An Overview of a Legal Assistant
Legal assistants play crucial roles in law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments. These professionals support attorneys by maintaining files, preparing legal documents, and conducting research to provide important information for cases. A legal assistant may be required to draft pleadings, interview witnesses, or obtain pertinent documents; all of these responsibilities will vary by employer. The specific tasks that a legal assistant performs will depend on the organization they work for. Legal assistants may work in a variety of legal settings or specialize in a particular industry, such as corporate law, intellectual property, criminal law, or bankruptcy law. Some legal assistants work directly with clients , while other legal assistants, such as litigation legal assistants, usually do not. Legal assistants must have excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as strong critical thinking skills. All legal assistants must be well organized and detail oriented; this is especially important for legal assistants who work at law firms, as they will spend much of their time filing or organizing documents. Computer skills are also vital, as legal assistants often use online case databases to stay current with legal developments that affect their employer. While not a strict requirement, many employers prefer legal assistants with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or at the very least, a paralegal certificate.
The Value of a Personalized Cover Letter
Crafting a tailored cover letter is imperative when applying for a legal assistant position. Rather than recycling an old template cover letter and tossing in a few keywords to match a job description, take the time to tailor the letter to the current position and firm. Ensure the letter shows where you clicked "Apply" on your potential employer’s website, even if that was on LinkedIn.
The cover letter can demonstrate your fit for the role and the legal industry. As a legal assistant, it is important to understand how you will be interacting with vendors and clients. The impression you will make is important, and a cover letter that is cookie-cutter gives the wrong impression; it shows lack of attention to detail and indicates that you do not appreciate the fact that you will be the gatekeeper to your firm’s attorney (and possibly his or her reduced income, if you are not qualified). If you cannot take the time to ensure the cover letter lands in the right inbox or is addressed to the correct person, how can you be entrusted with other tasks?
How to Build a Successful Cover Letter
The Essential Elements of a Well-Crafted Legal Assistant Cover Letter
So, you have real legal skills. You are ready to really show your worth in the competitive job market. But to you, that first impression is key to stand out from the pack—especially when you’re a legal assistant! What can you do to effectively communicate your qualifications and personality in the limited space of a cover letter?
You could spend an afternoon contemplating what to write in hopes that it will magically come together with no mistake. Or you could understand the essential elements that make up a successful cover letter and get more interviews using this guide.
Length
Hiring managers will most definitely judge a cover letter by its length. A cover letter that is too short might not fully explain your skills, and one that is too long might bore them so they don’t finish reading it at all! Then, you blow your chances of getting that interview! Keep the cover letter between a quarter and a half of a page. Your most important points should be highlighted in a brief introductory paragraph followed by two paragraphs that detail your qualifications. Then you can finish with what you hope to contribute to the position—and close with an open-ended question to keep the conversation or interview opportunity going.
Basic Elements
There are some essentials to every cover letter, like using the position’s job title (in the job posting or ad) in your salutation. Include some familiarity with the company or firm, why you want to work for them, and then briefly explain your qualifications and how they are a good fit for the position.
It’s also important to mention your enthusiasm for the work and the law firm or company. Some firms are looking for specific knowledge or a specific area of legal assistant training—so highlight those points. The basics are all the same across attorney jobs. Every cover letter should be geared toward the specific position and what unique qualities you bring to the table. Be specific and enthusiastic, but don’t be afraid of being a little casual as well. Personalization is key!
Layout
The best cover letter is written in a slightly different way than most people expect. First, you need a creative hook that piques the interest of the reader. It might be a personal connection or a personal anecdote (or even a joke) that relates to the position. Then, you want to follow that with more details—again, tailored to the specific position.
Finally, you want a smooth conclusion. Your last sentence should begin with "In closing" and offer confidence, self-assuredness, and a little promise of future interaction. You want a call to action that makes them feel eager to meet with you!
The Main Elements of a Legal Assistant Cover Letter
When constructing a cover letter for the legal assistant position, it is imperative that you include all the necessary components in order to pique the interest of the hiring manager from the very onset of your letter. You should always begin with a brief introduction, outlining your skills, experience, and why you are applying for the position. A comprehensive opening paragraph can serve as a tool for enticing the hiring manager to read your resume in its entirety, so you want to make sure you are making a great impression from the get-go.
As stated above, your intro paragraph should be relatively succinct; an opening sentence that acknowledges the position and company you are applying for, followed by a sentence or two identifying your skills that coincide with the position you’re vying for. You should also make sure to show your understanding of the job, referencing specific skills or tasks highlighted in the job description. The second component of your cover letter should be an explanation of your qualifications for the position. This can be done through a reiteration of the tasks and skills required by the employer, followed by a detailed explanation of your qualifications. For example, if the job application states that applicants should have experience utilizing Photoshop, your qualification should offer some insight into how you used Photoshop in a previous role. It’s also important to elaborate on your experience as a legal assistant, such as a discussion of the types of cases you’ve worked on and the responsibilities you were tasked with. It’s a good idea to highlight the things you believe you did exceptionally well at your previous jobs, while throwing in a few sentences about any accomplishments that you think would help your cause.
Finally, the closing of your cover letter should be brief and straight to the point. Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration with a line or two at the end of the letter. There is no need to rehash the qualifications or skills you possess at this point in the process; you’ve already demonstrated how you could be a great fit for the job, so a simple thank you is all that’s needed in your conclusion.
A Sample Legal Assistant Cover Letter Template
One of the most beneficial tools you can use when applying for a legal assistant position is a legal assistant cover letter template. As you browse job sites, submitting applications to some of the best law firms in the country, you want to put your best foot forward with a strong cover letter. A customized and well-written cover letter is an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your skill set and personality to potential employers. When you use a cover letter template to create your cover letter, you’re ensuring that all the necessary information is included and you’re saving yourself time as well.
When you use a generic cover letter template, you’re risking submitting a boiler-plate cover letter that will do you no favors with hiring managers. They want to know about you , not the many other legal assistants who have submitted the same job application to their firm. You should customize every legal assistant cover letter template you use to personalize your cover letter for that job application.
Use the information you have in your resume to choose the most important aspects of your experience, personality and qualities to include in your personalized cover letter. Your cover letter template will likely make suggestions about what to include. Follow those suggestions and then add a few personal touches. For example, if you list your best qualities in your cover letter, you should include examples that showcase those strengths.
What Mistakes Not to Make
Common mistakes to avoid while writing your legal assistant cover letter:
Generic greetings: To set the right tone for your cover letter, it’s essential to use a personalized greeting addressed to a particular person (typically a hiring manager). If you don’t have the name of a hiring manager, do some additional research to find the appropriate name, or call the office to find out the appropriate person to address your cover letter to. Avoid using a generic greeting such as "To Whom it May Concern". This can make you appear as though you didn’t even bother to do a little bit of homework on the company you are applying to. Using a customized greeting goes a long way in making a strong first impression.
Incorrect grammar and spelling errors: Make sure you proofread and edit your cover letter before sending, because spelling mistakes and poor grammar can be a major deterrent for employers looking to hire skilled candidates. For those in the legal field, it is crucial to dot your i’s and cross your t’s. In this profession, there are many spelling details that someone not familiar with the industry might overlook. For example, there may be variations in spelling like civil and "civils" or corporate and "corporeals" that your cover letter writer might not be aware of. Take the time to ensure you are using all the legal jargon correctly. It would be wise to have your cover letter reviewed by another set of eyes, preferably someone who is already in the profession.
Use of Jargon, abbreviations, and acronyms: While it’s good to use some industry jargon in your cover letter to show your level of knowledge and experience, don’t go overboard and use too much or use it inappropriately. It’s important to not presume the reader has the same level of familiarity with the industry as you do. It is better to educate them a little on the technical terms of the industry you’re in than it is to confuse them by using words and sentences they don’t fully understand.
Failure to emphasize accomplishments & achievements: While a work history and relevant education is essential information for a cover letter, it is equally important to mention accomplishments and achievements that would be of interest to an employer. An employer want to know what you’ve done and where you’ve made a difference in the industry and your previous workplaces. Just like your resume, your cover letter is a chance for you to market yourself to employers and persuade them you are the right fit for their law firm.
Stating what you can get from the job instead of what you can offer an employer: Your cover letter should be all about the employer and how you will be an asset to their firm. Stating that you’re excited about the job and what it will mean to you shows an employer that you are dedicated and really interested in the position. However, it should also demonstrate how you are willing to go above and beyond to prove your value as an employee and how it will benefit the hiring company.
Final Review
While you may believe your cover letter is perfect because you have carefully followed the steps above, you must make sure that it is 100% ready to go before you send it off to a prospective employer.
First, check it for spelling and grammatical mistakes. Ask a friend or even your spouse to check it for you again. This is preferable as it is hard to pick out the errors in your own writing. After going through this process a few times you should be confident that you have a solid and properly written cover letter .
Next, give your cover letter a good proof read and check to see that you have met all of the requirements stated in the job posting. Sometimes a job posting has specific requirements such as experience in a certain area of the law, someone with not only leadership skills but also management experience, or a particular software package. You want to make sure that your cover letter conveys your experience where you have met all of their specific requirements.