Cover Letter Sample for Legal Job Seekers
Your name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number
E-Mail Address
Date
Employer Name
Title
Organization/Law Firm Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear [Insert Name of Hiring Manager]:
Opening paragraph - State the position for which you are applying and how you learned of the job opening. You should also mention the name of any person who referred you to this employer or any mutual acquaintances, if applicable. Try to craft your opening in a compelling manner that will encourage the reader to read further. For example, “As an award-winning paralegal with 20 years of personal injury experience, I am writing in response to the position of litigation paralegal advertised in the Main Street Legal Journal.”
Second and third paragraphs - Explain how your skills, education and experience match the requirements of the position and highlight any relevant awards and accomplishments. Break up dense text with bullets or short paragraphs to promote readability. Don’t regurgitate the content of your resume. Instead, show how your background, skills, experience and past achievements make you the perfect candidate for the job. Support your statements with evidence, using examples of accomplishments and quantifiable results. For example, instead of merely asserting that you are a skilled writer, mention that you won the two legal writing competitions and have published over 100 articles. Instead of stating that you contributed to the company’s bottom line, note that you implemented new software that saved the legal department over a million dollars.
Closing paragraph - Thank the organization for considering your application and mention any enclosures or attachments to your cover letter such as a resume or writing samples. Restate your interest in the law firm or organization and request a meeting or interview. Indicate how and when you will follow up on your cover letter.
Respectfully yours,
Your signature
Enclosure(s)
