Seasonal Clerkship Cover Letter Checklist

By

As seasonal clerkship applications start to close in NSW, many students are frantically proofreading and checking their cover letters before submission.

The cover letter is the first thing that the law firm recruitment representative reads before they turn to your resume.  Accordingly, it is perhaps the most important document in your application and is what gets you or costs you an interview at that firm.  For example, addressing the wrong law firm in your cover letter will certainly cost you an interview because it suggests a lack of attention to detail and care (as well as a lack of interest in that particular firm).

Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash

As someone who was able to score a few clerkship and graduate interviews back in the day, here is my checklist of the things that you could consider before submitting your cover letter for clerkship and graduate applications.

ALCA Seasonal Clerkship Cover Letter Checklist

Checklist item

✓

Structure of your cover letter – the key sections:

  • Your personal details
  • Firm addressee details
  • Subject line – e.g. Application for 2023/24 Seasonal Clerkship Program at X
  • First section – Why you are writing and a snapshot of you
  • Second section – Why that firm
  • Third section – What you will bring to the firm (i.e. your value proposition)
  • Fourth section – Thanking the firm and you look forward to hearing from them

 

 

Have you included the correct email address and phone number for the law firm to contact you?

 

 

Is your cover letter addressed to a particular person rather than “Sir/Madam”?

 

 

Have you addressed your letter to the correct firm and recruitment representative? 

 

 

You have explained why that firm specifically, including (but not limited to) some of the following matters:

  • Firm strategy and direction
  • People at the firm
  • Interest in particular practice groups (including notable practice group ranking on Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 or Doyle’s Guide)
  • Deals, cases and matters of particular interest
  • Learning and development initiatives
  • Technology
  • Pro bono and community

 

 

You have demonstrated your value proposition (including any key accomplishments, transferable skills and your interest in the law) and how you will add value to that firm by reason of your accomplishments, experience and skills.  Focus on 3-4 key selling points.

 

 

Your cover letter does not simply repeat the content of your resume.

 

 

Demonstrated qualities and interests which law firms look for (e.g. commercial awareness, customer service, legal research or pre-penultimate programs).

 

 

Demonstrated what makes you unique and different to other clerk candidates (i.e. it gives the reader a snapshot of “your story” and your passion/motivation). Why you?

 

 

Is your cover letter tailored to that particular firm? 

If you were to replace the firm name with another firm name throughout your letter, would it still work?  If yes, it may be too generic.

 

 

Is your cover letter maximum 1 page?

 

 

Clean font (e.g. Arial, Verdana) and readable font size (10-12 depending on font).

 

 

Have you proofread (and asked someone else to also proofread) your cover letter for spelling, grammatical or typographical errors?

 

 

-