A truly compelling lawyer cover letter highlights your legal expertise and professional achievements in a way that makes you irresistible for potential employers. Because nobody understands the power of persuasion and well-built arguments quite like you.
For that reason, we've prepared this comprehensive guide to lead you through the cover letter writing process step by step. Discover all the best writing tips, detailed examples, real-life samples, and elegant templates that will, beyond reasonable doubt, make you seem the perfect candidate for your dream job.
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In this guide, we teach you all the crucial steps for writing a cover letter as a lawyer. Keep reading to learn all about how to:
- Create a well-formatted header & headline as a lawyer
- Tailor your lawyer cover letter for the exact job you are applying to
- Craft an excellent introduction that hooks employers’ attention
- Demonstrate your value by describing your skills & accomplishments
- Conclude your lawyer cover letter with an effective closing statement
- Access top resources for job-seeking lawyers
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
1. Create a well-formatted header & headline as a lawyer
To begin your lawyer cover letter, the first key step to take is to create a well-formatted header and headline. These elements give your letter more visual structure and flow.
First up is your cover letter header, which should include:
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information
- The name of the law firm or organization you are applying to
- The address of the law firm or organization
Here is an example of a well-formatted lawyer header
Joe King, Business Lawyer
(123) 456-7890 | joeking@email.com | linkedin.com/in/joe-king
To: Pollock Corporate Offices
Legal Department
1234 Street Address
Boston, MA 02108
Directly after your header is your cover letter headline, which should include:
- A keyword or keyphrase related to the job
- An eye-catching number or trigger word
- An appropriate adjective and/or verb
- A promise to the employer that this letter is written exclusively for them
Here is an example of a well-written lawyer headline, followed by a quick breakdown of its primary components
My 3-Step Approach as a Corporate Lawyer & How It Will Positively Impact Your Business
Trigger Word/Number: 3-Step Approach
Keyword: Corporate Lawyer
Adjective/Verb: Positively Impact
Promise: Your Business
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2. Tailor your lawyer cover letter for the exact job you are applying to
Whenever you write a cover letter as a lawyer, it's crucial to tailor that letter for the exact job or position you're applying for.
By tailoring your cover letter, you can help your letter to stand out from your competing applicants’ letters. The tailoring process involves thoroughly researching the company before applying, looking for specific and relevant information that can be referenced throughout your letter.
Additionally, while researching the employer, take note of which staff member is most likely to review applications. You can use this information to include a personalized greeting that addresses that specific person by name.
Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings
- Dear Firm Manager John Doe,
- Dear Mr. John Doe,
- Dear Legal Manager Jane Smith,
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3. Craft an impactful lawyer cover letter introduction
A cover letter introduction is one of the most powerful elements of the document, as it not only helps to hook an employer’s attention but can often be the defining factor in whether or not an employer continues reading.
To write an excellent introduction that grabs an employer’s attention, make sure to include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and specializations
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Pro Tip: Mutual acquaintances help you to get a foot in the door immediately by providing a trustworthy professional reference. To gain a mutual acquaintance, try connecting with relevant employees of the companies you are most interested in on LinkedIn.
Here is an example of a great introduction from a lawyer’s cover letter
Dear Mr. John Doe,
I am a business lawyer with more than 6 years of specialized experience working with small businesses to protect against tax exploitation. As your firm is also focused on supporting the small business industry, I believe my joining your team would be nothing short of a match made in heaven. My longtime colleague, Ms. Jane Smith, is one of your legal managers and has agreed to serve as a professional reference who can advocate for my skills and qualifications.
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4. Showcase your best skills & accomplishments as a lawyer
Your skills and accomplishments have a vital role to play in your cover letter.
Unlike a resume, a cover letter gives you ample space to fully describe and contextualize your skills and accomplishments. As such, you must always strive to describe these qualifications in a way that is highly specific and quantifiable to give the employer the best overview of your professional prowess.
Here are 6 examples of lawyer skills to describe in a cover letter
- Providing thorough consultations to clients
- Coordinating communications with legal counsel
- Drafting and presenting legal documents
- Collecting and analyzing evidence
- Interpreting laws and regulations
- Performing legal research
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a lawyer’s cover letter
As a constitutional lawyer at [Former Employer], I worked with members of minority communities to bring greater equity and financial fairness to their workplaces. Of the firm’s 200 annual cases, I handled roughly 110 of these directly, with an average win rate of 90%.
5. Conclude your lawyer cover letter with an effective closing statement
The fifth and final step to writing your lawyer cover letter is to finish with an effective closing statement.
Your goal when writing your conclusion should be to encourage the employer to get in contact with you, including key details such as:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating when and how you can best be contacted
- Information on when and how you plan to follow up
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of an effective closing statement from a lawyer’s cover letter
I am eager to get to know your team and apply my expertise for the benefit of your firm and clientele. To best reach me to schedule a meeting, call me at (123) 456-7890 any weekday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. I hope to hear from you soon and plan to follow up next Wednesday morning if I have not yet heard back.
Until Then,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
6. Useful job search resources for job-seeking lawyers
Now that you know how to plead your case in both your lawyer resume and cover letter, there's just one thing standing between you and your dream job — finding the right work opportunity. Whether you're a new kid on the court or a seasoned veteran, these resources might be of use:
- Industry-specific job boards: Websites that aggregate niche job postings especially aimed at lawyers, such as Lawjobs, LawCrossing, or TotallyLegal can be great entry points to this profession.
- LinkedIn: This platform is more than a job search tool — it's an opportunity to network and connect with fellow industry experts and potential employers.
- Legal associations & organizations: Besides job listings, associations like the American Bar Association (ABA), the Bar Council, or the International Bar Association (IBA), can give you access to networking events, specialized publications, further training, and latest legal news.
- Recruitment agencies: The internet is brimming with agencies that specialize in matching legal experts with appropriate job opportunities. You can take a look at, for example, BCG Attorney Search, Lawson Clark, or Taylor Root.
- Law school career centers: In case you're still studying, pay a visit to your school's career services office. They can offer you job listings as well as resume help, and career advice.
- Specialized publications: To stay abreast of legal trends, case law, and industry developments, you can follow law-focused media like “Harvard Law Review,” “Law360,” or “ABA Journal.”
The process of job hunting can be frustrating, stressful and winding. But having a compelling cover letter can help you sway any recruitment jury in your favour. So, make yours count!
Lawyer / Advocate Cover Letter FAQ
Yes, you should! Try to demonstrate your commitment and enthusiasm for the profession. But keep it real and not over-the-top. You'll score more points with genuine, grounded excitement than with any overblown hyperbole.
You're a lawyer. And you know that precision matters. Any grammar mistakes, misspellings, or typos are cardinal sins. Always double or triple check your cover letter just to be sure that it's error free. Also, steer clear of using too much legal jargon — unless relevant, of course. Remember, the hiring manager doesn't have to be in the know.
Show, don't tell. You should avoid simply listing your abilities and skills. Instead, put them into a real-life context. For example, pull out a notable case or project you handled. Describe your role in it and what results you achieved.
No, not really. Instead, you should make your cover letter all about why you want to join the new employment. Stick to selling your skills, not discussing your departure. Why turn the spotlight on the past, when the future role is so much more promising. But make sure to never EVER speak ill of your former employer — no matter how much they deserve it. This may reflect badly on your professionalism.
That depends on your years of professional experience. If you're still a student, your education is probably all you have to vouch for your skills, so that should be the focus of your cover letter. However, with years of experience under your belt, real-world cases and projects matter more than your education. But, if the job posting mentions a particular degree or institution in their requirements, make sure to write that in your cover letter too.
