A paralegal cover letter should highlight your resourcefulness as both a researcher and communication specialist. Emphasize your ability to draft complex legal documents with accuracy and precision while meeting hard deadlines. This guide provides expert tips and examples to help you build a winning cover letter and secure your next big job opportunity.
Paralegal Cover Letter Templates and Examples
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How To Write a Paralegal Cover Letter
To write a great paralegal cover letter, focus on telling your unique story within the legal field. What types of cases have you supported throughout your career? How have you positively impacted your previous law firms? Use this opportunity to show potential employers how your expertise in legal research and administration can help drive favorable verdicts for their clients. Below, we’ll walk you through each step of building an eye-catching paralegal cover letter:
1. Contact information and salutation
List all essential contact information at the top of your paralegal cover letter, including your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL. Be sure to address the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.” This is preferable to salutations such as “To Whom It May Concern,” as these types of greetings are largely considered outdated.
2. Introduction
Lead your paralegal cover letter with a strong opening paragraph to grab the hiring manager’s attention and entice them to read further. Highlight your years of experience as a paralegal and emphasize the types of cases you’ve worked on throughout your career. Demonstrate how you’ve supported attorneys and positively impacted previous employers.
Notice how this candidate provides a concise yet compelling overview of their background within the legal field. In addition to their years of experience, they also focus on their versatility as a paralegal by showcasing their ability to liaise with various parties across a variety of cases. Showcasing these types of unique insights is a great way to strengthen the introduction of your own paralegal cover letter.
Example
I would like to apply for the senior paralegal position with Smith & Klein Law Firm. As you can see from my attached resume, I have over eight years of experience performing legal research for a wide range of criminal and civil cases. I’ve also liaised with judges, opposing counsel, clients, and courtroom staff during trials. My dynamic legal background makes me an ideal candidate for this role.
3. Body paragraphs
Continue to describe your professional experience, qualifications, and achievements in the body paragraphs of your paralegal cover letter. Start by mentioning something specific about the law firm’s reputation or legal specialty and why this draws you to apply for the position. Feature accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to support attorneys during trials.
In the example below, the paralegal highlights their experience conducting critical research for multi-million dollar transactions within the real estate industry. These details show the nuances of the candidate’s legal background, which can help make a lasting impression on the hiring manager.
Example
Keystone Law Partners’ reputation for excellence in real estate law draws me to apply for this opportunity. During my six years with Folgers Legal Team, I advanced from a legal assistant to a senior paralegal charged with training new hires. My supervisory and legal experience would be an asset to your team based on my professional achievements:
- Conducted legal research and due diligence on multi-million dollar commercial real estate transactions, which included title searches, zoning laws, and environmental regulations
- Identified potential risks, performed contract management reviews, analyzed legal and financial documentation, and maintained case databases
- Drafted correspondence and facilitated meetings with clients and legal parties
4. Paralegal skills and qualifications
Rather than providing a comprehensive list of skills on your paralegal cover letter, tactically integrate keywords from the job description into your paragraph. Focus on legal terminology and skill sets that match the needs of potential employers. Below, you’ll find a variety of key terms you can add to your paralegal cover letter:
| Key Skills and Qualifications | |
|---|---|
| Attorney-client correspondence | Civil law |
| Client relations | Communication |
| Corporate law | Criminal law |
| Data analysis | Discovery |
| Federal law | Legal correspondence |
| Legal research | Legal support |
| Legal writing | Liability |
| Litigation | Memorandum |
| Personal injury law | Pre-trial motions |
| State law | Trade law |
5. Closing section
Feature a call to action in the conclusion of your paralegal cover letter. Invite the hiring manager to schedule an interview or reach out for more information on your legal background. Reinforce how your unique experience can create value for the law firm you’re targeting. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration in the last sentence.
Example
I hope to speak with you further regarding how my extensive background in both criminal and civil law would be an asset to your legal team. You may contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Aliya Jackson
Paralegal Cover Letter Tips
1. Feature specific case types
Although it is recommended that you never disclose confidential details about cases while crafting your resume, you can paint a picture of the types of cases you worked on as a paralegal. It’s appropriate to talk about your experience as long as you aren’t disclosing sensitive information related to an individual case. For instance, you might mention you provided legal support for multi-million dollar personal injury cases. This establishes a sense of scope for your accomplishments without breaching client confidentiality.
2. Highlight your legal expertise
In addition to showing your experience with various types of cases, it’s also important to emphasize other areas of legal knowledge. For instance, you could mention you performed research to inform pre-trial motions or identified legal precedents for dismissals. As you build your cover letter, be specific in how you supported attorneys and legal teams.
3. Showcase your communication skills
Being a strong communicator is an essential aspect of any paralegal role. You’ll be regularly tasked with drafting motions, emails, and other forms of legal correspondence. In some instances, you may also serve as a liaison between your law firm, opposing counsel, judges, and courtroom staff. Rather than simply listing communication as a skill, feature tangible examples from your career that speak to this.
Paralegal Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I submit a paralegal cover letter?-
While not every law firm will require a cover letter, submitting one is never a bad idea. This allows you to display your acumen for written communication, which is critical for success as a paralegal. The cover letter also provides an opportunity to express why you’re enthusiastic about joining a particular law firm, which may help differentiate you from other applicants.
How long should my cover letter be?-
It’s best to keep your cover letter relatively brief, limited to no more than three or four paragraphs. Concise and clear language is important when drafting motions and legal correspondence, so it’s important to demonstrate that you can articulate your points in a succinct yet compelling manner.
How do I make my cover letter stand out?-
To grab the attention of prospective employers, you’ll need to customize your cover letter for each individual job application. Mention a specific detail about the firm you’re applying to and how your legal background would be an asset to the team. Capture your unique story as a paralegal and avoid relying on generic buzzwords and phrases.
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