Paralegal1426 Cottrill LaneMaryland Heights, MO 63043314-517-7797michaela.q.montgomery@gmail.comlinkedin.com/in/michaelaqmontgomery The Director of Human Resources – we call him Chris. He`s so busy that he barely has time to glance at your cover letter for legal jobs. Legal cover letters aren`t the perfect place to be long, and the roar will almost certainly have the opposite effect of what you`re aiming for. Keep cover letters for lawyers short, to the point, and persuasive – the trick is to be memorable and limit yourself to one page. If you are applying for an apprenticeship contract or leave program, your cover letter may be the first part of your application that a law firm will review. Address your legal cover letter to the person responsible for hiring in the company, such as a senior partner or hiring manager. If you don`t have this information, visit the company`s website or contact Human Resources. How you sign your cover letter depends on how you sent it. If you specify a named contact, log out of “Sincerely”. If you use a general greeting, end with “Sincerely.” Ideally, your letter should only be an A4 page and you should use the same font style and font size used in your resume. Keep in mind that law firms will measure your ability to communicate professionally with clients by the professionalism of your cover letter – you pitch as you would as a practicing lawyer. No matter what type of legal job you`re applying for, you always want to set a professional tone.
However, depending on the law firm you`re applying to, using a personal tone may be to your advantage. Match your tone to that of the law firm you`re applying to. For more tips on writing an effective cover letter, see: Highlight what sets you apart and make your cover letter powerful and accurate. It may be relevant to include other information in your cover letter, such as explaining the circumstances of disappointing academic grades. Come talk to us if you have any concerns about the explanation of these or other issues in your letter. Watch the online presentation of the Career Services masterclass “How to write an effective cover letter” (12:42) Click Review my cover letter, then copy and paste the job description to which you want to compare your cover letter. You can also select a sample task from the specified options. Upload your resume to receive your feedback report – it takes about 30 seconds. Your letter must be in PDF format. If you need help, see Convert a Word document to PDF.
Before you write your cover letter, it`s important that you do your research. While it`s essential to read the job description carefully, it`s often not enough. To help you create a successful cover letter, learn more about: If you are applying for a leave program, apprenticeship contract or other legal position, you may be asked to write a cover letter as part of the application process. Many students find the prospect of writing a cover letter intimidating, as it can be difficult to know where to start. Here we explain what a cover letter is and how you should structure it. It doesn`t matter if you`re filling out a bespoke application form or creating your own legal resume, the basics remain the same. You must: Tips for writing cover letters – make sure every boring letter turns into something employers want to read. Thanks for reading! Now it`s your turn. How does writing a legal cover letter work for you? What burns you the most when applying for legal jobs online? We`d love to hear from you! When addressing your letter, don`t just use a general greeting.
Cover letters are often addressed to the hiring manager or graduate recruitment, and that person`s name can often be found on the company`s website. If you can`t find it, you can call the company and ask or take a look at LinkedIn. It`s a simple task, but one that really shows that you`re interested in the company and can use your initiative. A good legal cover letter can return an “employee” judgment. Reinforce it with a resume. Your CV should always include a cover letter, unless otherwise specified by the employer. Who it affects: Always take the time to find the right contact. When writing cover letters for law firms, it`s a common mistake to spend so much time and attention on the text of the letter that you miss the basics – like who and how to address the letter.
We recommend the following structure for your cover letter. The order of the second (why you) and third paragraphs (why them) is flexible – you can swap them if you wish. Four words: Think like a lawyer. Use the same skills you would use to win a moot court competition, write a persuasive note, create a persuasive proposal, sign a new client, and more. Do your homework, link research to your background and goals, and communicate effectively.