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If you want to land a new paralegal job, you need a strong cover letter to convince a hiring manager that you have the qualifications. The paralegal cover letter examples and writing tips on this page can help you build a great cover letter.
A paralegal cover letter sample like this one can help you create the cover letter that works best for you. Copy and paste this text into your own cover letter template and customize with your information.
In addition to the professional cover letter for paralegal examples on this page, here are five cover letter tips to craft your own letter:
A hiring manager reads many job candidate cover letters for each open position so come up with a catchy “hook” in your opening that will grab the listener’s attention and immediately show that you’re qualified. Think of a specific skill you have that’s in demand for a paralegal like “fluent in English, Spanish and sign language,” or impressive results you’ve achieved like, “I’ve contributed to team that specializes in medical malpractice litigation, with 10+ winning cases over the last two years.” Leading off with the right “hook” will make a prospective employer want to read the rest of your cover letter.
As a paralegal, be specific about your legal representation statistics and past achievements in your cover letter. How many legal cases did you win in one year? How many criminal law clients have you represented? Letting a prospective employer know how much you can do as a paralegal and how your extensive skill set has helped you perform your job in the past will get you noticed as a top candidate. Example, “Represented 160 clients in one year with 38 cases won out of 42 cases handled.”
Make the hiring manager believe without a doubt that you know exactly what job role and company you’re applying for. A generic cover letter will not be effective because it will lack relevant information from the specific job description. Customize your cover letter to show that you have researched the role’s responsibilities and spell out why you’re the right candidate to get the job done. Include keywords and skills outlined in the job posting so you pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that employers use to select qualified candidates. If the job description lists “Assist attorneys in preparing for trials, hearings, and depositions, drafting subpoenas and pleadings” as one of the primary job functions, then make you use keywords such as “trials, hearings, depositions, and drafting subpoenas and pleadings” in your cover letter.
Paralegals require an assortment of skills to effectively handle legal cases from research and case management to litigation. Be sure to feature hard skills (legal knowledge and legal software proficiency like LexisNexis and Westlaw) that reflect the job description and soft skills (confidentiality, accuracy and teamwork) that reflect how you approach work as a paralegal.
Since attention to detail when drafting legal documents is crucial for a paralegal, you need to demonstrate your proofreading skills by carefully reviewing your cover letter. The same holds true for your accompanying paralegal resume and job application. The extra few minutes you spend correcting typos or grammatical errors will be worth it when your flawlessly written cover letter shows your detail-oriented and effective communication skills, helping you sail through the hiring process.
If you want to write a great cover letter to go along with your paralegal resume, you need to address your work experience, skills and how you fit the exact job description the company is looking for. Here’s how you can do that.
At the top of your cover letter, create a prominent header that matches your resume header to make it easy for prospective law firms to locate your name and contact information should you be invited to a job interview. Include the following information and make sure it’s up-to-date:
Example:
John M. Jones
123 Street Address
Cityname, ST ZipCode
JohnMJones@email.com
JohnMJonesLinkedinlink
Address your paralegal cover letter directly to the hiring manager’s name because a specific name is better than using a generic “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
Examples:
Dear Mr. Johnson,
Dear Ms. Johnson,
Dear Dr. Johnson,
You should start the cover letter with an introduction that has some kind of hook similar to an “elevator pitch.” An elevator pitch is a quick story or comment that gains the attention of a hiring manager, immediately putting you over many other job seekers. Also, mention the job you’re applying for and give an overview of your credentials.
Now that you’ve gotten the hiring manager’s attention, you can give more information about why they should hire you over someone else. Mention your legal expertise through measurable accomplishments and not just routine tasks. Highlight your best paralegal skills and software proficiency that could give you an edge over other job candidates. As in the example below, the paralegal “simultaneously works on 20 cases” showing diligence, organization and multitasking.
The last paragraph is your chance to thank the hiring manager for considering you an applicant and make a call to action by actively asking for the job interview. A simple statement like, “I look forward to discussing the role further,” insinuates a job interview is next. Then, sign off your letter with a formal closing such as “Sincerely” or “Best Regards”.
Build my cover letterTo excel in a paralegal position, you’ll need a combination of soft skills and hard skills. Here are some skills to consider for your paralegal cover letter.
<p>ResumeHelp has the tools, templates and examples to create your own paralegal cover letter and resume in minutes. Here are some pages that can really help you:</p>
Have questions? We’re here to help.
A well-written cover letter for a paralegal position will match the qualifications listed in the job description and demonstrate how you’ve the right fit for what the job needs. Highlight your ability to perform, such as the time you exceeded a typical paralegal’s workload by working on 20 court cases at once involving one dozen legal teams and hundreds of legal clients. Also, explain your passion and reasons for wanting to work in the legal profession or at the specific law firm. Browse the cover letter examples for paralegals on this page for inspiration.
After you select a cover letter header design to feature your full name, phone number, email address, location and links to your networking profiles or portfolio, follow these four key steps:
It’s always a good idea to have a cover letter when you’re looking for a paralegal job. Not only does a professional cover letter explain your career goals, but it also allows you to ask for an interview. If you don’t feel like you’re good at writing cover letters, just use the ResumeHelp Cover Letter Builder. When you combine it with paralegal cover letter examples, you can write a great cover letter in no time.
Paralegal cover letters should usually be between half a page and 3/4 of a page. If your cover letter gets longer than 3/4 of a page, it can take up too much space and be difficult for hiring managers to scan. If it’s shorter than half a page, it looks empty. Around 3/4 of a page is the perfect length for most cover letters. Using a paralegal cover letter template will guide you to the perfect length.
If you’re looking for an entry-level paralegal position, you can still use this cover letter example. Just adapt your achievements to whatever experience you have. Instead of professional work history, focus on your educational background, past positions you’ve had that utilize skills a paralegal position demands, and related internship or volunteer positions. For more, see our tips on writing a cover letter with no experience.
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