The Purpose of A Cover Letter
- Allows you to convey strengths and experiences beyond those listed in your resume
- Often serves as a preliminary writing sample
- Provides you the opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants
- Demonstrates your enthusiasm and fit for the employer and the position
What to Do
- Write in general business letter style with a professional tone
- Double and triple check for typos and grammatical errors • Limit use of sentences that start with “I”
- Use active verbs whenever possible, avoid “ing” endings
- Use persuasive language
- Limit text to no more than 1 page, between 3 and 4 paragraphs
- Use between 11 and 12-point font
- Assure that font sizes and styles are consistent throughout
- Make use of “topic sentences” to start off your paragraphs (e.g., “My legal research and writing skills have been well-developed through my prior and current work experience.”)
What Not to Do
- Neglect to sell yourself to the employer by just regurgitating your resume in prose form
- Convey a sense that you don’t know much about the organization
- Use cookie-cutter text
How to Address A Cover Letter
- Never address a cover letter “To Whom it May Concern”
- If there is no recruiter listed in the job description, on their website or on nalpdirectory.com, contact the employer and request the name and title of the hiring attorney
- As a last resort, a letter may be addressed to the “Hiring Coordinator” or “Hiring Committee”
Introduction
Who you are, what you want, connection to employer
- Introduce yourself (year in school, name of law school)
- Identify what position you are applying for and whether you have been personally recommended/ referred by someone they know
- Briefly state why you would be a great fit for the position (1-2 sentences at most)
Body of A Cover Letter
Highlight interest in employer and skills related to the position
- Briefly mention your interest in the employer and/or practice area
- Address interest in the particular geographic location if outside your school location or city of origin
- Keeping the job description in mind, discuss previous work experience, as well as degrees/ certificates/ or other credentials, volunteer experience, leadership positions, student activities, and/or relevant coursework.
- Provide specific examples demonstrating how you acquired skill-sets requested by the employer, “Show don’t tell”
- Emphasize strengths, not weaknesses
- Persuade the employer to want to hire you by creating a connection between your past experiences and the work of the organization or the position available
Conclusion
Contact information and next steps
- Briefly reiterate why you would be a great fit for the position
- Mention attached resume or other documents requested by the employer
- Include your contact information (email and phone number)
- If you are applying for a position in a different city, let the employer know if you will be in town and available for an interview in the near future
- Thank the reader
Submitting Your Documents to Potential Employers
- Follow the employer’s instructions as to their preferred method of receiving application materials
- For paper submissions, print on high-quality paper that matches that of your resume
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For electronic submissions,
- Be sure to convert documents to PDF to preserve formatting
- Save documents with your last name and the type of document (cover letter, resume, etc.) as the file name
After Submission
- In approximately 2 weeks, follow up with a call or email to the employer to confirm your application materials were received (unless application instructions request no such contact)