laid out before you will have to suffice for now.

Thank you,

David S. White

March 23, 2011