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How to Prepare for the 1L Summer Job Search

November 9, 2022 By Julia Gourary Leave a Comment

Employers are not allowed to start recruiting until December 1 (and some don’t start recruiting until after winter break), so it might seem like there’s nothing for you to do until then. Not true! While it is important to focus on your studies first semester, it’s also vital to take some time to prepare for the summer job search. When the time comes to start searching and applying for jobs, you want to be ready to go, not reformatting your resume or trying to decide what kinds of opportunities you’re interested in. Read on to find out what you can do now, before December 1 hits, to prepare for the 1L summer job search.

1. Update and polish your resume

You’ll likely need to make some tweaks and additions to your pre-law school resume. First, make sure to update your home and email addresses and add your law school and activities . Next, you’ll want to go through the work experiences you have listed and choose which you think are most relevant: quality (and brevity) over quantity! Finally, consider punching up your job descriptions to emphasize skills and qualities you developed that are transferable to the legal profession, like research, writing, attention to detail, advocacy, oral communication, etc. Some schools also have specific required formats for students’ resumes, so be sure to check with your school about that, which brings us to…

2. Make an appointment with Career Services

Law schools want all their students to find summer jobs, and the Office of Career Services is there to help you! Once mid-October hits, you should be allowed to make a one-on-one appointment with a counselor to get tailored advice based on your interests and goals and get some ideas as to what summer opportunities you might want to pursue. Meeting with Career Services is also a great opportunity to get feedback on resumes or cover letters or practice interviewing.

3. Go to your school’s career panels and events

Law schools typically offer lots of events to help students figure out their interests by hearing from professionals in the field. If you see an event on a topic that catches your eye, go! Not only will it help get your wheels turning as to what kind of job you might be interested in (both for 1L summer and down the road), but these events also provide great opportunities for making connections that you can reach back out to when you start looking for summer jobs in earnest.

4. Talk to upper-level students

Upper-level students are another great resource you have at your disposal when considering what you might want to do for your 1L summer. 2L and 3L students have been there before and can provide suggestions for organizations that hire 1Ls, tell you about their summer job experiences, and provide practical advice on the search. Try talking to your TAs, or asking them if they know anyone with similar interests to you. There’s bound to be someone who’s already trodden the path you want to be on, so get their wisdom!

5. Prepare for interviews

It might seem premature to start doing interview prep, but some application processes move fairly fast, so you might not have much time to practice between submitting applications and getting requests for interviews . Think about what story you want to tell to interviewers, and how you’ll convey that. This narrative should align with your resume and cover letter, and lead to a compelling reason why you want to work for a certain employer. Then, consider how you’ll answer typical questions like why you are in law school and what your career goals are, and brainstorm some anecdotes from your prior work experiences. Then practice, practice, practice—with family, friends, Career Services, neighbors, stuffed animals, anyone who will listen! It’s a misconception that practicing will lead to sounding too rehearsed—it’s far worse to sound like you never practiced at all! Being prepared is a good thing, especially in the legal profession.

6. Check out CareerDicta!

Here at the Law School Toolbox we have a bunch of great resources for planning your career. Try our career coaching to get help from an experienced BigLaw recruiter on anything from resume and cover letter review to career strategy to interview prep. Click here to browse through all of our career-related podcast episodes, and take a look at our list of career-related topics here to find specific articles on networking, career strategies, legal marketing, and more.

The 1L summer is a great time to try things out and get some experience with a bit less pressure than 1L summer, so don’t stress too much, there are plenty of 1L jobs out there!

Looking for some help to do your best in law school? Find out about our law school tutoring options.

About Julia Gourary

Julia is a 2L at NYU School of Law. She received her B.A. in Art History from Yale University, where she graduated magna cum laude in December 2021. In addition to writing for Law School Toolbox, she currently works as an LSAT tutor. In her spare time, she enjoys reading novels, doing yoga, and binge-watching reality TV.

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Law School Myths Debunked
Conduct Great Informational Interviews
Leaving Litigation (and Leaving BigLaw)
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Tips from a Legal Recruiter on Finding a 1L Summer Job

To set you on the right path, please welcome back Angela Kopolovich a former BigLaw litigator who’s now Managing Director of Alegna International , a boutique attorney recruiting firm.

Without further ado…here’s Angela.

Finding a 1L Summer Job

During your first few months of law school, the National Association for Law Placement ( aka NALP, you’ve heard of them already right?) has paternalistically lovingly kept you from worrying about what you will do this coming summer.

Now, just as everyone is recovering from their tryptophan-induced comas, the clock strikes December, and your cushy cocoon is suddenly shaken by the realization that you’ll have to start looking for your first legal job.

The process can be stressful, but if you properly manage the things that are within your control, you’ll be way ahead of most other 1Ls scrambling in the spring.

What Should You Do 1L Summer?

Law students approach their 1L summer in different ways. Some use it as a resume builder while others use it to explore a specific practice area. Regardless of which way you go, there’s no need to fixate on the job you did or didn’t get.

Your 1L summer will not make or break your career.

Rather, you should use this time as a practice run for OCI, which is much more important, and is just around the corner. Whether you clerk for a judge, intern at the public defender’s office, or work as a research assistant to a professor, you should approach the process, from application to interview, with the utmost professionalism and maturity.

What Does the Internet Know About You?

Before you even begin thinking about looking for a job, it is imperative that you Google yourself to see what comes up . It doesn’t matter how squeaky clean you think your profiles are, I bet I can find something potentially objectionable.

Set every social media profile (except LinkedIn) to private.
Block your visibility in search results, clean up the links that currently come up (yes, you can ask Google to delete old cached entries), and protect your tweets so they aren’t public.

Believe me, you never know what seemingly innocent thing can turn an employer away from your application.

This is NOT the Time for Typos

Next, make sure all your materials (resumes, writing samples, cover letters) are absolutely perfect. Read, re-read, and then ask a friend to read them for you.

Lawyers are very busy, tired, and often impatient. A single typo, or glaring grammatical error, can fast track your application to the trash.

Yes, they are that particular. In their view, if you can’t take the time to perfect a few pieces of paper, you are not serious about your future.

Instructions? Yeah, Read Those

When submitting job applications, you must follow instructions.

If a job posting asks you to copy and paste your resume into the body of the email, do it.
If the instructions require you to fill out an application online, don’t try to circumvent it by sending someone an email with your resume instead.
If the posting asks you to describe why you’re interested in this particular position, take the time to answer the question.

The instructions are there for a reason — trying to do it some other way (because you think you know better and want to stand out in a crowd), will certainly get their attention, but it’s not the kind of attention you want.

Mind Your (Virtual) Ps and Qs

Finally, follow electronic etiquette in your communications.

Use an appropriate email address ( [email protected] is not). Send all attachments in .pdf format unless instructed otherwise.

If you haven’t heard back, wait a week or two, then send a follow up email that is gracious, without appearing desperate or entitled.

Don’t use social media to harass the employer into giving you an interview.

You should not tweet, like, friend, or connect with the employer or decision-maker at this stage. It’s just not appropriate. If they’re not into you, they’re not into you.

Acing the Interview

As it turns out they are into you, and have asked you to come in for an interview.

Let me say this without igniting a heated political debate, where I get pummeled by any radical feminist readers…how you look and the way you present yourself, matter a lot. It’s important to understand that the practice of law is a client-facing business.

Whether you’re in the boardroom or in a courtroom, you will be judged on your appearance , as well as how you conduct yourself.

Often times, an interviewer is not just assessing your intellectual competence, but she is thinking about what kind of impression you’ll make on her clients. Whether this is fair or not, isn’t relevant. It’s how the world works.

If you intend to compete in the corporate arena, you have to be polished and well put together.

What to Wear?

When dressing for an interview, always err on the side of business formal. Regardless of geography (the dress codes in NYC and Silicon Valley are very different) choose an outfit that will not be remembered. That cuts both ways — sloppy, wrinkled, or disheveled is obviously bad; but flashy, trendy, or God forbid sexy, can hurt you as well.

For purposes of interview attire, channel Chelsea Clinton, not Nicki Minaj.

An interview is not a runway show at fashion week; it’s best you leave the six-inch Louboutins at home.

How to Prepare?

Lest you think I’m completely superficial, here is a more cerebral piece of interview advice: Prepare for the interview by researching absolutely everything you can about the employer.

Google, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn is a start; but also run a Lexis/Westlaw search for news articles or press releases.

In the interview, casually bring up one non-controversial item: “I read recently that….” They will be impressed that you’ve done your homework. Also, your research will probably reveal sensitive topics. These are obviously things you’ll want to avoid bringing up in the interview.

One other thing, while cyber-stalking the hell out of the employer, make sure to prepare questions for the interview that their website doesn’t already answer.

Oops, You Said What?!?

Finally, most people get very nervous in an interview setting. They have nightmares about all the things that can go wrong.

Here’s my million-dollar piece of advice about interviews: if something horrific happens (you spill coffee all over a partner’s desk, you trip and fall outside her office, or you say something that sounded great in your head, but comes out kinda racist) don’t die of shame, just own it , whatever it is.

Acknowledge that it happened, apologize for it, and move on with a smile. This is a difficult thing for most people to do, but if you pull it off, it will actually work to your benefit (i.e. “this girl really knows how to handle herself in awkward situations”).

Don’t let a mistake, and your inner self-conscious berating monologue, derail the opportunity. Things happen. The best thing you can do is minimize the damage, and maximize the positive impression you’re making otherwise.

Good luck y’all.

— – —

Angela Kopolovich is the Managing Director of Alegna International , a boutique attorney recruiting firm. A former practicing litigator with a large global law firm, Angela now specializes in placing attorneys with law firms and corporate legal departments, around the country and abroad. She can be reached at [email protected] or via Twitter: @Recruiter_Law .

Did you miss our earlier interview with Angela? Here it is: Do I Need a Recruiter? What Do They Do Anyway?
Want more advice on the 1L job search? At your service: 1L Tip of the Day: Have You Started Thinking About Summer Jobs?

Have questions about your 1L job search? Leave them in the comments!

Or sign up for The Girl’s Guide weekly newsletter and get job searching advice hot off the presses!

Image by Mart1n via stock.xchng .

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A Quick Guide to 1L Summer Jobs

Your 1L summer is a crucial time to gain real-world legal experience. Summer jobs during law school provide you with an important opportunity to learn about an area or areas of the law you might want to pursue. And, perhaps even more importantly, having something to show on your resume is crucial for your career—future interviewers who will want to see that you spent your post-1L summer gaining some legal chops, and they will expect you to articulate what you experienced and learned from your summer employment.

Because there are nearly endless options for what you can do with your 1L summer, applying for jobs can be stressful, especially if you don’t know what you want to do long term yet. But keep in mind that your goal isn’t to find your perfect career this summer. You’re not locking yourself into a specific type of practice or practice area. Really, your goals are to have something legal on your resume and explore the industry. Read on for a quick summary of different options you could consider pursuing for your 1L summer.

BigLaw Summer Associate Positions

If you know you want to go into practice at a large law firm, then landing a 1L summer associate position might be your top choice. Keep in mind that most firms only hire a handful of 1Ls, so competition is high for these spots, and some firms only hire 1Ls through a diversity fellowship or other internship program. If you don’t get a 1L summer associateship, don’t worry—this doesn’t preclude you from a 2L BigLaw summer position. Most 2L summer associates did something else during their 1L summer—again, the key is to do something that allows you to discuss the legal experience you gained with future interviewers. [Personal anecdote: I was a legal extern at the American Dental Association during my 1L summer and went on to get a 2L summer associate position through OCI.]

Small/Midsize Firms

Small and midsize firms often hire summer law clerks, and these are usually paid positions. However, you may have to be patient if this is the type of job you’re seeking. Smaller firms often don’t know their hiring needs until later in the spring or early in the summer, so these jobs might not even be posted until then. When it comes to these positions, networking is key. Some firms seek students from a specific school (e.g., the managing partner’s alma mater), or you might get a lead from career services or another student who has worked at the firm. [Another personal anecdote: I clerked at a small firm during 2L year, and I got the job because a classmate who already worked there referred me.]

Government Jobs

Many government agencies hire 1Ls for the summer, though the positions are often unpaid. Your school may offer funding, however, so be sure to pay attention to the programs that are available to you. There are lots of federal government positions in Washington, DC, and other major cities, but if you’re seeking a role in specific location, you should also explore options with the state and local governments. A summer position with the government is a great foundation if you are interested in a post-graduate government role, but it is also a highly regarded resume item for other legal employers and could even pave the way for your future practice area niche.

Public Interest Roles

While “public interest” covers a broad range of career paths—from NGOs to nonprofits to public interest firms—one things is certain: You’re likely to get a lot of hands-on, substantive experience right out of the gate as a law student. A great place to start searching for public interest jobs is PSJD , a database run by NALP. Unsurprisingly, many of these jobs are unpaid; but again, your school or another program may offer funding for public interest positions. For example, for students seeking a position in Illinois, the Illinois Public Interest Law Initiative ( PILI ) provides stipends to law students working in a public interest role.

Prosecutor’s Office

Working at a prosecutor’s office is a great way to dive into criminal law and potentially get stand-up experience. Interns may have an opportunity to do legal research, draft briefs, observe arguments, and make arguments themselves—under supervision. An internship at a prosecutor’s office will allow you to spend time inside a courtroom and observe how different lawyers approach their matters. Check for opportunities within local counties in your state regarding any summer internships they may offer. You should also check with your firm’s alumni base, especially if you are not tied to a particular region.

In-House Internships

Another good use of your 1L summer could be an internship with an in-house legal department. Of course, if you are hoping to land an in-house position someday, this summer experience will be a valuable introduction to in-house life. If you’re interested in transactional work at a law firm, this is a great opportunity to dip your toes in before setting foot in a firm—you’ll get to see the “other side” of the deal, which can provide useful context for working with future clients. Some in-house positions are compliance focused, so you can gain insight into compliance work early in your career if it’s a path in which you are interested. In-house internships are usually paid positions, which is a great perk, although just how much will vary by the organization.

Judicial Intern

Many federal and state judges hire 1Ls to work in their chambers for the summer. In these positions, you’ll work closely with the judicial clerks and have opportunities to observe court and hone your legal research and writing skills. A judicial internship is also a fantastic networking opportunity—you’ll build connections with your judge and clerks as well as other judges, and your internship might even pave the way to a post-graduate clerkship. Even if you have no desire to clerk after law school, a judicial internship is a resume item that any legal employer will look upon favorably. One important note to keep in mind: If you apply to work for a judge, be sure that you are confident in your decision before accepting an offer. It is considered a major faux pas to renege on an offer from a judge.

Research Assistant

You may not have to look any further than your own law school to find a job, as many law professors seek to hire students as their research assistants. However, keep in mind this will most likely be a part-time gig—often, students will take on a research position in addition to another part- or full-time position during the summer. As a research assistant, you’ll not only get paid, but you’ll also have the opportunity to build a relationship with a professor—if you do good work, they will probably become a valuable mentor and someone you can ask to serve as your professional reference or write a letter of recommendation.

Externships

At some schools, you can earn class credit for the work experience you gain over the summer. (While you don’t get paid, student loans are one potential option to fund your summer, since an externship is considered a class.) While every school’s program is different, government, non-profit, and in-house positions are common externship options. As part of an externship program, you will have some sort of classroom component in addition to the work requirement, which is a great opportunity to take a deeper dive into the tasks you’ve completed.

Your 1L summer is an exciting opportunity to see what it’s like to be a “real” lawyer. But remember, this job is just one stop on your legal career journey, so don’t worry if your first summer job doesn’t turn out to be your dream come true. Just make sure to get the most you can out of the experience so you can use the summer as a launching pad for the rest of your career.

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How to Write a Legal Cover Letter for Law Firms (that Gets you Noticed)

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Whether you’re just starting your legal journey or are an experienced legal professional seeking a new role, there’s no way around it: demand for legal positions is high, and the job outlook for lawyers in the US grows at a faster-than-average pace . Pair this industry growth with movement from lawyers already working in the industry (the 2022 Legal Trends Report found that in the 12 months before April 2022, nearly one in five lawyers left the law firm they were working for, and nine percent planned to leave their firm in the next six months), and it’s clear that many lawyers will find themselves needing to stand out in a competitive job market.

However, despite the high demand for legal positions, people still need legal expertise—and law firms need capable legal professionals to fill open roles.

Whether you’re a law student, recent graduate, or experienced legal professional, this post will help you with your legal cover letter writing. We’ve started by providing sample cover letters for legal positions below and will then guide you through the essentials of writing a compelling cover letter for law firms.

Legal cover letter examples

If you’re feeling overwhelmed when drafting a cover letter for law firms, don’t worry. Seeing a legal cover letter example can give you the confidence to write your own. Below, we’ve compiled some sample cover letters for legal positions, covering different backgrounds and levels of experience.

Cover letter examples for summer associates and interns, Columbia Law School.
Cover letter examples for 1L – 3L students, Harvard Law School .
Cover letter examples for 1L – 3L students, Yale Law School .
Cover letter example for applying to an immigration law firm by a recent graduate with previous paralegal experience .
Cover letter example for applying to a Big Law firm, Boston University.
Cover letter example for an IP lawyer with 11 years experience, Monster .
Cover letter example for a litigation attorney with 12 years experience, My Perfect Resume .
Cover letter examples for applying for private sector roles, Yale Law School .
Cover letter example for seeking a summer judicial internship, University of Georgia School of Law .

Berkeley Law also provides an excellent guide for legal cover letters.

You can start by using one of these examples as inspiration when structuring your cover letter and what you may want to highlight. You can also take insights from these sample cover letters for lawyers—insights you can apply to your own cover letter when following our tips below.

How to draft a cover letter for a law firm

It’s one thing to review examples of legal cover letters, but how to write one? By following the standard etiquette and structure—and then personalizing it—you can draft an effective cover letter. First, let’s review some legal cover letter best practices.

Addressing cover letters for lawyers

To whom it may concern: Always take the time to find the correct contact. When writing cover letters for law firms, it’s a common misstep to dedicate so much time and attention to the body of the letter that you overlook the basics—like who and how you’re addressing the letter.

Here are some best practices for addressing your legal cover letter:

Know who you’re speaking to. Do your research and be specific. Address your cover letter to the person responsible for hiring at the firm you’re contacting, like the senior partner or hiring manager. If you don’t have this information, the law firm’s website might come in handy, or you can contact the law firm’s human resources department for guidance.
Be careful with salutations. The salutation is a place to convey respect and showcase that you’ve taken the time to personalize the letter. Mistakes in the salutation are a sign that you’ll miss details, which won’t bode well for your chances of impressing your potential employer. If you’re certain of the recipient’s preferred gender-identifying language, you can write the salutation as “Dear Ms.” or “Dear Mr.”; however, if you aren’t certain (and don’t make assumptions) or you don’t want to use gender-identifying language, drop the “Ms.” or “Mr.” and write out the person’s full first and last name.
Double-check your spelling. People will always notice if you spell their name wrong, and there are multiple ways to spell even common names. Ensure you start on the right foot by getting the basics right.

Introductory paragraph

In your cover letter’s opening paragraph, you have two main goals:

Introduce who you are.
Explain why you’d be a good fit for this particular firm.

In the first paragraph, include details about:

Who you are. Are you currently a law student? Are you an associate at a law firm?
Who you know. Mention any referrals or mutual acquaintances right away.
Why you’d be a great fit for the firm. Include specific reasons—you’re looking for a way to create connections with the senior partner or hiring manager.

Main cover letter body

The body section of your cover letter is your chance to shine—and to concisely summarize exactly how you meet the requirements in the job description.

In one or two paragraphs, give a high-level overview of your legal education and experience to show:

Why you want to work for this firm. Elaborate on what makes you genuinely excited about the firm—whether it is an area of interest you’ve specialized in, the firm’s reputation or mission, or past experiences that will make you a uniquely good fit.
Why this firm should hire you. Make clear connections between your qualifications and aspects of the role you’re applying for. If there is a job posting, look closely for key attributes that the firm is looking for, and then detail how you meet those expectations.

Highlighting your qualifications

Above all else, ensure your legal cover letter highlights your skills. Relevant qualifications for a law firm cover letter include:

Past legal work experience or positions.
Community service roles.
Academic or research specializations.
Publications.
Relevant awards you’ve received.
Your personal background.

For example, consider a job posting that describes their ideal candidate as someone with personal injury litigation experience, excellent communication skills, and who works well both independently and as a part of a team in a fast-paced office environment.

If you were applying for this role, your cover letter’s body paragraphs might detail your past personal injury litigation experience and specific examples of how you’ve successfully communicated within a team and in a fast-paced environment.

Remember: Be specific, but keep in mind that this is not the place to restate your resume —if you can grab the hiring manager’s attention here, they will read your resume for those details. Your cover letter is where you can entice the reader to move on to your resume by providing context and highlighting how your experience lines up with what’s needed for the role.

For tips on writing a standout lawyer resume, read our blog post here.

Concluding paragraph

Finally, your concluding paragraph is where you’ll succinctly wrap the cover letter up, close the loop, and leave a positive impression. In your closing paragraph, be sure to:

Say thank you. Gratitude can make a difference, so always thank the reader for their consideration.
Assert your next steps. It’s fine to clearly outline how and when you will follow up on your application, rather than waiting indefinitely for an answer. And, if you say that you’ll follow up at a specific time, be sure to do it—and hold yourself to your word.
Provide relevant contact details. Let the reader know how to reach you by phone or email, if these details are not already outlined in your letter’s header.

Tips for using your legal cover letter to stand out

The legal industry is rapidly evolving, and job hunters need to set themselves apart to get hired (unless, of course, you decide to start your own law firm ).

If you’re applying for a job as a lawyer, whether it’s a traditional position or a legal work-from-home job , here are five tips to make sure your cover letter lands at the top of the pile.

1. Make it personal

Perhaps the most important tip for writing cover letters for lawyers is to make it personal.

Many of your competitors have similar education and professional experience, so being generic is a fast track to being forgotten.

Use a personalized cover letter to showcase the unique reasons why you’re the best candidate. Show that you know the person you’re writing to, and highlight any connections. If that isn’t possible, you can always write about the firm to show that you’ve done your research.

2. Prioritize the positive

When writing a lawyer cover letter, focus on what you have to offer. Regardless of why you’re looking for a new job, you bring a unique mix of attributes to the table. Highlight these attributes, whether they’re your:

Other legal careers
Relevant work experience

If you’re a law student or recent graduate, you may not have a long legal career to highlight. However, you can still note strengths like technology skills that make you an asset.

To a hiring law firm, being tech-competent and familiar with certain cloud-based tools like Clio could be an advantage that sets you apart from other candidates.

For example, more and more law firms are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help them run their practices more efficiently, with the 2023 Legal Trends Report finding that nearly one in five legal professionals are using some form of AI in their practices already. With this in mind, lawyers up-to-date with AI technology may stand out for hiring law firms.

3. Get to the point

Legal cover letters are not the place to be long-winded, and droning on will almost certainly have the opposite effect of what you’re going for. Keep cover letters for attorneys short, to the point, and persuasive—the trick is to be memorable and limit yourself to one page. Because you want to make a lasting impression on a single page, it’s also a good idea to check your cover letter’s sentence structure. Do you start all of your sentences the same way? Are they all the same length? Ensure there’s some variety so your reader stays engaged.

4. Set the right tone

Tone matters. While what you say in a cover letter for lawyers is obviously important, it also matters how you say it.

No matter what type of legal job you’re applying for, you always want to convey a professional tone. However, depending on the law firm you’re applying to, using a personal tone may work to your advantage. Tailor your tone to match the law firm you’re applying to.

If you’re writing a Big Law cover letter, for example, you’ll want to err on the side of being more formal. For a smaller local law firm? Check their website and match the tone to demonstrate your familiarity with their firm.

5. Proofread

There is zero room for typos or grammatical errors in cover letters for lawyers. With so much competition for legal jobs, don’t give hiring managers a reason to eliminate you. Take the time to carefully proofread your cover letter yourself, and consider enlisting someone else to proofread your cover letters as well.

Final thoughts on how to write a legal cover letter for a law firm

In a crowded legal job market, there’s no better way to outshine the competition than an excellent legal cover letter. Ensure you’re putting your best foot forward with your future employer by:

Making it personal. At every step, customize your cover letter to the firm you’re applying to—from the tone to the specific skills you detail.
Keeping it brief. Cover letters for lawyers are a one-page summary to let the hiring manager know that you’re a candidate they should talk to further. You want to give them enough information to draw them in, but not overwhelm them and risk losing interest.
Showcasing your strengths. Focus on the positives, and don’t be afraid to highlight how your past experiences make you uniquely qualified.

While finding a new legal job in a competitive market isn’t exactly easy, staying resilient and adaptive will lead you to success. By crafting a great cover letter, you’re more likely to be noticed in this—and any—job market.

And, no matter what job you’re applying for, knowing technology can help set you apart—both when job hunting and once you’re working at your new firm. If you’re a law student and want a head start, you may be able to get free Clio access via Clio’s Academic Access Program (CAAP) at your law school. Learn more about CAAP here .

Do law firms read cover letters?

In a competitive job market, hiring managers at law firms read cover letters to help determine which candidates may be the best fit. A well-written legal cover letter can entice the reader to review your resume—and, hopefully, invite you for an interview—by showcasing how your experience and skills align with the role.

We published this blog post in June 2020. Last updated: June 13, 2024 .

Categorized in: Business

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Include your name, address, phone number and email address at the top of the letter. Consider using the same format as your resume. Your name and contact information can be placed at the left margin, the center or the right margin. A NOTE ABOUT YOUR ADDRESS: If you are applying in St. Louis, use your school address. If you are applying in your hometown, include both your school and home address to show the connection.

The address block should be left justified and include a contact name, if possible.

Do not use first names. Do not use Miss or Mrs. The salutation should be followed by a colon, not a comma.

In this paragraph: \(1\) identify your class year and school; \(2\) mention any geographic ties to the area; and \(3\) include information about why you are interested in the specific employer. If you are applying to multiple offices, indicate that here. For example: "In addition to your Washington, D.C. office, I am also applying to your Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York offices."

The second paragraph \(and if applicable, the third\) is an opportunity for you to market yourself. Do not regurgitate your resume. Talk about the skills and abilities you possess and back it up with examples from your prior work experience and academic studies. If you do not have prior work experience, look to your extracurricular activities to convey your skills. The skills you reference can be legal in nature and/or general \(e.g., research and writing, attention to detail, communication, diligence, work ethic\). If you are a 2L, you should lead with your legal experience - both your 1L summer position and your law school performance.

The last paragraph should thank the employer and provide for future contact. For example, if you are direct applying in a city where you are not located for the summer, if possible, offer a date you will be in town for a potential meeting. Alternatively, simply state "Please feel free to contact me at the phone number listed above." If you are direct applying and applying through OCI, state that here or in the first paragraph.

Use standard business closings, such as Sincerely, Truly, Regards, and Respectfully. The signature block can be centered, left justified or closer to the right margin.

If you are enclosing only your resume, use "Encl." If you are enclosing more than one other document \(e.g., resume and transcript\), use "Encls."

The date can be centered or left justified and should be placed above the employer's address block.

Summer Public Interest Job Search FAQs

Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising

4039 Wasserstein Hall (WCC) 1585 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138

These FAQs are designed to give you initial guidance on many of the most common summer public interest job search questions. If, after reading these, you still have questions, concerns or worries about any aspect of the job search, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with an OPIA adviser !

Also check out our other FAQs!

1L Timing and Strategy

There is a lot you can do as soon as you get to HLS to help you figure out where to aim your summer job search. Start with reviewing our 1L Guide to Summer Jobs to get a sense of the timeline you’ll want to follow and our What Is Public Interest Law? section to give you an overview of this multifaceted field. Attend OPIA events, like the Student-to-Student Job Fair (where you can browse public interest employers where students have worked in recent summers and talk to them about their experiences), and our information sessions on the 1L summer job search. Explore the Public Interest Organization Database in Helios to see what might interest you. Read some of the OPIA career and application guides about specific fields of practice. And make use of the Wasserstein Fellows, practicing public interest lawyers who come to campus to speak at lunch events and meet individually with curious students. After October 15, you’ll also be able to meet one-on-one with an OPIA adviser – but this time will be much more productive if you’ve done some of the legwork ahead of time.

First-year law students may not apply for summer internships before November 15. (The only exceptions to this rule are for a very small handful of federal government positions requiring extra time for background checks and positions at the International Criminal Court). Whether you should begin sending your applications to employers in November, or whether you can wait until after you’ve completed your first semester exams, will depend on which organizations interest you most. Some employers are known for conducting their hiring processes on the earlier side. Therefore, it is a good idea to meet with an OPIA adviser during the fall to develop a reasonable, personalized application timeline. If you would prefer to wait until December vacation or January to begin your job search in earnest, and you can be flexible about potential employers and geography, there will still be plenty of options available.

There are several good reasons for the November 15 start date for 1L summer job hunting. First, HLS and OPIA think it’s important for 1Ls to have time and space to adjust to law school, get used to their courses, and develop a strong and supportive social network during their first semester. Second, any summer job search is best based on a solid foundation of introspection (what is it you would most like to try?) and exploration (what’s actually out there to be tried?). Skipping these important steps can lead to prioritizing jobs that others consider important or prestigious, but that may not be the best fit for you. Before November 15, there’s so much you can do to lay this good foundation: use the OPIA job search toolkit to ask yourself helpful questions about your values, goals and priorities; attend events with public interest lawyers; familiarize yourself with the 1L job search process; browse for and read evaluations of summer employers; reach out to alumni working in organizations that interest you to find out more about their work; update your resume and get your application materials reviewed by OPIA, etc. Trust us that generations of 1Ls have done just fine in the summer job search – not just despite the November 15 rule, but in many cases because of it!

There are lots of resources for finding out about summer public interest internships! OPIA manages a searchable Public Interest Organization Database in Helios that lists over 5,000 public interest employers (including federal, state and local government offices, legal services and public defenders’ offices, nonprofit organizations, private public interest firms and international NGOs) who may be interested in receiving applications from HLS students. In addition, employers contact us with openings throughout the school year. OPIA sends a weekly e-mail to all 1Ls that lists some of these new opportunities – be sure to read it and check out the latest jobs! We also strongly encourage you to attend fall semester OPIA events designed to highlight the range of public interest job opportunities, such as the OPIA Student-to-Student Job Fair in October and the 1L Job Search Overview. Read and follow the 1L Guide to Summer Jobs.

We generally advise that 1Ls should plan to send out 10-12 applications for summer internships. However, based on your individual circumstances – e.g., your pre-law school experience, geographic preferences or limitations, and substantive focus of interest – more applications may be required. This can vary significantly, so it may be a good issue for you to discuss with an OPIA adviser.

If you are a J.D. student who is not a U.S. citizen, you will not be able to work for the vast majority of United States government offices. However, you can consider state and local government, the full range of non-profit organizations, legal services/client-advocacy groups, and international organizations. Read OPIA’s 1L guide to summer jobs and peruse the Public Interest Organization Database in Helios to learn more about your options.

Your social media presence is an extension of yourself, and most employers now do online searches to discover how prospective (and current) employees are presenting themselves on various social media platforms. Nothing is truly private, regardless of your settings, so make sure that your social media activity does not reflect poorly on you. Avoid coarse or overly negative language in your posts, and be mindful of what friends post on your page as well. Do not complain about or criticize a current or former employer, even if it feels justified; out of context it could be misinterpreted, and it’s simply unprofessional. Pictures of or references to excessive drinking or recreational drug use are definitely a red flag for many employers. A picture of you participating in a champagne toast, or sipping a glass of wine is perfectly fine, of course – it is okay to have a social life! However, endless streams of pictures of constant partying will reflect poorly. Be vigilant, and use your best judgment.

2L Timing and Strategy

This will vary depending on what you hope to do that summer. The earliest deadlines are for some private public interest law firms and government jobs with long security clearance lead times, like the State Department (summer deadline is typically September 1 of 2L year) or the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) paid summer internship (SLIP) program (deadline is shortly after Labor Day of 2L year). Other government offices and private public interest law firms hire 2Ls throughout the fall. At the other extreme, some international organizations and most Capitol Hill offices don’t start hiring until January, February, or even later. Nonprofit, legal services, public defender offices, and private public interest firms don’t follow any formal schedule, but tend to hire throughout the late summer, fall, and winter. We encourage you to make an appointment with an OPIA adviser during your 1L summer to discuss your personal job search goals and 2L timetable.

There are certainly public interest-minded students who, for a multiplicity of reasons, decide to try private sector work their 2L summer. In the great majority of cases, law firm experience in and of itself will not negatively impact your public interest job search; what may be of greater concern, though, is the opportunity cost of spending a summer at a firm. Your summers are typically the longest and most intense practice experiences you will have during law school. By spending your 2L summer in the private sector, you miss the chance to deepen your resume in a particular public interest field, explore a distinct area of interest, or make connections that could help you later in the job hunt or fellowship application process. Every student weighs the costs and benefits of this choice differently. OPIA’s guidance on the choice or a chat with an OPIA adviser may help you to clarify your personal pros and cons.

While OPIA does not usually recommend splitting the 1L summer, the 2L summer is longer, and a 2L summer split is much more feasible. If you have a genuine interest in private sector work along with your public service interests, or feel that you would regret not having tried out the private sector, splitting the summer is a way to have at least some of your cake and eat it too. It can mean a very busy summer, but enables you to have both a second public interest internship and a shot at a private sector offer, if that’s what you want. Read our guidance on splitting your summer in the last Receiving an Offer FAQ.

Splitting your 2L summer will require that you conduct both a private sector and a public interest job search. The logistics and timing of how to navigate a split is best discussed with both OPIA and OCS advisers, since the details can vary depending on your situation and the jobs you are seeking. Learn more about splitting your summer . Generally, students will first participate in EIP and either accept a law firm offer, if their firm has indicated they are flexible about the number of weeks, or hold one EIP offer open while they conduct a public interest job search. Students will then conduct a simultaneous or subsequent (depending on the type of employer) public interest job search, letting the public interest employer know the time-frame they will have available to work during the summer. Typically, law firms prefer you to start your summer experience with the rest of your class, so the most common split summer starts with a firm and finishes up with a public interest employer. Read some suggestions for how to raise this topic with a firm in the last Receiving an Offer FAQ. The 2L summer is also long; it may be possible to do a full summer (8-10 weeks) at a firm and then spend the remainder of the summer with a public interest employer.

You will need to apply to fewer public interest jobs as a 2L than you did as a 1L. There are fewer 2Ls than 1Ls looking for public interest jobs, and you have a full year of additional experience under your belt, so you are more desirable to employers. Whether you are decided about your career direction or are still exploring, you likely have a clearer idea of what you’d like your 2L summer to look like, so you can be more focused in your applications. It’s hard to put a number to it, but often we advise that 5-6 applications should suffice for most 2Ls, though for some students that number may be lower or higher.

Course and Clinic Selection

Clinical experience is very valuable and well-regarded by public interest employers, even if it’s not directly centered in your area of interest. Be open-minded and willing to explore new legal issues, learn transferable skills, or work in adjacent areas. Often, an unexpected result of a clinic experience is a new set of interests, or a new slant on existing interests. Use resources from the Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs , including matrices showing what types of skills you can expect to gain from different clinics, to think through alternatives.

You can also investigate the possibility of doing an independent clinical ; this may be a way to target a clinical experience to your specific interests if the bidding and selection process doesn’t get you what you are hoping for.

Beyond the core 1L courses, there is no one set of courses that everyone must take – instead, you are free to craft a curriculum that fits your goals. You should take classes that excite you, from professors whose teaching you admire, and that give you the skills and substantive knowledge you will need in your chosen path. Your transcript may look very different from that of your friends or roommates, and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the great benefits of attending a law school with as large a faculty and course catalog as HLS is that there are so many combinations of courses available. One way to begin to explore this is to speak with lawyers doing the kind of work you would like to do and ask them what they suggest. Meeting with a visiting Wasserstein Fellow (a practicing public interest lawyer who advises students on career paths) or reaching out to a Heyman Fellow (an HLS grad in federal government who is available to mentor you) are easy ways to do this kind of networking. An OPIA adviser can also explore with you what classes might make the most sense for you, given your background, experiences, and goals.

There are some classes that form a strong foundation for many (though not every) public interest job; these might include courses in Constitutional Law, Evidence, Trial Advocacy, Administrative Law, Negotiation, and Federal Courts. Evidence, in particular, can be a requirement for some 2L summer internships that allow you to appear in court. Employers do often look for students who have taken classes relevant to their work (for example, the New York City Law Department values coursework in local government law, and environmental organizations value environmental law courses.) Finally, many client-based organizations highly value language skills; you can cross-enroll at the College for world language courses, take Spanish for Lawyers through the clinical program, or sign up for an immersion program abroad to develop or brush up on your skills in this area.

Yes! Legal employers are accustomed to one-page resumes and if you submit a longer resume to summer employers you run the risk of having some of the information you’ve listed, including items important to your candidacy, overlooked. We know it can be challenging to decide what items to eliminate from your resume in order to fit the one-page guideline. However, you may not need to eliminate much; small formatting changes can often help you present more information in less space. OPIA can also help you to tighten up your resume in a way that best highlights your qualifications. There are a few narrow circumstances where a longer resume may be advisable – if you think you fall into one of these categories, based on your background or the types of jobs you are seeking, come see an OPIA adviser and we can help you determine what’s appropriate.

If you wish! Adding your personal pronouns on your resume can be a useful way to communicate them to an employer early in the hiring process; this may help avoid mistakes during subsequent interactions or interviews. You may decide to include personal pronouns in your header, such as after your name or in the address line.

Alex Washington (she/her/hers)

Diego Alvarez 123 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 · [email protected] · (123) 456-7890 · they/them

If you would like to talk through how to navigate pronouns and/or prefixes/honorifics on application materials, during interviews, or on the job, OPIA advisers are here to listen and help you arrive at a way forward that feels best to you.

In most cases, no. Legal employers will assume you were a successful undergraduate based on your admission to Harvard Law School. The GPA does not tell them anything “new.” There are a few circumstances where inclusion of a stellar GPA may be warranted (for example, if your undergraduate institution does not offer Latin honors and you have no other recognized honors to list). This is a good question to discuss with an OPIA adviser.

No, this is not necessary nor advised. Employers will assume you did well on your LSATs based on your admission to HLS; once you’re here, that number is no longer relevant. The same holds true for other standardized test scores (SATs, GREs, etc.)

Yes! Public service you have participated in, even if it was “non-legal” or unpaid, is relevant to your qualifications in several ways. It demonstrates your commitment to helping others and/or your interest in a particular issue or population. And you may have gained important skills that will be an asset in your legal career. An OPIA adviser can help you to “translate” the experience you gained in your non-legal or volunteer public service positions into language that will appeal to legal employers.

It can be a good idea to include an undergraduate thesis on your resume, especially if the topic is relevant to the work you’re seeking to do. Regardless of topic, a reference to the completion of an undergraduate thesis is a good way to signal that you have research and writing skills.

It depends. In general, a long list of publications is not useful information for most legal employers. If, however, you have published something that is directly related to the substance of the job(s) you are seeking, including this on your resume would show your depth of knowledge in the particular field.

OPIA recommends a separate document listing your references and their contact information. A very brief description of their connection to you can also be helpful. For example, you can note “prior supervisor” or “thesis adviser” so the employer contacting your reference has an insight into how the reference knows you and your work. You should only provide a list of references if the employer asks for it, and always check with your references before including them on your list.

In general, we do not recommend removing significant experiences from your resume for political reasons. First, this can leave odd gaps in your history that may raise more questions than the deleted material would have. Second, we don’t encourage these sorts of omissions in a resume; it’s not great to start your legal career by hiding things. Finally, and most significantly, if such activities have been important to you, you should think twice about whether you would want to work for an employer who would find them off-putting. Having said this, there are certainly times when you should expect politics to be upfront and center in hiring decisions (on Capitol Hill, for example), and you should take this into consideration both when you apply to such positions and when you consider how they might fit into your longer-term ambitions. These are great topics to delve into with an OPIA adviser.

We have several examples of public interest resumes , with annotations that walk you through some of our recommendations for preparing your resume.

Cover Letter

Always cross-check the information in Helios with information on the employer’s own web site. If there is no named contact person in either place, you can address your letter to “Dear Hiring Coordinator”, “Dear Hiring Committee”, or “Dear Summer Internship Coordinator”. Also, if there are current HLS students who previously worked for the employer, you can contact them to ask if they are aware of a specific contact person. If you are given a contact name by a fellow student, though, do what you can to verify that that person still works at the organization.

If you are able to locate the hiring coordinator’s name but you are unsure what prefix or honorific they use, consider some additional research on the organization website (or beyond). Staff biographies or press releases may refer to “Ms. Jefferson” or “Mx. Pereira,” for example, in which case you can mirror the same in your cover letter. If additional research does not resolve the question, “Attorney” is an acceptable and formal choice. Example: “Dear Attorney Jones.”

In general, OPIA does not recommend splitting your 1L summer unless you have a very compelling reason to do so. That said, if your interest in splitting is “potential,” in that you are still exploring the idea and the options available for splitting, then we do not recommend mentioning it in your cover letter. The better timing for raising the issue of splitting is once you have received the offer. In the meantime, you can research the employer’s willingness to split in other ways, such as checking the student evaluations in Helios and speaking to a student who worked there previously. Splitting can be complicated; it is a great topic to bring to an OPIA adviser. Walk-in hours, which occur daily (check the OPIA schedule!), can work well for these types of questions.

Yes. This is exactly the situation where you should be explicit about splitting. You have already accepted another position, so in fairness to the employer to whom you are writing you need to be transparent and direct. It is helpful to the employer if you can specify when you will be available, and for how many weeks, in light of the position you have already accepted.

Yes! Most employers would be interested to know that you have a family connection to the city where they live and work. It is a terrific thing to mention in your first paragraph (after your substantive reasons) as one of the reasons that the job appeals to you.

Yes. This is a terrific strategy to start the ball rolling for a potential in-person interview. In the last paragraph of your cover letter you can say something like: “I will be in Philadelphia from December 21 – January 3, and would welcome the opportunity to meet in person.” Be aware, though, that many employers do not have the bandwidth to conduct in-person interviews, so don’t be offended if you’re not taken up on your offer.

Yes! Organizations in Helios are potential employers. You will notice that some organizations opt to list explicit instructions for applying – always very helpful information. Many employers, however, will not list a specific job but are still planning to hire summer interns and very eager to receive applications from interested HLS students.

This is true for many 1Ls. First, you should address up front why you are interested in this new area of endeavor. Be authentic about the source of your interest. In addition, although your past work or educational experience may not be directly related to the employers to which you are currently applying, you can still make a good case that the skills and insights you developed in previous settings will be beneficial to the position you are now seeking. Think about your prior experience in terms of skills and exposure to various problems that needed solving. What did you learn from that? What were you able to accomplish? Did you hone your skills of detail-orientation? Collaboration? Managing multiple deadlines? Communication skills? Ability to work with populations different from yourself? These and many other skills may be assets in a wide variety of legal settings. Look at your resume: next to each entry, make a list of the skills and knowledge that it took for you to do each job well. This strategy for “decoding” your resume can work whether your prior experience was in paid employment, volunteer work, or campus leadership activities. OPIA advisers can help you with this process.

Review OPIA’s sample cover letters in our Job Search Toolkit.

Writing Sample

Employers understand that 1Ls only halfway through their first year of law school are unlikely to have legal writing that ISN’T an LRW memo. It’s fine to use one of yours as a writing sample in your 1L job search. Ideally, you’ll develop something over the course of your 1L summer that you can use as a more sophisticated and real-world writing sample for your 2L job search.

You should use whichever is a better example of your best writing. Other things being equal, however, the open memo is probably preferable, since it will illustrate your capabilities in research as well as in writing.

Of course you can!

Yes, you should use whatever you have at your disposal to polish your writing sample and make it the best it can be. No one is so good a writer that he or she cannot benefit from feedback, and no one is expecting you to freeze your memo in its original form if you can see ways it could be improved.

It is not recommended in most circumstances, although there may be specific cases where a college writing sample could be useful for an employer. In general though, employers want to see evidence that you are adapting to “writing like a lawyer.” Thus, the ideal writing sample is one that is close to the kind of work you’ll likely be producing in your internship or job. So, if you will be doing legal research and writing legal memoranda, a writing sample in that format is probably best. College papers and theses are often in an academic format and style that is distinct from that preferred for legal writing. Also, depending on when you graduated from college, these materials may not be fully reflective of your maturity and abilities now. Finally, college writing samples are often much longer than the usual preferred length for legal writing samples (5-10 pages). Having said this, a college writing sample may sometimes be acceptable; this will most often be the case when you feel it is in fact the best example of your writing that you currently have available, when perhaps it is substantively very relevant for the employer to whom you are sending it, and when you are able to sensibly carve out an excerpt of appropriate length from the longer whole.

First, reread the instructions for submitting your application. If they are silent on whether the sample should be single or double spaced, you may be able to 1.5 space your sample and fit within the page requirement. If this isn’t possible, see if you can find a way to select a portion of the piece that does fit the page requirements. Often, for a legal memorandum, leaving out a lengthy statement of the facts can help, or limiting your analysis to just one legal issue. To help put your excerpt in context for the reader, you can include a brief note in a cover sheet describing the sample, eg: “This is an excerpt of a legal memorandum drafted for my LRW class. The case involves the attempted eviction of a tenant who has withheld rent for unsafe conditions. I have deleted the statement of facts in the interest of brevity, and included just my analysis of whether such an eviction is legal under Massachusetts law.”

The bottom line is that the writing sample you submit should be the best example of your writing that you can generate. Whether the sample relates more closely to the substance or to the practice of the employer requesting it is a judgment call; either can be fine. If you feel that both your samples are equally reflective of your writing abilities, you may want to consider other factors. If you feel you need to bolster your credentials in the substantive area (for example, if you are applying to a civil rights office with little civil rights experience on your resume), favoring a writing sample dealing with civil rights, even if not a pleading or memo, may be a good choice.

For a 1L summer job, it isn’t mandatory that you have a law professor reference unless the employer specifies that’s what it wants. Most 1Ls haven’t yet had a chance to develop relationships with their law professors by the time they have to start the public interest job search. You are better off with a former employer or college professor who knows you well and thinks highly of you than with a law professor who barely knows you. On the other hand, if you have gotten to know a law professor well, feel free to use them!

Grades and Transcript

This varies according to employer, but generally speaking, grades are less important to public interest employers hiring for the summer than they are to private firms. Many 1L summer employers will be hiring before first semester grades are even released, and others will not ask 1Ls for grades. Likewise, certain public interest employers may want to see a transcript before making 2L hiring decisions, but many will not. For many employers, your commitment to public service, alignment with and interest in their organization’s mission, hands-on experiences, facility interacting with their served population, language skills, and writing abilities are of much greater significance than your 1L grades.

Note in your cover letter that, as they may be aware, HLS does not issue first-semester 1L grades until late January, but that you will be glad to forward your grades along at that point. You can also include an unofficial transcript; this obviously will have no grades on it, but it will confirm that you are an HLS student, report the courses you took, and identify the faculty members with whom you studied.

No. If an employer explicitly tells you not to apply until you have your 1L grades, then do not apply until you have your 1L grades. Failing to follow clear application instructions is one of the most efficient ways to have your application tossed by an employer.

Unless the employer specifically requires an official transcript, an unofficial transcript will usually be fine.

E-mail and Phone Call Etiquette

Reply with a telephone call to the person who left you the voicemail within 24 hours. Generally, the best practice is to reply to employers using the same communication method they have used to contact you. An exception would be if the voicemail message specifically asks you to e-mail your reply.

Reply by e-mail within 24 hours. Generally, the best practice is to reply to employers using the same communication method they have used to contact you. Remember to keep the e-mail professional and courteous – this is a business correspondence. Check out our sample emails to employers to use as templates. If you have questions about how to craft an appropriate e-mail for a particular circumstance, an OPIA adviser would be happy to help you!

Usually, it will be okay, but it depends on the employer. Many employers will be fine with a follow-up call or e-mail in a reasonable timeframe after you have applied to check on the status of your application. A few weeks after you’ve applied, if you have heard nothing back, you can send a polite inquiry. But beware, some employers specifically state on their hiring page that they will not welcome contact of this nature. You might see “no calls please,” or something similar. This is real, and you should not run afoul of it lest you hurt your own chances.

This can vary quite a bit by employer. First, check to see whether the internship posting contains any useful information in this regard. Some will give a timeline for hiring; others may specify that rejected applicants should not expect to hear anything at all. Next, check the evaluations in the public interest organization database in Helios. These should specify the month in which the evaluating student(s) applied, and the month in which they got their offers – that may help you get a sense of the employer’s typical timeline. (Note, though, that past performance is not always predictive – consider such information a guidepost, not a guarantee.) It’s hard to generalize; some employers, either because they are moving quickly and/or because they really like your application, may get back to you almost immediately. Many will reach out to you within a few weeks if they are interested in you. And some may take months before they get around to processing your application – or may find themselves with an unanticipated opening and go back into their pile of applications late in the season. If you have questions about the specific employers to which you’ve applied, consult an OPIA adviser; we can sometimes give more granular information on particular employers.

Troubleshooting

First, don’t panic. Many students end up hunting for summer internships well into late winter or spring, and everyone finds one. Sometimes, surprisingly cool things open up late. However, if you find yourself in this situation, you should come in to see an OPIA adviser as soon as possible. Before you come in, sift through your applications to see if you have any that may still be live, and circle back to those employers to let them know you are still available and interested. Likewise, bringing to your OPIA appointment a list of where you have applied and what you’ve heard so far will help your adviser suggest appropriate next steps.

Your situation may be the result of too few applications, over-reliance on very competitive employers, application materials that have room for improvement, interviewing skills that need some polishing, simple bad luck, or some combination of the above. OPIA can help you figure out what’s not working for you and help you improve your process. We also hear about new internship postings well into the spring, and post these to our job boards . Finally, once you’ve met with an adviser, your adviser will be more likely to think of you when an appropriate post comes across their desk.

Interviewing: Before the Interview

Respond to any offers to interview quickly, politely, and professionally. Most employers understand that law students are busy and that many aspects of your schedule are not within your control. If you are asked to interview at a time that does not work, let the employer know that you are eager to interview with them but that, unfortunately, you have a conflict with the proposed time. Then, offer several alternate dates and times along with an open-ended “or any other time that is mutually convenient.”

If you know that there is no circumstance under which you would accept an offer from this particular employer, then it is best to cancel the interview beforehand. For example, you may have an offer from an employer you strongly prefer, or your plans to live in a particular city have changed. Then, by all means, time is precious – yours and the interviewer’s – so go ahead and cancel. The more notice you can give an employer, the better. Last-minute cancellations should be avoided as they are unprofessional. In general, however, we do not recommend cancelling interviews or turning down offers until you have a confirmed summer internship lined up. And don’t forget that interviews can sometimes change your mind about your preferred employer. If you need personalized advice on this topic, consult an OPIA adviser.

Generally, no. Out of courtesy to both the employer and to your fellow students, if you have already accepted another offer you should politely and candidly withdraw from all subsequent interviews. Thank the employer(s) for their interest in your candidacy, and let them know you have made a commitment to another employer. That said, if you would like to explore the opportunity to work for this employer at a later time, such as J-term, you can certainly say so. They may ask you to still come in and meet, or talk by phone – or they may suggest reconnecting at a later date.

There are several ways you can ease your interview jitters. First, learn about public interest interviews and how to prepare . Knowing what to expect and preparing wisely should begin to reduce your anxiety. Next, schedule an advising appointment with an OPIA adviser to discuss your concerns and perhaps have a mock interview. A mock interview can give you a sense of what the real interview may feel like, offer a chance for you to try out a variety of answers, and generate helpful, personalized feedback to improve your presentation. An OPIA adviser can also help you tailor your presentation to an in-person, phone, or video call interview.

Come to OPIA! We can often offer you a quiet office in which to conduct a phone or video interview , and we share with OCS some videoconferencing facilities as well. Keep in mind that the more notice you can give OPIA, the easier it will be for us to offer you space.

Interviewing: During the Interview

While public interest employers can sometimes be less formal and uniform in dress than the private sector, most public interest employers will still expect you to wear business attire for interviews, and you will never go wrong by doing so. Check OPIA’s professionalism do’s and don’ts for more detail. And as with any interview, attention to good grooming will stand you in good stead.

This is always tricky – we know it puts students on the spot. And yet, it does come up fairly often. Some students are most comfortable answering this question by referencing “general categories” rather than naming specific employers. Here are some examples of categorical answers: “I am interviewing with other legal services organizations in several cities.” “I am also very interested in state government, so I have applied to a few state agencies.” That said, if the conversation naturally lends itself to discussion of particular organizations and if you feel comfortable doing so, you can be more specific in your answer.

Be careful not to claim that an employer is your first choice, unless you are certain this is true and will remain true (remember that interview experiences can sometimes change your mind or shift your preferences in unexpected ways). When you tell an employer that they are your “first choice,” you are setting up the expectation that you will say “yes” if they make you an offer. Safer language to use would be statements such as: “you are among my top choices,” or “you are one of the top employers I am considering”.

Congratulations! If you get an offer on the spot, it means you made a terrific impression on the employer. But yes, it can feel awkward if you want to continue the process of learning about other opportunities. The first thing to say is some variation of “thank you, I really appreciate this.” Let the employer know that you think highly of their organization. It is perfectly reasonable to ask “by when will you need a commitment from me?” or even to suggest a timeframe, such as “would it be okay if I let you know in 1-2 weeks?”

Interviewing: After the Interview

Yes! You should definitely send a thank you note, and doing it by e-mail is fine. While handwritten notes are lovely, timing is usually more important here, and email is faster. Also be aware that, in many federal government offices, the security screening process for “snail mail” slows down its receipt dramatically, so you should always avoid surface mail to federal offices. The note should thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you about the internship, and should reference one item you discussed together that was particularly interesting or enlightening for you. Close by emphasizing your interest in the position (assuming you are still interested) and letting the interviewer know that you look forward to hearing from him or her. Use our sample thank you notes as templates.

If you were interviewed by more than one person, it’s fine to send one thank you note to everyone. If you have the names and contact information for each person who interviewed you, you can send the note to the whole group. If you do not have each interviewer’s contact information, send the thank you email to your attorney contact but be sure to note that you appreciated the time spent with all the interviewers. You can ask the attorney contact to please share your thanks with the other interviewers, too.

Receiving and Accepting Offers

If you are a 1L, we don’t generally suggest splitting your summer, as your time is relatively short and your learning curve is steeper. If you are a 2L, with a longer summer, a split may be more feasible. Our suggestion is to raise this question in the context of accepting the offer. Accept, let them know how much you are looking forward to working with them, and ask whether they are open to a split summer. Explain – briefly – the reason you are interested in splitting (perhaps you want to live in a different city? Or perhaps you have two strong areas of interest and want to spend ½ your summer working on each?) and offer a commitment to be with the employer you have already committed to for a meaningful number of work weeks (6-8). Make sure they understand that, if they are not comfortable with a split, you will of course be happy to spend the entire summer with them.

If your prior commitment is truly inflexible and important (e.g., your sister is getting married), you should let your employer know about it as soon as you have accepted the offer and have a confirmation that your employer has received your acceptance. Sooner is better than later, since your employer may need to work around your absence. A gracious email or phone call will do the trick. If you would simply prefer some specific days off (e.g., a group of friends wants to take a long weekend trip together), it’s more professional to ask for these dates off rather than simply announce your absence. In either case, you should offer to work late or on weekends to make up for the work you will miss; while few if any employers would require this, it shows that you take your professional commitments seriously. Most employers try to be flexible and accommodating as long as your absence will not be significant.

One stealthy way to find out these sorts of details without bothering your employer is to seek out a student or graduate (through Who Worked Where or the evaluations in the public interest organization database in HELIOS) who worked in the office before, and ask them. Failing that, a quick email to your Human Resources or internship coordinator contact at the employer should do the trick.

Splitting may indeed be an option, although it is usually easier and more sensible to do your 2L summer than your 1L summer. Learn more about when splitting your summer does and doesn’t make sense, and how to negotiate a split.

SPIF is administered by Student Financial Services, not by OPIA. Check out the SPIF website for information about eligibility and logistics for SPIF. If you still have questions at that point, you can email them at [email protected] .

Most importantly, don’t panic! While some issues do prove to be of concern, many more are false alarms, so try to stay calm while you figure things out. First, check out the OPIA website for general information on background checks and security clearance . Second, if your offer is from the US Department of Justice (including US Attorney’s Offices), you may find additional helpful information in the OPIA guide to volunteering for DOJ . Third, be aware that while the State Department sometimes rejects students for not clearing the background check (especially those who are well-traveled), there is an easy appeal process that is often successful. Fourth, if you have received an offer from DOJ, you may reach out yourself, anonymously, to DOJ’s Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM). You can call either Rena Cervoni or Aristia Villa at OARM by calling the number listed in OPIA’s DOJ Guide. Let either Rena or Aristia know you are a 1L with a DOJ offer, and that you have a question or concern about your background check. Either of these helpful people will give you the best information and advice she can. Finally, if you still have a question, you can and should come talk to an OPIA adviser in confidence about your concerns. OPIA has managed many such concerns in the past, and may be able either to put your mind at ease, or help you navigate the process of getting your question or concern addressed.

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1L Guide to Summer Jobs
You can start by checking out our Summer Job Search FAQs, which cover topics such as resume and cover letter writing, preparing for interviews, and negotiating offers and monitoring our 1L Summer Jobs Feed for the most recent summer jobs we receive. In addition, we have created this guide specifically for the 1L summer job search.
Cover Letter Advice & Samples
Overview. Draft your cover letter knowing it is your first writing sample. Understand that a cover letter should persuade the reader. Use the cover letter to "connect the dots" of your experiences. Resist the temptation to restate your resume. The Basics. Keep your cover letter to one page. Use the font style and point size that match your ...
PDF SAMPLE COVER LETTER #1: FIRST-YEAR STUDENT
I am a first-year student at Yale Law School and am seeking a summer intern position in the Manhattan office of the Federal Defenders of New York for summer 2019. I worked in New York City for several years before law school, and I plan to return to the area following graduation. If
PDF Sample cover letter packet
SAMPLE IN-HOUSE (START-UP) INTERNSHIP COVER LETTER. 435 West 116th Street New York, NY 10027 (212) 854-0000 [email protected]. February 1, 20XX. Michelle Offer, Esq. General Counsel Tech Corporation 100 West 42nd Street, Suite 100 New York, NY 10027.
PDF SAMPLE COVER LETTER
FIRM. 220 Escondido Road Stanford, CA 94305 650-555-1212 [email protected]. January 1, 20XX. isco, CA 94005Dear Ms. Smith:I am a first-year student at Stanford Law School and am interested in serving as a summer ass. ciate at Jones, Jones & Smith. John Doe, my thesis advisor at UCLA.
PDF Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
PDF 1L Cover Letter Sample
111 Ell Drive, Apt. 1, Lawrence, KS 66044 [email protected] | (111) 111-1111. Ms. E.M. Ployer Legal Law Employers 5678 Main Street De Smet, SD 66045. Dear Ms. Ployer, It is with great enthusiasm that I write to apply for the position of Summer Law Clerk with Legal Law Employers. As an aspiring personal injury attorney who intends to establish a ...
PDF 1L Sample Cover Letters 2016-2017
1L Sample Cover Letters Public Interest Law Center 245 Sullivan Street, Room 430 New York, NY 10012 Telephone: (212) 998-6686 General Questions: [email protected] Counseling Appointments: [email protected] Summer FundingQuestions: [email protected] Public Interest Legal Career Fair: [email protected]
1L Roadmap
1L Roadmap. A month-by-month snapshot of many of the key things to know and do during 1L year. Current 1Ls can also access a comprehensive, CLS Connect checklist that contains these and other important items in detail. August. September. Attend information sessions on various opportunities, such as international opportunities/global education ...
Legal Intern Cover Letter Example and Template for 2024
Related: 1L Summer Internship: Definition, Steps and Tips Edit and proofread multiple times Legal professionals draft important documents and uphold a standard of professionalism in their daily work, so a clean, grammatically correct cover letter can be essential.
How to Prepare for the 1L Summer Job Search
Meeting with Career Services is also a great opportunity to get feedback on resumes or cover letters or practice interviewing. 3. Go to your school's career panels and events ... The 1L summer is a great time to try things out and get some experience with a bit less pressure than 1L summer, so don't stress too much, there are plenty of 1L ...
PDF Sample Summer Associate Cover Letters Susan Student
SAMUEL STUDENT. 347 W. Fullerton Parkway | Chicago, IL 60616 | [email protected] | (312) 455-555. January 2, 20XX. W Wacker Street Chicago, IL 60613 Dear Ms. Smith:am a second-year student at Loyola University Chicago School of School and am writing to apply for a 20XX S. mmer Associate position with Partner & Partner LLP. I am particularl.
Cover letter for 1l summer student
Check out these 1l summer student cover letter sample and examples previously used by job seekers to land on job interviews as 1l summer student. Use our AI cover letter generator to create a personalized cover letter as 1l summer student. 4.5 Star Rated / 523 Users. Create Cover Letter Now.
1L Summer Job Search Tips: Application Materials
The first step in your 1L summer job search is to start thinking about your job application materials. Your application materials will typically consist of a resume, a cover letter, and several supporting documents (transcript, writing sample, and reference list). Resume. A resume is your written presentation of your skills, talents, and ...
PDF COVER LETTERS
Examples from 1L cover letters, without prior legal experience, answering the why this job question: Maryland Public Defender's Office: ... My work this summer at the Maryland Office of the Attorney General gave me a keen interest in regulatory compliance issues as well. Working at Semmes would a llow me to explore these areas of law in more ...
Tips from a Legal Recruiter on Finding a 1L Summer Job
Law students approach their 1L summer in different ways. Some use it as a resume builder while others use it to explore a specific practice area. ... writing samples, cover letters) are absolutely perfect. Read, re-read, and then ask a friend to read them for you. Lawyers are very busy, tired, and often impatient. A single typo, or glaring ...
Cover Letters
Cover Letters Contents. A. Purpose; B. Types; C. Format; D. Content; E. Common Cover Letter Mistakes; Video and Slides from the CDO program "Cover Letters That Do The Job" and handouts: Job Postings & Tips and Sample PIPS Cover Letters.; A. Purpose. Your cover letter is as important as your resume because it is often read first and plays a vital role in your quest for an interview.
A Quick Guide to 1L Summer Jobs
Government Jobs. Many government agencies hire 1Ls for the summer, though the positions are often unpaid. Your school may offer funding, however, so be sure to pay attention to the programs that are available to you. There are lots of federal government positions in Washington, DC, and other major cities, but if you're seeking a role in ...
How to Write a Cover Letter for Law Firms (with Examples)
Cover letter examples for summer associates and interns, Columbia Law School. Cover letter examples for 1L - 3L students, Harvard Law School. Cover letter examples for 1L - 3L students, Yale Law School. Cover letter example for applying to an immigration law firm by a recent graduate with previous paralegal experience.
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Summer Public Interest Job Search FAQs
Pereira," for example, in which case you can mirror the same in your cover letter. If additional research does not resolve the question, "Attorney" is an acceptable and formal choice. Example: "Dear Attorney Jones." ... Many 1L summer employers will be hiring before first semester grades are even released, and others will not ask 1Ls ...
PDF Cover Letter Guide
Address each cover letter to a specific person, if possible - ideally to the individual who has the power to hire, to your contact, or to a Notre Dame (or college alma mater) graduate. ... My background has prepared me to be a successful summer associate at your firm. Every summer throughout college, I worked in the offices of United States ...
Sample 1L Cover Letter Law firm
Sample 1L Cover Letter . Law firm . Joanna McMaster . 741 East Hanover Street . Hamden, CT 06514 . [email protected] . 203-555-8741 . January 2, 2018 . Ms. Marie Sethian, Esq. ... employment at your firm for the summer of 2018. I am eager to learn all about the general practice of law and determine where my particular legal interest