|
Far too many attorney job seekers under estimate the importance of a carefully crafted cover letter as a pivotal tool in their job search. The attorney cover letter is an important introduction to who you are, what you have to offer, and why you are interested in the firm (or company or other entity) to which you are applying. Skimping on or glossing over its contents show the recipient of your application that you are not serious about wanting to work for them, or that they are only one in a long line of places to which you are sending the identical, slipshod letter. Furthermore, many attorney jobs are writing intensive. Employers assume if an attorney can’t even write a good cover letter, their same inattention will carry over to their legal work on the job.
Too many attorneys assume that the cover letter will go unread, and that the recipient is only interested in the applicant’s resume. This is simply not the case. Employers receive hundreds of resumes for one position, and do not have time to review every resume in depth. The cover letter provides a capsule description of yourself and motivates the reader to turn to your resume, rather than discard it for the next one in the pile. This article will advise you how to write a winning attorney cover letter that will be sure to get you noticed.
Provide A Brief Introduction As To Who You Are. Your cover letter should, in essence, provide a snapshot as to who you are. This does not mean reiterating your resume, which is duplicative and boring. Instead, provide a overall description of who you are, perhaps pointing out a highlight of your resume, or something you want the employer to know that isn’t included in your resume. For example, “I am an experienced labor and employment law attorney whose representation of unions, individual employees, and management has provided me with a unique perspective as to how these parties are motivated and think.”
Do Your Homework About Where You Are Applying. A potential employer wants to know that you actually have researched them and have a reason for wanting to work for them. If the employer gets the impression that they are part of a mass mailing, or that you are applying to their ad without knowing anything about them, you are not going to come across as a serious candidate. You will want to learn as much as you can about an employer, and display a reason for applying to them in particular. For example, “I am impressed by your firm’s recent work in [ ] and would welcome the opportunity to make a contribution to future labor advocacy efforts.
Show The Employer What Needs It Has That Can Be Met By You. An employer, most fundamentally will want to know “what can you do for me?” Thus, you will want answer this question. Identify a need that the employer has and show how you, through your past experience and/or achievements, can satisfy this need. “I have read how your company has expanded its presence to other states and now operates in a multi-union environment. My experience in counseling management on multi-state operations, as well as my collective bargaining experience, would be of great use to your company.”
Research The Proper Person To Send Your Resume To. If you are going to put all of this effort into your cover letter, you are certainly going to want to make sure that it reaches the hands of the appropriate party. Deciding who to write to will take some research on your part. Some common choices include a law firm’s hiring partner, recruiting coordinator, head of the practice group in which you are interested, an alumni from your law school, or someone you know at the firm. You will want to research on the firm or company’s website the preferred employment application procedure. Then, if there is someone else you think should see your resume, send it to them as well, indicating in your cover letter that both parties are being contacted.
Suggest The Next Step In Your Closing Paragraph. In your concluding paragraph, you want to proactively suggest the next step that the recipient of your cover letter should take. You will want to request an in person interview, suggest a convenient time to do so, and provide the recipient with the best means of contacting you to arrange for same (for example, your cellular telephone number). For example: “I am available to interview at your offices during the week of ______. Kindly contact me at ______ to arrange for a mutually convenient time. I look forward to speaking with you.” If you do not hear back in a reasonable amount of time, feel free to be assertive and contact the individual to confirm receipt of your materials.
E-Mail or Snail Mail. In this age of modern technology, it has become far more acceptable and economical to send employment applications via e-mail. However, it is also a good idea to follow up with a hard copy, particularly if you don’t hear back, as some individuals are more diligent about checking their e-mails, have filters that send unknown addresses to “junk” folders, etc. Best of luck to you!
|
