Legal Cover Letter Example & Expert Writing Tips

Whether you’re looking to build a career as a Paralegal, or complete a law degree and become a fully qualified Solicitor, the legal sector is a fascinating, fast-moving choice that offers a wealth of opportunities to specialise in different aspects of national, or international law. However, whether you’re passionate about charity, employment, families, or industry and commerce, you’re going to need to start at the bottom and work your way up. In this post, we’ll share some top tips to help you write the perfect cover letter for entry-level Paralegal or Trainee Solicitor roles. We’ve included an example too, which you can download and use as a template. 

What are employers looking for in a legal cover letter?

To start practicing law as a Trainee Solicitor you will need a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB) or a Graduate Diploma of Law (GDL). Paralegals are not always required to have a degree – but some employers do express this as a preference so read the job description carefully before applying and showcase your relevant qualifications clearly in your introductory paragraph. Beyond having the right qualifications, employers are looking for experienced communicators who have the confidence and ability to manage large workloads, carry out research projects, build client relationships and demonstrate meticulous attention to detail. The legal sector is exceptionally competitive so being crystal clear about the skills you have - and being able to evidence them through specific examples and achievements - is the key to success.  Ambition is important too. Employers are looking for candidates with ruthless passion and drive because those are the candidates that will help them win cases. 

Using keywords to inspire confidence

Most job descriptions contain two lists - one of key responsibilities, and one of personal requirements. Both lists contain vital clues to the keywords that you need to include in your letter, so read them carefully before you get started.  In our example letter we’ve identified and used keywords that highlight personal attributes common to many entry level legal roles – self-motivated, keen, confident communicator, influential, good interpersonal skills and well organised. We’ve also highlighted some of the points you’ll find in key responsibilities and taken the opportunity to show you how to use previous experience to your advantage, whether that’s professional experience or not.  Documentation, electronic filing, preparing court bundles, office administration, basic legal advice, meeting deadlines and undertaking complex research projects are all common tasks for a Paralegal/Trainee Solicitor. You can download our letter and then change these keywords as necessary to fit the individual requirements of any firm. 

Tone and style

The legal profession leans towards formality. You won’t find many lighthearted job adverts in this sector and you should take care to reflect this formal style in your letter of application. Consider not using contractions (I’m, I’ve), slang or jargon, and make sure that you clarify any abbreviations before using them on their own. For example, state that you have a Graduate Diploma of Law (GDL), rather than just using GDL in the first instance.  Avoid waffle too – the longer a letter gets the more likely it is you’ll make a mistake and the less likely it is you’ll impress your audience. Keep examples specific and brief, stick to facts rather than conjecture, and always present yourself with absolute confidence – I can, I will, I am – never I think, I hope or I maybe.

Legal cover letter example showcasing best practice

Below is a sample marketing cover letter that puts the tips we've talked through into practice. Go ahead and download the template as a Word Document here and use it as a starting point for writing your own cover letter.

To: [Name of Recruiting Manager, Name of Practice, City & Postcode] Re: [Title of vacant position; Job Ref where known] Dear [Joe] [Mr. Bloggs] [Recruiting Officer] [Sir/Madam] I am pleased to submit my application for the role of Paralegal/Trainee Solicitor at [insert practice name] and to attach my CV for your attention. I recently completed my [LLB (Hons)] at the [University of…] and now I am actively seeking opportunities to kick start my legal career. Robustly self-motivated, I have taken every opportunity to improve my legal skills and to gain hands-on experience. During my studies I worked at [insert practice name] as a Legal Assistant, gaining great experience in documentation, electronic filing, preparing court bundles and general office administration. I have also shadowed experienced solicitors, observing them in meetings and court sessions to watch them put their skills into practice. Through these experiences I have gained a basic understanding of family law, litigation, commercial law and employment law. I am keen to specialise in [insert as appropriate]. At University I joined the debate team to hone my skills in public speaking, persuasive language and presentations. I am a confident communicator with the ability to influence decisions and build relationships, which will allow me to contribute to the excellent standard of client care offered at [insert practice name]. Well organised, with exceptional research skills and the ability to abstract information quickly from large bodies of text, I am confident in my ability to liaise with legal experts, offer basic legal advice, meet deadlines, successfully deliver transactional goals and gather client expectations and requirements. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely,   Name Goes Here 0123 456 7890