Overview of Legal Internships
Legal internships are an essential gateway for one’s law career. These internships typically take place either before, during, or after law school, and usually last around one summer in the student’s legal career. While they don’t necessarily correlate to an actual job offer after graduation, doing a legal internship has the chance to set a law student up for success later on in their career. This is true for a few reasons. First, interning at a firm or similar organization offers a student real-world experience of what it is actually like to be a practicing lawyer. Any hopes or worries are confirmed once a student actually experiences the environment for him or herself. Plus, a law student who has experienced an internship can make more relevant connections than students who have not interned and are therefore not privy to the inner workings of the firm. Finally, a student holds the chance to demonstrate their skills and quality to a potential future employer . It is for these reasons that a law student incredibly needs to stay ahead of the competition by applying to as many quality internships as they can, putting out the best cover letter they can, and hoping for the best.
Thus, then, it is worth it to put significant effort into applying for internships. An internship is a valuable opportunity for any law student looking to get their foot in the door in a competitive industry. The competition is fierce, so it is incumbent upon the ambitious law student to make a push for the best internship possible. Writing a good cover letter is key to getting ahead of the pack. A cover letter gives a hiring manager just a little more information about the candidate and encourages them to move forward with the application. It isn’t the longest part of the application, but it still carries some weight. Therefore, it is absolutely worth the time to work on the cover letter for an internship, as it could be the difference between a successful internship and a missed opportunity.
Components of a Great Cover Letter
The standard components of a cover letter are the header, introduction, body, and conclusion. The header includes your name, address, and contact information. This information should match the information at the top of your resume. The header may also include the date and the internship supervisor’s contact information. The introduction should state the internship position for which you’re applying, and where you found the posting. Some people choose to list the firm or business name and location in this section. This is a personal choice. It’s also a good idea to mention why you’re interested in the position, something along the lines of "I am excited about the opportunity to work with (firm or business name) because your focus on (something specific) matches my interests and career goals." The body of your cover letter should explain your interest in the position, your qualifications, and what you envision doing as an intern. Here, it’s important to highlight what makes you a good fit for the specific position. You may have experience that you feel makes you a particularly strong candidate. Be direct and to-the-point about what you would like to gain from the position, as well as how you will best serve the firm. Highlight your relevant coursework, related experience, and specific skills. While it’s best not to reiterate your resume in detail, do weave in relevant facts that will give your reader a better understanding of some of your resume items. Remember—the cover letter is an addendum to your resume, not a complete retelling of your resume. Sometimes applicants will mention their grades, but this is not required when applying for a legal internship. Your cover letter should have a formal tone that conveys your seriousness about securing the position. The conclusion should include a line or two thanking the reader for his or her time, and be sure to include: It’s important to customize your cover letter for each application you submit. Internships at the same firm and even at other firms that do similar work may have different responsibilities and requirements.
Research the Firm/Organization
Hat tip to Above the Law for posting an article from Young Lawyer Blog Staff on Cover Letters: Crafting the Perfect Solicitor’s Greasing Letter. While the term "greasing" doesn’t mean a cover letter to us in the U.S., it is "Not generally synonymous with ‘bland’… greasing is writing a letter that’s designed to get read — Read this way." Let’s jump on the "read this way" part in building a cover letter.
The key to creating a cover letter that gets read is in large part to do your research on the firm or organization. This is best done in tandem with your resume preparation. While you should think of your resume as your autobiography, there are extra benefits in researching the firm or organization.
Researching the firm or organization helps you focus your research on important details. For example, if in your research you see biographical information on the people to whom you are applying, you might fashion your cover letter differently than if there was no biographical information.
You can use the information on the legal resume guy in Part 1 of the 9 steps who told you he used to love hunting or fishing, then Allen posted on a LinkedIn Group with this very tip.
I like to try to increase my knowledge of the people who will be reading my cover letter and resume. I search professional networking sites such as LinkedIn and MySpace and search the names of the people I do not know very well. I try to personalize my cover letter based on information I find from my info-gathering (Facebook is definitely not on my list for firms but LinkedIn is one of my top sites for this).
[First] search online and see how long they have worked at the firm, specific job title, did they go to the same law school as you, what other law firms have they worked at, etc. This will help give me some insight into who I am sending the cover letter to. This helps me avoid "clichéd ideas and phrases" and tailor the letter specifically to the person(s). You want your name and your letter to be remembered.
You can even blog about it to make your knowledge of the firm and its lawyers more public. This is especially true when applying to an employer that values social media. Comment on their use of social media, for example.
Even take a couple minutes to research the local paper to find out what the hot business stories are. Then weave them into your cover letter.
If you have built the solid basis of a relationship with someone in the firm before applying, having researched the firm, you may be in a position to take a few additional minutes to quote some well selected information from your bonus interaction to personalize your cover letter. Believe me, this is much better than copying and pasting something from an Excel spreadsheet to fill the page.
Showcase Legal Skills and Qualifications
In your cover letter for a legal internship, you’ll want to highlight any skills or qualifications that relate to the position. Think of the skills you may be able to contribute that may be particularly appealing to employers: enthusiastic hard work, organization, research ability, analytical or writing talents. These are important! Consider also that employers will be interested in what you can do, as well as what you have done. If you have any experience that pertains to the job or could be valuable, highlight it. Among those skills and qualifications most valued in legal interns are:
- Writing ability: Legal writing is specific to the legal profession, and your experience at this point is probably limited. But if you have some, now is a good time to bring it up. Hourly and summer associates are evaluated from everything from brief drafts to e-mails to correspondence. If you have experience, let it show in your cover letter.
- Research: Law clerks and interns are responsible for many aspects of legal research short of drafting legal documents. State and federal laws must be researched, caselaw must be found, and many other valuable materials are out there that might help with legal arguments. Your ability to research quickly and efficiently is valuable, and also showcases your skills if you’ve earned any legal research certification.
- Professional demeanor: Two things fall under this category. Your demeanor, both in writing and in person, is the first. You’ll need to be professional at all times, and this will be particularly helpful to highlight if you are a nonlaw student applying for a legal internship. You should also highlight any certification you have that pertains to the law, such as an undergraduate degree in paralegal studies, a certification in legal research, or an internship you’ve completed.
- Organization: Remember that this is a law office with strict standards for behavior and accountability. You’ll be expected to be organized, to keep important materials secure, to make sure everything is documented properly and to have good notes on any research or work you do. Being able to show that you are an organized and responsible worker is imperative, and employers will appreciate that you are aware of this expectation and understand the importance of it.
Demonstrate Enthusiasm and Professional Development
It’s not enough to simply express a desire to obtain an internship. You need to demonstrate that you have a genuine interest in the practice of law and the work performed by the firm – or agency – you’re applying to. You also want to indicate that you’re pursuing this specific opportunity in particular, above others, because you’re eager to learn more about how the law works in a practical environment, and because you believe you can make meaningful contributions to the organization . As someone who has recently graduated from college, you have a great foundation for your work, and you’re anxious to learn more about a career in the legal profession.
You don’t want to be just another aspiring Yale graduate walking through the door with a resume that could have been submitted by any number of classmates. You need to show that you’re the kind of hungry young applicant every employer is looking for, and that this particular opportunity is equally appealing to you as a potential intern as it is likely to benefit the organization.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Many law students and applicants apply for internships expecting to get some experience; however, law firms, chambers and legal scholars are often looking for interns who can also provide valuable assistance in the legal process itself. With this in mind, common mistakes you may wish to avoid include:
Generic Content This is arguably the most common issue I see with law cover letters. Often candidates are too proud to do adequate research on the firm or chambers they are applying to. Most firms will scrutinise all references and background checks, and if they find vague responses about the firm appearing elsewhere, they will invariably discard your application. Even if you are applying to a role outside your home state, you need to make clear why you are drawn to that firm or chambers. For example, if you have travelled to the region on holiday, state this. Alternatively, you may have always wanted to see how a much larger place operates (relative to where you are) so state this as well.
Typographical Errors Again, another common issue with law students who have the best possible intentions, but fail to read over their cover letter before pressing ‘send’. It is always advisable to give your cover letter a 3-hour break to clear your eyes before re-reading them.
Not Connecting Personal Experience with the Role As a law student, you will no doubt have undertaken a variety of internships and work placements – if not sought out pro bono work towards your qualification. If you have interned on a pro-bono matter, ensure this is highlighted. Equally, having had a family member in a similar profession can demonstrate your interest in the field and ability to fit in.
So What Comes Next?
Now that you’ve written an effective cover letter, it’s time to send it. Appropriately closing your cover letter is important in order to wrap things up on a positive note, while also ensuring that the reader knows what to expect as next steps in the process. Generally, the best way to end your cover letter is with a brief overview of why you would be a good fit and an appropriate closing like "Sincerely."
After a few days have gone by since you submitted your application, it’s recommended that you follow up with the organization to give them more exposure to you . You’ll want to express your enthusiasm for the position you applied for. A simple e-mail or phone call would be appropriate, and make sure to thank the organization for their consideration of your application.
Regardless of whether or not you follow up on your application, your only other remaining responsibility is to stay on top of it. Make a spreadsheet of each application that you send out, the materials that were sent, and the date you sent them. That way, you’ll always know where you stand and can follow up as necessary.