BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW GRADUATE AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COVER LETTER HANDBOOK FOR DOMESTIC LL.M. STUDENTS Boston University School of Law Graduate and International Programs Professional Development 765 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 1534 Boston, MA 02215 Web site: http://www.bu.edu/law/central/llm/career
COVER LETTERS A cover letter is your first opportunity to draw an employer s attention to your credentials. A cover letter alone probably will not get you an interview but its strength can certainly get your resume read. Cover letters are often a source of frustration and, sometimes, anxiety for job seekers since they are, at once, remarkably simple in their formula but maddeningly complex and difficult in their execution. They can also be the major marketing document for those whose greatest strengths are not apparent on their resume, and the only opportunity to catch an employer s eye. Therefore, it is worth taking the time and effort to write an outstanding cover letter that, once written, can be adapted for various jobs. Getting started To write a cover letter, start by NOT writing anything. If you are at all uncomfortable writing cover letters, sitting down and starting to write is the wrong approach. When you write a cover letter you are briefly leaving the world of law and entering the world of marketing. Before you write you need to spend time developing your message. A well written cover letter requires that you think hard about your skills, abilities, interests and what makes you exceptional and then communicate this to an employer in a way that is engaging. Following the simple three steps outlined below can help you in the process to figure out your message. Step 1- Make a list of what you have to offer Come up with 4 to 6 reasons why an employer should want to hire you rather than one of the other fine candidates applying. The reasons can include 1) personal qualities e.g. you are hard working, capable of balancing many tasks, have excellent people skills etc. 2) skills and experience that would make you valuable and 3) your interests, perhaps you are interested in intellectual property or land use or structured finance and these interests dovetail with the employers practice. Step 2- Step into an employer s shoes and think about what they are looking for and what they are likely to find valuable. If you were a legal employer what would you want in an employee? One of the most common weaknesses in cover letters is that they talk about what the job will do for the applicant rather than what the applicant can do for the employer. Put in the bluntest terms, with private sector employers, generally, they could not care less whether this would be great for you. Public sector and public interest employers are a bit different- these organizations often do care about providing an opportunity to gain experience to someone interested in the area. This is not to say private sector employers do not care about your interests. They do, but because someone with a strong interest in an area is more likely to do a good job and to stay in a position. With this in mind take another look at the list you made in step one and focus on two or three high value items. 1
Step 3- Prove it. For each of the three selling points you have chosen think of some concrete examples that would demonstrate the point. Too often cover letters just list qualities. I am hard working and detailoriented. I have had significant exposure to international business. You want to show, not just tell. The Structure Opening Paragraph- Who you are and what you want. Your primary objective is to make a good first impression so that the person reviewing the letter will read on. Try to capture who you are in a phrase or two that will enable the readers to readily remember who you are. For a recent grad the phrase might be I am a 2002 graduate of Boston University School of Law School and former clerk for Chief Judge Boudin on the First Circuit... For a more experienced graduate, whose law school and clerkship experience is still relevant but not as important as later experience, you might say a former U.S. Attorney, currently a Junior Partner in litigation at Nutter McClennan and Fish seeking an opportunity in a small litigation firm with an active trial practice in You should also mention any contact or networking connection that you may have with the reader ( Micah Smith suggested I contact you). Further, you may want to deal with any deal breakers like why you want to be in Southern California or your qualifications to practice at an IP firm or an investment bank. For example, As a native of Los Angeles and undergraduate Electrical Engineering major I am seeking a summer associate position with an intellectual property firm in Southern California and There is some temptation to explain difficult issues or quirky aspects of your resume, or questions that are bound to come up in the first paragraph. Generally you should resist the temptation. Do this only if you have a perfectly acceptable explanation of a question that is bound to come up. For example if you are applying for a job in D.C. but you are working in and have a permanent address in Houston, it can be useful to say As a native Virginian I seek to return to the area to be near family and friends. Though reasonable minds differ on the matter, stating that you are relocating due to marriage seems to be acceptable. Feedback from alumni who have been up front about this indicates that firms find this an acceptable answer and may serve you better, when you have no obvious ties to the area, than a generic statement that you really like the place. What you want to avoid is talking about in a first paragraph is hot button issues that raise more questions. For example, After six years raising a family or Having recovered from a medical condition that or even After completing my doctorate in an unrelated discipline You may have an obvious issue on your resume that needs explaining, but leave that for later in the cover letter- after you have had a chance to interest them in you as a candidate. 2
The Middle Paragraph(s) - Your Pitch The middle section of your letter could be one paragraph or it could be four, depending on how you organize the material and how much you have to say. In general, as with your resume, it is best to keep the cover letter to one page. This is where all the initial work you did comes in. Make clear what you can offer and why the employer should consider you. This can include flattering language about the firm or its practice areas and make note of why this would be a good fit. A common cover letter mistake is to simply reiterate the content of the resume. In doing this you lose a prime opportunity to market yourself to employers, since they will already be reading your resume and there will be no added value from the cover letter. When you refer to items covered by your resume it should be to emphasize things that are not obvious or to add relevant information that will make the resume items more meaningful. For example: Why Bother - I went on a six month exchange to Italy to improve my Italian. Better - During an exchange to Italy I had the opportunity to participate in an internship where all business was conducted in Italian and which required me to negotiate with Italian service providers. Why bother: I have business work experience. I worked at General Mills first as a management trainee, then as an Assistant Brand manager and finally as a Brand Manager where I had significant responsibility. Better: During my time at General Mills I received two major promotions in three years, making me the only member of my entering group of management trainees to rise to Brand Manager. As a Brand Manager, I developed strong relationships within the distributor network enabling me to exceed my targets. The most common mistake in this section of the cover letter is that candidates are reluctant to sell themselves. It may be insecurity or it may be uncertainty about what the employer is looking for, but the result is the same- a few bland words that could be applied to any candidate and do nothing to describe what is unique and exciting about you. If you fear this applies to you the following suggestions may help. First, ask yourself what is special about you and what you can contribute to an employer. Come up with at least three or four things, though a longer list is great, and write them 3
down. Chose 2 to 4 items that you think are most important. These things are the basis of your letter, what you need to communicate to a prospective employer. Don t just stick in stronger adjectives to strengthen the letter. Substituting ecstatic for happy does not instantly transform it. Choose adjectives that properly reflect what you are trying to communicate. Use examples. Too often candidates simply make broad assertions that can easily be dismissed as puffery. I am very detail-oriented. I am willing to work hard. I am fascinated by this practice. Don t tell them; show them. Say you are talking about your how much you enjoy real estate practice, talk about the MCLE course you taught or took, your involvement in the bar section in that practice area, a deal that was very challenging or satisfying. If you are finding it hard to sing your own praises, write the letter in the third person, as if you were talking about a friend or associate you thought was just great. The classic rule is not to reiterate what is on your resume, and this is true but while you do not want to repeat what they can read elsewhere, your cover letter is where you can bring your resume to life and put your accomplishments in context. For example your resume may show that you worked at a new non-profit that you helped to establish, but it may not show that you worked with a multitude of community groups and that, say, the impact of the effort resulted in a 25% decrease in the cases filed in that housing court district. When you are done, put it down for a bit and then come back to the letter and ask yourself if you would hire this person. Better yet, ask a friend who is not afraid to be honest if they would hire this person. If the answer is no you need to start again. Final Paragraph- Taking Care of Business This is generally the easiest paragraph to write. At its simplest it can contain a brief reiteration of your interest, an offer to send additional information or materials and information about contacting you. Depending on circumstance, you may also want to talk about: Times you are available for interview Plans to visit the area Preferred method of contact Confidentiality of search Timing of future contacts (e.g. I will be contacting you in two weeks to ) Finally, close on an upbeat note. Be positive and don t be afraid to express you interest and enthusiasm ( I am eager for the opportunity to make a contribution to Firm X s intellectual property practice and would appreciate the opportunity to interview with you while I am in Southern California. ) 4
The final two steps Edit! Edit! Edit! Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Your cover letter together with your resume- is the sample of your work product that an employer sees. Your cover letter talks about you re your ability to communicate clearly, effectively and concisely. If your cover letter is poorly organized, contains grammatical errors or inaccurate information about the employer that you are targeting, this employer may question your communication skills, your attention to detail as well as your judgment and research ability. 5
Cover Letter for Out of Town Job Search Mailing Joseph Green, Esq. Green, Garfinkel & Redlich 2 Boulder Drive Dallas, Texas 75222 Dear Mr. Green: 110 West Third Street, Apt. 999 Boston, MA 02215 (617) 443-9428 September 20, 2009 I am presently attending Boston University School of Law and will receive an LL.M. in Banking and Financial Law in May 2010. I am interested in applying to Green, Garfinkel & Redlich for an associate position following the completion of my studies in May. I am quite familiar with and fond of Dallas as I have several relatives and friends who live in the area. I received my degree from Boston University School of Law where I graduated summa cum laude. My academic coursework as well as my position as an associate with the firm, WilmerHale in Washington, D.C., have provided me with a substantive background in banking and financial law. Throughout the pursuit of my law degree, I held legal positions that often required as much as thirty hours of work each week. Those positions enabled me to attain, while still in school, the practical experience one ordinarily only receives years after graduation from law school. I look forward to putting that experience to work on your firm's behalf. I have enclosed a resume and writing sample for your consideration. I would be pleased to speak with you about the needs of your firm during the coming year. I will be in Dallas from December 23 to January 8 and would appreciate meeting with you during that period. You can reach me at the address and phone number listed above. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Enclosures Jennifer Keller 6
General Cover Letter 110 West Third Street, #43 Boston, MA 02215 617-443-0281 December 1, 2009 Edward P. Mendoza, Esq. Montez, Burns & Mendoza 2289 Peachtree Boulevard Seattle, WA 90712 Dear Mr. Mendoza: I am writing to apply for a position as an associate with Montez, Burns & Mendoza. I recently graduated with an LL.M. degree in Banking and Financial Law from Boston University School of Law and have taken the Washington State Bar Examination. I would like to highlight certain points in order that you can make an effective assessment of my application. First, I have extensive research experience having been senior editor of the law review and a staff researcher with the law reform commission. For the past year, I have been a research assistant to Elliot White, adjunct professor at Boston University School of Law. Second, I have a strong writing background. I am a co-author of a two-volume loose-leaf service on foreign investment regulation published by Prentice-Hall and have researched and written a three-part series on entertainment industry arbitration (in conjunction with Professor White), published in the New York Law Journal. Third, my graduate studies at BU Law comprised the areas of securities, antitrust, intellectual property and international business law and I completed the degree with a GPA in excess of 3.5. Fourth, I have broad practical experience. I have worked full-time in the area of corporate/commercial law, drafting commercial contracts and negotiating deals in connection with limited partnership syndication, share and asset purchase, and real estate and debt financing transactions. I am regarded as a very diligent and thorough worker, possess excellent research and writing skills, have a proven capacity to undertake serious responsibilities and can work effectively in a challenging environment. I would appreciate the opportunity for a personal interview at your offices, or if more convenient, following your campus interviews at BU Law in February. Very truly yours, William Smith 7
Unsolicited Cover Letter to Alumni/ae Patricia M. Smith, Esq. Kerry, Kennedy & Smith, P.C. 100 Clarendon Street, Suite 20 Boston, MA 02255 December 1, 2009 Dear Ms. Smith: Stephanie C. Powers 240 Commonwealth Ave., Apt.302 Boston, MA 02215 (617) 443-1233 spowers@bu.edu I understand that you graduated from Boston University School of Law in 1986. I noted with great interest the item in the "Alumni News" section of BU Law's alumni magazine, The Record, regarding the recent formation of your firm with three of your colleagues from Clinton & Gore. I am a Tax LL.M. student at BU Law, and am currently exploring career options in trusts and estates law. My specific focus lies in sophisticated estate planning techniques, particularly the formation of offshore trusts and in the international tax implications of such transactions. I am very interested in your perspective both as an alumna of the law school and as an experienced practitioner in the trusts and estates law field. As a summer associate in 2008 at Bush & Cheney, I was exposed to international trust and tax planning during my rotation through the Private Client Group. Since that time, I have attempted to learn all that I can about this fascinating area of law. Among other things, I have joined the Trusts and Estates Section and the Estate Planning Committee of the Boston Bar Association as a research assistant and am a member of the Boston Estate Planning Council. The chair of the Trusts and Estates Section accepted my offer to perform legal research and writing for the committee newsletter; reviewing all recent case law and legislation has enabled me to stay abreast of developments in the field. Additionally, I attend all bar association and Practicing Law Institute lectures meetings and seminars on estate planning topics when my academic schedule permits. If you have any recommendations for professional development reading or networking opportunities, I would truly appreciate your input. I am endeavoring to develop a strong foundation in this practice area and to familiarize myself with its practitioners so that I can best tailor my career planning and job search to this market. Any advice you would be willing to provide in this regard would be gratefully received and carefully heeded. I will contact you next week to ascertain whether a brief meeting or informational telephone call with you would be possible. Sincerely, Stephanie C. Powers 8
Cover Letter in Response to Job Listing 110 West Third Street, Apt. 888 Boston, MA 02215 617-999-9999 March 3, 2010 Norman Biali, Esq. Dewey Cheatem & Howe 120 Broadway New York, NY 10012 Dear Mr. Biali: In response to your advertisement with the Boston University School of Law job posting website, enclosed please find my resume and unofficial transcript for the fall semester for you review. I note that you are looking for corporate associates for you Los Angeles office, which is where I plan to relocate. For the past year, I have been enrolled in the LL.M. program in Tax at BU Law, from which I will graduating in two months. I recently decided to move to Los Angeles for personal reasons and intend to do so upon graduation. In fact, I anticipate taking the California Bar examination in July. My educational and professional experience has been concentrated in the commercial area with an emphasis in the corporate and tax fields. I have also had extensive experience in litigation, although I prefer to practice in the commercial area. I look forward to meeting with you at a mutually convenient time. You can reach me at the address and phone number appearing above. I would be happy to travel to Los Angeles to interview at the convenience of your colleagues there. Thank you for your consideration to this letter. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Very truly yours, Enclosure Christopher Soulsby 9