Your cover letter is as important as your resume because it is the employer’s introduction to you.  First impressions tend to stay with the reader and are difficult to overcome.  To create a well-written cover letter takes hard work and many revisions, but it Is worth the effort since it may be the deciding factor that persuades the employer to give you an interview.

A cover letter is a sales document that introduces you and tells the employer why he/she should speak with you.  Its purpose is to highlight various aspects of your resume and show how they apply to the position available.  It is also a sample of your writing ability and organizational skills, so it needs to be perfect.  Your cover letter should convey genuine enthusiasm for the position and/or the employer.

Keep in mind that a cover letter will not get you a job offer.  It may be instrumental, however, in landing you an interview (or at the very least, it will get the employer to read your resume).  You want the letter to spark the reader’s attention in terms of your achievements and enthusiasm.  The best cover letters tend to have a natural tone, use straightforward language, and avoid complex sentences or fancy wording.  Your goal is to try to make a connection with the reader and persuade him/her to meet with you to further discuss your qualifications. 

Preparation

Employer Research

Before you begin your cover letter, you need to research the employer and the person to whom you will be sending the letter. There are many public sources of information. Most students rely on the following: literature from the employer, websites, Martindale-Hubbell, the NALP Directory, legal directories, books, legal periodicals, and employer files located in the CSO. In addition, you should speak to alumni, classmates who have worked for the employer, or lawyers in the community who may be able to provide you with more information on the employer. Finally, it is always a good idea to stop by the CSO and ask what additional resources or information may be available for a particular employer.

Information that is useful to gather before you begin your cover letter includes:

• Type of employer (government, firm, corporation, public service organization)
• Areas of practice
• Number of lawyers
• Lawyers’ backgrounds
• Cities where the employer has offices
• Major clients
• Recent cases
• Newspaper articles about the employer or its lawyers

Assessment of Your Strengths

Before you can persuade an employer to hire you, you first need to understand what you have to offer in terms of skills and qualifications.  After you research an employer, you will better understand the type of work it performs and the qualities it seeks in new employees.  Knowing this information will allow you to tailor your cover letter so that you highlight the skills and qualifications the employer desires. 

Do a self assessment and figure out what you have to offer before you draft your cover letter.  List your accomplishments and personal qualities on a blank sheet of paper.  Add to your list a brief discussion of how you have demonstrated these qualities in the past whether in a work context, volunteer setting, or college or church activities.  Then, prioritize your strengths based on the employer’s needs and select the top 2-4 strengths to showcase in your cover letter. 

Contents

Formatting

Your cover letter should be one page in length, single-spaced, and printed on medium-weight bond paper. The color and type of paper should be the same as your resume. The margins must be at least one inch all around the page.  The font style needs to be easy to read and similar in style and size as used on your resume (refer to resume section for suggested font styles and size ranges).  It is important to use a standard business format.  As a general rule, you want to limit your cover letter to three to four short paragraphs filling one full page.  Paragraphs should be in block form, which means that the first sentence of each paragraph is not indented. 

Return Address and Date

There are three options for the position of your return address and date at the top of the page:

• Indent it approximately two thirds from the left margin
• Place it flush left so it is directly above the address of the person to whom you are sending the letter
• Use the same letterhead heading you used at the top of your resume

It does not matter which of the three alternatives you choose.  Just be sure that the signature line at the bottom of your letter lines up vertically with the return address and date at the top.  See the examples at the end of this section for clarification.

Addressee and Salutation

On the left-hand side of the paper include the name, title, and complete address of the person to whom you are sending the letter. If the cover letter is being sent to a law firm, you should send it to the hiring partner or recruiting coordinator.  Be sure you have the correct spelling of the person’s name as well as the name of the firm, company or agency.

If addressed to a lawyer, the proper title is John Brown, Esq. or Sarah Brown, Esq.  Your salutation should then read Dear Mr. Brown: or Dear Ms. Brown: (use a colon NOT a comma).  Remember never to use Mr. or Ms. and Esq. together in either the address or the salutation.  Address a judge as The Honorable John E. Brown and in the salutation as Dear Judge Brown. 

Opening of Letter

The purpose of the opening is to grab the reader’s interest.  The opening should contain a combination of the following items but not be more than 3-4 sentences in length. 

• An introduction to you:  “I am a second year law student at the University of Dayton School of Law”…
• Why you are writing and what you want: “I am interested in a summer law clerk position with your firm.”
•  A referral if possible: “At the suggestion of Judge Donovan, I am submitting my resume for the law clerk position available this summer in your court.”
• Reference any previous contact with the employer:  “I enjoyed meeting you last month at the University of Dayton School of Law’s annual Lawyers in Practice program.”
• How you learned of the position:  “I am forwarding my resume and statement of interest in the associate position in response to your posting at the University of Dayton School of Law’s Career Services Office.”
• Knowledge of current events at the employer: “Professor Durham mentioned your firm’s plans to expand into the area of real estate law”. 
• Any outstanding qualifications you do not want to be overlooked in the body of your cover letter: “I have eight years of experience as an engineer and hold an MBA…”

Body of Letter

The key to the body of the cover letter is to focus on what the employer wants and to show the employer that your skills and qualities meet his/her needs.  Instead of focusing on what you desire (I want to be a judge one day and this job will look good on my resume), hone in on what you can do for the employer. 

The 1-2 paragraphs of the body of the letter should focus on introducing you in the best light to the reader.  You want to sell the following:

Key Qualifications, Experiences, and Personal Attributes

• Skills you have gained from work/volunteer experiences that match with the necessary qualifications for the job
• Activities or events that show your leadership, teamwork skills, organizational skills, motivation, and enthusiasm/dedication
• Legal writing and research skills
• Relevant course work (if appropriate)

Your cover should not restate everything from your resume, but rather highlight your most impressive points and supplement information that is contained on your resume.  It is not enough to say, “I am a hard worker.”  You need to give examples to illustrate how you have demonstrated your unique skills and attributes.  For example, “I am very motivated.  While attending college full time, I also worked in my family’s business 30 hours per week and remained on the Dean’s List every semester.”

Closing

The purpose of the closing is to thank the reader for his/her consideration and to request the opportunity to interview for a position.  An effective closing rounds out the letter and provides a final positive impression of you. Keep the closing paragraph short and simple.    

Mention the documents you have enclosed unless you already did so in the opening paragraph.  Politely tell the reader what you want: “I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you in a personal interview”.  Reiterate how you may be reached.  Either tell the employer you will contact him/her at a specific date/time or ask the employer to contact you: “I may be reached at 937/229-3215” or “I will be in Chicago the week of September 22nd and hope to meet with you during that time.”  Finally, thank the reader for his/her assistance: “Thank you for your consideration and I hope to hear from you soon”.

Stop by the CSO if you would like to have your cover letter reviewed and critiqued.

Cover Letter Tips

• Spend time developing a cover letter that is easy to read and encourages the reader to consider your resume. 
• Remember that your cover letter is a sample of your writing and organizational ability.
• Confirm it is error free.  Spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes will cause you to lose an interview.
• Proofread your cover letter multiple times and then ask at least two other people to proofread it.
• Keep it short, concise, and direct.
• Keep a copy of your cover letter for future reference.  The employer may ask about it several months later.
• Consider it an introduction to your resume, not a complete reproduction of it.
• Address your cover letter to a specific person when possible.  If you cannot find the person’s name during your research, call the employer’s office to find out who is in charge of hiring.
• Make sure the spelling of the person’s name and contact information is absolutely correct.
• Never copy a cover letter word-for-word from an example.
• Use a standard business format: body centered on page, no indention of paragraphs, equal one-inch margins (like a picture frame around the contents), and proper salutations.  Don’t forget to include the date at the top and “Enclosure” or “Enclosures” at the bottom.

A Final Tip: Avoid Mass Mailings

Many students wrongly believe that sending out hundreds of identical letters addressed to “Whom it may concern” will increase their chances for interviews.  This is a mistake.  Employers do not like receiving impersonal, generic letters.  You will get better results if you send targeted resumes to employers you have researched and to whom you have some connection.

A targeted mailing to a large number of employers may be productive under special circumstances.  For example, if you are moving to Chicago and want to practice real estate law, it would be appropriate to do a mailing to most of the real estate law firms in the Chicago area.  Or if you wish to do patent work and are open to relocating, you may want to do a mailing to all UDSL alumni who  practice patent law throughout the United States.  The key is to do your research and decide what makes sense given the circumstances.  Never forget that a targeted letter is always best.  The more personalized your letter, the better your chances of making a favorable impression on the reader.

A note of caution:  We offer several sample cover letters on the next few pages.  Do not parrot any phrases word for word or you will do yourself a disservice.  UDSL students often send resumes and cover letters to the same employers.  If an employer receives two or more cover letters with the same wording, it will be obvious that your letter is not original.

Cover Letter Formula

Unsolicited Application Letter

Response to an Advertisement

Referral Unsolicited

Unsolicited

Thank You Letter