harvard law public interest cover letter

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Public Interest Law Career Guide

Portia L. Allen-Kyle, Advice to Thrive By: How to Use Your Resume and Cover Letter to Build Your Brand and Launch a Dynamic Public Interest Career (2022). Provides tips for crafting impactful resumes and cover letters for law students pursuing careers in public interest law. Publisher's Description KF299 .P8 A45 2022 (OCS)

Maria Armoudian, Lawyers Beyond Borders: Advancing International Human Rights Through Local Laws and Courts (2021). Reveals how human rights lawyers in the U.S. are advancing international human rights through civil litigation. Publisher's Description K3240 .A76 2021 (Law Library 2nd Floor)

Cause Lawyering: Political Commitments and Professional Responsibilities (Austin Sarat & Stuart A. Scheingold eds. 2023). A collection of essays about public interest lawyers from around the country. Publisher's description K487 .P65 Z92 1998 (2nd Floor) Full text on ProQuest Ebook Central

Alan K. Chen & Scott L. Cummings, Public Interest Lawyering: A Contemporary Perspective (2013). Offers an in-depth analysis of public interest lawyering, covering NGOs, government agencies, and private firms. Addresses issues including ethics, the role of legal education, financing, and the globalization of public interest practice. Publisher's Description   KF299 .P8 C48 2013 (Law Library 2nd Floor)

Jefferson Decker, The Other Rights Revolution: Conservative Lawyers and the Remaking of American Government (2016). Explains how conservative lawyers have used public interest law firms to advance conservative causes. KF299 .P8 D43 2016 (Law Library 2nd Floor) Full text on Oxford Scholarship Online

Nicole Hallett, Becoming a Public Interest Lawyer (2022). A comprehensive guide for law students seeking a career in public interest law. Full text on West Academic

Earl Johnson, Jr., To Establish Justice for All: The Past and Future of Civil Legal Aid in the United States (2014). This three-volume set offers a detailed history of civil legal aid and analysis of its future prospects. KF336 .J64 2014 (Law Library 2nd Floor)

Jonathan Rapping, Gideon's Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice (2020). Explains how public defenders can take a more active role in criminal justice reform. Publisher's Description KF9646 .R37 2020 (Law Library 2nd Floor)

Daniel Sheehan, The People's Advocate: The Life and Legal History of America's Most Fearless Public Interest Lawyer (2013). An autobiography from an eminent cause lawyer who was involved in several historic cases including litigation over the Watergate and Iran/Contra scandals. Publisher's Description   KF373 .S485 A3 2013 (Law Library 2nd Floor)

Michael E. Tigar, Sensing Injustice: A Lawyer's Life in the Battle for Change (2021). An autobiography by a prominent human rights lawyer known for representing controversial clients. Publisher's Description KF373 .T58 A3 2021 (Law Library 2nd Floor)

Colleen Aracri, How Legal Aid Salaries Impact Access to Justice , Maryland Bar Journal, Spring 2023, at 85. Explains the disparity in pay between civil legal aid attorneys and attorneys in private practice, and discusses how this impacts the recruitment and retention of legal aid attorneys. Focuses on Maryland.

Cara Bayles, How Some Attys Are Ditching BigLaw for Public Interest Work , Law360, Sept. 13, 2020. Many law school graduates gravitate towards BigLaw to help pay off their law school debt, but still have an interest in someday pursuing a career in public interest law. This article explains how lawyers make the transition from BigLaw to public interest work.

Kara Blomquist, Beyond the Pay Gap: 5 Tips for Creating a Financially Viable Future in Public Interest Law , Student Lawyer, Nov.-Dec. 2018, at 17. Practical advice on the pay gap between nonprofit organizations and large law firms.

Scott L. Cummings, Movement Lawyering , 27 Indiana J. Global Leg. Studies 87 (2020). Explores the rise of "movement lawyering," an alternative model of public interest advocacy that integrates legal and political strategies.

Syeda Davidson, Don't Tell Me I Had to Start Somewhere , TYL, Fall 2014, at 10. A young lawyer who worked for legal aid challenges the perception that legal aid jobs are undesirable. 

Gabrielle Orum Hernandez, A High-Tech Helping Hand , American Lawyer, June 2017, at L4. "Bar associations across the country are seeking technology platforms to help mobilize attorneys and create a more resilient legal assistance community."

Marianne Engelman Lado & Kenneth Rumelt, Pipeline Struggles: Case Studies in Ground Up Lawyering , 45 Harv. Env't Law Review 377 (2021). Using the battle over oil and gas pipelines as an example, this article examines how lawyers can support community-led efforts in environmental justice and explores the relationship between legal work and community-based movements.

Claire L. Parins, So You Want to Work in the Public Interest? Here Are Seven Things to Consider If You're Mulling a Career in Which You'll Serve the Public Good , Student Lawyer, Jan./Feb. 2022, at 19. Provides an overview of public interest law and step-by-step advice on factors to consider before entering this field.

Matt Reynolds, Help Wanted , ABA Journal, April/May 2024, at 38. Discusses the struggle to recruit and retain civil legal aid lawyers, especially in small towns and rural counties.

Mary Beth Schluckebier, Movement Lawyering: Using People Power to Promote Change , The Legal Intelligencer, Sept. 20, 2021, at 7. Examines the history and current state of movement lawyering, also known as community or political lawyering. The author describes her own work for Philadelphia's Public Interest Law Center to support the rights of renters.

Sandra Simkins, The "Pink Ghettos" of Public Interest Law: An Open Secret , 68 Buffalo L. Rev. 857 (2020). Addresses the challenges women face in public interest legal careers.

Symposium, Rebellious Lawyering at 25 , 23 Clinical L. Rev. 471 (2017). Nine articles on the culture and practice of progressive public interest law.

Ashley Zink et al, Why I Do Public Interest Work , Student Lawyer, Jan.-Feb. 2019, at 14. A collection of nine statements from law students explaining why they chose a public interest career path.

Dialogue: The Magazine of the ABA Division for Legal Services Quarterly. Chicago: ABA Division for Legal Services On the Web at: https://www.americanbar.org/content/aba/groups/legal_services/publications/dialogue.html  

Organizations & Websites

ABA Division for Legal Services 321 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60610 tel: (800) 285-2221 The Division works to improve access for all to legal services. It offers periodicals, directories, and other information for lawyers. Within the Division, 11 committees and commissions focus on different aspects of legal services.

Equal Justice Works 1730 M St. N.W., Ste. 800 Washington, D.C. 20036 tel: (202) 466-3686 e-mail: [email protected]      “Equal Justice Works organizes, trains and supports public service-minded law students and is the national leader in creating summer and postgraduate public interest jobs.” Their website includes a searchable database of public interest law career opportunities.

Harvard Law School Office of Public Interest Advising: Job Search Toolkit This free site offers an overview of public interest work and provides detailed job search advice, including interview tips and sample resumes and cover letters.

Legal Services Corporation 3333 K St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20007 tel: (202) 295-1500 This nonprofit corporation is the single largest funder of civil legal aid. Their website includes information on meetings and events, career and internship opportunities, online resources for legal aid attorneys, and a blog.

National Legal Aid and Defender Association 1901 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Ste. 500 Washington, D.C. 20006 tel: (202) 452-0620 e-mail: [email protected] NLADA is the largest and oldest organization for legal professionals who serve low-income clients. They provide support for their members, information for the public, and take part in legislative efforts.

PSJD: Your Pathway to Public Service Legal Careers 1220 19th St. NW, Ste. 401 Washington, D.C. 20036-2405 tel: (202) 296-0076 e-mail: [email protected] PSJD offers a database of nonprofit organizations and job opportunities in public interest law. The database covers internships, postgraduate fellowships, and permanent positions. Students at William & Mary Law School may create a PSJD account for free.

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Internships and fellowships, lsc summer internship program.

Our 2024 summer internship program runs from May 20 – July 26.   

Program Information

For program inquiries please contact: [email protected]

The Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School accepts applications from law student and undergraduate candidates to serve as interns during the summer.  Our summer program runs from late May until the end of July. (Note: on a case-by-case basis, we will also consider proposals for split-summers and summer schedules that begin before and/or end after the formal summer program).

Located at the crossroads of Jamaica Plain and Roxbury, the Legal Services Center is Harvard Law School’s largest clinical placement, housing multiple clinics and providing direct legal services to hundreds of low-and-moderate income residents in the Greater Boston area each year. Our longstanding mission is to educate law students for practice and professional service while simultaneously meeting the critical legal needs of the community.

Law student summer interns will work in one of the following clinical areas:

• Consumer Protection Clinic
• Veterans Justice Project

LSC’s student interns are supervised and mentored by experienced clinical instructors. Law student interns will conduct interviews with potential clients seeking advice or assistance; counsel and advise clients; engage in investigation and formal discovery; develop case strategies; prepare pleadings for courts or petitions to administrative agencies; and research case-specific legal issues. Some law student interns appear before courts on contested motions, preliminary matters or assist in a trial; others will represent clients before administrative agencies. Undergraduate interns experience a range of opportunities supporting Clinical Instructors and law student interns with client cases, and engaging in independent work on behalf of clients. Our summer program is also structured to include multiple learning and training opportunities, including weekly speaker events, ethics training, community partner site visits and guest presenters. Overall, all interns are provided with a singular opportunity to engage in mentored hands-on learning, to develop and practice new legal skills, and to interact with diverse client communities through immersion in the work of a community-based civil legal services office.

In addition to gaining practical lawyering skills, an internship at LSC provides students with a superb opportunity to explore Boston and its many and multi-faceted neighborhoods.

Internships are unpaid, but are eligible for public interest fellowship sponsorship, including through  SPIF (Harvard Law School students only) and EJA .  We would be pleased to work with applicants to provide sponsorship for other summer public interest funding. LSC will provide a modest stipend to all summer interns; more information on this stipend will be provided to successful applicants.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. To apply, please submit (1) a resume, (2) a cover letter which identifies your top two practice-area preferences from our clinical offerings list, and (3) a writing sample. Submit your application materials here .  

Undergraduate Summer Internship Positions

LSC also welcomes college students and recent college graduates to apply for summer internship positions. Interns are unpaid, but are welcome to seek funding from their schools or other sources. These positions entail assisting clinical professors and instructors, legal fellows, and law student interns in representing and advising low-income clients in one or several substantive areas of public interest law practice. Tasks typically include assisting with or conducting: client intakes, legal research, court records searches and filings, client correspondence, case memoranda, and record keeping. Undergraduate interns are invited to attend all of the LSC summer internship programming and events.  Again, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

Clinics accepting applications for undergraduate/recent graduate internships are:

• At this time, we are not accepting applications for undergraduate/recent graduate summer internships.  Please check back later.   

To apply, please submit (1) a resume, (2) a concise writing sample of 500 words or less, and (3) a cover letter which clearly states that you are an undergraduate or recent graduate applicant and identifies your top two or three practice-area preferences from the above list. Submit your application materials here .   

Other Internship Opportunities

The following clinical areas are currently accepting applications from candidates for undergraduate interns for the upcoming fall/spring semesters:

• Housing Law Clinic 
• Safety Net Project
• Veterans Legal Clinic – Estate Planning Project

Application is by email; please send (1) a resume, (2) a concise writing sample of 500 words or less, and (3) a cover letter which identifies your top two or three practice-area preferences to [email protected] .

Fellowship Opportunities

The Legal Services Center welcomes applications from graduating law students and those completing judicial clerkships who are interested in sponsorship for a public interest fellowship. LSC has a strong track record of successfully sponsoring applicants for public interest fellowships. To apply for sponsorship, please send a resume and email expressing interest to LSC Faculty Director Daniel Nagin at dnagin[at]law.harvard.edu. We encourage potential applicants to contact us as early as possible in the fellowship cycle process. Decisions about sponsorships are made on a rolling basis.

In most years, the Legal Services Center actively seeks to sponsor applicants for a variety of fellowships, including the Skadden Foundation Fellowship, the Equal Justice Works Fellowship, the ABA Tax Section Christine A. Brunswick Public Service Fellowship, and other foundation and law-school based fellowships.  Our subject-area interests for sponsorship are wide ranging and include consumer, tax, veterans, disability and safety net programs , housing and family law.

Persons interested in working for the Legal Services Center should also be sure to visit our Employment Opportunities page ,

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How to Write a Cover Letter

Advice for tackling one of the toughest parts of the job-hunting process.

Perhaps the most challenging part of the job application process is writing an effective cover letter. And yes, you should send one. Even if only one in two cover letters gets read, that’s still a 50% chance that including one could help you. Before you start writing, find out more about the company and the specific job you want. Next, catch the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter with a strong opening line. If you have a personal connection with the company or someone who works there, mention it in the first sentence or two, and try to address your letter to someone directly. Hiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems, so show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces. Then explain how your experience has equipped you to meet those needs. If the online application doesn’t allow you to submit a cover letter, use the format you’re given to demonstrate your ability to do the job and your enthusiasm for the role.

No one likes job hunting. Scouring through online job listings, spiffing up your résumé , prepping for grueling interviews  — none of it is fun. For many, the most challenging part of the process is writing an effective cover letter. There’s so much conflicting advice out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Do you even need one, especially if you’re applying through an online system?

• Amy Gallo is a contributing editor at Harvard Business Review, cohost of the Women at Work podcast , and the author of two books: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) and the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict . She writes and speaks about workplace dynamics. Watch her TEDx talk on conflict and follow her on LinkedIn . amyegallo

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How to Write a Legal Cover Letter for Law Firms (that Gets you Noticed)

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Whether you’re just starting your legal journey or are an experienced legal professional seeking a new role, there’s no way around it: demand for legal positions is high, and the job outlook for lawyers in the US grows at a faster-than-average pace . Pair this industry growth with movement from lawyers already working in the industry (the 2022 Legal Trends Report found that in the 12 months before April 2022, nearly one in five lawyers left the law firm they were working for, and nine percent planned to leave their firm in the next six months), and it’s clear that many lawyers will find themselves needing to stand out in a competitive job market. 

However, despite the high demand for legal positions, people still need legal expertise—and law firms need capable legal professionals to fill open roles.

Whether you’re a law student, recent graduate, or experienced legal professional, this post will help you with your legal cover letter writing. We’ve started by providing sample cover letters for legal positions below and will then guide you through the essentials of writing a compelling cover letter for law firms. 

Legal cover letter examples

If you’re feeling overwhelmed when drafting a cover letter for law firms, don’t worry. Seeing a legal cover letter example can give you the confidence to write your own. Below, we’ve compiled some sample cover letters for legal positions, covering different backgrounds and levels of experience.

• Cover letter examples for summer associates and interns, Columbia Law School.  
• Cover letter examples for 1L – 3L students, Harvard Law School .
• Cover letter examples for 1L – 3L students, Yale Law School .
• Cover letter example for applying to an immigration law firm by a recent graduate with previous paralegal experience .
• Cover letter example for applying to a Big Law firm, Boston University. 
• Cover letter example for an IP lawyer with 11 years experience, Monster .
• Cover letter example for a litigation attorney with 12 years experience, My Perfect Resume .
• Cover letter examples for applying for private sector roles, Yale Law School .
• Cover letter example for seeking a summer judicial internship, University of Georgia School of Law .

Berkeley Law also provides an excellent guide for legal cover letters. 

You can start by using one of these examples as inspiration when structuring your cover letter and what you may want to highlight. You can also take insights from these sample cover letters for lawyers—insights you can apply to your own cover letter when following our tips below.

How to draft a cover letter for a law firm

It’s one thing to review examples of legal cover letters, but how to write one? By following the standard etiquette and structure—and then personalizing it—you can draft an effective cover letter. First, let’s review some legal cover letter best practices.

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Even after reviewing some legal cover letter examples, the dos and don’ts of legal cover letter writing aren’t always easy to spot. You may ask yourself: what should a legal cover letter include for a law firm? While the content of your cover letter will differ between employers, these points of etiquette should not.

• Don’t skip it. The first—and potentially most important—element of legal cover letter etiquette is just writing one. While job sites and hiring portals may state “Cover Letter Optional,” disregard this, it is always best to send a cover letter.
• Be concise. The hiring manager is likely receiving dozens, or maybe even hundreds, of cover letters a day. Respect an employer’s time by getting straight to the point. Long legal cover letters may also indicate an inability to achieve quick and succinct results.
• Match their tone. Write as if you’ve already been hired for the role. It’s subtle, but an employer will appreciate this personal touch.
• Prioritize the employer. Don’t include unnecessary details about your life that won’t impact how you’ll perform the job.
• Don’t recycle legal cover letters. Be original. It’s time-consuming work, but it’ll show your potential employer your dedication.
• Triple-check it. Spelling and grammatical errors should be avoided at all costs. Given the highly competitive nature of the legal job market, you don’t want to be passed up over a simple error.

Addressing cover letters for lawyers

To whom it may concern: Always take the time to find the correct contact. When writing cover letters for law firms, it’s a common misstep to dedicate so much time and attention to the body of the letter that you overlook the basics—like who and how you’re addressing the letter. 

Here are some best practices for addressing your legal cover letter:

• Know who you’re speaking to. Do your research and be specific. Address your cover letter to the person responsible for hiring at the firm you’re contacting, like the senior partner or hiring manager. If you don’t have this information, the law firm’s website might come in handy, or you can contact the law firm’s human resources department for guidance. 
• Be careful with salutations. The salutation is a place to convey respect and showcase that you’ve taken the time to personalize the letter. Mistakes in the salutation are a sign that you’ll miss details, which won’t bode well for your chances of impressing your potential employer. If you’re certain of the recipient’s preferred gender-identifying language, you can write the salutation as “Dear Ms.” or “Dear Mr.”; however, if you aren’t certain (and don’t make assumptions) or you don’t want to use gender-identifying language, drop the “Ms.” or “Mr.” and write out the person’s full first and last name.
• Double-check your spelling. People will always notice if you spell their name wrong, and there are multiple ways to spell even common names. Ensure you start on the right foot by getting the basics right.

Introductory paragraph

In your cover letter’s opening paragraph, you have two main goals:

• Introduce who you are.
• Explain why you’d be a good fit for this particular firm. 

In the first paragraph, include details about:

• Who you are. Are you currently a law student? Are you an associate at a law firm?
• Who you know. Mention any referrals or mutual acquaintances right away.
• Why you’d be a great fit for the firm. Include specific reasons—you’re looking for a way to create connections with the senior partner or hiring manager.

Main cover letter body

The body section of your cover letter is your chance to shine—and to concisely summarize exactly how you meet the requirements in the job description. 

In one or two paragraphs, give a high-level overview of your legal education and experience to show:

• Why you want to work for this firm. Elaborate on what makes you genuinely excited about the firm—whether it is an area of interest you’ve specialized in, the firm’s reputation or mission, or past experiences that will make you a uniquely good fit.
• Why this firm should hire you. Make clear connections between your qualifications and aspects of the role you’re applying for. If there is a job posting, look closely for key attributes that the firm is looking for, and then detail how you meet those expectations. 

Highlighting your qualifications

Above all else, ensure your legal cover letter highlights your skills. Relevant qualifications for a law firm cover letter include: 

• Past legal work experience or positions.
• Community service roles.
• Academic or research specializations.
• Publications.
• Relevant awards you’ve received.
• Your personal background.

For example, consider a job posting that describes their ideal candidate as someone with personal injury litigation experience, excellent communication skills, and who works well both independently and as a part of a team in a fast-paced office environment.

If you were applying for this role, your cover letter’s body paragraphs might detail your past personal injury litigation experience and specific examples of how you’ve successfully communicated within a team and in a fast-paced environment.

Remember: Be specific, but keep in mind that this is not the place to restate your resume —if you can grab the hiring manager’s attention here, they will read your resume for those details. Your cover letter is where you can entice the reader to move on to your resume by providing context and highlighting how your experience lines up with what’s needed for the role.

For tips on writing a standout lawyer resume, read our blog post here.

Concluding paragraph

Finally, your concluding paragraph is where you’ll succinctly wrap the cover letter up, close the loop, and leave a positive impression. In your closing paragraph, be sure to:

• Say thank you. Gratitude can make a difference, so always thank the reader for their consideration.
• Assert your next steps. It’s fine to clearly outline how and when you will follow up on your application, rather than waiting indefinitely for an answer. And, if you say that you’ll follow up at a specific time, be sure to do it—and hold yourself to your word.
• Provide relevant contact details. Let the reader know how to reach you by phone or email, if these details are not already outlined in your letter’s header.

Tips for using your legal cover letter to stand out

The legal industry is rapidly evolving, and job hunters need to set themselves apart to get hired (unless, of course, you decide to start your own law firm ). 

If you’re applying for a job as a lawyer, whether it’s a traditional position or a legal work-from-home job , here are five tips to make sure your cover letter lands at the top of the pile.

1. Make it personal

Perhaps the most important tip for writing cover letters for lawyers is to make it personal. 

Many of your competitors have similar education and professional experience, so being generic is a fast track to being forgotten. 

Use a personalized cover letter to showcase the unique reasons why you’re the best candidate. Show that you know the person you’re writing to, and highlight any connections. If that isn’t possible, you can always write about the firm to show that you’ve done your research. 

2. Prioritize the positive 

When writing a lawyer cover letter, focus on what you have to offer. Regardless of why you’re looking for a new job, you bring a unique mix of attributes to the table. Highlight these attributes, whether they’re your: 

• Other legal careers
• Relevant work experience 

If you’re a law student or recent graduate, you may not have a long legal career to highlight. However, you can still note strengths like technology skills that make you an asset.

To a hiring law firm, being tech-competent and familiar with certain cloud-based tools like Clio could be an advantage that sets you apart from other candidates.

For example, more and more law firms are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help them run their practices more efficiently, with the 2023 Legal Trends Report finding that nearly one in five legal professionals are using some form of AI in their practices already. With this in mind, lawyers up-to-date with AI technology may stand out for hiring law firms.  

3. Get to the point

Legal cover letters are not the place to be long-winded, and droning on will almost certainly have the opposite effect of what you’re going for. Keep cover letters for attorneys short, to the point, and persuasive—the trick is to be memorable and limit yourself to one page. Because you want to make a lasting impression on a single page, it’s also a good idea to check your cover letter’s sentence structure. Do you start all of your sentences the same way? Are they all the same length? Ensure there’s some variety so your reader stays engaged.

4. Set the right tone

Tone matters. While what you say in a cover letter for lawyers is obviously important, it also matters how you say it. 

No matter what type of legal job you’re applying for, you always want to convey a professional tone. However, depending on the law firm you’re applying to, using a personal tone may work to your advantage. Tailor your tone to match the law firm you’re applying to. 

If you’re writing a Big Law cover letter, for example, you’ll want to err on the side of being more formal. For a smaller local law firm? Check their website and match the tone to demonstrate your familiarity with their firm. 

5. Proofread

There is zero room for typos or grammatical errors in cover letters for lawyers. With so much competition for legal jobs, don’t give hiring managers a reason to eliminate you. Take the time to carefully proofread your cover letter yourself, and consider enlisting someone else to proofread your cover letters as well.

Final thoughts on how to write a legal cover letter for a law firm

In a crowded legal job market, there’s no better way to outshine the competition than an excellent legal cover letter. Ensure you’re putting your best foot forward with your future employer by: 

• Making it personal. At every step, customize your cover letter to the firm you’re applying to—from the tone to the specific skills you detail.
• Keeping it brief. Cover letters for lawyers are a one-page summary to let the hiring manager know that you’re a candidate they should talk to further. You want to give them enough information to draw them in, but not overwhelm them and risk losing interest.
• Showcasing your strengths. Focus on the positives, and don’t be afraid to highlight how your past experiences make you uniquely qualified.

While finding a new legal job in a competitive market isn’t exactly easy, staying resilient and adaptive will lead you to success. By crafting a great cover letter, you’re more likely to be noticed in this—and any—job market. 

And, no matter what job you’re applying for, knowing technology can help set you apart—both when job hunting and once you’re working at your new firm. If you’re a law student and want a head start, you may be able to get free Clio access via Clio’s Academic Access Program (CAAP) at your law school. Learn more about CAAP here .

Do law firms read cover letters?

In a competitive job market, hiring managers at law firms read cover letters to help determine which candidates may be the best fit. A well-written legal cover letter can entice the reader to review your resume—and, hopefully, invite you for an interview—by showcasing how your experience and skills align with the role. 

We published this blog post in June 2020. Last updated: June 13, 2024 .

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Cover Letters

E. common cover letter mistakes.

• Vide o and Slides from the CDO program “ Cover Letters That Do The Job” and handouts: Job Postings & Tips and Sample PIPS Cover Letters .

Your cover letter is as important as your resume because it is often read first and plays a vital role in your quest for an interview. A cover letter is not a transmittal letter, and you may be surprised at how time-consuming it is to craft a good one. A cover letter has a purpose, which is to let an employer know why they should bother reading your resume and why they should meet you. It also serves as an example of your written work product; thus it should be clear, brief, and written in a business letter style, without any typographical errors.

1. Cover letters for unsolicited applications come in three main types:

• Personal Letter. These are the most effective cover letters and are sent to people you have met or with whom you have a mutual acquaintance. These letters should all start with the sentence: “_______ recommended that I contact you.” As this type of letter is most likely to get a response, if you have any possibility of establishing this sort of connection to a prospective employer in advance of sending your letter, you should try your best to do so.
• Targeted Letters. Next best thing. Targeted letters are based on research of the employer, and are individually tailored. Your letter should incorporate the information learned through your research to show the employer that you have skills they will be able to put to use.
• Mass Mailers. Least desirable. These are generic except for the name and address of the employer, and have a very low success rate of getting interviews.

2. When you respond to a job listing, you will usually be requested to submit a cover letter as part of your application. In this case, use the job description and requested qualifications as a guide. While not simply imitating the language of the listing, your letter should demonstrate that you have what the employer is looking for.

3. A few employers at OCI request that students bring a cover letter to the initial interview. This is essentially to require students to think about why they want to work for this employer, but it makes for a letter which deviates from the usual “please consider me for an interview” approach. See below for suggestions on OCI cover letters.

Cover letters should follow standard business letter format, as to spacing, salutation, etc. If you are not sure of the fine points, consult a business correspondence reference source. Avoid abbreviations, contractions and shortcuts (such as a slash instead of “or”), although if there is an accepted short form of the name of the organization you are writing to (e.g., ACLU or Coblentz) it is acceptable to use it in the text of your letter. Your telephone number and email address should appear somewhere in the letter, either at the top with your address, or in the closing paragraph, when you ask them to contact you. Note that your resume is “enclosed,” not “attached” (which means clipped or stapled).

If you are not sure to whom you should send your letter, it is always acceptable to write to the executive director of a nonprofit, or the hiring partner or head of recruiting at a firm; they can forward your application to the appropriate person within the organization. If at all possible, write to an individual by name, not to “Director” or “Recruiting Coordinator.” Firm and organization web sites are very useful in finding this information (and for confirming correct spellings and the like); it may be more difficult to find the name of an individual addressee for government job opportunities. If you do not have the name of an individual, the salutation should be “Dear Sir or Madam” (not “To Whom It May Concern”). Of course if you are responding to a job posting, address your letter exactly as instructed.

As for the appropriate salutation, traditionally, it is “Dear [Mr./Ms.] [Last Name].  However, we understand that this prevailing business norm may not be inclusive of individuals who do not use either of those titles (for example, because they identify as gender nonconforming). One alternative, “Dear [First Name] [Last Name]”, avoids presuming how the recipient may identify, but it is not without some risk.  

If you use this approach, a recipient less attuned to thinking about gender inclusivity (and accustomed to seeing only “Dear [Mr./Ms] [Last Name]”) may wrongly conclude that you were unfamiliar with professional etiquette or that you used a mail merge template and did not bother to customize it.  While awareness around these issues is increasing, we believe that, unfortunately, it is still not a small number of recruiting representatives and attorneys who might draw the wrong conclusion.

One way to navigate this tricky situation might be to see if the recipient has an online presence (e.g., on the firm website or LinkedIn) that might give you a strong clue as to how they would like to be addressed.  Otherwise, you will need to make your own judgment as to whether recipients are more likely to recognize your inclusivity or to view the greeting as awkward or erroneous.

In our office, we are also working to help employers become familiar with gender-inclusive approaches like “Dear [First Name] [Last Name],” but like any process of education, this will take time. In the meantime, our primary goal is to make sure that all Berkeley Law students are fully informed as you navigate legal job markets. We are always available to discuss individually what approach would be the best fit for you.

First Paragraph. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing. Introduce yourself as a law student (including the year you are in) or a graduate of Berkeley Law and specify what it is you are seeking: a summer job, an associate position, a clerkship, part-time work during the school year, etc.

The goal of this paragraph is to give the reader a reason to want to finish reading the letter. If you don’t have a personal connection to cite, try to establish a nexus between yourself and the employer, such as knowledge of their practice, an established commitment to or interest in their work, a connection to their city, or something else which conveys that you are not just writing to them as part of a mass mailing for any job in any location. (If that in fact is what you are doing, try not to be too obvious about it. An employer wants to think that you sought him or her out purposely rather than randomly.)

Body Paragraph(s). This is the section in which you “sell” your experience and qualifications to the employer. Your goal here is to answer the question, “Why should the employer meet you?”

Call attention to something which substantiates your interest in this particular employer. It could be coursework in their specialty, the recommendation of a professor in their area of practice, undergraduate residency in their city, or any other indication of your interest. Try also to show how your experiences will translate into skills which will be useful to this particular employer. Highlight relevant qualifications which are not on your resume, such as coursework, research, or a prior connection to the organization or the issues they work on. If you have general legal skills such as negotiation, litigation, client counseling, interviewing, mock trials, etc., you may want to include them. As much as possible, try to convey understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the aims of the organization.

Employers do not expect first-year students to have highly-developed legal skills to offer. Therefore, for first-year students writing to private firms, this section can be a single, short paragraph, unless you have a strong background in a relevant area. However, even inexperienced first-year students writing to public interest/sector organizations should make an effort to describe skills and interests that are relevant to the employer.

It is appropriate and not uncommon for a public interest cover letter to be somewhat more detailed or personal than a private sector cover letter. Of course, it is still very important to be concise, but it is acceptable for the letter to be a full page if your experience dictates. In a public interest cover letter, it is important both to highlight your demonstrated commitment to the mission/work/client base of the organization through your own relevant work or life experience, and to illustrate your relevant skills. Take another look at your resume for items that show your interest, commitment and skills. Even if you do not have experience in the specific area in which an organization works, it is still important to emphasize your demonstrated commitment to the public interest, and to draw connections between that general commitment and the specific work of the organization. As it is important not to merely regurgitate your resume, consider including a story that illustrates you are interested or qualified in the position.

If your application raises questions that are readily answered, such as availability after the Bar exam, judicial clerkship plans, etc., the letter can address those; other issues may be better deferred to the interview stage. Consult a CDO attorney-counselor if you’re not sure whether to include something in your cover letter.

Final Paragraph. In your last paragraph, thank them for their consideration, and say you hope to hear from them soon. For out-of-town employers, indicate when you plan to be in their geographic area and state your availability for an interview. Be sure to include your phone number and email in this paragraph unless you use a letterhead style that includes them at the top of the page. If you state that you will call the employer to follow up on your application, be sure you do so.

If you are bringing a cover letter to an on-campus interview (which you should do only if the employer requests you to), the content will be a bit different. You don’t need to introduce yourself, as you will be there in person, and you won’t request an interview at the closing. But you can thank the employer for interviewing you and say that you welcome the opportunity to learn more about the employer and to discuss the possibility of working for them. The important thing is to show why you are interested in this particular employer, and how you think your background makes you a good match for them.

The mistakes most commonly found in student cover letters are:

• Restating your resume. “ I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2005, with a B.A., cum laude, in Political Science, then worked as a substitute teacher in an urban high school before starting law school in the fall of 2008 .” Don’t waste space with facts that are readily gleaned from your resume! Instead, you could say (briefly) how your work experience led you to pursue a legal career in an area practiced by the employer.
• Focusing on what you stand to gain from the job . “ I am particularly interested in your firm’s excellent training program for summer associates, and in gaining exposure to a variety of different practice areas.” Remember, employers only grant interviews to candidates who offer something of potential use to the employer. Try to say how your skills and enthusiasm will help the employer serve its clients, or otherwise further its aims.
• Being too informal or familiar. “I’m thrilled by the possibility of working with you this summer, and would love to meet with you in person/by phone to chat about what the options might be.” Enthusiasm is good, but it must be presented professionally.

Other cover letter mistakes include: being defensive or apologetic; appearing arrogant or entitled, and being too long and wordy. Unsupported statements of your qualities (“I am highly motivated and a quick study”) do not help your case. Generic reasons for your interest in the employer (e.g., its “excellent reputation”) tend to demonstrate your lack of specific knowledge. Of course typos and inaccuracies, such as misspelled names, or (please!) stating an interest in a practice area that the firm doesn’t have, are automatic application-killers.

Our cover letter template  provides suggestions only; please do not feel excessively constrained by its approach. Your letter should, of course, be original work that reflects your unique background and the job you are aiming at.

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Cover Letter Advice & Samples

Cover letter advice and samples.

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• Draft your cover letter knowing it is your first writing sample.
• Understand that a cover letter should persuade the reader.
• Use the cover letter to “connect the dots” of your experiences.
• Resist the temptation to restate your resume.
• Keep your cover letter to one page.
• Use the font style and point size that match your resume.
• Remember that the reader is busy: less is more.
• Ensure your cover letter is error free.

Cover Letter Construction

Address block and salutation.

• Address the cover letter to an actual person.
• Research websites or call employer to determine recipient’s name.
• If you cannot find the name of a hiring contact, address your letter to the head of the unit, department, or office.
• While this is the least-preferred option, you may address your letter to “Dear Hiring Committee” if you cannot locate the name of an actual person.
• For firms, address your letter to the recruiting director. For larger firms, contact information for recruiting directors is available at www.nalpdirectory.com in the Basic Information section.
• In the salutation, include the recipient’s title and last name (e.g., “Dear Ms. Raintree”) or write the recipient’s entire name (e.g., “Dear Jamie Morales”).

Paragraph One

• Tell the employer who you are and what you are seeking.
• Highlight (past, present, and future) geographic connections.
• Indicate if you have talked to students/faculty/friends/alumni who speak highly of the organization.

Paragraph Two

• Show that you understand the employer’s mission/practice, the work its attorneys do, and the clients it serves.
• Demonstrate your proven interest in and connection to that mission/practice, work, and clients.

Paragraph Three

• Describe skills you will contribute to support that mission/practice, work, and clients.
• Provide evidence from your experiences and coursework.

Paragraph Four

• List the documents included with the letter.
• Tell the employer how to get in touch with you by email, telephone, and mail.
• Convey your availability for a conversation, mentioning upcoming trips to the area.
• Thank the employer for considering you.
• Mention availability of Yale summer funding, if applicable.
• Optional: Promise that you will follow up in a few weeks if you think the employer would appreciate the diligence.

Sample Cover Letters (PDF)

First Year Student Examples | Second Year Student Examples | Third Year Student Examples

Fall 2024 GLAD Legal Internships

LGBTQ internships at GLAD allow you to get involved first-hand in the right for equal treatment and protection under the law for LGBTQ people and people living with HIV. GLAD is at the cutting edge of the historic fight for full equality and justice. Through impact litigation, education, and public policy work, GLAD’s precedent-setting work has established anti-discrimination laws for LGBTQ+ people and protected the rights of those with HIV throughout New England.

Although you do not have to identify as as LGBTQ+ person, GLAD is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic staff committed to working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from transgender persons, people of color, and individuals with disabilities, including HIV.

Available Internships

Legal intern.

GLAD is now accepting applications for Fall 2024.

GLAD is looking for highly motivated legal interns to help advance our work. Our legal interns perform extensive legal research and writing related to all areas of GLAD’s work and may have opportunities to:

• Support active GLAD litigation
• Engage in public policy advocacy and public education
• Work one-on-one with GLAD attorneys on research assignments.
• Attend GLAD’s Legal Department meetings other case/project-related meetings.

GLAD welcomes applications from 2L and 3L law students who:

• Possess excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Have a demonstrated commitment to tearing down outdated laws and stereotypes that have denied full equality for LGBTQ+ people and those with HIV/AIDS.
• Have a passion for securing racial and economic justice.

Our Summer internships are hybrid eligible and can be either full-time or part-time positions. We also invite part-time internships in the Winter and Spring terms. Stipends of up to $2,000 may be available for summer legal interns depending on the number of hours worked and restrictions imposed by your school.

To apply, please submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:

• Cover letter (no more than one page) addressed to Attorney Patience Crozier
• Legal writing sample (5-10 pages)

Please send materials to  [email protected]  with “Legal Internship Application – [Term][Year]” in the subject line . Please clearly indicate in your application whether you are available to work full-time or part-time and where you learned of the position. Please note that Summer internships are full-time. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. No phone calls and no video resumes, please.

Special Events and Fundraising Intern

The Development Team at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is searching for a Special Events and Fundraising Intern to help us raise support and funds needed to secure ground-breaking legal victories, conduct policy advocacy, and educate the public on the most pressing civil rights issues impacting LGBTQ+ people and people with HIV/AIDS. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to have an impact on LGBTQ+ civil rights and may be considering a career in the non-profit sector, fundraising, or event planning.

Typical projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting with sponsor and donor follow-up, event planning, and logistics for GLAD’s events including regional events and Spirit of Justice Award Dinner
• Assisting with data cleanup projects and updates in GLAD’s donor database (Salesforce)
• Conducting vendor, venue, donor, and prospect research
• Thanking donors for their gifts by phone, email, and handwritten notes
• Assisting with mailings and other fundraising support as needed

Qualifications:

• Interest in non-profit development and/or event planning Passion for social justice, LGBTQ+ and HIV+ rights, and racial and economic justice
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Willingness to ask questions, as well as the ability to take direction
• Working well independently and as part of a small team
• Showing initiative and follow-through in a dynamic environment
• Familiarity with Salesforce or Microsoft Office Suite a plus

This is a part-time 200-hour minimum internship with a stipend and an expected start date in early September and end date in December. This is a hybrid position with some required in-office hours, attendance at GLAD’s Regional Events in the spring, and the option to work from home for a portion of time.

GLAD requires all staff, volunteers, and interns working in GLAD’s office, at events, or engaging in any in-person work on GLAD’s behalf to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

GLAD is dedicated to building a diverse staff, and one that is committed to equity and opportunity for all. GLAD strongly encourages applications from transgender people, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and people with HIV/AIDS.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to: Renae Paulson (they/them), Development Assistant, at  [email protected] .

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