how to write a lawyer cover letter

Do legal cover letters need to be formatted?

Like all legal documents, legal cover letters need to be precisely formatted. Your legal job cover letter isn’t the place to show off unique and creative layouts, as it is quite a formal and traditional industry. A cover letter with sloppy formatting isn’t likely to be taken very seriously.

Do headers match resumes?

Header matched to resume. For a professional cover letter, you’re going to want to make sure that all the details — both visually and in content — match your resume. Your resume and cover letter should look like two halves of the same whole.

What is a cover letter?

The cover letter serves as a highlight reel of your biggest achievements related to the job posting. Focus on them and how you can serve them. Psychologically, humans tend to be most focused on and interested in themselves and their own lives.

How to get a hiring manager to read on in a cover letter?

With this principle, you can get a hiring manager to read on in your cover letter by simply focusing on the organization, why they’re great, and how you can help them be even better.

Who is Chris Kolmar?

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Follow a format and keep it succinct

Sally A. Kane wrote about legal careers for The Balance Careers, and is an attorney, editor, and writer with 20 years of experience in legal services.

What to Include in Your Cover Letter

Include your full name, and be sure to use the one under which you've been admitted to the bar if you're a lawyer. Give your street address, not a P.O. box, including your city, state, and zip code. Include your phone number with a notation as to whether it's a cell phone or a landline.

Your Opening Paragraph

State the position for which you're applying in your opening paragraph, and explain how you learned of the job opening. This is also a good place to mention the name of anyone who referred you, a mutual acquaintance, or perhaps a tidbit of knowledge you have about the firm—maybe a major case they won or legal argument they made.

Explain Your Skills

Use the next paragraph to detail your education and your experience. Keep in mind that this is all mentioned in your resume as well, so you're not going to go into every finer detail here.

Make Sure Your Reader Reads On

Use your closing paragraph to thank the firm for considering your application and tell your reader why you would make a good addition to his team. Explain how your background, skills, experience, and past achievements make you the perfect candidate for the job.

The Finishing Touch

Sign off with "Respectfully yours" or something equally formal, place your signature above your name, then add the all-important "Enclosure (s)" line. List and bring attention to everything you're including with the letter, in order.

Proofread...Then Proofread Again

All this effort is for naught if your reader doesn't go on to look at your resume and any other documents you've included. Minor, avoidable errors can cause him to put your letter—and your resume—aside after one glance.

Attorney Cover Letter Sample

I’m applying to the open Attorney position at [Firm Name] for two reasons. First, I’ve spoken with two of your current employees. After talking to them, I’m astounded by and attracted to your corporate culture. Second, the legal skills and achievements in my resume fit exactly what you outlined in your job description.

1. Use the Best Attorney Cover Letter Template

You can’t get hired with an attorney cover letter that looks like legal boilerplate. Attorneys write reams of contracts, reports, and correspondences. So—show off your Dentons-style written communication skills with a crisp cover letter layout. Start with the 3-paragraph format to stay clear and readable.

2. Start Your Attorney Cover Letter Right

Let me guess—you don’t read junk mail. Neither does the managing partner. Her eyes will slide off your attorney cover letter unless you make it personal. But how can you do that? By using her name in your introduction. Then make it clear why you’re interested in the firm or the job.

3. Target Your Attorney Cover Letter Middle to the Job

You’ve got them listening. Now make them excited for your resume with a targeted middle paragraph for your cover letter for attorney jobs. Build a solid argument for why you fit the firm. You’ll need to do a little research first on their needs. Then use your resume to make your case.

4. End Your Attorney Cover Letter Strong

Awkward endings don’t impress. Bring something to the table at the end of your attorney cover letter. To get more interview requests, offer an engaging conversation about the firm’s needs. Get specific by outlining what you’d like to discuss with them and how you’d like to help.

Key Takeaway

Use the right attorney cover letter format. Add your Baker-McKenzie-level skills.

Law Firm Cover Letter Sample

I’m a second-year student attending Harvard Law School, writing to apply for your summer internship position. I learned about the position through Harvard’s public service database, but I’ve also heard good things from three older students I met as Junior Vice President of Harvard Law’s ACLU Club.

1. Use the proper law firm cover letter formatting and layout

Cover letter font: Select a professional font (Cambria, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana).

3. Use a personal greeting with a targeted first paragraph

Start with “Dear [Partner Name],” (never use “ To Whom It May Concern” cover letters ).

Write full name

Make sure to use the names under which you have been admitted to the bar if you are a lawyer. Provide your street address, including your city, state address, and zip code. Do not give your P.O. box number in place of your address. Include your contact information such as phone number or landline.

Other information

Immediately below this information, enter the date, followed by the law firm’s name and address. Enter an “ATTN:” line with the person’s official name within the firm to whom you are addressing the letter.

Salutation

Start your letter with “ Dear Hiring Manager or Partner .” If you already know their name, use their last name.

Opening paragraph

Craft your opening paragraph in a captivating or compelling way to encourage the reader to continue reading. State the position for which you are applying and explain how you learned of the job vacancy.

The body of the letter

In this section, explain in detail your education, skills, and experience. Remember that all this information is captured in your resume and, therefore, do not go into every detail here.

Capture attention

This is the closing paragraph of your cover letter. Use this section to appreciate the reader or the firm for taking their time to consider your application and convince them why you feel you would make a good addition to their team.

Finalise

Sign off your letter in a formal way, for example, “ yours respectfully, ” “ sincerely, ” and add your name and signature below the closing tag. Beneath this, add all the essential “ enclosures ” lines.

1. Legal Cover Letter Samples

The first legal cover letter example comes from Frank, who is applying to be a paralegal with a few years of experience already.

2. How to Write a Legal Cover Letter Step by Step (Template)

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.

Key Points

So, have you checked all of these off when writing your legal cover letter?