Sample Cover Letters Targeted to Large Full-Service Firm, Corporate Commercial Practice . 2 – 4 Targeted to Federal Department of Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 – 7 Targeted to Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 – 9 Targeted to Boutique Labour and Employment Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 – 11 Targeted to Mid-Sized Ottawa Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Targeted to Mid-Sized Toronto Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 – 14 CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 1 Targeted to Large Full-Service Firm, Corporate Commercial Practice Your name 1234 – 12 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T1A 2B3 September 28, 2012 Mr. Samuel Jones Firm of Choice LLP Suite 1400, 777 – 7 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2Z 3R5 Dear Mr. Jones: Re: Summer 2012 Position Please accept this application for a 2013 summer position with Firm of Choice LLP. I had an interesting conversation with Kelly Kramer at the University of Calgary Career Fair earlier this year about the work of your corporate commercial group. Although I am very much looking forward to a broad exposure during my articling rotations, I am interested in eventually practicing in the area of corporate commercial or employment law. My undergraduate degree in business has helped me develop a strong foundation in understanding the corporate sector, which will lend well to working with your clients. My ability to set goals and attain them has been demonstrated in my academic career, work experience, volunteer roles, and personal life. Academically, I have maintained solid grades in law school and obtained an honours standing in my Bachelor of Commerce degree. Through work, I often exceeded company sales targets while working at ABC Railway Company. I am also particularly proud of earning my black belt in Tai Kwan Do. It took five years of training and mental focus to reach my goal. As Vice President of the Society of Law Students and Volunteer Coordinator for the Business Students’ Society, I initiated new and expanded core programs. In addition, I demonstrated my initiative in my role as operations manager for a hostel in New Zealand for eight months where I implemented a unique hostel pass program. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, X (sign here) Paul Smith Targeted to Large Full-Service Firm, Corporate Commercial Practice Header with your name and contact info (as on resume) CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 2 Current Date Ms. Karen Chown MacLeod Dixon LLP 3700 Canterra Tower, 400 – 3rd Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 4H2 Dear Ms. Chown, I am currently in my second year of studies at the Schulich School of Law in the Bachelor of Laws program. I am interested in an articling position at MacLeod Dixon LLP in Calgary, both because of the diversity of your practice and your commitment to professional and personal development. I have had the pleasure of spending time in Calgary on a number of occasions and, in recent years, more and more of my family and friends have settled there. Personally, I look forward to embarking on my own career in Western Canada. Studying law at Dalhousie has given me a tremendous opportunity to immerse myself in law and become a contributing member of a larger community. As vice-president (Academic) and president of the Law Students’ Society, I have had the privilege of serving the Schulich School of Law community, as well as shaping the school’s future with faculty and alumni. These experiences have allowed me to hone my own analytical communication skills, while strengthening my own personal development. My past experiences would also prove positive additions to the MacLeod Dixon team environment. Throughout my undergraduate degree I studied, traveled, and worked in St. Pierre et Miquelon, the United Kingdom, and France. At Memorial University of Newfoundland, I was active in student leadership and campus life, heading a number of student organizations and committees. As a result, I am independent and hardworking, positive and outgoing. I also maintain a written and oral fluency in the French language. In the coming year, I will be representing the Schulich School of Law in the Laskin Constitutional and Administrative Law Moot and will be participating in the annual Smith Shield Moot at the Schulich School of Law in the fall. I have a passion for advocacy, which I would like to develop further in the field of litigation and dispute resolution. That being said, I approach the study and practice of law with an open and curious mind, such that I am eager to gain experiences in a variety of practice areas. Ms. Chown, I believe the balance I have achieved in the academic, professional, and personal facets of my life would be an asset to the position of articling clerk at MacLeod Dixon LLP. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet you at your firm to discuss my application. My updated official transcripts will be forwarded as soon as they are available. Regards, Student’s Name CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 3 Targeted to Large Full-Service Firm, Corporate Commercial Practice Header with name and contact info Date Ms. Laleh Moshiri, Director of Recruitment Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Scotia Plaza, 40 King Street West Toronto, ON M5H 3Y4 Dear Ms. Moshiri, Re: 20XX Summer Student Position Please accept the enclosed résumé and transcripts as my application for a summer position at Borden Ladner Gervais. I am in second year law at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences and a Masters of Science in Epidemiology. I was intrigued by Borden Ladner Gervais after reading through your Toronto student and general websites. I am attracted to your firm’s dedication to fostering student involvement in all areas of the practice of law while encouraging individuality. The summer program at Borden Ladner Gervais is of particular interest to me because of your strong Health Law practice group. With that said, my interests are quite diverse and I would welcome the opportunity to explore other areas of the law through your summer program. When I toured your firm in July, I was extremely impressed with the personal experiences of your 20XX summer students: A—S--, W—W-- and H—P--. They were very positive in their remarks about the student program and the firm in general, and successfully confirmed my impression of BLG as a progressive, supportive and dynamic environment. While attending the Schulich School of Law I have made a strong commitment to being actively involved in the university community. As a volunteer for Dalhousie Student Advocacy Service, I have strengthened my advocacy skills by representing students in academic appeals and discipline hearings before the University Senate. I have also participated in several student committees and volunteer with Pro Bono Students Canada. I believe these experiences, coupled with my academic background, would enable me to make a valuable contribution to Borden Ladner Gervais. Thank you for your kind consideration of my application. I look forward to seeing you again when you visit the Schulich School of Law in October. Sincerely, Student’s Name CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 4 Targeted to Federal Department of Justice Header with name and contact info Current Date Department of Justice Vancouver Regional Office 900 - 840 Howe Street Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2S9 Attention: Ms. Cheryl Tobias Legal Excellence Program Manager Dear Ms. Tobias: Re: Summer 20XX Position I am currently in my second year of studies at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. I am writing to express my interest in obtaining summer 20XX employment with the Department of Justice. I grew up in Vancouver and upon the completion of my studies, I will be returning home to pursue my legal career. I am especially interested in working for the Department of Justice because of the unique and meaningful opportunities that are available as a Government of Canada employee. I am interested in administrative law, business law and policy development, and I would welcome the opportunity to learn from and contribute to the Department of Justice’s expertise in these areas. I feel that the range of practice groups at the Department of Justice would provide a stimulating atmosphere in which I could develop my skills as a young lawyer. I am confident that my academic background and my experience working in small law firms would make me an asset to the Department of Justice. The hands-on experience I gained as a first year summer student and legal researcher has honed my analytical and problem solving skills in research, writing, and case management. I have experience dealing with clients, and I look forward to developing this skill and others in a larger, more diversified setting, such as the Department of Justice. Likewise, my extra-curricular activities have allowed me to develop superior teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal skills, which I feel would make me a valuable contributor to the Department of Justice. Please find enclosed my résumé and academic transcripts for your review. Thank you for considering my application and I welcome the opportunity to meet with you. Sincerely, Student’s Name CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 5 Targeted to Federal Department of Justice Header with name and contact info Current date Ms. Sally Brown Human Resources Assistant Department of Justice, Ontario Regional Office 130 King Street West, Suite 3400, Box 36 Toronto, ON M5X 1K6 Dear Ms. Brown: I am a third year law student at Queen’s University and am very interested in an articling with the Ontario Regional Office of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”). Based on my discussions with various counsel at the DOJ during the June 14th, 2011 open house, I believe I could positively contribute to, and, greatly benefit from the opportunity to participate in the Legal Excellence Program. My interest in articling at the DOJ stems from my desire to work in the public sector and pursue a career in litigation. The different rotations would enable me to gain varied experience and further explore my interests in the areas of aboriginal, business, criminal, immigration and regulatory law. The opportunity to manage my own small claims files, assist counsel in drafting pleadings and facta, and attend a variety of tribunal and court proceedings would provide me with practical litigation experience. Participating in the Trial Advocacy and Legal Research and Written Advocacy Programs would also enable me to further develop my oral and written advocacy skills. The challenging nature of the work and the emphasis on mentorship are further reasons I wish to join your team. Prior to attending law school I completed a master’s degree in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics. In addition to developing strong research and analytical skills, my graduate work shaped my interest in public law. My experiences working as a project officer at a non-profit organization and more recently as a legal intern in Vietnam enhanced my communication, problem solving and team work skills. Currently I am a summer student with the Ministry of the Attorney General working at the Legal Services Branch of the Ontario Ministries of Energy and Infrastructure. Over the past couple months I have honed my time management skills and learned how to balance competing demands by working with several different lawyers in the branch. My tasks have included writing case summaries, memoranda, and briefing notes; compiling and reviewing documents; and conducting legal research on a variety of energy, infrastructure and aboriginal issues, including those related to high-profile litigation matters. My experiences in law school have also served as the impetus for my interest in litigation. In first year, I had the opportunity to practice my advocacy skills by participating in an in-class moot exercise in Contract law and an oral advocacy exercise in Criminal law. This past year I took a Legal Writing and Written Advocacy course with Justice Stratus and Justice Cromwell, which provided me with a unique opportunity to sharpen my factum writing skills. This coming year I plan to continue to work on my CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 6 written and oral advocacy skills as an oralist for the Donald G. Bowman Tax Moot team. I am enthusiastic, motivated to learn and have a strong work ethic, all of which I hope to apply as an articling student at DOJ. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you in person to further discuss my suitability for a position. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely Yours, John Smith CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 7 Targeted to Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General Header with name and contact info Current date Ms. Sarah Black Crown Law Office – Civil, Ministry of the Attorney General 720 Bay Street, 8th Floor Toronto, ON M7A 2S9 cloc-recruit@ontario.ca Dear Ms. Black, Re: Aboriginal Law Summer Student Program Please accept this letter and enclosed documentation as my application for a 2012 Aboriginal Law Summer Student position with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. I am a second year law student at Queen’s University with a desire to work in public service and a strong interest in Aboriginal issues. I am currently the student researcher for the Queen’s Law 2012 Kawaskimhon Moot Team. This year, this consensus-style moot explores historical treaties. In fall 2011, I took a seminar class called “Mining Law, Policy and Communities”, and central to the course were the impacts of mining development on Aboriginal People. My major research paper examined the new Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act and its role in the controversial Carmacks Copper Mine. Through this paper, I was able to explore the relationships between administrative bodies, industry, and Aboriginal people. This interest in Aboriginal Law continues from my undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa. In pursuit of a degree in geography and environmental studies, I took courses in Canadian Aboriginal Studies, Environmental Policy and Law, Resource Development, and Arctic Canada. Combined, these classes provided an excellent foundation in this field. Outside of the classroom I have a diverse mix of volunteer and work experience, which have provided me with skills that would be applicable to a summer position in the Aboriginal law program. This school year I am a volunteer caseworker at Queen’s Legal Aid, which has given me a taste of access to justice and hands-on legal work. My job experience has been diverse, from the manual labour of treeplanting in Northern British Columbia, to the creative challenges of tutoring students with learning disabilities. These experiences have provided me with a strong work ethic, and excellent interpersonal and problem solving skills. Based on these skills, experiences and interests I believe I am a strong candidate for a position in the Aboriginal Law Summer Student program. I would welcome a chance to meet with you and your colleagues in the near future. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, John Smith CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 8 Targeted to Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General Header with name and contact info Current date Ms. Sheila Blue, Office Co-ordinator Ministry of the Attorney General Legal Services Division, Civil Remedies for Illicit Activities Office 77 Wellesley Street West, P.O. Box 555 Toronto, ON M7A 1N3 Dear Ms. Blue: I am a third year law student at Queen’s University and am very interested in an articling position at the Legal Services Division of the Civil Remedies for Illicit Activities Office (CRIA). Based on my experiences and interests I believe I could positively contribute to, and, greatly benefit from the opportunity to work in your office. My interest in working at the CRIA stems from my desire to pursue a career in public service and to learn more about the relationship between criminal and property law. Assisting counsel in preparing for court proceedings on seizure and forfeiture matters would provide me with valuable litigation experience. The opportunity to develop in depth knowledge on a specific area of law and to play a role in enforcing precedent setting legislation are further reasons why I wish to join your team. Prior to attending law school I completed a master’s degree in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics. In addition to developing strong analytical skills, my graduate work shaped my interest in public law. My experiences working as a project officer at a nonprofit organization and more recently as a legal intern in Vietnam enhanced my communication, problem solving and team work skills. As a member of the senior editorial board of the Queen’s Law Journal I also gained significant experience with detail-oriented work and had the chance to improve my legal research and writing abilities. All of which would be applicable to working at CRIA. I am currently a summer student at the Legal Services Branch of the Ministries of Energy and Infrastructure. This position has provided me with an understanding of the role and structure of the Ministry of the Attorney General. Over the past couple months I have honed my time management skills and learned how to balance competing demands by working with several different lawyers in the branch. My tasks have included writing case summaries, memoranda and briefing notes, reviewing and interpreting legislation and conducting legal research on a variety of issues. I am enthusiastic, motivated to learn and have a strong work ethic, all of which I hope to apply as an articling student at CRIA. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you in person to further discuss my suitability for a position. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely Yours, John Brown Targeted to Boutique Labour and Employment Firm Header with name and contact info CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 9 Current date Ms. Shirley Sage Managing Partner, Careers LLP 777 First St. Ottawa, ON K7S 5C2 Dear Ms. Sage, Please accept my application for a summer position with Careers LLP. I am a secondyear law student at Queen’s University with a Master of Industrial Relations and Human Resources and a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies. I am seeking a position with Careers LLP to gain a challenging summer experience and to further my interest in labour and employment Law. I would look forward to the benefits of specializing in a boutique firm with the opportunity to conduct work for large, highprofile clients. I very much enjoyed speaking with Jill Black and was impressed by her description of the student experience. The emphasis placed on hands-on learning, including participation in labour board hearings and collective bargaining sessions was very appealing. In addition, the continuous learning and development through the inhouse seminars are also important to me. Just as importantly, I was born and raised in Thunder Bay and I feel that Ottawa has a more appealing lifestyle, compared to Toronto. Advocacy and research experience through moot competitions and Queen’s Legal Aid have been highlights of my legal studies. At the Hicks Morley Labour Law Moot, my teammate and I won the regional moot at Queen’s and placed second at the finals in Toronto. Working in a team to develop a compelling argument not only strengthened my oral advocacy skills but also drew on my ability to quickly grasp a challenging area of law in a short period of time. Through Queen’s Legal Aid, I have appeared in Provincial Court, successfully advocating on behalf of clients. Working as a Human Resources Manager in the manufacturing industry for X Inc. provided me with a client’s perspective of labour and employment issues. The teamwork and coaching skills I developed through varsity rowing assisted in training and employee development. I further developed my ability to adapt to a dynamic work environment when, during the recession, I was delegated additional responsibility for Human Resources at the Peterborough Plant. There I helped negotiate a work-sharing program to ease layoffs in the bargaining unit. This helped the company’s short-term financial interest without damaging amicable union-management relations. I would welcome the opportunity to work and grow with Careers LLP and I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, John Smith Targeted to Boutique Labour and Employment Firm Header with name and contact info Current date CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 10 Ms. Samuel Bat, Student Chair Careers LLP 77 King St. W., TD Centre Toronto, ON M5K 1K8 Dear Mr. Bat, Please accept my application for an articling position with Careers LLP. I am a second year law student at Queen’s University with a strong interest in employment and labour law. I am specifically drawn to your firm because of its national reputation as a leading labour and employment law firm. The opportunity to work at Careers LLP would provide me with an unparalleled opportunity to learn from some of the leading labour and employment lawyers in Canada. It would also provide me with the chance to gain exposure to a broad range of labour and employment matters as well as become more familiar with alternative dispute resolution, mediation and litigation processes. My interest in labour and employment law stems from my participation in the Hicks Morley Moot in my first year of law school. I found the subject matter of the moot so interesting that I continued to expand my knowledge by taking Labour, Employment and Collective Agreement and Arbitration courses. My experience participating in Technology, Engineering and Management (TEAM), a multidisciplinary project course where students work as a consulting team on an 8-month project for a client, has provided me with a range of skills that would be applicable to working in a boutique labour firm. As part of a team, I was tasked with examining the regulatory requirements for alternative fuel sources. This experience taught me how to interact with the corporate client, the importance of effective communication and time management. This summer, I interned at a software company in the United States where I honed my ability to identify problems, prioritize issues and devise solutions. As part of my duties, I incorporated the company as a Limited Liability Company and researched privacy laws and trademark and patent registration procedures in various jurisdictions. In addition to further developing my legal research and writing skills, I also succeeded in meeting all my deadlines and worked well both independently and in a group setting. These experiences have reinforced my interest in practicing labour and employment law. I am hard working, eager to learn and have strong inter-personal skills, which I believe would make me a strong candidate for a summer position at Careers LLP. Thank you for considering my application and I hope to hear from you shortly. Sincerely, John Smith CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 11 Targeted to Mid-Sized Ottawa Firm Header with name and contact info Current date Ms. Shauna Bing Firm Manager Careers LLP 11 Prince of Wales Drive, Suite 100 Ottawa, ON K2C 3T2 Dear Ms. Bing, Please accept this letter and the enclosed documentation as my application for a 2012 summer position at Careers LLP. I am a second-year law student at Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. I have a broad interest in litigation with a focus on professional liability and administrative law. Although there are several firms in Ottawa that can provide me with training I believe your firm’s size and expertise in litigation is the best suited to my interests. I had the pleasure of meeting Susanne Sherry at the Ottawa Employers Cocktail Reception at Queen’s and was impressed by her description of the professional and collegial environment at Careers LLP. Also, I would like to settle in Ottawa because it has the appeal of living in a larger city while still maintaining close access to nature, which is important to me as an athlete. As the captain of a varsity sports team, both in undergrad and in law school, I have gained teamwork and leadership skills. Through athletics I have learned to manage my time while competing at the national level for the Queen’s cross-country team. As well, I have gained legal research experience as a volunteer editor with the Queen’s Law Journal. Finally, working as a customer service representative and a literacy counsellor I have honed my problem solving and communication skills, whether it was working with a client who had an issue with an insurance claim or developing games and activities that foster language development in primary school children. I believe that theseexperiences would be an asset to working as a summer student at Careers LLP. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your colleagues in February. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, John Smith CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 12 Targeted to Mid-Sized Toronto Firm Header with name and contact info Current date Ms. Sook Song Careers LLP 50 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Suite 1400 Mississauga, ON L5B 3C3 Dear Mr. Song, Re: 2012 Summer Student Position I am a second-year law student at Queen’s University interested in working in business law at a boutique firm. Please accept this letter and the enclosed documents as my application for a 2012 summer position with your firm. I am specifically drawn to Careers LLP because of its mid-size and wide range of practice areas. I believe working at your firm would enable me to gain varied hands-on experience. I am also attracted to Careers LLP’s mentoring and continuing legal education programs, as it would provide me with a strong foundation and an opportunity to develop relationships with a variety of lawyers at the firm. I have gained myriad skills from work experiences that I feel would be applicable to working in a boutique firm such as Careers LLP. Prior to attending law school I worked at Milestones Restaurant and, within my first year of employment, was promoted to Assistant Manager. As a result of this experience, I feel confident in my ability to work in a fast paced environment, and deal with difficult customers and other employees in a professional manner. More recently, I have enjoyed applying the skills I acquired in law school in my volunteering experiences at Queen’s Legal Aid and Pro Bono Students Canada. Both of these positions required me to conduct in-take interviews with clients, conduct legal research, draft letters, policies and memoranda. I believe this exposure will prove valuable in a position where independent work, concise writing and strong legal research skills are an asset. My Pro Bono projects involved group work and collaborations with organizations and lawyers to devise the best solutions. I believe my interpersonal skills will allow me to work effectively in a team setting and become a productive member of the collegial work environment at Careers LLP. Thank you for considering my application. I hope to have the opportunity to meet with you in person and discuss my suitability for a summer position at your firm. Sincerely, John Smith CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 13 Targeted to Mid-Sized Toronto Firm Header with name and contact info Current date Ms. Sally Brown Partner / Chair of Student Committee Careers LLP 145 King Street West Toronto, ON M5H 4G2 Dear Ms. Brown, I am a second-year law student at Queen’s University seeking a position in Toronto for next summer. Please accept this letter along with my résumé, transcripts, list of upperyear courses, and two letters of reference as my application package for a 2011 summer student position at Careers LLP. I am interested in working at Careers LLP because of the opportunity to gain hands on experience in a wide range of practice areas including securities, commercial and real estate law. In August, I had the opportunity to visit the firm and was impressed with the professional, yet warm welcome I received. I particularly enjoyed speaking with Jane Doe and John Johnson, as they provided me with some useful insight into the culture of the firm and what life was like as a student at Careers LLP. I believe that the ability to take ownership of one’s work in a supportive setting is crucial for both personal and professional development, and based on my experience and interests, I am confident that Careers LLP will provide me with such an opportunity. Unique life and work experiences have enabled me to develop a number of skills that I feel will help me succeed as a summer student at Careers LLP. During my year abroad teaching English in North Korea, I was confronted with countless challenges in a setting that was significantly different from the one that I was accustomed to, yet I overcame those obstacles with poise and confidence. More recently, my summer position at the Ontario Securities Commission developed my analytical, communication, and teamwork skills. Whether I was tasked with the creation of detailed spreadsheets or responsible for planning and carrying out examinations of investors and potential respondents, my attention to detail and professionalism consistently met or exceeded expectations. I also enrolled in the Canadian Securities Course to improve my understanding of the Canadian financial services marketplace. Along with the roles and responsibilities that I have undertaken of late, I believe that my diverse background and disciplined work ethic have prepared me for a summer student position at Careers LLP. I hope to have the opportunity to meet with you in October to discuss the contributions I could make to your firm. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, John Smith CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 14 The CLCDN would like to thank the career offices at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, Queen’s University Faculty of Law and Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law for these samples of cover letters. CLCDN Shared Resource Collection: Sample Cover Letters 15