The cover letter is where a lot of strong candidates quietly lose points, not because they cannot write, but because nobody explained what a cover letter is actually for. So they either repeat their CV in paragraph form or write generic praise, and the letter adds nothing. A good legal cover letter does a specific job: it tells the reader why you, why them, and gives a glimpse of how you think, in a way your CV cannot. Let me show you how to write one that genuinely stands out, whether for a job, an internship, or an LLM-adjacent application.
Quick answer
A strong legal cover letter is short (usually one page), explains why you are applying to this specific role or organisation, connects your background and skills to what they do, and shows a little of how you think and communicate. It should add to your CV, not repeat it. Structure it as: a clean opening (who you are and what you are applying for), a genuine reason you want this role, why you are a good fit with a specific example, and a confident close. If someone could delete it and lose no information, it would not be doing its job.
What is a cover letter actually for
Your CV lists what you have done. Your cover letter explains the things a CV cannot: why you want this role, how your experience connects to their needs, and a sense of your thinking and communication. Legal work runs on writing and reasoning, so a well-written cover letter is itself a small sample of both. Read this way, the cover letter is not a formality to dread; it is a chance to make a specific, human case for yourself that a list of bullet points cannot.
The structure
- Opening: who you are and what you are applying for, in one clean line. Skip the “I am writing to express my keen interest” throat-clearing.
- Why them: one genuine, specific reason you want this role or organisation. This is the heart and what separates you from the generic pile.
- Why you: two or three sentences connecting your most relevant experience or skills to what they do, ideally with a specific example that a CV bullet cannot fully convey.
- Close: a short, confident sign-off. You are available, happy to share more (like a writing sample), and thank them.
Weak vs strong
Weak: “I am a hard-working and dedicated law student with excellent research and communication skills, keen to gain exposure at your esteemed organisation and further my career in law.”
Strong: “I am a final-year student at [college] applying for your disputes team. My interest in commercial arbitration grew during my internship at [chamber], where I researched maintainability questions and summarised authorities for the drafting counsel, and I would like to build on that in a team that handles arbitration at the scale yours does.”
The strong version names a specific interest, backs it with real experience, and connects both to this team. It reads like it was written for them, because it was. That is what standing out looks like.
YLCC ACTION STEP: Take your current cover letter and delete every sentence that could appear, word for word, in an application to any other organisation. Whatever survives is your real letter. Now rebuild around the one genuine reason you want this specific role and one specific example of why you fit. That is a cover letter that adds something.
PLEASE DON’T DO THIS: Please don’t restate your entire CV in paragraph form; the reader already has your CV. And please don’t recycle one cover letter across applications by swapping only the name; the “why them” part has to genuinely change, or the letter is worse than sending none. Generic praise and repetition are what make cover letters pointless.
Do you always need one?
Not always. For many quick email applications, your email serves as the cover letter, and a separate formal one is not needed. Send a distinct cover letter when the application asks for one, or when you are making a considered, formal application where you want to explain your interest properly. Do not create an elaborate cover letter where a strong two-line email would do; that can read as trying too hard. Match the format to the application.
FAQs
- What should a legal cover letter include? Why you are applying to this specific role, how your background connects to what they do, and a glimpse of how you think, in a short, well-structured one-page letter that adds to your CV.
- How long should a legal cover letter be? One page, usually three or four short paragraphs. Concise and specific beats long and generic.
- Should a cover letter repeat my CV? No. It should add context and reasoning your CV cannot, especially why this role and how you fit, not restate your bullets.
- Do I always need a cover letter? No. Often your email serves as one. Send a separate cover letter when asked or for a considered, formal application.
- How do I make a cover letter stand out? Name one genuine, specific reason you want this role, back your fit with a specific example, and write it clearly. Delete anything that could go to any organisation.
Thank you for reading!
If you found this article helpful, explore more resources from YLCC and continue your legal learning journey.
