Resumes
Your resume is one of the most important documents you will draft during law school. It and the accompanying cover letter may be your only written work the prospective employer sees. They are likely to be your only chance at making a good first impression and should reflect a certain amount of individuality.
As you work on your resume and cover letter, remember that their purpose is to:
- help you get an interview
- guide the interviewer through your personal, educational and professional qualifications and
- help the interviewer remember you once you walk out the door
Resume Resources:
Using action words not passive words (pdf)
The Do's of drafting a resume (pdf)
The Don'ts of drafting a resume (pdf)
How to draft the legal resume (pdf)
Sample resume for a 1L (pdf)
Sample Resume for a 2L (pdf)
Sample Resume for a 3L (pdf)
Resume for a Public Interest Position (pdf)
Law Firm Resume (pdf)
Trial Level Court Resume (pdf)
U.S. Supreme Court Clerkship Resume (pdf)
Cover Letters
Your cover letter is the first writing sample that your future employer will read, so it must be flawless. Grammatical errors, misspellings and other mistakes will probably cause your application to be disregarded. Proofread your cover letter and have others proofread it as well. Approach your cover letter as you would any written legal document, with the same attention to detail.
Your cover letter should do more than simply repeat your resume. It should describe you as a professional and show the strengths, abilities and skills which set you apart from other candidates. It should demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job.
General skills statements (i.e., "I have excellent legal writing skills") should be reinforced with supporting facts ("During my time at the Legal Clinic I refined my legal writing skills by drafting numerous memoranda involving both criminal and civil issues").
As your job search progresses, you will develop more than one cover letter, as each should be tailored to individual employers. A cover letter for a judicial clerkship will highlight different skills and abilities than one seeking a position with a law firm or public interest organization.
Cover Letter Resources:
The Do's of writing a cover letter (pdf)
The Don't's of writing a cover letter (pdf)
How to write a cover letter (pdf)
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Supplemental Materials
In addition to your cover letter and resume, an employer will probably ask for more materials to be included in your application packet.
These links provide information about -- and some samples of -- those supplemental materials:
References (pdf)
Letters of recommendation (pdf)
Writing Samples (pdf)
Transcripts (pdf)
The cover letter may not be the only letter that you will have to write. These links provide samples of letters that you may have to write:
Thank-you and Follow-up letters (pdf) (Remember that the thank-you letter can set you apart from the rest of the interviewees, since it is your chance to reiterate or add something you missed in the interview. Note that it is very important to send a thank-you letter to each interviewer.)
Acceptance letter (pdf)
Rejection letter (pdf)
Withdraw letter (pdf)
Job Search Tips
After you have perfected your application materials, it is time to start the job-search process. If approached with the right mind-set, your search can produce many benefits: networking, understanding the legal market, and learning about different practice areas.
Think of your job search process as exploring rather than hunting.
Job Search Resources:
A Guide to Networking (pdf)
Job Search Checklist (pdf)
A Guide to Job Search (pdf)
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Interviewing tips
The interview is your chance to show the hiring manager that you would be a great addition to the firm, organization, or office. An interviewer wants to determine if you're qualified, motivated, and a good fit for the position. Your objective is to convince this person that you are.
Interviewing Resources:
A Guide to Interviewing (pdf)
Interviewing Questions (pdf)
Strategies for Answering the 12 Deadly Questions (pdf)
The Telephone Interview (pdf)
Dressing for Success
Now that your cover letter and resume look professional and you are prepared for the interview you must look the part. Your appearance and the way you dress consists of the largest proportion of the first impression.
Dress for Success: Tips for Men (pdf)
Dress for Success: Tips for Women (pdf)
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