How to Write a Legal Secretary Cover Letter
Crafting a Standout Legal Secretary Cover Letter
When applying for a position as a legal secretary, applicants generally submit a resume and cover letter. Your resume is an important document, but your cover letter gives you the opportunity to truly impress a hiring manager and distinguish yourself from other candidates. For this reason, it’s important to write a strong cover letter when applying for a legal secretary position.
A cover letter allows you to highlight your experience , skills and areas of expertise in a way that is not possible on your resume. It also gives you the chance to show the employer your personality and delve deeper into your career history. Many candidates submit a stock cover letter with their resume. This doesn’t help the prospective employer determine whether you are the best fit for the job.
Because the cover letter is an applicant’s first impression, it can play a critical role in whether a candidate gets a foot in the door or not. Those who put effort into writing an original cover letter can better demonstrate that they have the qualities sought by the employer.
What to Include in a Legal Secretary Cover Letter
Each of your legal secretary cover letters should contain the following components:
A professional greeting. As stated earlier, it is imperative that you include the hiring manager’s name if you have it. Additionally, you should address your cover letter to him or her.
A tailored first paragraph that draws their attention. Legal secretaries perform a very specialized function, so highlight your specific experience and abilities for the employer at the start of your legal secretary cover letter.
Relevant experience. Include any specific experience you may have that pertains to the legal secretary position you’re trying to land. If you’ve worked in the legal field before, this is an important area to highlight in your cover letter so you can truly convince the employer why you’re the best candidate.
Persuasive closing. Your last paragraph is the perfect opportunity for you to express your enthusiasm for the open legal secretary position. Reaffirm your desire in your closing statement, as well as thanking the employer for his or her time and consideration of your legal secretary cover letter.
Identifying and Highlighting Skills in Your Cover Letter
When applying for a legal secretary role, the ability to convey the skills and experiences that make you particularly suited for the position is essential. In addition to highlighting your professional achievements, be sure to broadly showcase the qualities and expertise that will help you succeed. Not only should you provide detailed examples, but you should also organize the information in a clear way – grouping them by category can help your accomplishments stand out.
For a legal secretary, organizing your skills and experience is particularly important, because background in the legal system and legal terminology is essential. Use your cover letter to display how your prior work experience has provided you with this useful knowledge. Have you worked with a variety of legal professionals, or do you have an in-depth knowledge of a particular area of law? A thorough understanding of the legal system and the roles of various legal professionals is particularly impressive to employers, and can help to set you apart from other applicants. If you have experience drafting legal documents, such as briefs, pleadings and interrogatories, be sure to share that as well, as strong writing skills are a necessary asset for any legal professional.
Tailoring Your Legal Secretary Cover Letter for Each Submission
Generic cover letters — you know the type. "Dear Hiring Manager. I am interested in this position, which I saw on your website only minutes ago. I would be an ideal candidate because…" and so on. They are, sadly, what most law firms and legal departments have come to expect, and with up to 300 applicants for a few positions, you may think you’re safe to fall into the trap and use the same letter over and over again. But there’s one thing you should keep in mind: generic gets you tossed into the pile of rejected applications, or even worse, an offer for a position you don’t want.
Because while your aim is focused on hitting the bull’s-eye in hopes of getting an interview, the law firm’s aim is to weed out the less-than-qualified. In today’s competitive economy, it is all about reducing risk, and that means only interviewing applicants who seem like they’re suited for the job. When it comes to hiring support staff, the law firm or private practice will be focused on personalities that will fit into their culture. Hiring decisions will not be based on resume-only reviews.
The personal touch is where your cover letter can shine. While the internet has made it possible to find law jobs with a few clicks of the mouse, it has also made it possible for law firms and legal departments to weed out applicants automatically (or semi-automatically) with keywords and "robotic" resumes and cover letters. That means your job application is likely to end up in the "no thanks" pile if you don’t tailor your cover letter and resume to reflect the position you’re vying for. That means researching the firm and its culture and responding appropriately in a way that reflects your knowledge and enthusiasm for the position.
Fortunately, customizing your cover letter is not a daunting task, and can be easily accomplished in a couple of hours of research. You don’t need to scour the website and remain there for a full day, but you should peruse the site and look for details on the culture of the firm. If you have a connection in the firm, you are already one step ahead in crafting a uniquely targeted cover letter.
Mistakes to Avoid with Your Legal Secretary Cover Letter
When it comes to your cover letter, a little extra diligence can ensure you avoid common pitfalls. Here are a few mistakes to steer clear of when composing your legal secretary cover letter: Submission without proofreading. While it is undoubtedly important that your cover letter arrive on time – the timing will be what first comes to a hiring manager’s mind – sending a letter riddled with typos and grammar errors will raise immediate red flags. Proofread your cover letter after composing, then ask a trusted friend or colleague to do the same. Generic language. Don’t bother to send a generic , templated cover letter that leaves the hiring manager with no indication of who you are as a person or professional. Take the time to learn a bit about the firm you are applying for, and consider what you would like to convey in your cover letter to convince them to take the time to review your resume. Failure to address the hiring manager directly. If you can find out the name of the hiring manager or recruiter, use it when addressing your letter. "To whom it may concern" is an instant turn-off for hiring teams. If you haven’t been able to identify the hiring manager, it might be worthwhile to call the law firm staffing office and ask.
Legal Secretary Cover Letter Example
Below, we provide an example of a legal secretary cover letter that uses many of the effective strategies we discussed above.
[Your Name]
[1] 1234 Legal Secretary Ct.
[2] Your City, State Zip [3]Your Phone Number
[4]Date: MM/DD/YYYY
[5]Hiring Manager
[6]ABC Law Firm
[7]4567 Law St.
Your City, State Zip
Hiring Managers respond well to someone who has done their homework. Reading the job description closely and looking up the firm on the web allows you to highlight your skills in a way that relates directly to the position.
[8]Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
[9]I’m writing in response to the ABC Law Firm’s legal secretary job listing posted on the Legal Staff recruiter website. I have five years of experience with a medical malpractice litigation firm, where I was responsible for a variety of administrative tasks, including answering phones, maintaining case files, and managing schedules for attorneys and the administrative staff.
[10]I’m particularly interested in your position because I have firsthand experience in your area of expertise. ABC Law Firm specializes in representing patients in lawsuits against medical devices manufacturers, and I was the only legal secretary at my last firm who had experience handling these types of cases. I would love the opportunity to continue my work in this niche field while at ABC Law Firm.
[11]I’m impressed by your firm’s specialization in representing clients in medical device cases. It’s a much needed service in our industry, and I have some ideas about how we could improve our process for these types of cases. I would love the opportunity to speak with you, your Deputy Legal Secretary, and your attorneys about how we can work together in that regard.
[12]Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I have attached my resume for your review, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
[13]Your Name
Your Signature if sending a hard copy
Your LinkedIn URL
[14]Your LinkedIn URL
Conclusion and Next Steps
When preparing your cover letter for submission to a law firm, the last step is polishing the document for final review. At this point, it’s essential for you to read through your cover letter to ensure its accuracy, followed by seeking any additional input from your professional network. After completing your legal secretary cover letter, save the document to your computer’s hard drive. Then, print it out as a hard copy, making sure to take your time so that you’re able to proofread the letter effectively. Consider reading the final draft out loud to yourself. Pay close attention to any misspellings or grammatical errors, which shouldn’t be overlooked since they create a negative impression of your expertise on the reader. After that, consider asking friends or colleagues to read the document over once more for you. After you’re sure that there are no remaining issues with your legal cover letter for secretary positions, save the copy in your hard drive and email it to yourself as well . Resaving the document prevents the chance that you will inadvertently make changes and lose the pristine version of your document, granting you peace of mind as you prepare to email your cover letter to law firms. In addition, emailing a copy to yourself allows for easier access to the letter in the event that you need to pull it up quickly while on the go. Now that you’re prepared to submit your legal cover letter, consider the next steps in your job search journey. The best way to ensure the success of your application is to follow up with the hiring firm after a designated amount of time has passed, proving your enthusiasm for the desired position. You can also utilize additional opportunities to set yourself apart from other candidates throughout the job search process. Consider networking opportunities by attending law career fairs, or seeking to connect with employment recruiters in the field to make your interest in the position clear. Remember that submitting a solid cover letter isn’t the end of your job search, but instead one step toward securing your desired position.