As a paralegal, you will be required to carry out legal work on behalf of a lawyer. You will be applying for jobs either at government agencies, law firms or corporate legal departments. Some of your tasks will include drafting documents, organizing files, research, helping the lawyer during trials, writing reports, investigating case facts, etc. Your paralegal cover letter should provide top reasons that make you an excellent fit for the position.

A good cover letter will encourage the hiring manager to read your resume. If looking for an entry-level position, the cover letter should highlight expertise and skills gained through internships and education.

For many people, being a paralegal jumpstarts their legal profession while others stick to being paralegals for life. They assist lawyers whose job involves using their legal expertise in cases.

Legal cases generate lots of paperwork and documentation, and it’s the work of a paralegal to copy and send this to different entities. As a paralegal, you must ensure that the copies are of high quality and have no secret or privileged information revealed. It would help if you oversaw the copying process to ensure correctness. Most of the time will be spent covering or redacting privileged information before making copies and stamping numbers to account for every paper.

Over time your job becomes sophisticated and you begin researching on behalf of the attorneys. Eventually, paralegals become trusted and proficient in their position. This allows them to be involved in writing first drafts for attorneys. At this point, the paralegal will be as skilled as the lawyers themselves in different subject matters.

Do’s and Don’ts for a paralegal cover letter

• Do tailor your cover letter to the position advertised.
• Do highlight the most relevant qualifications and describe them briefly. Your skills should add value to the company and should not be a repetition of your resume.
• Do read the job description carefully to highlight some of the skills needed for the job on your cover letter.
• Do not go over a page. Make the cover letter short, clear and to the point.
• Do provide examples to show abilities and skills. Use a few sentences to explain what makes you a good fit for the position. Use data and facts if possible.
• Do state your excitement at the prospect of getting the job and how it matches your career goals.
• Do use a legible font and avoid mixing capital and small letters unnecessarily.
• Do edit your cover letter before sending. Check for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, structural mistakes, and awkward phrases.

Being a paralegal can be overwhelming due to the amount of documentation and filing required. For one to succeed you must be:

• Exceptionally organized
• Detail oriented
• Efficient
• Adaptable
• Dedicated
• A good communicator
• An incredible time manager
• Patient
• Great at solving problems

Tips on writing the paralegal cover letter

1. To ensure you get the job, read through the job description and take note of what skills and requirements they need. Highlight these abilities and skills in your cover letter. Show how you have faced challenges and how you solved them.
2. Be formal. Avoid being casual even though you know the hiring manager. Use appropriate language and respect the field.
3. Be thorough and mention all your legal work experience related to the job requirements. This is your chance to showcase your attention to detail, organization, and consistency. The hiring manager needs someone who will be keen during court cases.
4. Let your confidence ooze through your cover letter. Be knowledgeable of the field without sounding cocky. The hiring manager needs to see that you know what you are talking about.
5. Highlight your research skills and any specific expertise areas.
6. Show your passions and enthusiasm for the position. The job involves too much paperwork which can be tiring and boring. The hiring manager wants to see that despite this, you will be an enthusiastic addition to their team.

When writing your cover letter, make sure it portrays you as the best candidate for the position. A well-written cover letter will represent the candidate’s intelligence, self-motivation, meticulous and hard working skills. These will free up the attorney so that they get time to do legal work. It should show excellent writing and communication skills too.

Paralegal cover letter template

[Applicant’s Name]
[Applicant’s current Address]
[City, state, zip]
[Telephone number]
[official email address]

[Date]

[Name of hiring manager]
[their title]
[name of the law firm or company]
[address]
[city, state, zip]

Dear Mr./Ms. Last name

I am applying for the paralegal position advertised on [name where you found the job description] at [name the firm/ company]. I am a highly competent, hardworking and service focused paralegal. I believe that my skills and experience make me an excellent fit for this position.

I pursued an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies at [name the university or college] and interned at [name the law firm or organization] during my summer holidays. I worked under senior paralegals who guided and instructed me on procedures and court case protocols. My background includes motions, discoveries, pleadings, and briefs. I got the opportunity to work under different areas of law including medical malpractice litigation, insurance defense, and workers’ compensation.

Some of the highlights of my experience include:

• document preparation for trials through scheduling and conducting interviews with witnesses and clients.
• Introduced a file opening checklist that improved the filing database. This resulted in a 10% decrease in time wasted while cataloging new cases.
• Research and analysis of malpractice litigation, insurance defense, and workers’ compensation cases.
• Prepared legal documents including appeals, briefs, and agreements. I also prepared legal motions and arguments.

I am a highly motivated paralegal who is ready to take on more responsibility at [name of the firm/ company]. I have become an expert at time and self-management. I follow through tasks at hand while keeping communication open with clients and colleagues.

I believe that my skills and experiences make me an asset to your company. I have attached my resume and look forward to learning more about the position. I hope to join the diverse and growing team of professionals at [company or firm name]. Please contact me via phone or email to further discuss the position and how I can contribute towards meeting your goals.

Thank you for taking the time and considering my application.

Sincerely

[name]