Lawyer Cover Letter Examples (Text Format)
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Tomas Stewart
Lawyer | [email protected] | (432) 234-4321 | 54 Main Avenue, Topeka, KS 76543
June 10, 2021
Cecilia Wagner
Senior Hiring Manager
BCG Attorney Search
[email protected]
(765) 567-7654
Dear Ms. Wagner,
During my second year of employment, I was singled out as the top-performing newly-qualified lawyer at my firm. My supervisors noted my exceptionally detailed knowledge of family law and outstanding witness preparation skills. I look forward to displaying these attributes as a family law specialist at BCG Attorney Search.
As a knowledgeable practitioner with 2 years of experience, I would relish the opportunity to work for one of the state’s leading law firms. I believe that my skills and experience can help your organization further its incredible reputation for expertise and client service. My recent achievements include:
- Securing a favorable outcome for 78% of cases on my roster in 2020
- Receiving praise 2x during annual performance reviews for my organization and advanced research ability
- Preparing complex legal documents with a 100% accuracy rate throughout employment
I would like to meet to explore how my strong collaborative and communication skills can make me an asset to your firm. Please contact me to schedule an interview.
Sincerely,
Tomas Stewart
P.S. I would like to tell you why I was shortlisted for the Kansas Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer Award last year.
Brenda J. Lee, J.D., MBA
Professional Attorney | [email protected] | (202) 987-6543 | 99999 West Kendall Drive, Miami, FL 33156
June 1, 2021
Aldo Becerra-Grant
Senior Hiring Manager
Patch, Jones & Associates
(305) 345-6789
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Becerra-Grant,
For the last four years at MGP, I have maintained between 1,500 and 1,600 billable hours, making me one of the top associates each year. My goal is to bring this level of focus as a senior associate at PJ&A.
In my more than eight years as a professional, I have leveraged my trial experience and negotiation skills to conduct over 250 mediations with a settlement rate of over 90 percent. Of those that had gone to trial, I managed to achieve an offer 85% of the time, and for that, clients rewarded me with a 93% satisfaction rate.
Some of my other successes include:
- Developing 75 case files and bringing 60 to trial
- Reached 7 settlements that ranged between $10 million and $13 million
- Provided critical research in over 150 cases that resulted in client judgment awards
- Found a new category of client that increased the firm’s billable hours by 8%
I would like to set up an interview with you to discuss my previous achievements and augment the PJ&A reputation for being a top firm in the insurance litigation space. Please contact me at your earliest convenience. I look forward to talking with you.
Sincerely,
Brenda J. Lee, J.D., MBA
Rebecca Taylor
Lawyer | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 Main Street, New York, NY 12345
January 1, 2021
Mark Tasseron
Senior Hiring Manager
Goldberg and Partners Law
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Tasseron,
Since earning my law degree and passing the New York bar exam 15 years ago, I have worked at a mid-size legal firm in downtown Manhattan. I have experience in handling an array of litigation and legal matters with a focus on corporate law. In the past 6 years, I have managed to add 57 new corporate clients to the firm’s books. These new clients have directly resulted in a 105% increase in profits.
I see that Goldberg and Partners Law is looking for a senior lawyer to help you expand your corporate client market share, and I believe that my past experience makes me the perfect candidate for the job.
Highlights of my career include:
- Securing 8-figure verdicts on behalf of clients
- Contributing to a landmark trademark infringement case in China on behalf of an American clothing manufacturer client
- Defeating product liability class action lawsuits for 6 clients
I look forward to telling you about my plans for Goldberg and Partners. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.
Kind regards,
Rebecca Taylor
P.S. I would love to tell you about two briefs I filled in the U.S. Supreme Court
Lawyer Cover Letter Checklist
An effective lawyer cover letter has five main components:
1. Heading. Hiring managers need to know how to contact you. Make it easy for them by including your full name, physical address, telephone number and email address; use a stylized header to ensure everything is formatted correctly.
2. Salutation. Open with a professional greeting that includes the hiring manager’s name if you know it. If the job posting doesn’t include a name, open your lawyer cover letter with a phrase like “Dear Hiring Manager.”
3. Introduction. Introduce yourself, explain your interest in the job and give the hiring manager a reason to keep reading.
4. Body paragraphs. Rather than repeating information from your resume, use your body paragraphs to tell the hiring manager about your professional achievements. To keep the content organized and make it easy for the hiring manager to read, use bulleted or numbered lists when listing your achievements.
5. Closing section. Don’t end your cover letter without asking the hiring manager to schedule an interview. To emphasize just one more achievement, think about adding a P.S. statement below your signature; the P.S. should “wow” the hiring manager by describing one of your biggest achievements as an attorney or law student.
Introduction
The introduction of your lawyer cover letter is your first chance to impress the hiring manager with your professionalism and enthusiasm. To draw attention to your accomplishments, pick one professional achievement and include it in the first paragraph. Choose something that can be expressed in numbers, such as the number of cases you’ve handled or the average dollar value of the settlements you’ve won.
Good
Although I’ve won many cases in my 10 years as a personal injury attorney, I’m most proud of my record in the area of medical malpractice. Over the past decade, I have won five malpractice settlements averaging $2.1 million each, ensuring my clients have the funds they need to make up for lost income. I hope to add to that record as a senior attorney at Crispell and Morgan Legal Services.
Bad
I have been working as an attorney for 10 years and think I would be a good fit for your firm.
Body Paragraphs
In the main body, explain why you’re interested in the job and let the hiring manager know how much you admire the company. Next, focus on your relevant achievements or credentials. If you’re about to graduate from law school, mention your summer internships or your participation in the mock trial team. Experienced attorneys should focus on work-related achievements.
For each achievement, explain how your work led to a positive outcome. Use percentages, dollar amounts and other numbers to highlight your successes.
Good
After more than a decade working as a personal injury, I’m ready for a new challenge. I’ve been following Crispell and Morgan Legal Services since it opened in 2013, and I’m confident my experience preparing for lengthy trials and managing a large caseload would be an asset to the firm.
I would be honored to continue my track record of success at Crispell and Morgan Legal Services. Some of my past achievements are as follows:
- Secured a $5.1 million medical malpractice settlement in the case of an 11-year-old who died after an emergency room physician failed to diagnose a bowel obstruction.
- Increased billable hours in the personal injury division by 14% over a two-year period.
- Implemented a junior associate orientation program that reduced one-year turnover by 18%.
Bad
I read that you are looking for a senior attorney with experience handling medical malpractice cases. I’ve been working in the personal injury field for 12 years and would love to work for such a highly respected firm.
My current duties are listed below:
- Conducting client intake sessions
- Preparing cases for trial
- Negotiating settlement offers
Closing
Don’t ruin a strong opening with a weak ending to your cover letter. Instead, ask the hiring manager to set up an interview. To leave a lasting impression, include a P.S. after your signature to draw attention to just one more achievement. If you use this technique, choose a major accomplishment that is likely to impress the hiring manager, not something generic that almost any attorney could use.
Good
I would like to meet with you to discuss my previous cases and explain how my skills would benefit the Crispell and Morgan Legal Services team. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to schedule an interview.
Sincerely yours,
Madison Walsh, Esq.
P.S. I’d love to speak with you about how one of my ideas saved my firm more than $50,000 in a single year.
Bad
Thank you for your time. It would be a pleasure to work with you, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
Keith Davies