Get Results This Year with a Legal Cover Letter

Elisabeth Smith

58 Stanley Rd., London NW96 7MY

email: e.smith@email.com

February 23, 2022

 

The Law Firm of Wilcox, Davis, and Fine

55 Queens Road

London WC40 9RF

 

ATTN: Ms. Jane Johnson

 

Dear Ms. Johnson, With much enthusiasm, I am applying for the position of Junior Associate Attorney that has recently opened at Wilcox, Davis, and Fine. Currently, I am working as a Law Clerk for George Adams, Chief Judge of the Birmingham District Court for . When Judge Adams became aware of the position opening at your law firm, he immediately notified me of this opportunity and has offered to serve as a reference on my behalf. Throughout my JD studies at Gatwick University School of Law, I realised that among all of the other practice areas, immigration law is my true passion. I will be graduating in two weeks and am scheduled to take the SQE exam in March. 

 

Before entering law school, I was a paralegal for the commercial litigation firm of Johnson and Johnson for six years. While there I assisted on more than 80 cases, conducted legal research, earned my certification from BDBSC as a Certified E-Discovery Specialist, and educated the company’s attorneys in the use of the Veritas eDiscovery Platform. I am also fluent in Spanish and have served as a court translator during my time as a Law Clerk.

 

I appreciate your consideration of this application. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about how my qualifications would contribute to the success of Wilcox, Davis, and Fine. I will call you next Monday to follow up on my application and discuss the possibility of arranging a meeting.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Writing a professional and compelling cover letter can be time-consuming, but all that hard work is well worth it. Before you start writing your cover letter, re-read the job description and pay close attention to specific qualifications the employer is looking for: in this case, legal skills. Next, start writing your legal cover letter by introducing yourself.

The first paragraph of Ms. Smith’s letter starts by stating where she studied and where she currently works. She also noted that she is just one small step away from taking the SQE exam. When writing your cover letter, catch the employer’s attention by immediately naming your best achievements. Furthermore, name your connection to the employer, if you have one. In this legal cover letter example, the writer states that she applied for the job at the suggestion of Judge Adams, a mutual connection.

In the second paragraph, provide more information to help the hiring manager see why you are the best person for the job. Keep in mind that most of your accomplishments are listed in your CV, so you shouldn’t just copy them into your cover letter. Instead, try to tie them together in a way that will help your prospective employer see your true potential. For instance, Ms. Smith didn’t just write that she worked at Johnson and Johnson for six years. She made it very clear how she contributed to the team’s success by stating that she educated the company’s attorneys in the use of the Veritas eDiscovery Platform. She also draws attention to the time when she served as a court translator, highlighting her knowledge of a foreign language. Read the job posting carefully and see which of your relevant skills may impress the recruiter the most.

In the closing paragraph thank the employer for their time. The most significant part of this paragraph is the “call to action” statement. Instead of just writing that you hope to hear from the employer, let them know you intend to follow up with them. Sign off with a professional and respectful letter closing, using a closing such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”

If you need more help creating a cover letter, you can always use a cover letter template. Do not forget to proofread your letter so there aren’t any spelling mistakes that bring your writing skills into question.