Most legal cover letters don’t even make it past discovery. Build your argument and close strongly to get the verdict you want with our expert advice.
Not everyone’s going to parachute into their dream law job by stumbling into Harvey Spectre’s hotel room.
And you, unlike Mike Ross from Suits, actually have some legal qualification.
Build a strong case for you being hired that can’t be dismissed.
Let’s go to trial.
In this article:
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First, let’s set a precedent with our two legal cover letter samples. See how they present their evidence to the jury and make their argument.
The first legal cover letter example comes from Frank, who is applying to be a paralegal with a few years of experience already.
The position requires someone who can take care of reporting, client contact, and case reasearch.
See how well this legal cover letter shows he’s the perfect candidate:
Frank Schmitz
88 Guild Street
LONDON
NW7 6XG
frank@schmitz.com
Phone: 07724 721 531
New York, Dec 22, 2019
John Lane
HR Manager
Bear & Jones LLC
15a Gareth Drive
London
N9 9GB
Dear John,
I was eagerly awaiting the opening of the uptake for paralegals at your firm. I have the legal research and preparation skills to work on dynamic corporate law cases at a firm like Bear & Jones, where I could grow and expand my knowledge and skillset.
I have accumulated 4+ years of experience as a legal assistant at Sutton, Sachs, Meyer, which allowed me to acquire and constantly exercise the legal skills you currently require for your paralegal to have. You describe your priorities as reporting, client contact, and case preparation research. In my previous position, I delivered a minimum of 2 reports daily on key developments and other factors affecting the cases currently ongoing, and did so with error-free accuracy. I have assisted paralegals and attorneys in giving counsel to corporate clients at least once a week in person, and also through the reports I generated, which were often used directly with clients.
I am excited to be applying to learn at such an esteemed firm as Bear & Jones, and I recognise that I am applying not only to work, but learn there. I appreciate the firm’s commitment to developing its employees and by allowing me to become a paralegal would be the ideal first step, and I commit to developing further.
Could we schedule a call or a meeting to discuss how I can apply my research skills best to the cases you are currently working on?
Best Regards,
Frank Schmitz
07724 721 531
frank@schmitz.com
Frank has definitely put a solid opening statement forward to present his evidence efficiently.
Perhaps, you have less experience. Writing an entry-level legal cover letter is not easy.
We’re here to help.
Here’s a candidate with less experience, Kimberly.
This position calls for strong office and computer skills, basic knowledge of legal terminology, forms, policies and procedures, as well as management of various tasks and issues for assigned lawyers.
Kimberly has not worked in this position before, but she has crafted her legal cover letter to tick all their boxes.
Antoinette J. Mason
22 Oaklands Avenue
Leeds
LS16 8NR
07940 896 144
antoinette@mason.com
New York, Dec 22, 2019
John Lane
HR Manager
Bear & Jones LLC
15a Gareth Drive
London
N9 9GB
Dear John,
I am grateful for the opportunity to apply for a Legal Secretary position at Bear & Jones. As a Hons Paralegal Studies student, I recognise that I can only learn so much from theory, and I need to enter the law office to start the real learning process. Working at a firm with such a reputation as Bear & Jones would be an honour and a privilege—in my mind there aren’t many better places in the world to learn.
The job posting calls for a legal secretary that can effectively assist the daily work of lawyers, with proven office skills and knowledge of the basics of the law. During my university study so far, and during the last year of high school, I held short and long-term positions on data entry projects for medical and insurance companies. I am proud to say that the largest project of these, spanning over 50,000 individual files, I completed with 99.2% accuracy. I developed an attention to detail and a 75wpm+ typing speed at this job, equipping me to handle any other clerical task. My grasp of the law and the ways I can be of assistance to your lawyers is exemplified by my high marks, as during my paralegal studies course, I learn both the law, and how to assist the lawyers. I am confident that equipped with these advantages, I can make a difference at Bear & Jones, starting today.
A large part of why I am applying is your commitment to the development of employees. I was inspired by hearing one of your Partners talk about their way from legal assistant to partner during career days at my university’s law department. I am strongly committed to my development, and Bear & Jones would be the most fertile ground for this.
When is a good time to have a meeting or a call to discuss how I can apply my clerical best practises to ensuring smooth operation behind the scenes at Bear & Jones?
Best Regards,
Antoinette J. Mason
07940 896 144
antoinette@mason.com
These were two legal cover letter samples that will get a unanimous verdict.
First, let’s set up your legal cover letter.
Here’s how to write a job-winning legal cover letter:
With legal documents, there’s always a clear format they have to follow, certain boxes they have to tick. Your legal cover letter is no different. You don’t have long to make your case. At any moment, you could just go back in the pile. Or worse—in the bin. Once you have them reading, you need to hold their attention with strong, convincing evidence.
Get your cover letter format right—readable, clear and accessible:
Once you have all the settings ironed out, you’re probably wondering what to include in your cover letter.
The header of your cover letter should match your CV header. Under your details you should put the city and date of the letter, and double, triple check that you have pasted the details of the correct hiring manager below. Nobody is trusting you with their caseload if you send them an application with the address of their competitor on it.
Do a quick cross-examination against our legal cover letter sample header to make sure you’re home free:
[ Your Full Name]
[ Your Job Title ] (Optional)
[ Phone Number ]
[ Email Address ]
[ LinkedIn Profile ]
[ City and Date ]
[ Hiring Manager’s Full Name ]
[ Hiring Manager’s Position ]
[ Company Name ]
[ Company Street Address ]
[ City and Zip Code ]
Expert Hint: Looking to get certified as a paralegal? The NALP and IoP offer the most recognised certifications. Once you have one of those, look up our guide to putting certifications on a CV.
Don’t make your legal cover letter an investigation. State exactly which job opening you’re applying for in the opening paragraph of your cover letter, and right away give them a reason to keep reading. It should be either a taste of your most convincing feature, or something that will satisfy their biggest need or requirement.
Address the recruiter by name in your cover letter. If you can’t find it in the job posting, use LinkedIn. If that doesn’t work, board the time machine and call their telephone.
Here’s a very basic structure of a legal cover letter sample. Fill in the [blanks] with information relevant to you and the position you’re applying for.
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name]:
I would like to express my elation that [Target Company Name] is finally searching for a [Position Name]. Having worked as a [Previous Position Title] for [number of years]+ years, I developed extensive [administrative support/schedule management/case preparation/legal document drafting/document management/other relevant skills you have] skills, which make me confident that I will make a positive impact on the daily operation of [Target Company Name].
Expert Hint: Most law firms will run their recruitment online. There are some specific issues to keep in mind when sending your legal cover letter electronically, which our email cover letter guide will clue you up on.
Good news. If they’re still reading past the first paragraph, all that’s left to do is not to blow it. You have got their attention, now make a strong case for why this should be the last legal cover letter they read today. This paragraph is the trial. Study the job posting and establish what requirements are the most key to them, and what achievements you can back them up with.
Here’s the structure:
You list your requirements for a [Position Name] to be [refer to the requirements of the job]. During my time as a [Previous Position Title] at [Name of Your Most Recent Company], I have [responsibilities, duties, or projects you’ve successfully completed, supported by metrics, if possible]. The skills and experiences I have gained during this time make me confident that I can step up to the challenge at [Target Company Name].
Expert Hint: National Careers Service statistics forecast a 7.5 % job growith by 2027. Get your legal or paralegal CV ready for trial with our guides.
Employers are starting to understand that employees are not just sets of parameters, achievements, and skills. They are finally starting to clue up on the fact that employees are their own human beings. For this reason, things like a “culture-fit” can be important in an interview process. It could be as simple as letting them know you know what you’re signing up for.
The reality of daily work in many fast-paced law firms can be brutal, and by letting them know you have researched a little before writing your legal cover letter, you can skip ahead of a lot of less-thorough candidates.
Here’s the basic idea:
I have decided to apply to join [Target Company Name], as I have a great deal of admiration for your focus on [values/way of working/something you genuinely admire about the company]. These values resonate with me personally, and make me confident that [Target Company Name] is a better place for me to grow and learn than any other.
By now, you should have made all the arguments you were going to make. So, how to sign off your cover letter? Boldly. If they have gotten this far, you stand a pretty good chance of getting that interview.
So ask for it. Request a call or an interview, underlining it with your strongest argument or achievement.
Here’s how we close our legal cover letter example:
Could we have a call or a meeting to discuss how my [your best, most relevant skill/their most important requirement][skills/experience] can help [Target Company Name] achieve [something important to this company]?
Best regards,
[Digital Copy of Your Handwritten Signature]
[Your Full Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
And this is how you write a perfect cover letter!
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So, have you checked all of these off when writing your legal cover letter?
Did you find our legal cover letter samples helpful? Drop 5 stars! Do you need extra guidance on your cover letter for legal jobs? Drop me a comment, I’ll be more than happy to hear from you!
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Dave is a career expert whose articles cover various topics related to job applications. He created numerous advice pieces for ResumeLab UK to help readers improve their chances of landing great jobs using well-researched, data-driven tips.
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