How to write a clerkship cover letter that will get you an interview*

*Disclaimer: I used this method and obtained four first round interviews. I cannot guarantee this will get you a clerkship interview, as variables such as grades and prior legal work experience can affect your chances of getting a clerkship. I also completed my clerkship in summer 2012/2013 (I feel so old), so my method could be outdated.

The 2015 NSW clerkship application period commences on Wednesday 17 June and closes on Sunday 19 July. During this time, most penultimate students are juggling exams and work commitments. After exams you may find yourself holidaying overseas. None of these conditions are ideal for writing clerkship cover letters, but at least you will have the knowledge your competitors (other penultimate year students) are working under similar conditions. There are some fantastic resources on writing cover letters already out there on websites like Beyond Law. However, I used a more specific methodology for my clerkship cover letters which I will share with you.

General tips:

1.       Every cover letter will be different. If you plan to simply “Find + Replace” the name of the firm and submit, I wish you well, but you will be unlikely to obtain a clerkship interview. Firms like to see you have conducted extensive research and read about how unique they are. Unless you have thoroughly researched and tailored your cover letter, you do not stand much of a chance.  

2.       Before you start writing the cover letter, thoroughly research the firm. At a minimum, this will involve reading the entire website, reading Lawyers Weekly to see if they have had any press coverage recently, and reading any high profile cases the firm has recently been involved in. This will give you a feel for how the firm markets itself. Try and identify factors the firm claims make it “unique”. Identify the firm culture. Identify the money making practice areas. Hint: for top-tier firms this is usually Mergers & Acquisitions, for mid-tier firms it varies but banking and finance, and insurance law are usually consistent money making teams, as well as construction and projects in times of economic boom (ie not in 2015).

3.       Make sure you write about your past experience (working in law, studying law, extracurricular activities, sporting activities) and connect that to how you can contribute to the firm.

4.       Unless you are applying for a “special” boutique firm (in my time at law school Marque Lawyers was such a firm who did not want traditional cover letters), law firms are NOT after creativity in their cover letters. Firms want to quickly be able to see whether you fit their criteria so they can quickly put you in or out of the interview pile. 

5.       Use plain English in your cover letter as this shows an ability to clearly communicate. Many students make the mistake of using what I call “floury language”, using excessive words and flourishes. If the sentence would make sense without the word, then leave it out. Law firms use plain English in everything they do, so if you plan to work in a commercial law firm, you need to get used to plain English now.

6.       Your cover page should be one page in length and no smaller than 11 point font. Times and Arial are acceptable. Make sure you justify your paragraphs.

7.       Proof read your cover letter several times. Nothing screams “poor attention to detail” louder than a typo on a cover letter.

Suggested structure:

The structure I used for my clerkship cover letters was “the three reasons I want to work at this firm”. This structure is ideal as it gives you the opportunity to show how hard you have researched the firm, shows how enthusiastic you are about the firm, and enables you to weave your previous experiences into the paragraphs to show what you can bring to the firm. Again, this is just a suggested structure. If you don’t feel comfortable with this structure, keep experimenting until you find something that fits.

Header: Your Name and contact details

Date

Contact name

Firm name (ie Firm Z)

Address first line

Address second line

Dear [insert contact]

                Application for the position of Summer Clerk 2015/2016 at Firm Z

Strong first sentence ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Strong second sentence-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

First substantive paragraph. There are two/three main reasons I would like to work at Firm Z. The first, is the-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. The second reason I would like to work at Firm Z is---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Second substantive paragraph (firm culture and attributes focused). The third reason I would like to work at Firm Z is the -------------------------------------------------culture. I have strong ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Concluding remarks------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Insert your name

Breaking the cover letter down:

1.       Header

The header should contain your name and contact details and should match the header of your cover letter for consistency and to show attention to detail. There is no need to be too artistic, but you may want to have the header in a different colour such as dark blue or dark green so that your name stands out. The header is part of your “brand” and you should spend some time working on personalising your stationery.

2.       Contact name

Do not write Sir/Madam. You need to find the name of the Graduate Recruitment Officer or appropriate Human Resources Officer at the firm you are applying for. This can usually be found on the firm’s clerkship advertisement or on the website. If you cannot find it, ring the firm and politely ask who you should address your cover letter to. 

3.       Strong first sentence

The first sentence should contain your year level, course name, university name, your grade bracket and the position you are applying for. These are all key criteria firms look at, so need to be in your first sentence. For example: “As a penultimate year Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts student from the University of Sydney with a distinction average, I wish to apply for a summer clerkship position at Firm Z”. If you do not have the best grades or you think the name of your university might jeopardise your chances, you do not have to put them in the first sentence, but you will need to have this information in your resume.

4.       Strong second sentence

I like to highlight the strengths of my application and state that these will enable me to quickly be an asset to the firm. For example: “I believe that my previous experience in commercial law, high level communication skills, and positive, team oriented approach, will enable me to quickly to contribute to Firm Z as a summer clerk”. This sentence is important. Many potential clerks write about what they can obtain from the firm. The reality is, it is a job and you are there to contribute to the firm. This second sentence lets the firm know you understand this.  

5.       Three main reasons why you would like to work at the firm

You need to come up with two or three reasons you would like to work at the firm. These are the firm’s distinguishing features and should be identifiable when you research the firm. One of the reasons should be based on the firm culture or the nature of the firm. If firm culture is not a strong point for that firm, talk about the nature of the firm. Ie if your firm is a global firm a reason for working at the firm is that you want to work at a truly international firm. After you have stated your reason, you need to integrate your prior experience and skills into the paragraph.

Example 1

The first reason I would like to work at Firm Z is that Firm Z has the leading Mergers & Acquisitions team in Australia. I have a keen interest in working in Mergers & Acquisitions, having studied subject X in my Commerce degree, and having worked as a paralegal at Firm Y assisting with a private Mergers & Acquisitions transaction.

Example 2

The first reason I would like to work at Firm Z is that I would like to work at an internationally renowned firm headquartered in Asia. The world’s growth markets are in Asia, and Firm Z is strategically positioned to take advantage of this. I am very interested in the Asia region, having interned at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, studied Government as my Arts major, and having visited China, Singapore, Indonesia and other Asian countries many times. With this knowledge, I would be able to assist the growth of Firm Z by providing relevant legal assistance to clients working across Australia, Asia and internationally.

Example 3

The first reason I would like to work at Firm Z is the firm’s dominance in the resource and energy sector. Having had a prior career in the resources sector working in the Department of X prior to commencing my Juris Doctor, I have a comprehensive knowledge of the resources sector and the daily challenges these clients face. I will be able to combine my sector knowledge with my legal skills to provide industry relevant advice as a summer clerk.

Note: if you are a postgraduate student and had a previous career always mention this. Firms love JD students who have prior industry experience in sectors their clients work in. So if you worked in property, banking and finance or another sector prior to studying law make sure you integrate this into your cover letter.

Example 4:

The third reason I would like to work at Firm Z is that Firm Z has always been a global law firm. Having always been a global law firm rather than having only recently become “global” like other top firms in Australia, Firm Z has an undeniable advantage in its stability and service offerings. I share this global focus, having interned at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, studied Government and International Relations as my Arts major, and visited China and Europe numerous times. I would like to work at Firm Z because of the edge this global focus gives to clients, especially clients in the firms recently expanded energy and resources work in the Asia pacific region.

Example 5:

The second reason I would like to work at Firm Z is that Firm Z offers a team culture committed to customer service. I thrive in a team environment, a recent example being........I have strong customer service skills, having a luxury retail background, and more recently having worked directly with clients on small matters as a paralegal at Firm Y.

An alternative structure would be to have two main reasons why you want to work at the firm and put those in the first substantive paragraph. In the second substantive paragraph you will then cover your legal work experience, written and oral communication skills, time management skills, team work skills and any relevant extracurricular interests.

6.       Concluding remarks

You could just go straight to the “thank you for taking the time...” sentence. However, I think it is better to have a sentence before such as “In addition to the skills and experience described about, I am positive, professional and energetic”. The characteristics you list should be true to your own personality but also mesh with what the firm is looking for. For example if the firm says on the Career pages on its website that adaptability is important, make sure you cover that somewhere.

Remember to make your cover letters your own. Remember that your personal worth is not connected to whether or not you get a summer clerkship. You are not doomed if you do not get a clerkship. I know plenty of Distinction average students who did not get a clerkship but who all got great graduate jobs and are currently killing their careers. Best of luck!