Customizing Your Law Cover Letter - PUSTAKAGAYO

Composing cover letters for law firm applications can feel intimidating, especially when you've received diverse advice on what constitutes a successful cover letter. However, incorporating your personality into your application can make the process easier. Here are four essential ways to achieve that.

Tell Your Story

When addressing questions like "Why commercial law?", it is crucial to narrate your personal journey. Graduate recruiters sift through thousands of cover letters every year, so it's essential to distinguish yourself in a compelling manner. Rather than simply listing the top three reasons for your passion in commercial law, take your readers on a journey through your life, providing insights into what led you to this point.

For instance, consider if there was something about the law that intrigued you from a young age. How did you nurture this interest over the years? Did your upbringing play a role in motivating you to pursue law? What kind of impact do you aspire to make as a commercial lawyer?

Example: "Growing up surrounded by [experience], I developed a curious fascination with [aspect of law]. As a result, I actively engaged in [activities]. It wasn't until [significant moment] that I comprehended how I could channel this passion into becoming a commercial lawyer. Since then, I have actively pursued opportunities to grasp the intricacies of the legal-commercial interface and deepen my commercial acumen."

Practical tip: Invest time in identifying the pivotal moments in your journey that propelled you towards law and how your story has evolved to its current stage. You can briefly jot these points down or create a chronological map to guide your narrative.

Personalise Your Application

Although this point may seem similar to the first, it emphasizes the significance of personalizing your responses. When discussing your key skills or the skills you believe lawyers should possess, accompany your points with personal examples of how you have demonstrated these skills.

Example: "As a lawyer, possessing XYZ skills is crucial due to XYZ duties. As a [insert role], I have had numerous opportunities to develop this skill. For instance, I experienced [insert relevant experience (and briefly mention the result, if possible within the word count)]."

Practical tip: Take some time to identify around 5 key skills that lawyers need. Tailor these skills based on the law firm you are applying to and their core values. Create a table and jot down three personal examples for each identified skill. This can help streamline the process if you are applying to multiple firms simultaneously and can also serve as valuable preparation for future interviews.

Be Honest & Authentic

When discussing your reasons for wanting to work at a law firm, it can be tempting to write what you believe the recruiters want to hear. However, this often results in a regurgitated response that lacks genuine passion for the firm.

Take a moment to contemplate your specific passions in commercial law and your aspirations for your early years as a solicitor and long-term career. No matter how niche or personal your goals may seem, it's essential to determine if those passions can be nurtured at the firm you wish to apply to.

Example: "Over the years, I have cultivated a profound passion for legal technology. My aspiration is to join a law firm that embraces cutting-edge technology, empowering me to aid clients in crafting solutions for prevailing market disruptions. XYZ law firm's capabilities offer exciting opportunities for me to engage in pioneering legal tech development [...]. The XYZ deal particularly intrigued me, especially its impact in [discuss the impact of deal]. At XYZ firm, I aim to deepen my expertise and utilize legal technology to make a positive impact within my communities."

Practical tip: Take some time to recall and reflect on all your interactions with the law firm you are applying to, regardless of how minor you might think they were. Consider how those experiences motivated you to apply to the firm or provided pivotal information that couldn't be obtained through a simple website search.

Extra-curriculars & Achievements

Typically, the structure of a cover letter allots the final few hundred words to discuss your achievements and extracurriculars. However, this space should not merely cater to what you think the reader wants to hear. Feel free to showcase anything you are proud of, no matter how seemingly unrelated it may appear. It's even more impactful to highlight achievements that involved long-term dedication and produced quantifiable results, which you can incorporate into the cover letter.

As is my usual approach, you can also link these achievements to the essential skills of a lawyer. Keep in mind that this section aims to demonstrate how well-rounded you are as a prospective lawyer and what unique contributions you can bring to the workforce, in addition to your legal capabilities.

Mere competence in getting the job done is no longer sufficient. Modern law firms are diversifying their workforce and seek individuals who offer fresh perspectives and make positive, empowering impacts in their environments.

Throughout the process, it is crucial to have faith in yourself and your abilities. Creating an image of yourself that you believe will guarantee success may actually hinder you in the long run. Since recruiters often screen cover letters anonymously behind a computer, without associating faces to names, it's vital to seize that 'one chance' to impress them with your authentic self.

Remember, they seek not just someone who can fulfill the job, but influencers, motivators, and pioneers. If unsure, you can explore and read the cover letters of successful candidates for inspiration while crafting your own. Best of luck!