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 I also completed my clerkship in summer 2012/2013 (I feel so old), so my method could be outdated.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!

How to buy a suit for clerkship interviews

Note: This post is written for a female audience based in Sydney. If you are male, this post may still be helpful to you, but you may want to also refer to this amazing blog post:

http://survivelaw.com/index.php/blogs/careers/602-how-to-buy-a-suit

What to wear to your clerkship interview

You have the choice of a skirt suit or pants suit. Appropriate suit colours include black, charcoal, and dark grey. Navy is ok but I would not go for this colour for your first suit. I would recommend charcoal for your first suit. Black can appear harsh. Charcoal is a more youthful colour, which is perfect when you are going for your “intelligent young thing” look at your clerkship interview.

Some older women may advise you to wear a pants suit as opposed to a skirt suit, as any kind of sign of being feminine was seen as a potential disadvantage when these women were starting their careers. This is not so today. You can wear a pants suit if you like, but you will find most female clerks and graduates wear skirt suits to interviews, court and formal occasions.

When you are buying your suit, you should buy the jacket, skirt and pants, though you could buy two skirts if you preferred. As a rule of thumb, for every suit jacket you buy, you should buy two bottom items. Always get all suit components dry cleaned at the same time.

How much will I have to spend?

Good quality midmarket suits from brands like Rhodes & Beckett and Herringbone range from $700 - $1,000 full price for the suit jacket and skirt. Hopefully you can get your suit on sale, where you would pay a much more affordable $300 - $600 for your suit. You can get cheaper suits made from cheaper fabrics, but I recommend getting a decent quality suit. I purchased my suit for clerkship interviews three years ago and still wear it for court appearances and more formal days at work now. It is well worth the investment. Consider lay-buy if you cannot pay for it upfront. If you start your lay-buy now, you have a good 4 to 6 weeks to pay it off before clerkship interviews start in July.

What should I look for? Aka what to do when you are in the change room

Fabric

Locate the cleaning and fabric information tag. This will either be sewn in along the seam or sewn in the suit jacket pocket. Read the tag. I recommend 100% wool suits. They are breathable, durable and rarely need dry cleaning, as wool takes a long time to get smelly, coping well with sweat and other smells. Avoid polyester like your life depends on it. In a hot Sydney summer you will literally fry in your polyester suit when walking to court. The wool suits available in Sydney are made for hotter climates, so don’t think it will be too hot for summer. Wool is like climate control for your clothes. You can also buy a suit in a quality wool blend such as wool/polyester (make sure the percentage of polyester is low) and wool/cashmere (getting fancy).

Fit of the jacket

Put the jacket on and button the top button. The jacket should be a snug fit across your body as the modern look is for slim fitting suits. However, the fabric should not pull anywhere. Make sure the size is a good fit for your shoulders. If you can’t move your arms, the jacket is too tight. If the jacket shoulders look like they are jutting out from you, the size could be too large. Shop assistants are generally trained at fitting suits, so use them for a second opinion. Move your arms up and down to check mobility. You need to be comfortable. Do not worry too much about sleeve length, as you can get this altered. You do need to worry about sleeve length if you have long arms, as there is only so much a tailor can lengthen the jacket. Shortening is no problem. You will not find a ready to wear suit that fits you perfectly everywhere. I usually focus on shoulder and waist fit and leave sleeve fit to the tailor.

Long line v short line

The line of the jacket refers to the length of the jacket. If you are short go for a short-line jacket, as this will be more in proportion to your body. If you are taller, you may want to consider a longer-line jacket.

Buttons

A suit jacket will have anywhere from 1 to 3 buttons. Generally, you will only be using the top button, but if you are taller, you may use two buttons, so make sure your chosen jacket has more than one button if you are on the tall size.

Fit of the pants

The pants should be a straight fit ie not flared and not skinny. Make sure the pockets sit flat against your thighs and do not bulge out or look funny. Make sure you look at your rear view in the mirror to check the back is sitting straight. Walk around to make sure they are comfortable. The fit of the waist band is important, but can easily be taken in. The pants can also be taken up if they are too long.

Fit of the skirt

Most suit skirts are pencil skirts. Warning: there is such a thing as a too tight pencil skirt. You also need to be able to walk confidently in your skirt, so if there is no room for your thighs to move at all and you are reduced to walking like a penguin, it is probably not the right cut for you. Alternatively, you can go up a size to give your legs more room then have the waist taken in. Check that the skirt falls at least to the top of your knee.

Try your suit on with a shirt

You will be wearing a shirt to your interview, so make sure you try your suit on with a shirt to see how it will sit. If you decide to buy a suit, make sure you ask for a discount on the shirt. You might even be able to get a shirt for free, especially if you are buying the suit full price.

When to buy

Now! Mid-year clearance sales start this weekend. Most brands slash suiting prices by 30 – 50%, saving you hundreds of dollars.

Where to buy

Make sure you try on suits in at least three different brands before making your final decision. Shop assistants understand that most people shop around for suits, so don’t feel pressured to buy the first suit that fits. An even better one may be just around the corner. Below I have included my recommendations including comments and an estimate of the price range for a suit in that brand. Remember that on sale the price of suits is reduced dramatically.

You can’t go wrong if you shop at:

1.       Rhodes & Beckett

Price estimate: Jacket: $529.00; Pant: $249.00; Skirt; $169.00

Great quality wool or wool blend suits in classic cuts. Great first suit option. Also famous for their Egyptian cotton shirts. Their shirts continue to be made from Egyptian cotton in Alexandria, Egypt, while other brands such as Herringbone now source their shirts from China with quality being impacted. While Rhodes & Beckett is based in Melbourne, there are several stores in Sydney including Macquarie Place, Martin Place, Westfield Bondi Junction, Westfield Sydney and concession stores in Myer Sydney City and Bondi Junction.

2.       Herringbone

Price Estimate: Jacket $549; Pant $269; Skirt $189

If you like supporting Australian brands, go for Herringbone. Herringbone was established in 1997 and has beautiful wool suits. Since the brand has been acquired by German shirting brand van Laack, I personally believe the quality of at least the shirts has gone downhill. Herringbone remains a solid suiting option. Herringbone has stores at Circular Quay, QVB, Woollahra, and Mosman. There is also a clearance store at Birkenhead Point. Given classic suiting never goes out of fashion, it may be worth hitting up the Birkenhead Point store if pricing is an issue.

3.       Farage

Price Estimate: Jacket $589; Pant $289; Skirt $249

Farage is pure luxury and will give you the satisfaction of wearing a brand not many other clerks will be wearing. Farage is an Australian brand inspired by Parisian lifestyle. Sigh. Shop at Farage if attention to detail and quality is your thing. They often have great contrast lining and stitching details. Farage is great for taller lawyers, as many of the jackets and styles are longer line. Stores in Sydney include Chifley Plaza, MLC Centre, Strand Arcade, and Westfield Bondi Junction.

4.       Saba

Price Estimate: Jacket $399; Pant $199; Skirt $175

Go to Saba for modern classics. They do have wool suiting, but just be careful as some of the suiting is not wool. I own Saba non-wool suiting and it is fantastic, but I would not recommend non-wool suiting for a first purchase. I find Saba great for shorter figures, as they have cropped pant options meaning you don’t have to pay for the tailoring.

5.       Hugo Boss

Price Estimate: Jacket $1,000++; Pants $600++; Skirt $500++

Probably beyond the price range of most law students. But if your parents are paying...

6.       Carla Zampatti

Price Estimate: Jacket $649; Pants $449; Skirts $449

Carla Zampatti always has a seasonal range of modern, sharp suiting. If Julie Bishop is your inspiration, shop where she shops (FYI she also shops at Hugo Boss).

Hit & Miss but might be worth a look

1.       Sportscraft – usually reserved for people our parent’s age and above, Sportscraft actually has some great suiting options in classic cuts. They also do wool suiting which is a bonus. 

2.       Cue – great modern suiting, but the fabric quality can vary. While some of the synthetic blends are of acceptable quality, it can be difficult to find wool blends at Cue.

3.       Oxford – a cheaper suiting option, just watch out for fabric quality, fit and cut.

4.       Country Road – the suiting is very overpriced for the quality and given the cuts are often not classic, clerks should avoid suit shopping here.

5.       Witchery – better to shop at Witchery once you have the basics of your working wardrobe sorted.

Once you have got the job and seen what your colleagues wear you can get more inventive in the brands department. Some unexpected brands do really great work wear including Zimmerman and Sass & Bide. Once you have some good quality basics, you can also get seasonal work wear from your old university favourites like Forever New and Witchery.

Tailoring – aka how to make your Saba suit look like Hugo Boss

Unless you resemble a mannequin, you will need to get your suit tailored. Do not skip this step. The most expensive suit jacket with too-long sleeves can make your suit look cheap. The most common alterations required are:

1.       Taking the jacket sleeves up or down;

2.       Taking trouser or skirt waist line in; and

3.       Taking the hemline of the skirt or trousers up or down.

Shoes

Your work shoe-drobe needs to start with two essentials:

1.       Black flats

Ballet flats are ideal, but anything in plain black or patent leather is acceptable. Flats with a pointed toe shape are popular at the moment and can be found at most chain stores including Witchery and Country Road. Wittner always have about 20 different pairs of black flats to choose from at any one time. You will be wearing these flats to death so make sure they are comfortable. If you are new to the “black flats” scene go to Ferragamo for inspiration and then Sambag to actually buy a pair.

2.       Low court heels

You need a low, basic court shoe in black nappa or patent leather for your interview. I cannot reiterate enough how the heel should be low. Some clerkship recruiting processes involve extensive networking functions that go for hours. You need to be standing up and walking normally, not like you are about to keel over because your heels are too high. Round toe, pointy toe, and almond shaped toes are all appropriate. Peep toes are not.

If you are tall you can wear your black flats to your clerkship interview. Otherwise I recommend wearing low court heels. Always travel to your interview in flat shoes so you can run for it if you find you are running late.

Make – Up

At your interview the look you are going for is “fresh and alert”. You should barely be able to tell you are even wearing make-up. If you are a serial offender when it comes to heavy foundation and excessive dark eyeliner, you may want to book a make-up appointment a few weeks beforehand to be taught how to do the more natural look by a professional. If you are booking a professional appointment, avoid brands like MAC and Illamasqua that generally create full face event make up. I have had make-up tutorials at Clinique, Lancome, and Chanel and found they were all great at creating minimalist, natural looks. Just specify that you are after a natural work-appropriate look that you can recreate yourself.

Nails

Short, natural nails are ideal for interviews. You want to appear practical but well-presented. Three types of nail polish are appropriate:

1.       Nude – make sure you pick the right nude for your skin undertone;

2.       Baby pink (not bright pink); or

3.       Simply apply a top coat to give the nails a natural sheen.

Long nails and any form of fake nails are inappropriate. Once you get the job, life becomes more flexible and you may be able to wear other coloured nail polish. For now, reign in your creative side.

When should I apply for clerkships and graduate positions?

Short answer: In NSW, apply for graduate positions in March/April in your final year of study. Apply for clerkships in June/July of your penultimate year.

Long answer: There are a variety of positions available to apply for year round, particularly if you are open to working in other states. I have listed a few below, but this is just a small amount of what is actually on offer. If you do your own investigating, you will be surprised how many opportunities there are.  

Month	Positions likely to open
January	Victoria County Court – Associate positions Graduate and junior lawyer position NSW ODPP – Legal Development Program Graduate position SA Crown Solicitors – Paralegal Pool Paralegal position
February	Look out for graduate positions for immediate start. At this time of the year, some graduates may pull out of programs, leaving positions open. Firms will generally only advertise on their own website, so look at Career pages of the firms you are interested in.
March	Legal Aid Victoria New Lawyers Program Admitted lawyers with up to two years post admission experience Graduate programs at Sydney mid-tier firms commencing the following year including: -Landers & Rogers -Piper Alderman -TressCox Lawyers Some mid-tier firms use CV Mail, which simplifies the process of applying for several firms. CV Mail also lists firms that are accepting applications. Australian Government Solicitors Graduate Program Graduate position Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Graduate position Attorney General’s Department Graduate Program Graduate position
April
May
June	Summer clerkship programs for most firms in Sydney Summer Clerk position WA ODPP Articled Clerk program Graduate position
July	Office of Public Prosecutions Victoria – Legal Traineeship Program Graduate position
August	Graduate program at Mills Oakley Lawyers (Sydney) Summer clerkship positions in Victoria open around this time. The Victorian system is different to NSW in that law students will generally do two summer clerkships at different firms. The clerkships generally run for 4 weeks which is much shorter than the clerkship programs in NSW.
September	Summer Clerkships at Mills Oakley Lawyers (Sydney)
October	NSW Police Accelerated Prosecutors Recruitment Program Graduates and Lawyers Administrative Appeals Tribunal Melbourne recruitment of Associates/Legal Administrative Assistants Graduate position
November	SA Crown Solicitors Graduate Pool Graduate position Aboriginal Legal Services NSW Junior Lawyer position (advertised as needs arise)
December	NSW Office of Environment and Heritage – legal graduate program Graduate position Fair Work Building & Construction Graduate Program Graduate position Commonwealth ODPP Graduate Program Graduate position

Tips:

1. If you are looking to work at commercial law firms, check their careers page often for openings. Many law firms do not use recruitment agencies or advertise externally, so the only way you can find these jobs is to frequently visit the firm’s careers pages.
2. You would be surprised how many jobs are advertised on Linked In. Even some entry level legal jobs. Make sure your profile strength is at “All-Star” level. Your Linked In profile is more important than you think. Many online job applications now make you link your profile directly to your application. Your resume will be cross referenced with your Linked In page, so make sure they are consistent.
3. Beyond Law always has a few current jobs listed, and they are targeted at graduates and junior level lawyers, so you will be qualified to apply for most of them. See https://beyondlaw.com.au/job-hub.
4. For careers in social justice for students and new lawyers you cannot go past Social Justice Opportunities. See http://www.sjopps.net.au/sjopps/home.asp#latest.