HOW TO CRAFT A KNOCKOUT COVER LETTER
A step-by-step guide for legal students and graduates
collaw.edu.au/PLT
When applying for a job, your resume is only one piece of the puzzle. A compelling cover letter is the second vital element to grabbing your reader’s attention.
Think of your resume and cover letter as complementary documents. And that means resisting the temptation to simply repeat key points from your resume.
Instead, focus on delivering compelling new information that hooks your reader in – and leaves them wanting to find out more. Use your cover letter to:
• Elaborate on the relevance of your skills, qualifications and accomplishments to the role
• Address specific selection criteria in the job description
• Demonstrate exactly why you want the role, why you would like to work for the organisation and how your skills, experience and qualifications are a good match
• Convey your unique voice to make your letter memorable
Be sure to make the most of this opportunity to connect with your potential employer and really sell yourself as the ideal fit for the role they’re advertising.
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ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Our guide details each step in the cover letter journey, helping you create a knockout piece to catch the attention of your potential employer.
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH COVER LETTERS?
A best-practice example to inspire you to craft your own knockout cover letter. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Get the low-down on why you need a customised cover letter.
THE FORMAT TO FOLLOW
Your cover letter contains a lot of information. Make sure you structure it so that it flows logically and reads well.
PRESENTING & POLISHING
Don’t miss out on the chance for an interview because you didn’t pay attention to the finer details. An impactful cover letter is well formatted, presented and error free.
YOUR COVER LETTER CHECKLIST
Before you click that ‘send’ button, check that your cover letter has everything it needs.
SAMPLE JOB ADVERTISEMENT
An example of a job advertisement.
SAMPLE COVER LETTER
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1. WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH COVER LETTERS?
Cover letters are time consuming. They need to be tailored –every time. But without one, you’re risking your chances of making it to the next stage of the recruitment process.
The must-haves for every cover letter
Every cover letter should contain:
• The date
• Your contact details (name, phone number, email)
• The details of the recipient (name, position, company, address)
• A personalised greeting (the recipient’s name where possible)
• How you came across the job advertisement or the company
• What attracts you to the position and organisation, including original research if possible
• How your experience, skills and qualifications make you an ideal fit for the role
• Why you believe you can be an asset to the team and a good match for the role
• How you will follow up
• A closing and signature
Don’t cut corners
Due to their level of detail, cover letters can often be time consuming. And although it may be tempting, you should avoid using the same cover letter over again.
In fact, your cover letter should be so unique to the role and organisation that you can’t reuse it.
It should refer directly to the organisation’s values and culture – and to specific selection criteria in the job ad. If you rely on a go-to template for each job, recruiters can almost always tell.
Be formal, but human
Throughout the letter, your tone should remain courteous and professional. However, don’t overdo it by being too formal or going over the top with jargon. Instead, aim for a friendly, conversational tone – without the slang!
To assess the tone of your cover letter, try reading it aloud or using the Read Aloud feature in Microsoft Word.
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2. THE FORMAT TO FOLLOW
There are a number of useful conventions for putting together a cover letter that follows a logical flow.
Length
Make every word count
The standard length for a cover letter is less than a page, with three to four main paragraphs. If the employer has given specific requirements on length and format, follow these exactly. This demonstrates good attention-to-detail and that you know how to follow instructions.
First paragraph
An introduction that wows
Begin your letter by addressing it to a specific person.
If the job ad doesn’t include a person, do a little digging to find out who this is. Going that extra mile will help you stand out.
The first line of the letter should identify the job you’re applying for, and how you found out about it. Your opening paragraph should also include a sentence that assures the reader you are genuinely interested in the role. Also show that you’ve researched the organisation, their culture, vision and values.
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To find this insider information, go beyond the company website. Be sure to scour the news and online publications – as well as the LinkedIn profiles of the organisation and its leaders.
The Law Society is a good port of call to research firms and the professionals working in them. Aim to identify one or two points that differentiate the company you’re applying to work for from their competitors. You can speak to these points as the reasons you want to join their team.
Middle paragraph(s) Promote yourself
This is the place to demonstrate your experience, qualifications, skills and suitability for the position. Start off by explaining how you meet the key selection criteria (KSC) in the job description. These are the skills, attributes, experience and education that an employer has identified as being desirable for the job. Many employers will use the KSC to shortlist candidates quickly, so it often determines your ranking for the position.
Failing to address these properly can also mean you get overlooked by the AI algorithms some recruiters use to shortlist candidates. To avoid this, try to use the same language that’s in the job description where relevant. Go on to prove how you can provide value to the organisation. Use specific examples to demonstrate this by drawing on previous employment, voluntary work and extracurricular activities.
HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR SKILLS
In this section, it pays to be specific. Follow the formula of statement, explanation, example.
For instance, instead of writing that you’re ‘experienced in drafting documents’, elaborate by stating ‘as an intern, I drafted supporting documents for a case that was settled in favour of the firm’s client’.
After all, anyone can say they have expertise in drafting documents. You are adding credibility to your achievements by explaining how you acquired your skills and by giving examples of real-life applications.
Closing paragraph
The big finale
Close the letter by reinforcing how you believe you can benefit their firm, and state you’ve also included your resume. If required, refer to any separate documents included, like your academic transcript.
State that you would welcome the opportunity of attending an interview – and sign off with ‘Yours sincerely’, followed by your name.
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3. PRESENTING AND POLISHING
If you’ve made it this far – well done! But don’t stop now. It’s time to hone in on the finer details. This could be the difference between receiving an invite for an interview, or your application being overlooked.
Present it professionally
Cover letters are professional documents, so their formatting should reflect that. Here’s a few pointers to get you on the right track:
• Use a clear, sans serif font such as Arial or Calibri – and keep it to a size 11 or 12
• Break up your text into three or four paragraphs with breaks between each
• Use standard margins – the more white space, the better
• Keep it succinct (cover letters shouldn’t be more than a single A4 page)
Proof read, proof read – and then proof read again
Before sending off your piece, make sure to check carefully for spelling and grammatical errors.
It’s always a good idea to get a second set of eyes to read over it – as you are probably too close to it by now to pick mistakes up yourself.
Even a single typo can indicate poor attention-to-detail. And in a competitive environment, this can be fatal.
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4. YOUR COVER LETTER CHECKLIST
Use this checklist to ensure you’ve written a cover letter that’s tailored to the position you’re applying for.
Does your letter build a connection with the reader?
Does the tone show your enthusiasm?
Does it differentiate you from the competition?
Does it show research and knowledge of the organisation (beyond what’s on their website)?
Have you demonstrated that you meet the key selection criteria?
Have you shown why you’re a good cultural fit for the organisation?
Is the letter grammatically correct and free of spelling errors?
Is the letter well formatted, easy to read with enough white space?
Have you had someone else proofread it?
Is your cover letter succinct and to the point (i.e. one page or less)?
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5. SAMPLE JOB ADVERTISEMENT
BLACK AND GREY SOLICITORS
Graduate/Lawyer - 12 month contract
Black and Grey Solicitors is a global law firm that provides the world’s pre-eminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 3000 lawyers operating from 40 offices worldwide in Europe, Asia Pacific, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Central Asia.
Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare. Knowing how our clients’ businesses work and understanding what drives their industries is critical to us.
We are looking for a recently admitted Lawyer to join our Graduate team. As a fast growing practice this is a unique opportunity with a leading international firm that presents exciting potential for career advancement and development opportunities, the key responsibilities and requirements for this role are as follows:
• We are looking for a recently admitted Lawyer/or a Graduate who has completed College of Law
• An engineering, economics, business or commerce degree would be highly advantageous
• A strong interest in pursuing a legal career with a focus on Employment or Insurance
• Previous Paralegal or legal administrative experience would be highly regarded
The successful candidate will need to be an energetic, driven and focused individual with strong academic achievements. At Black and Grey, you will be rewarded with genuine career prospects and an excellent team environment renowned for its collaborative culture, passion for client service and professional development. Remuneration will be commensurate with relevant experience.
Black and Grey values diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment where all employees can bring their whole selves to work. We embrace the opportunity to contribute to the communities in which we work which underpins our strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. We provide a range of opportunities in which our people can make a difference to their local and global communities including through pro bono legal work, charitable giving, volunteering and support for the environment.
We are proud that Black and Grey in Australia has been recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as well as a silver employer for LGBTI Inclusion through the Australian Workplace Equality Index.
We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.
To apply online please click the ‘Apply’ button below. It is the policy of NRFA Group to provide workplace adjustments for qualified persons with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. If you need assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the application/interview process, please contact Collete Law on (03) 9797 7114 or email Collete Law collete.law@blackandgrey.com.au.
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6. SAMPLE COVER LETTER
Mark Ferguson Middle Park VIC 3206
Mobile: 0417 285 669
Email: markferg@gmail.com
4 August 2023
Ms Collete Law
Recruiting Manager
Black and Grey Solicitors
Melbourne VIC 3000
Dear Ms Law,
It is with great interest that I apply for the Graduate / Lawyer – 12-month contract position advertised on Black and Grey’s website on the 1st of February. With a strong desire to practice in commercial and insurance law, I would welcome the opportunity to work in a global business that is both dynamic and innovative. Working as part of a highly reputable law firm with a diversity of practice areas will provide exposure to a broad range of interesting and complex legal and commercial matters. Your firm’s vision and company values including client focus, integrity and teamwork strongly resonate with me and would provide an ideal foundation to learn and develop.
Whilst studying my law degree at Deakin University, I particularly enjoyed the more commercially focused subjects, as evidenced by my strong academic results in these subjects. I have recently completed my Practical Legal Training through the College of Law while working as a Legal Intern with SNB Lawyers. In this role, I assisted in contract reviews and negotiations as well as drafting, reviewing and advising on commercial leases. Working as part of a remote team, I further developed my strong communication skills and ability to collaborate online.
Outside of work and study, I participate in a number of competitive sports which have allowed me to move between being part of a cohesive team and taking a lead role when needed. I have also travelled overseas which has enabled me to adapt to diverse environments and navigate cultural difference and adopt a more global outlook.
I am excited by the prospect of starting my legal career with Black and Grey and see this position as an ideal match with my key skills and experience. I have attached my resume and academic transcript and would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your organisation. Thank you for your time and interest in considering my application.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Ferguson
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