Crafting a contract attorney cover letter is a crucial step in your job application journey, yet it can be daunting when you're unsure where to begin. You've got your resume polished, but your cover letter mustn't simply echo it; it should spotlight your proudest professional triumph in a compelling narrative. Striking the perfect balance between formal tone and fresh prose, devoid of cliches, can be challenging. Remember, brevity is key – your powerful introduction should fit neatly on a single page.
- Making excellent use of job-winning real-life professional cover letters;
- Writing the first paragraphs of your contract attorney cover letter to get attention and connect with the recruiters - immediately;
- Single out your most noteworthy achievement (even if it's outside your career);
- Get a better understanding of what you must include in your contract attorney cover letter to land the job.
Let the power of Enhancv's AI work for you: create your contract attorney cover letter by uploading your resume.
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Contract attorney cover letter example
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- Highlighting relevant experience and achievements, such as reducing dispute cases and managing multi-million dollar contracts, directly establishes credibility and demonstrates a proven track record in legal roles.
- Including specialized qualifications, like the certification in Cybersecurity Law & Policy, aligns with the requirements of a contemporary legal role that demands awareness of cybersecurity issues.
- Expressing a clear understanding of the company’s sector, in this case, sustainable freight transportation, shows an alignment between the candidate's goals and the company’s mission, demonstrating a potentially seamless integration into the company culture.
- Using specific metrics, like the 25% cut in disputes and securing $20 million contracts, provides quantitative evidence of success, which can be more persuasive than qualitative statements.
The must-have sections and format of your contract attorney cover letter
When writing your contract attorney cover letter, keep in mind that it'll only be read by the recruiters and not the Applicant Tracker System (or software used to assess your profile). That's why you should structure your content with a/an:
- Header (apart from your contact information, include your name, the role you're applying for, and the date);
- Personalized salutation;
- Opening paragraph to win the recruiters over;
- Middle paragraph with key details;
- Closing that starts from clichés;
- Sign off (that's not mandatory).
Industry standards dictate your paragraphs to be single-spaced and to wrap your content in a one-inch margin. Designing your contract attorney cover letter, refer to one of our templates, which automatically takes care of the spacing and margins.
Choose the same font for your contract attorney cover letter as you did for your resume: the likes of Lato and Bitter would help you to stand out in a sea of cover letters in Arial or Times New Roman.
Export your whole contract attorney cover letter from our builder in PDF to keep the same formatting and image quality.
The top sections on a contract attorney cover letter
- Header: This includes your contact information, the date, and the recipient's details, which is crucial to ensure that your application is directed to the right person and that they can easily contact you for further discussion or to schedule an interview.
- Opening Greeting: A professional salutation directed to the hiring manager or the person in charge shows that you've researched the firm or company and understand the importance of personalized communication in a legal setting.
- Introduction: In this section, mention your interest in the contract attorney position and a brief overview of your qualifications, as it sets the tone and indicates why you are a strong candidate for the job right from the beginning.
- Body: Detail your relevant legal experience, especially focusing on your experience with contracts, negotiation skills, and ability to manage complex legal documents, which demonstrates the specific expertise required for this role and how you can contribute to the company.
- Closing: Reinforce your interest in the position, suggest arranging a meeting or call for further discussion, and thank the recipient for considering your application, as a courteous and proactive conclusion is particularly valued in the legal profession.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Specialized contract law experience: Demonstrates the ability to understand and craft complex legal agreements.
- Meticulous attention to detail: Ensures the accuracy and thoroughness required for contract review and risk mitigation.
- Strong negotiation skills: Vital for achieving favorable contract terms for clients or employers.
- Proficiency in legal research: Enables the identification of applicable laws and precedents that may affect the contracts.
- Ability to work under pressure: Reflects the fast-paced environment and tight deadlines often associated with contractual negotiations and disputes.
- Excellent drafting and writing skills: Essential for creating clear, unambiguous, and enforceable contracts.
How to personalize your contract attorney cover letter greeting
Before you start writing your contract attorney cover letter, take the time to find out who is recruiting for the role.
Search for the recruiter's name on LinkedIn or the corporate website to address them personally in your contract attorney cover letter salutation.
What if you can't find out who's recruiting for the role?
Always aim to avoid the very impersonal "Dear Sir/Madam" - instead, opt out for "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager" to make a better first impression.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Firm Name] Team,
- Dear [Specific Job Title] Hiring Committee,
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear [Department] Department,
- Dear Sir or Madam,
Introducing your profile to catch recruiters' attention in no more than two sentences
The introduction of your contract attorney cover letter is a whole Catch 22 .
You have an allocated space of no more than just a paragraph (of up to two sentences). With your introduction, you have to stand out and show why you're the best candidate out there.
Set out on a journey with your contract attorney cover letter by focusing on why you're passionate about the job. Match your personal skills and interests to the role.
Another option for your contract attorney cover letter introduction is to show you're the ideal candidate. Write about how your achievements and skills are precisely what the company is looking for.
However you decide to start your contract attorney cover letter, always remember to write about the value you'd bring about. Making it both tangible (with your metrics of success) and highly sought out.
The middle or body of your contract attorney cover letter body: a great instrument to tell a story
Now that you've set the right tone with the greeting and introduction of your contract attorney cover letter, it's time to get down to business.
Hear us out, the body of your contract attorney cover letter is the best storytelling instrument you have, in your job-hunting arsenal.
Writing the next three to six paragraphs, take the time to reassess the advert to discover job-crucial requirements.
Next, choose one accomplishment that covers those key skills and talents.
Use precisely that achievement to tell an exciting story of how you match the ideal candidate profile.
In the undertones of your story or contract attorney cover letter body, hint at the difference you'd make and sell your application as the perfect one for the job.
Thinking about the closing paragraph of your contract attorney cover letter
Before your signature, you have extra space to close off your contract attorney cover letter.
Use it to either make a promise or look to the future.
Remind recruiters how invaluable of a candidate you are by showing what you plan to achieve in the role.
Also, note your availability for a potential next meeting (in person or over the telephone).
By showing recruiters that you're thinking about the future, you'd come off as both interested in the opportunity and responsible.
Addressing limited to no experience in the contract attorney cover letter
There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience.
Your contract attorney cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:
- skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
- achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
- motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.
Key takeaways
Turning your contract attorney cover letter into a success is all about staying authentic to yourself and relevant to the job:
- Be creative with your contract attorney cover letter introduction by stating something you enjoy about the company (that is genuine) or about your skill set (to get the recruiters' interested);
- Use single spacing and have a one-inch margin wrapping all around the content of your contract attorney cover letter;
- Select just one past achievement from your career or life to tell a story of how you've obtained job-crucial skills and how they'd be beneficial to the role;
- The finishing paragraph of your contract attorney cover letter doesn't necessarily have to be a signature but could be a promise of what you plan to achieve in the role;
- Instead of focusing on your lack of experience, spotlight your transferable skills, one relevant achievement, and career dreams.
