Sample Cover Letter: Second or Third Paragraph

Second or Third Paragraph

This is the section where you “sell” your experience and qualifications to the employer. Your goal is to answer the question, “Why should the employer meet you?” or “What’s in it for the employer to meet with you?”

With this section, you should detail experience that substantiates your interest in this particular employer. Whether it be coursework in their specialty, the recommendation of a professor in their area of practice, undergraduate residency in their city, or any other indication of your interest, your experiences will translate into skills for an employer.

This section should describe why you are interested in this particular position and what in your background makes you qualified. It should not merely repeat what you have stated on your resume, but include details that support the assertions you are making on your interest in the particular area of law, your skills and abilities.

Prioritize your strongest skills and determine which points flow best together. The goal is to limit this section to no more than two paragraphs, although one paragraph is preferred.

Your sentences should consist of blanket fact (objective) statement followed by examples of what you have done or accomplished that back up this assertion. Your letter should demonstrate to the employer that you are familiar with their needs, and illustrate how your school and work background make you a good fit. Legal employers do not expect first-year law students to have substantial legal experience. Due to this fact, consider a short and concise paragraph about the type of skills you do bring to the organization.

If you promise to follow up with a legal employer in your letter, you MUST remember to follow through on every action.

To structure your cover letter, think of five things the legal employer would want to see. For example:

• Work ethic
• Research and writing skills
• Client counseling skills
• Case management skills
• Promotion in prior experience

Private Firm Cover Letters

If you have a strong and relevant background in the type of law the firm practices you should highlight it here. Law firms are interested in well-rounded candidates. Make sure you highlight other professional experience, grades, law school activities, and other aspects of your background.  

Examples:

My past experience and education illustrate my strong commitment to environmental law. As an Environmental Science major in college, I gained a solid foundation of the sciences and how the law played a role in environmental protection and the sustainability of our ecosystems. Additionally, my summer internship at the Environmental Protection Agency solidified my desire to educate the public on the effects of global warming and standard emissions.  

One of my greatest strengths is my work ethic. As an undergraduate, I maintained a full course load while working as a full-time assistant human resources manager at the Westin Hotel; a part-time tutor; and a volunteer for the Northwest Human Resources Management Society. I have developed excellent research and writing skills throughout my education and experience. As a manager, I researched and kept apprised of employment laws, and wrote a policy guide and a training manual. At the Northwest Human Resources Management Society, I researched new employment issues, helped evaluate their applicability for informational seminars, and wrote some of the seminar material. My law school legal research and writing class has further strengthened these skills. Additionally, I have cultivated my communication skills as a manager by mediating employee discord, assisting with unemployment hearings and conducting employee meetings.

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Public Interest Cover Letters

In a public interest cover letter, it is important to highlight your demonstrated commitment to the mission or work of the organization.  This can be accomplished through your work experience and relevant skills.  Although you may not have experience in a specific area you can still highlight your dedication to that type of work.  Draw connections between that general commitment and the specific work of the organization.  Show why you want to work for them. 

Examples:

My long-standing commitment to children and youth goes back many years. During college, I provided literacy tutoring to elementary school students in the Seattle inner-city. I also served as a youth mentor for at risk youth. I appreciate how important it is for children to have people who are dedicated to supporting and advocating for their well-being. My experiences and desire to be such an advocate influenced my decision to attend law school.

Helping the accused is a passion I have developed through my experience and legal education. Before law school, I volunteered as a tutor at a juvenile detention center. That interest has grown as I have worked on Washington’s Death Penalty Project, where I researched and wrote a brief submitted to the Washington State Court of Appeals. Your organization’s specialization in death penalty defense coincides with my career goals.

Judicial Clerkship Cover Letters

My legal research and writing skills have been further developed by my position as editor of Law Review and I am currently using my research and writing skills in the Moot Court Jessup Cup Competition, an international appellate law competition. As a legal intern at Case & Fredericks I utilized these skills writing many memoranda, ranging from criminal to civil law. I am highly motivated and capable of handling many tasks successfully. At the Prosecutor’s Office, as a Rule 9 intern, I was responsible for a large case load and have negotiated settlements. Academically, I am in the top 15 percent of my class and last fall I made the Dean’s List. Gonzaga University School of Law has been recognized for its rigorous, two-year required legal research and writing curriculum. I have received a cumulative grade point average of 3.55 in these classes. 

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