[blindLaw] Opinions on requesting accommodation in application process

[James T. Fetter]

Cody,

If there's any possible way to avoid asking for accommodations for the 
sample, I would advise doing so. Re: formatting, perhaps you can ask for 
a template and then ensure that your formatting matches theirs. If you 
feel strongly that you would need help with formatting if hired, then 
you may want to discuss accommodations related to formatting for the 
sample assignment to avoid being eliminated because of a purely cosmetic 
defect with your work product. Re: timeliness, asking for more time at 
this stage would be a huge red flag and would be likely to eliminate you 
from consideration in all but the most enlightened places. Good luck 
with the application!





On 8/21/2019 10:19 AM, Cody Davis via BlindLaw wrote:
> All,
>
> I have been on a couple interviews for a paralegal position in the local U.S. Attorney???s office, and I am unsure whether I should ask for accommodations for a particular part of the application process.
>
> Candidates who make it to the final round for this position will be asked to complete a research assignment. The assignment will be timed from the moment it is emailed to the applicant until the moment when it is returned by email to the office. It is intended to be a research and drafting project that can be completed in one sitting. I don???t know much about what the project will be other than it will be a problem similar to a problem I addressed in the writing sample I provided them, which was a trial brief responding to a pretrial motion to exclude evidence. The assignment will be evaluated anonymously by 3 attorneys in the office. The one the attorney???s like best determines who gets the job.
>
> I am unsure if I should ask that my blindness be considered in evaluating how long it takes me to complete the project or in evaluating formatting certain aspects of the assignment, like case captions, that might be involved.
>
> It???s an od situation since there is no hard time limit and because it is anonymously evaluated.
>
> Any thoughts? I???m wondering if any request for accommodations with this assignment will be detrimental to my chances of getting the job as it may give them reason to be concerned about my abilities to get work done in a timely manner.
>
> On a related note, I have already been assured that the materials for the assignment will be accessible, and I have no issue asking for that type of accommodation should they turn out not to be accessible.
>
> Respectfully,
> Cody
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