A law firm wants to know that you have skills and knowledge that will help their clients. Here’s how to write a better cover letter for any law firm.
Get Results This Year With a Law Firm Cover Letter
Law Firm Cover Letter Example
Law firms need you to have various skills and talents depending on the law firm you’re applying for. Despite going to law school and getting your requisite degrees, you still need to write a comprehensive cover letter that shows knowledge in your practice areas, such as environmental law, criminal defense or immigration. Plus, it’s also important that you indicate why you’re the right person for this legal practice. Here’s how to write a better law firm cover letter.
Law Firm Cover Letter Example
Before applying, it’s a good idea to learn what a great cover letter might look like. Here’s a good starting point with a sample cover letter.
Dear Ms. Smith,
As a child, I was always interested in the legal profession, and I watched legal shows all the time. However, it wasn’t until I got involved with immigration advocacy in high school that I recognized the benefits the legal system could bring to people. Once I made it to law school, I graduated summa cum laude and immediately moved into a clerkship, working on trial preparation and general legal research. With these skills, I am excited to apply for the law associate position at Company Name.
My legal research skills are some of my best skills, although I’ve also successfully prepared my clients for interviews during the immigration process. I can handle a significant caseload while still giving each case the attention it deserves, and I believe in helping each person as much as possible.
I believe that my skills and passion for immigration law will make me a great choice for this position. I’d love to sit down and talk to you about some past cases I’ve argued.
Sincerely,
Sabrina Stephens
This cover letter is a shortened and condensed form of the cover letter you’ll likely write, but it’s a great starting point.
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Browse our cover letter examples collection, featuring career-focused tips and resources.
Tips for Writing Your Law Firm Cover Letter Using This Example
Before you make your way through the rest of the cover letter, you must start it out properly. Include your contact information in the resume header, including a phone number, email address, and professional social media links, like your LinkedIn profile. Then, write a great salutation. Try to include the hiring manager’s name rather than a generic phrase like To Whom It May Concern or Dear Hiring Manager in the cover letter. This indicates that you’re personalizing your document. You can then move on to writing the actual cover letter itself.
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First paragraph: Introduce yourself with a hook and list your best achievements
Start your cover letter with a hook to draw in the recruiter and make them want to read the rest of your cover letter. This may include some reference to your work experience, an especially unique moment in your legal career or a great showcase of something you did for the public interest. Here, the applicant goes over what made her interested in the legal profession, her achievements in law school, and her clerkship internship.
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Second paragraph: Give more information about how you’re the best fit for the job
Now that you know the hiring manager is reading, you can move on to including more of your legal skills and experience. This applicant mentions her legal research skills and repeats her passion for the job, highlighting a practical approach to a high caseload. Every legal job will have different requirements, so you must look through the job description and see what the hiring manager wants in the job posting.
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Third paragraph: Call to action
The closing paragraph needs to reaffirm why you’re the best person for this job and what makes you unique from others applying for the same position. Here, the applicant again states that she believes she’s the best person for the job, then says she wants to sit down and talk about some past cases, opening the door for a job interview.
FAQ: Law Firm Cover Letters
Do I really need a cover letter to get a law firm job?
If the job description that you’re applying for doesn’t require a cover letter, it’s true that you can just submit your resume. However, a cover letter is a great way to indicate more information about your past experiences. This can show a hiring manager why you’re the best person for the job, even if other people look more qualified on paper. Additionally, a cover letter can show communication skills and a strong work ethic. If you turn in a cover letter that clearly shows strong writing skills, with no typos or grammatical errors, it shows that you know how to write effectively, which is an important part of a legal job search. Plus, the cover letter builder from ResumeNerd makes the process easy.
How long should my cover letter be to get a law firm job?
Most experts suggest a cover letter that is between half a page and three-quarters of a page long or about 250-350 words. This is enough to show off your skills and experience, but not so much that a hiring manager may not want to read through the whole letter. Remember to use a cover letter template so that the letter looks great and small elements like word spacing is automatically taken care of.
Does this cover letter example work if I don’t have a lot of experience?
Yes. Many law students, including both first-year students and second-year students, have very little in the way of proper experience. However, you might have experience as a part-time paralegal, experience in public service, or referrals from people who you worked for as a summer associate. All of these experiences prove your skills, so you should lean on them heavily.
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