Cover Letters
Instructions for preparing an Effective Cover Letters
The cover letter is a small email you write while applying to a law firm. It is really your pitch which says “Take me as an intern” Draft it carefully and do note the following points.
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The body of the email should itself contain the cover letter. Don’t attach a 300 word cover letter because it won’t be opened in ten cases out of nine. Ten out of nine? It might seem an exaggeration or a misprint but it is none.Instead of sending your cover letter as an attachment, write it in the body of the email itself.
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Subject of the emailwhich is the subject of your cover letter should be detailed and educated, a bit like this:Internship Application: 1st July- 23 August: Delhi Office. These are the three things (subject + duration + location) should make the subject of your internship cover letter; nothing more and nothing less.
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Focus and customize.Don’t send an email to dozens of law firms at one go. Identify 5-6 law firms which interest you and send applications tailor-made for them. For example if you are applying to an IP boutique law firm, include a section in your CV (right at the top, mind you) which reads ‘Achievements in the field of IP’. Also in your cover letter mention these achievements precisely.
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Art of the start.Start with naming the person you want this to read; the recruitment head, the managing partner or the internship coordinator. Do your research. Assuming the name of the person is Ram Kumar and the email id for internships is internship@lawfirm.com and you start with “Respected Mr. Ram Kumar” you catch his attention. If you begin with Respected Sir/Madam you don’t get anyone’s attention.
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Write English. Please don’t show of your legal writing skills here. Write simple, plain, correct, readable English. Reserve legalese for later, when you actually get the internship.
Do a spelling and grammar check on Word on your cover letter.
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Attach your CV.If you are not careful with this little thing (of attaching files), the law firm will be unwilling to hand you bigger things like internship.
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Ask.Ask if you should be sending your writing samples or if the firm will want to take a telephonic interview. Leave your contact number in the footer.
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A little quote.Emails can have a quote at the end. If it relates to law, is a smart one and is something you identify with, you can include it in every email you send including the internship application. This might be a little controversial but it can tell the recruiter a lot about you.
It adds a human touch and might bring a smile on the recruiters face. A smiling man/woman is a person more likely to give you the internship. So choose the quote carefully.
To Get sample cover letter Click Sample Cover Letter