December 03, 2009
Tailoring Cover Letters to Specific Legal Employers
The CSO knows that the thought of drafting, editing, finalizing, and mailing multiple cover letters to different legal employers can be intimidating and time consuming. It can be tempting to create one standard cover letter, using phrases like “your firm” or “your organization,” and to send that exact same cover letter to every employer to which you apply.
You will probably find this approach to be ineffective. When the CSO meets with legal employers, they all emphasize that cover letters must demonstrate that a student is specifically interested in the particular employer that is receiving the cover letter. No one wants to receive a generic cover letter.
Employers want to know that you are specifically interested in working for them. You must show that you have done your research and not leave the employer wondering why you are interested. Employers have a short amount of time to review a large number of cover letters and resumes. As you draft cover letters during Winter Break, remember that you will benefit from taking the time to tailor your materials to the specific employer.
So how do you do this research and convey your genuine interest?
1) Use the employer’s website, if the employer has a website, to read about what opportunities are available for law students, what type of work law students do, and what type of summer program the employer offers. Use your cover letter to convey to the employer that you have done your homework and you want to be a part of the employer’s summer program.
2) Do a Lexis or Westlaw search, or skim through other legal publications, to see if there has been any recent news about the employer that might distinguish the employer from others.
3) Talk to other students who have worked for the employer to hear about their summer experience, learn what it is like to work for the employer, and find out what is important to the employer. Remember to use The Inside Scoop, available through the CSO’s Course on Blackboard, to find out where your colleagues have worked.
4) Stop by the CSO to check out our resources – we have materials from many different legal employers right in our office for you to review.
Your cover letter is your chance to make a first impression and it is the first chance you have to demonstrate that you have strong writing skills. If you have questions or concerns about writing cover letters, schedule an appointment with a CSO counselor. We’re here from 8:30Am until 5PM throughout the Winter Break.
Posted by kcc17 at 01:53 PM
November 29, 2007
Tailoring Cover Letters to Specific Legal Employers
The CSO knows that the thought of drafting, editing, finalizing, and mailing multiple cover letters to different legal employers can be intimidating and time consuming. It can be tempting to create one standard cover letter, using phrases like “your firm” or “your organization,” and to send that exact same cover letter to every employer to which you apply.
You will probably find this approach to be ineffective. When the CSO meets with legal employers, they all emphasize that cover letters must demonstrate that a student is specifically interested in the particular employer that is receiving the cover letter. No one wants to receive a generic cover letter.
Employers want to know that you are specifically interested in working for them. The first paragraph of your cover letter must explain to the employer exactly why you are applying. You must show that you have done your research and not leave the employer wondering why you are interested. Employers have a short amount of time to review a large number of cover letters and resumes. You will benefit from taking the time to tailor your materials to the specific employer
So how do you do this research and convey your genuine interest?
1) Determine what is important to you. Do you want to work for an employer with a strong mentoring program for new attorneys or a formal work assignment process? Are you interested in employers where you will receive a lot of responsibility throughout the summer? Do you have a specific interest in a particular practice area? Have there been recent developments at a particular employer that make it more attractive to you?
2) Use the employer’s website, if the employer has a website, to read about what opportunities are available for law students, what type of work law students do, and what type of summer program the employer uses. Use your cover letter to convey to the employer that you have done your homework and you want to be a part of the employer’s summer program.
3) Do a Lexis or Westlaw search, or skim through other legal publications, to see if there has been any recent news about the employer that might distinguish the employer from others.
4) Talk to other students who have worked for the employer to hear about their summer experience, learn what it is like to work for the employer, and find out what is important to the employer.
5) Stop by the CSO to check out our resources – we have materials from many different legal employers right in our office for you to receive.
Your cover letter is your chance to make a first impression and it is the first chance you have to demonstrate that you have strong writing skills. If you have questions or concerns about writing cover letters, schedule an appointment with a CSO counselor.
Posted by kcc17 at 04:26 PM
February 09, 2007
When emailing application materials do you include your cover letter as an attachment or as the text of your email?
The short answer: attach your cover letter as a separate document.
The reason: a cover letter is a professional document, not an email. You don’t want an employer to think that you didn’t take the time to write a proper cover letter. The person who receives the email will ultimately print your materials and pass them out to the proper personnel. A hard copy of your email with things like email headers just looks unprofessional.
So, what do you put in the body of your email? Include enough information that the employer knows who you are, why you are writing, what you have attached, and how to contact you. While you can include this information in various ways, here is an example of a email that tells the employer everything they need to know:
Dear Mr. Doe,
I am a second year law student at Case Western Reserve University School of Law applying for a summer clerkship with your organization. Attached to this email are the cover letter and resume that you requested. Please contact me at the email or phone number below if you need additional information.
Sincerely,
2L Student
11075 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106
216-368-6353
2L.student@case.edu
Be sure to include your contact information in the email so the employer doesn’t have to look through your resume and cover letter in order to contact you.
Posted by kcc17 at 05:45 PM
January 24, 2007
Cover Letters -- The Basics
Hopefully you are busy applying for jobs and working on those ever-so challenging cover letters. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you are drafting letters.
1. Before you write the letter, research the employer and consider how to link what you know about a particular employer with your background, education, interests, and skills.
2. Create a tone that is enthusiastic and sincere.
3. Limit your letter to three paragraphs and just one page. In the first paragraph explain the purpose of your letter and why you are applying to this particular employer. In the second paragraph elaborate on your background and how it relates to the particular employer. In the third paragraph request an interview.
4. Proofread carefully and do so many, many times -- employers are not sympathetic to typos and grammatical errors.
5. Do not just assert that you have certain qualifications or skills -- back up your assertions with examples.
6. Market yourself -- let the employer know why you are the right person for the job.
7. Make every effort to address your letter to a particular person. That way it gets where it needs to go and you have someone to follow up with.
8. End your letter with Sincerely yours, Yours truly, or Very truly yours -- and don't forget to sign it!
9. Please ask the CSO staff to review your letters.
If you are feeling frustrated and challenged in writing cover letters, you are not alone -- they are hard to write, and please do not hesitate to ask the CSO for help!
Posted by smp20 at 05:36 PM
November 29, 2006
The Guerrilla Tactics Book We Keep Referring To...
You have probably heard us mention Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams, by Case School of Law alum Kimm Alayne Walton as a great resource. It is available in the CSO for you to peruse in the office, or sign out to borrow for a week or two. It provides step-by-step advice on how to get the "perfect" job, or at least something close to perfect.
Since many of us struggle to write effective cover letters, here is Kimm Walton's advice on how to write the ever-so-challenging second paragraph of your letter:
1. Don't just repeat what is on your resume.
2. Don't just list what you are good at or make assertions about yourself without backing them up with examples.
3. Make sure the reader can tell you've researched the employer.
4. Show interest -- and of course connections if you have them -- in the city in which the employer is located.
5. Employers want to know there is a real person behind the application. You aren't a law clerk or attorney robot -- they want your personality to come through, so they know how you'll "fit" with them. If you are having trouble with how to get this across, take a look at your law school application essays.
(pages 186-193)
So, you get the idea -- this is a great resource! It is required reading for new CSO counselors, and we recommend it to you as well.
Posted by smp20 at 12:14 PM