Embarking on your job quest, you’ve likely stumbled upon the crucial task of crafting a legal secretary cover letter—a step many find daunting. Your cover letter must shine without echoing your resume, weaving a narrative around your proudest professional triumph. Striking a balance between formality and originality, steer clear of clichés to maintain authenticity. Remember, brevity is key; keep it to just one page to make a strong, succinct impression. Let’s unlock the secrets to a standout cover letter.
- Some inspiration from other professionals' job-winning cover letters;
- The best structure and format for your legal secretary cover letter;
- Insights on how to write about your best achievement to stand out;
- A creative twist on your legal secretary cover letter intro.
Upload your legal secretary resume to Enhancv's AI, which will quickly scan and prepare a job-winning cover letter for you.
If the legal secretary isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Legal secretary cover letter example
Payton Webster
Indianapolis, Indiana
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Providing quantifiable achievements, such as improving firm-wide communication by 35% or reducing billing discrepancies by 80%, conveys the candidate's impact on previous roles and suggests potential value to the prospective employer.
- Highlighting relevant industry experience, such as being a seasoned legal secretary in commercial law, aligns the candidate's background with the specific requirements of the role.
- Emphasizing organizational improvements that the candidate initiated, like implementing an organized email system, demonstrates their proactive approach and capability to enhance office operations.
- Mentioning strong IT literacy in a legal context is pertinent, as modern legal environments increasingly rely on technological competence to manage documentation and communication efficiently.
Standard formatting for your legal secretary cover letter
Structure your legal secretary cover letter, following industry-leading advice, to include:
- Header - with your name, the role you're applying for, the date, and contact details;
- Greeting - make sure it's personalized to the organization;
- Introduction paragraph - no more than two sentences;
- Body paragraph - answering why you're the best candidate for the role;
- Closing paragraph - ending with a promise or a call to action;
- Signature - now that's optional.
Set up your legal secretary cover letter for success with our templates that are all single-spaced and have a one-inch margin all around.
Use the same font for your legal secretary cover as the one in your resume(remember to select a modern, Applicant Tracker System or ATS favorites, like Raleway, Volkhov, or Chivo instead of the worn-out Times New Roman).
Speaking of the ATS, did you know that it doesn't scan or assess your cover letter? This document is solely for the recruiters.
Our builder allows you to export your legal secretary cover letter in the best format out there: that is, PDF (this format keeps your information intact).
The top sections on a legal secretary cover letter
Header with Contact Information: This includes your name, address, phone number, and email, which are crucial for the recruiter to quickly identify you and provide a means for easy contact.
Opening Greeting: A professional salutation that addresses the hiring manager or attorney by name shows attention to detail, a critical skill for a legal secretary.
Introduction: Briefly mention your interest in the legal secretary position and your connection to the law firm or legal industry, highlighting your understanding of the professional environment.
Body with Relevant Experience and Skills: Outline your experience with legal documentation, court procedures, and client communication, emphasizing key skills such as confidentiality, meticulous organization, and technical proficiency.
Closing and Call to Action: Conclude with a strong closing statement that reiterates your interest in the role and invites further discussion or an interview, reflecting your proactive approach, which is valued in legal support roles.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Proficiency in legal terminology: Demonstrates the ability to understand and accurately use legal language essential for drafting and proofreading legal documents.
- Exceptional organizational skills: Vital for managing complex filing systems, scheduling appointments, and keeping track of multiple legal cases or transactions at once.
- Attention to detail: Ensures accuracy in preparing legal documents, correspondence, and maintaining records, which is crucial to the functioning of a legal practice.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills: Essential for effectively interacting with attorneys, clients, and court personnel, as well as for drafting clear and concise legal documents.
- Discretion and confidentiality: Important for handling sensitive client information and maintaining the privacy and integrity of legal proceedings.
- Proficiency with legal software and technology: Necessary for efficient document management, research, and communication in a modern legal environment, including familiarity with case management systems, e-filing, and legal research platforms.
How to greet recruiters in your legal secretary cover letter salutation
As the saying goes, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
Write your legal secretary cover letter salutation to be more personalized to the actual hiring manager, who is set to assess your profile by:
- greeting them on a first-name basis, if you have previously communicated with them (e.g. "Dear Sam,");
- using their last name, if you have more formal communication or haven't spoken to them (e.g. "Dear Mr. Harrows" or "Dear Ms. Marshall");
- writing "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager", if you have no clue about who's recruiting for the role.
Search on LinkedIn, Google, or the company website to find information as to the recruiter's name.
In any case, avoid the impersonal "Dear Sir or Madam".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Name of the Hiring Manager],
- Dear [Name of the Managing Partner],
- Dear [Name of the Head of Legal Department],
- Dear Members of the [Name of the Team or Department] Team,
- Dear [Mr./Ms. Last Name],
How to start your legal secretary cover letter introduction
The opening paragraph of your legal secretary cover letter can seem like a real enigma.
Where do you start writing?
In your legal secretary cover letter introduction, focus on yourself by stating what:
- gets you motivated and excited about the role;
- you like best about the company, from culture to awards.
Write no more than two sentences, which are both authentic and show your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Structuring your legal secretary cover letter body to add more value
You've hinted at your value as a professional (this may be your passion for the job or interest in the company) in your introduction.
Next, it's time to pan out the body or middle of your legal secretary cover letter.
When creating your resume, you've probably gone over the advert a million times to select the most relevant skills.
Well, it's time to repeat this activity. Or just copy and paste your previous list of job-crucial requirements.
Then, select one of your past accomplishments, which is relevant and would impress hiring managers.
Write between three and six paragraphs to focus on the value your professional achievement would bring to your potential, new organization.
Tell a story around your success that ultimately shows off your real value as a professional.
Final words: writing your legal secretary cover letter closing paragraph
The final paragraph of your legal secretary cover letter allows you that one final chance to make a great first impression.
Instead of going straight to the "sincerely yours" ending, you can back up your skills with a promise of:
- how you see yourself growing into the role;
- the unique skills you'd bring to the organization.
Whatever you choose, always be specific (and remember to uphold your promise, once you land the role).
If this option doesn't seem that appealing to you, close off your legal secretary cover letter with a follow-up request.
You could even provide your availability for interviews so that the recruiters would be able to easily arrange your first meeting.
What could you write about in your legal secretary cover letter when you have no experience
Candidates with zero professional experience often struggle to write their legal secretary cover letter.
You may lack experience, but your application could still be impressive when you focus on your strengths.
Consider your most relevant talents (and/or one achievement) that align with the role and help you stand out.
Perhaps you spent every summer volunteering at your local dog pound - think of the job-relevant skills this experience taught you.
Sharing your tangible career goals is another good strategy to stand out.
Key takeaways
Within this Enhancv guide, we've provided you with plenty of advice and inspiration on writing your legal secretary cover letter:
- Always make sure your legal secretary cover letter is tailored to the role you're applying for to make a good impression on recruiters;
- In your legal secretary cover letter include a header (with your name, the role you're applying for, date, and contact details) and an introduction of up to two sentences that highlight your key accomplishment or why you'd fit the role;
- Focus your legal secretary cover letter body on one sole achievement through your career and all the valuable lessons, skills, and know-how you've learned (that are relevant to the role);
- Ensure your legal secretary cover letter closing statement isn't generic and includes either a call to action or a promise;
- If you lack professional experience, shift recruiters' focus to a relevant achievement (thanks to your academic or versatile experience) or toward your dreams and goals for professional growth.
