Lawyer Cover Letter is a brief document that provides an outline of the professional abilities of a lawyer. Practice of the legal profession is a cumbersome business, to say the least. The candidate has to have the ability to work out minute details and then connect these details to form one complete fabric of information. Doing this is easier said than done. It requires the candidate to possess comprehensive knowledge of his sub discipline under the law. Furthermore, he should be aware of the changes in laws and latest verdicts that can affect the interpretation of laws.
The candidate has to be a good listener and has to have the ability to put his clients to ease to get the maximum information out of them. He then has to combine this information with legal provisions to build a case. Then he has to present his case in a coherent and persuasive manner before a judge or a jury, as the case may be. If the candidate has a quick with that can help him to quickly counter the argument of the opposition, then there is nothing like it. This quality is often the mark of the best lawyers and has to be mentioned with priority, if the candidate possesses it.
Lawyer Cover Letter has to mention the area of specialization in the first paragraph of the letter. This will prevent confusion and assure the recruiter that he is reading the right resume. Such a mention will also convey the impression that the applicant has a specific and relevant approach - another positive quality for a lawyer. The applicant can further fine tune his letter by specifying the activity he is used to - research, documentation, or presentation of arguments. Here is an example of lawyer cover letter:
For resume help, also explore Sample Lawyer Resume
December 12, 2011
Fenton Walsh Dear Mr. Walsh,
This is with reference to your advertisement in "The Seattle Times", dated December 5, 2011, inviting applications for the position of a junior civil lawyer in your reputed institution. I hereby submit my application for the said post. I am qualified for the position in accordance with the conditions of eligibility mentioned in your advertisement. I have three years of experience as a civil lawyer and I specialize in dealing with defamation cases. I am seeking employment with your organization as it is one of the best known names in the legal discipline with specialized departments for every sub field of law.
During the three years of experience, I have been a part of numerous law suits. I have acted as the chief assistant lawyer in three defamation cases and as the main lawyer in one defamation case. During my career, I have devoted most of my time for research. This has strengthened my grasp over all the laws related to defamation and I am conversant with the latest legislation and verdicts related to this sub discipline. I have excellent interpersonal abilities that help me to understand the clients and act accordingly. I am well
aware of the fact that this job has no fixed office hours and, therefore, I routinely work overtime.
In the past six months, I have had greater experience with the presentation of arguments in courtrooms. This has honed my skills of persuasion, presentation, and communication. I hold a bachelor's degree in law and I am a member of the bar in the state of Washington. I am impressed with the degree of specialization in your firm that is the reason for making this application.
I have attached my resume with this letter. You can contact me on the telephone number or the email address mentioned above.
Yours sincerely
(Harold Lincoln)
Enclosure: Resume
Harold Lincoln
Seattle, WA 98121
206-448-4628
harold.lincoln@gmail.com
Junior Partner,
Colt & Wesson Lawyers,
800 Terry Avenue,
Seattle, WA 98104
Lawyer Cover Letter needs to mention the area of specialization in the starting part of the letter. Apart from this, the candidate has to mention his legal knowledge and skills related to legal research, persuasion, and presentation.