A well composed paralegal cover letter can help you land a position. Before you begin your letter, take the time to research the law firm you are applying to. That way, you can highlight skills that are in line with that firm's area of practice. Have a friend proofread your resume to make sure you have used proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Prepare your paralegal cover letter in block or modified block style. A block style letter is one in which all lines begin at the left margin, while a modified block style letter may have your address and signature block centered. Choose a common font, such as Times New Roman or Calibri, at either 10 or 12 point.
Print out a copy of the job description you are applying for. Read through it carefully in order to see what skills and experience the law firm is looking for. Highlight phrases that match your own work experience so you can mention these in the paralegal cover letter.
Begin with a good introduction. Explain who you are and why you are applying for this position. Keep it simple so you will not lose the reader's interest. The introductory paragraph of a paralegal cover letter should ideally be between two to four sentences long.
In the next paragraph, explain why you are a good match for the job. Use information you have obtained when researching the law firm and looking over the job description. Hit the most important points here without going into too much detail. Intrigue the reader, but do not restate information that can be found on your resume.
Close the paralegal cover letter with a request for action. Ask the attorney for an interview. Let him know you will follow up in a few days to arrange for a time to talk, then be sure to make the phone call.
It may be tempting to use legal jargon in your paralegal cover letter. Try to avoid doing this unless the job posting asks specific questions you may need to address. If you do use legal terminology, make sure to spell the words correctly and use them in the proper context.
Ask a third party to proofread your paralegal cover letter and resume. Have them pay special attention to how neat the documents are and whether they provide consistent information. Once you have written a well-prepared cover letter, you could be on your way to an interview and full-time employment with a law firm in your area.
