As a legal professional you know the importance of building a compelling case. If you’re on the hunt for a new job position, then that’s exactly what you’ll be expected to do in your own paralegal cover letter.
Cover letters are the standard way to build a story surrounding your CV and add more evidence to your credibility as a professional through persuasive writing. There’s no better place to show off the way you can analyse and organise information in your job application.
However, according to the Law Society, in the last decade legal enterprises have been increasing their productivity while maintaining or reducing their number of employees. So, how can you write a cover letter that truly makes you stand out from the tough competition?
At Resume.io, we thrive on giving professionals the best chance at landing their dream job. Within this paralegal cover letter guide and cover letter example, we’ll cover the following topics to help you write a head-turning application:
- How to choose the best cover letter layout for your needs
- How to maximise the effect of each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
- What approach and tone to take when writing your cover letter
- What mistakes to avoid when writing your paralegal cover letter.
We’ll break down each step. By the time you sit down to start your paralegal cover letter the process will feel like a piece of cake. However, don’t forget that we also have a library of cover letter examples, which you can use at your disposal for even more job-winning ideas.
If you’re looking for additional inspiration for cover letter writing, you can check out our related cover letter examples:
Best format for a paralegal cover letter
When it comes to writing your paralegal cover letter, the burden of proof is on you to demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job. However, there is an etiquette to follow in terms of the way you present your cover letter.
The format of a paralegal cover letter should contain 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)
It’s easy to write a stream of consciousness about your accomplishments in your paralegal career so far. However, structuring them in the right way and making sure that they refer to the case in point are just as important. As a paralegal, you are no stranger to the red tape surrounding legal proceedings. Think of writing your cover letter as a similar exercise; you have to play by the rules to be taken seriously and position yourself as a promising paralegal.
If you still need help on the basics of writing a strong cover letter, then don’t hesitate to find more tips on getting started via our guide on how to write a CV. Of course, you can also refer to the paralegal cover letter sample content below for further inspiration.
Dear Mr Thomson,
I write to express my interest in the junior paralegal position. Over the past year, I have been immersed in a variety of high-stakes transactions and legal proceedings within a renowned corporate law firm, where my role involved conducting due diligence, drafting lease agreements, and facilitating property acquisitions. This hands-on experience has not only refined my legal skills but also provided me with a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding commercial property transactions.
Now that I have moved to Manchester, I am looking for an opportunity that will better incorporate my commercial property studies. I have already had the opportunity to show my skills in this sector in a professional as well as academic environment. During my tenure at Rayson & Charles, I collaborated closely with a team of paralegals on a high-profile real estate litigation. While analyzing transaction records for inconsistencies, I identified a significant discrepancy in property valuation records that had been overlooked in the preliminary analysis.
I demonstrated a keen eye for detail and strong organizational skills by efficiently managing a large volume of legal documents, ensuring that all filings were accurate and timely. My adeptness at legal research and ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise summaries have consistently supported the successful preparation of case briefs and legal strategies.
I hope you’ll agree that my range of experience and skills would make me an asset to the team. I hope to discuss it further with you in an interview. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Lina Farley
Cover letter header
The cover letter header is the first thing that anyone reading will see. It is located at the very top of the document and should include vital information such as your name and the job role you’re applying for. Make sure that the fact you’re a paralegal is clearly visible from the start.
Other information that you should include in the cover letter header includes your email, your phone contact details, and your address. You want to make sure that it is easy for the hiring manager to get in touch with you without having to look through other files in your paralegal job application or a pile of documents on their desk. Anything you can do to make their life easier will make them associate your profile with a positive experience.
It is important to note that you do not have to include your full home address - there may be data protection issues here. You also do not need to include the inside address of the employer - this is old-fashioned and only required in the most formal of circumstances.
Cover letter greeting
You and your fellow paralegals are all too familiar with the importance of a formal greeting in the legal sector. Your paralegal cover letter greeting is no different. In short, the best way to open your cover letter is with “Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms. Surname”.
Setting the right tone from the start will show your etiquette skills to the hiring manager and your potential new colleagues. You should avoid using “To whom it may concern” as an opener on your cover letter unless truly necessary. Not only does this sound impersonal, but it might suggest that you were too lazy to look up the name of the person you’re speaking to.
Research skills are an important part of your job as a paralegal. Therefore, finding the name of the member of staff you are writing to is an easy win in terms of showing off your capabilities and skills early on. Taking a few extra minutes to research the company on LinkedIn and/or their website could really pay off.
One chance to make a first impression
Check, double check, and triple check the name of the person you’re writing to. While it may seem like a simple tip, misspelling someone’s name is an easy blunder to make. Plus, it makes for an awkward start to your professional relationship.
The salutation of your cover letter is your only chance to make a great first impression. Don’t mess it up before you’ve even started the content of your cover letter!
Cover letter introduction
Just like the stacks of case paperwork you will be responsible for preparing as a paralegal, your cover letter needs an introduction. This short paragraph will introduce your profile as a paralegal and summarise the case you will be building throughout the rest of the letter. Make sure you lay down the law in simple and clear language.
While space is tight throughout your cover letter, the introduction in particular shouldn’t beat around the bush — this is your opportunity to entice the hiring manager to read on. Get to the point quickly using compelling language. Many people find it useful to write this paragraph when preparing a cover letter. This way you will already have a clear idea of the story the rest of your cover letter builds and therefore how to summarise it concisely.
Paralegals are used to getting straight to the crux of the matter, so don't hesitate to pinpoint your value to your future employer in these early lines.
Language choices to hook the hiring manager
Treat the first paragraph of your cover letter as your chance to hook the attention of the hiring manager. A great way to do this is by using compelling active verbs to highlight key points that make you hireable for this role. Take a look at the following examples.
Instead of saying you’re “successful”, try a sentence using:
- Increase
- Resolve
- Streamline
Instead of saying you have “great attention to detail”, try a sentence using:
- Analyse
- Discern
- Scrutinise
Instead of describing yourself as a “team player”, try a sentence using:
- Collaborate
- Contribute
- Moderate
Dear Mr Thomson,
I write to express my interest in the junior paralegal position. Over the past year, I have been immersed in a variety of high-stakes transactions and legal proceedings within a renowned corporate law firm, where my role involved conducting due diligence, drafting lease agreements, and facilitating property acquisitions. This hands-on experience has not only refined my legal skills but also provided me with a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding commercial property transactions.
Cover letter middle part (body)
Now comes the key component of your paralegal cover letter. The middle paragraphs of cover letters contain the most compelling arguments as to why a paralegal should be hired. That’s why it’s important to consider how your evidence supports your claims as to why you’re a great paralegal for this job role in particular.
As you paint a picture of who you are as a professional paralegal, use anecdotes or even stats from previous work roles to prove your points. Are you an efficient worker? Cite how much time you saved with your speedy filing workflow. Do you have excellent attention to detail? Illustrate this through a story of when this has helped your team at work.
The aim of your cover letter is ultimately to get invited to an interview. So don’t worry if you don’t have space to include every detail of an example. Prioritise the most important points of your key achievements and give yourself space to elaborate the finer points in an interview. Check out our paralegal cover letter sample content below for some ideas on how to lay out the key points of your examples.
Now that I have moved to Manchester, I am looking for an opportunity that will better incorporate my commercial property studies. I have already had the opportunity to show my skills in this sector in a professional as well as academic environment. During my tenure at Rayson & Charles, I collaborated closely with a team of paralegals on a high-profile real estate litigation. While analyzing transaction records for inconsistencies, I identified a significant discrepancy in property valuation records that had been overlooked in the preliminary analysis.
I demonstrated a keen eye for detail and strong organizational skills by efficiently managing a large volume of legal documents, ensuring that all filings were accurate and timely. My adeptness at legal research and ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise summaries have consistently supported the successful preparation of case briefs and legal strategies.
How to close a paralegal cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Your closing lines should make an impression — for the right reasons, of course. Your cover letter’s closing lines can be short and sweet. Wrap up your closing argument on why you are the paralegal the employer is looking for.
You can also include a short call to action inviting them to call you back. The tone should sound self-assured. However, be sure to maintain some balance. You don’t want to come across as overly self-indulgent; there aren’t many professionals who want a paralegal with an inflated ego working on their case.
Reminding the hiring manager who your cover letter has delivered on the initial promise in your opening paragraph of making a case for why you are the right paralegal for the job should do the trick nicely. You are interested in the job, after all, so mentioned that you are looking forward to finding out more during an interview.
I hope you’ll agree that my range of experience and skills would make me an asset to the team. I hope to discuss it further with you in an interview. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Lina Farley
Paralegal cover letter with no experience
We all have to start somewhere. Working in a legal environment is no different. Just because you don’t necessarily have any professional experience yet as a paralegal doesn’t mean that you don’t have anything to offer. Here are some things you can pull from in your cover letter to illustrate yourself as a worthy paralegal candidate:
- Why your working philosophy is a great match with the employer’s.
- Your top achievements in paralegal internships or apprenticeships.
- Your academic successes and how they are relevant to this paralegal role’s requirements.
- Your organisational and research skills from your education, extracurricular projects, and/or other work experience.
- Other soft skills and the times you have clearly demonstrated them.
Your paralegal cover letter is the perfect place to make up for anything that may be lacking in your CV. However, if you are truly new to the workforce, a tried and tested strategy is to home in on the specific firm. Going above and beyond to explain why you want to work as a paralegal with this company in particular could make up for a lack of professional experience. If you are on track with your legal education, you have every chance of securing that first experience.
Key takeaways
- Make the perfect first impression with a formal letter opening.
- Prove your worth by presenting the evidence as to why you’re a well-trained and experienced paralegal candidate.
- Keep your paralegal cover letter brief and to the point using concise language.
- Use a balanced tone for your closing argument.
If you want to sign, seal, and deliver your cover letter with minimal inconvenience, consider looking at our cover letter templates. All you have to do is start writing and export when you’re done, so you can focus on landing that paralegal job. Case closed.
