Preparation

• Author: Wendy Griesdorf
• Pages: 1-8

Preparation 1

ONE

Preparation

Rmés n Cvr Lrs

Your entire law f‌irm application, especially the cover letter, reveals the high quality of work you will do

for a f‌irm once you are a lawyer. This is true for job searches in every city and in ever y country. Treat

the application stage as if it were your f‌irst assignment at the off‌ice. Your application is the f‌irm’s f‌irst,

and best, opportunity to see whether you write well, whether you complete assignments in a timely

manner, whether you can proofread your own work, and whether you can develop an effective and

compelling narrative about who you are and why you have applied for the job.

Strive for a standard of perfection when working on your applications. You should spend as much

time working on your applications as you would spend on a law school course. Start by taking some

time to think about yourself and who you are. Your cover letter should address why you should be

hired over the six hundred other applicants.

When you review your letter, pretend that you are the recruiter. Have you indicated why you

want to work at the f‌irm and why you should be hired over everyone else? In your letter, you should

strategically pick and emphasize facts about yourself that will help you to get the job. Remember,

everything you are going through during the application process is good training for when you are a

lawyer, especially if you plan to go into private practice and deal with clients. When you are in court,

you may only have f‌ive minutes to summarize the facts of your client’s case. What you say, and more

importantly, what you omit, is strategic.

Here are some general points about resumés and cover letters:

1 Refer to the “Sample Resumé and Analysis” and the “ Sample Cover Letter and Analysis” on pages 81–92 for

more detail.