Making the case for your employment takes a legal cover letter that does more than state the facts. Hiring managers are looking for someone with excellent reasoning, attention to detail, dedication to the law and the ability to work well with others (and/or bill a lot!).
Not everyone who works in the legal field is a lawyer, of course, although there are 1.33 million lawyers in the United State, 1 in 4 of those in either New York or California, according to the American Bar Association. With more than 443,000 law firms (IBISWorld), there are plenty of job opportunities for support workers as well.
Your legal cover letter is a brief on your career, but how do you make it stand out? That’s where resume.io comes in.
In this cover letter guide, along with the corresponding legal cover letter examples, we’ll cover the following topics to help you design the best cover letter possible:
- How to choose the best cover letter format and what paragraphs the cover letter should include
- How to maximize the effect of each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
- What approach to take when writing your cover letter
- What mistakes to avoid when writing your legal cover letter.
The guide below will analyze the details and suggest ways to make the most of this one-page addition to your application. (You can also check out our library of 125+ cover letter examples).
Let’s start out with how to structure your legal cover letter.
Best format for a legal cover letter
Legal arguments have structure and so do legal cover letters. Recruiters are looking for this structure, so it is in your best interest to take it into account. When you frame your application, make sure it includes the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
Within this 400-500 word document, you have an opportunity to lay out the evidence for your employment. Your resume, with the exception of the profile section, is a dry listing of your career highlights, but your letter gives you room to show who you are.
The comprehensive cover letter guide offers a great overview of this element of your application, but this text gets deeper into each paragraph and the specifics of how to write a letter for a legal position.
The legal cover letter example below gives an overview of how to create your own application:
Dear Ms. Cleary,
I am writing to convey my sincere interest in being considered for the Legal Assistant position currently seeking candidates at Hutchins & Hutchins. I understand what a busy law firm it is, and I can assure you I have the background and skills to properly fulfill this curcial role. I have served as a Legal Administrative Assistant for the last 8+ years following my graduation from Boston University in their Paralegal Studies program. I am highly skilled in providing administrative support for attorneys, and performing legal research.
I am well aware that Hutchins & Hutchins is one of the most sought after firms in the New York area. Luckily I am experienced in working in firms that see hundreds of cases per year, and I am adept in effectively managing workflow while ensuring proper prioritization. I am also a firm believer that with cooperation and collaboration comes success, especially in a crucial support role as a Legal Assistant.
Is there a time we could arrange to further discuss this wonderful opportunity? I am looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Best Regards,
Marion Diaz
If you’re looking for additional inspiration for cover letter writing, you can check out our related administrative and legal cover letter samples:
Cover letter header
This may seem obvious, but it bears spelling out: If you want the job, you have to make sure the recruiter can easily contact you. That means prominently displaying your name, email and phone number in the header of your legal cover letter.
Getting a positive judgment is your secondary goal here. Create a visually pleasing design for your information. Don’t get too flashy, but add a bold font or use interesting alignment that will hook the reader into remembering your application while remaining legible.
Legible is the key word here. If you create any obstacle to contacting you, the hiring manager may move on to the next candidate.
Account for the ATS within your entire application
When you submit your legal resume and cover letter online, you have to contend with the Applicant Tracking System. This is no small matter. The ATS scans and sorts your applicant into the CRM recruiting system, but it then uses algorithms programmed to rank your documents. How? With keywords and phrases linked to the job opening.
Not all systems will scan your cover letter, but it’s better to be cautious here. Make sure you put the words “email” next to your address and “phone / cell / mobile” next to your number.
The aim of this section: Get a positive judgment on the look of your application and create a smooth path toward contacting you.
Cover letter greeting
If you present before a judge, you know to start with “Your Honor.” It sets the tone for the rest of your arguments. Your legal cover letter greeting does the same. You can’t go wrong with polite formality when applying to a law firm.
We recommend the standard “Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms. Surname” or “Your Honor” when you are applying for a clerkship or other work with a judge. You will note that our cover letter examples use “Dear,” since it is appropriate in 99% of cases. Remember to triple check that you have the spelling of the hiring manager’s name correct and are using the correct title. There’s no quicker way to alienate someone and show that you are not attentive to detail than to get these things wrong.
If you cannot get the name of a person, “to whom it may concern” is a fine alternative. We suggest staying away from more casual greetings such as “Dear Estate Planning Department,” because it may come off as flippant.
The aim of the cover letter greeting: Set a professional and formal tone, while addressing your letter to the correct person.
Dear Ms. Cleary,
Cover letter introduction
Your opening statement lays out the facts and hits the highest points of your legal career. Research the firm to which you are applying and carefully consider the message you wish to send based on the clientele, practice, size and philosophy of the firm. Each application should speak directly to the hiring manager or legal team for whom you wish to work.
A convincing legal cover letter leaves no room for a hung jury. Send your message clearly and confidently from the start: I am a great candidate for the job! You do this by aligning the career win you choose to name with the objectives of the position.
Maintain a consistently professional tone, but don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back. A healthy does of self-assuredness is a good thing in a cover letter.
The aim of the intro: Pique their interest and explain in no uncertain terms why you’re a great candidate for the job.
I am writing to convey my sincere interest in being considered for the Legal Assistant position currently seeking candidates at Hutchins & Hutchins. I understand what a busy law firm it is, and I can assure you I have the background and skills to properly fulfill this curcial role. I have served as a Legal Administrative Assistant for the last 8+ years following my graduation from Boston University in their Paralegal Studies program. I am highly skilled in providing administrative support for attorneys, and performing legal research.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The body of your legal cover letter gives you the space you need to back up your introduction with strong evidence. Before you start writing, ask yourself these questions:
- What makes me great at my job?
- What difficult situations/clients/lawyers/cases show that I can handle the extraordinary?
- How can I show the wide range of skills and talents I bring to the table?
- What personality traits do I want to bring out?
Frame your body paragraphs around the answers to these questions. Maintain your tone of professionality and show who you are by detailing how you approach your job. Hiring managers will gain an understanding of your style by the language you use and the accomplishments you choose to detail. Make sure the work examples you choose explain how you will be an asset in your desired position.
Project confidence in your legal prowess and dedication to the law.
The aim of the middle part of your cover letter: Define your style and showcase the best of your career.
I am well aware that Hutchins & Hutchins is one of the most sought after firms in the New York area. Luckily I am experienced in working in firms that see hundreds of cases per year, and I am adept in effectively managing workflow while ensuring proper prioritization. I am also a firm believer that with cooperation and collaboration comes success, especially in a crucial support role as a Legal Assistant.
How to close a legal cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Yes, this is your closing statement. You probably know how this works even if you are not a litigator. Strongly restate your claim: I am the best person for the job! Summarize your evidence and add something new for the hiring manager to think about. That something could be the reason you chose the field you did, a case or client that changed the way you look at the law or a mentor that helped you get where you are.
The purpose of this personal touch is twofold: It gives you an opportunity to show some emotion and it leaves room for follow-up questions during your interview.
Finally, respectfully tell the juror what you want them to do. In this case, schedule an interview.
The aim of the close of your cover letter: Sum up your case, add a personal touch and remind the hiring manager that you would love an interview.
I hope to hear from you soon to further discuss this exciting opportunity.
Sincerely,
Marion Diaz
Writing psychology: how to convey your work ethic in your cover letter
Legal professionals by trade know how to make a case, so how do you project confidence without coming off as u ngenuine?
A winning legal cover letter gets a positive verdict by keeping the following in mind:
- Steer clear of too much legal jargon. Speak from the heart about your attachment to your career and your pride in your achievements.
- Demonstrate your understanding of the importance of the position you seek.
- Use an example that highlights your research and writing skills.
- Illustrate how you collaborate with colleagues or your style in managing clients.
Legal teams often work long hours together, so if the hiring manager gets the sense that you aren’t passionate about the work or don’t function well in a group, you may not get the chance to show off your keen legal mind.
Basic mistakes in a legal application letter and how to avoid them
- Neglecting your technical skills. Legal professionals need to know their way around computers, scheduling and online search tools, not just the courtroom.
- Keep your stories short. Lawyers have a reputation for longwindedness, but this is not the place for it. If you can’t get in and out in two sentences or less, your anecdote is too long for a cover letter.
- Spell check, grammar check, proofread! You are in a field that requires attention to detail, so make sure you pay attention to the details here. Don’t let a small error bench your chances.
Key takeaways for a legal cover letter
- Show off your expertise in your area of law as well as your general knowledge of law operations.
- Illustrate your work style so the hiring manager knows you’re a great fit for the firm.
- Exude confidence and passion about your work while keeping your tone professional.
- Choose evidence that proves that you are the best candidate for the particular job you’re applying for.
