Legal Assistant: What Does This Job Entail?
The role of a legal assistant encompasses a broad range of tasks, largely centered on legal research and drafting. As a member of a legal support team, the legal assistant is an attorney’s right hand, often handling some of the most basic yet vital tasks necessary for a successful proceeding. They are responsible for keeping their attorneys organized and producing all the necessary documents required for their cases.
In most law offices, the legal assistant’s primary responsibilities include typing documents, conducting interviews, performing legal research, creating and maintaining filing systems, drafting letters and briefs, and analyzing and summarizing documents. Without the ability to do these things efficiently and accurately, many legal offices would crumble under the weight of the cases they handle . To be successful, they need to be highly organized multi-taskers who can manage a fluctuating workload in a high-pressure legal atmosphere.
This list is by no means a definitive account of the responsibilities of a legal assistant, but it does mean this important role requires a wide variety of skills. As such the content of your legal assistant cover letter will be influenced by your specific qualifications and the needs of the attorney or law firm to which you are applying. Some of the tasks listed above may be more relevant to your position than others depending on the office in which you work, so it is important that your cover letter reflect a clear understanding of your specific duties.
Key Components of an Effective Cover Letter
In the legal profession, first impressions can be pivotal, and nothing gives more insight into an applicant than their cover letter. A good cover letter should contain a few essential elements: an engaging introduction, a discussion of relevant skills and experience, and an effective closing. Without the right beginning, middle, and end, it’s unlikely an applicant will be invited to interview.
The opening sentence of a cover letter is the first opportunity to impress a potential employer, and can be the difference between a quick read and a decision to move to the next applicant. A legal assistant cover letter should be viewed as a way to sell yourself, so it’s critical to introduce yourself as a qualified candidate right from the beginning. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran in the field or a recent graduate, a strong opening should be enthusiastic and confident in showcasing your suitability for the position in question. Be sure to include the name of the position you’re applying for – some firms may even have multiple vacancies and they can’t be expected to read each and every cover letter word-for-word.
It’s likely the hiring manager will be reading your cover letter quickly to ascertain if you are a fit for the role, so keep your cover letter to one page and only list the items most relevant the specific position. Your resume should have all of your experience and education, so this is your chance to focus on any of life’s "in-betweens" – skills, personal traits, and interests that will help you succeed in the role. While it can be tempting to boast about a long and successful career, don’t forget that your cover letter is not your resume – it’s a compliment sandwich, with the first slice being the most important.
A call to action is a vital part of any business letter, as it allows you to take control of the hiring process. Putting the ball in the hiring manager’s court after your strong opening and compelling middle makes the final moments of your cover letter very important. It’s not enough to simply thank them for their time and hope they remember your name: offer a few compelling reasons why you are the best candidate for the job, and then offer to come in for an interview. Demonstrate your eagerness to work for the firm by offering your availability for an interview, and provide all of your contact information once again.
Aligning Your Cover Letter to the Legal Job Search
In a competitive field like the legal industry, it’s essential that you customize your cover letter to match the strengths of your resume. In addition to matching your qualifications to the requirements and responsibilities mentioned in the job posting, it’s important to highlight your legal knowledge and experience.
Legal recruiters are familiar with the skills required for all roles within the industry, and if you fail to demonstrate that you understand the legal terminology for the position you’re applying to, you may not get the attention you need for an interview. You should be using some legal terminology in your resume and cover letter; however, make sure that it is relevant. If you’re applying to be an appellate court clerk, share your experience researching and writing opinions; if you’re applying to be an environmental law clerk, share your research, writing, and mentoring experience that would translate well to environmental law. Just be sure that the legal terminology isn’t forced; if the job description specifies a number of years of experience with appellate law, don’t feel the need to explain what appellate law is. It’s preferable that you use legal terminology in your cover letter only when necessary.
Pitfalls to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes many legal assistants make in their cover letters are the use of generic language. When you use phrases like "I am interested in your position" it can make it sound that you are either disinterested or using a copy & paste approach. You also want to remember that you don’t just want to be considered for that specific position, but that you want to be considered for any upcoming openings as well. When you send out generic letters, there is no way your qualifications will stand out as they are not directly related to their company. Assuming that they already know who you are is another mistake that many applicants make. While you can mention briefly how you learned about this opening (perhaps from an employment agency, your social media, or print ads), mentioning your name in the opening paragraph and letting them know that you have included your resume as well is always recommended. Some applications require additional paperwork-sending in your Resume and then failing to include the cover letter that they require above is near guaranteed way of having your letter immediately denied. Including everything they ask for is important.
Cover Letter Sample for Entry-Level Legal Assistant
Dear Ms. Jones:
I am writing to apply for the entry-level legal assistant position in your firm’s insurance defense practice, as recently advertised on the J@@bs.com website. I am an entry-level legal assistant who recently completed my course in legal research and writing with excellent results. I have a general knowledge of the important statutory and case law within the area of insurance defense, and I believe the combination of my coursework and my internship experience will enable me to make a meaningful contribution to your team.
As a former law clerk in one of the region’s busiest insurance defense firms, I was charged with creating a system to organize the records for each new case so my attorneys could easily access relevant pleadings and correspondence my colleagues had sent during the initial intake process . My internship supervisor even gave me considerable latitude at times to file pleadings without needing for anyone else to review the documents before I filed the same, which is another indication of my trustworthiness and accuracy in this important work.
I also have exquisite proofreading abilities, as this aspect of my previous position was key to ensuring all of our clients’ documents and pleadings were complete, consistent and devoid of typographical errors or other mistakes that would weaken our clients’ positions in court. I welcome the opportunity to contribute my efforts to the team within the insurance defense group, and I am very eager to develop professional relationships with my bosses and colleagues after a short while on the job.
Experienced Legal Assistant Cover Letter Sample
Experienced legal assistants often contend with an uphill battle when applying for a new position. Potential employers typically give preference to candidates that have longer work experience. For this reason, it is imperative that your cover letter grabs the attention of hiring managers right away by showing off your career achievements.
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I am writing to apply for the Legal Assistant position at [Company Name] after recently seeing your advertisement on [xx job site]. I have seven years of legal assistant experience in [practice area], and I’d like to offer my services to your firm.
As a legal assistant at my first law firm, I assisted three lawyers, undertaking all administrative functions. I was promoted to senior legal assistant at my second law firm one year later after my supervisory skills became evident. Finally, I’ve been a legal assistant at [XX firm] for the past four years, where I am currently responsible for all legal administrative duties for a team of five lawyers. I have attached my resume so you can see that I bring a great deal of experience to the table.
Your job advertisement states that you are looking for someone with exceptional customer service skills, and I believe that I qualify. I have developed outstanding communication skills through my experience answering phones, responding to emails, faxing, filing, greeting clients at the door and explaining legal processes to clients as they seek clarification. I am also an effective communicator with people from all walks of life, and I have composed countless correspondences for upper level management.
I have had the pleasure of implementing a number of process improvements at my current job. One of the most notable was creating a form for all of our attorneys to use during their closing proceedings, which helped us save both time and money. I’m sure [XX firm] would benefit from having me on board because I am always looking for ways to improve processes.
My love of the law and the opportunity to work alongside other experts in the field keeps me doing what I do best every day. [XX firm] can benefit from my extensive experience and excellent skill set, and I look forward to meeting with you to discuss the matter further.
Sincerely,
Final Considerations for Your Legal Assistant Cover Letter
Finally, proofread your letter before submitting it anywhere. Have a third party look it over as well, as they may find things that while you may not catch in a fresh pair of eyes. If you need to, save for later and start again fresh the next day. You will be amazed to see how much more clear and concise your letter will look after a short break from it.
A few brief final notes about your letter:
It is critical to always tailor your cover letter to each position you are getting ready to apply for. Do not submit a generalized letter that you will send out to everyone in your general area of the law. Take time to put in at least a few pieces of specific information for each separate submission . We understand that this is a lot of extra workâhowever, if you are applying for legal assistant positions, you must realize that a large share of your competition is doing the exact same thing you are, and there is absolutely no reason that should discourage you, other than to motivate you to put forth that extra effort needed to make yourself stand out from the competition. Remember: No matter where you are in your career, whether just starting out or in the middle of a shift from one major area of the law to another, you should always think of your cover letter as an advertisement for your business skills related to practicing law. This means tailoring your cover letter to the area of the law for which you will be sending it in for consideration. With that in mind, there is a bonus piece of advice-always, always follow your cover letter with a professionally formatted resume.