Legal Authority Is the Most Effective Way to Get Your Next Legal Position.
Legal Authority puts you in control of your job search and gives you unrestricted access to all the opportunities that you specify you are interested in. Our services include:
Free Resume Critique: We will provide you with suggestions to improve the impact and effectiveness of your resume.
Free Market Evaluation: We will provide a market evaluation to give you an assessment of your overall marketability.
Free Consultation: Our Employment Advocates will set up an appointment with you to identify areas of the country and types of employers you might be interested in.
"The most common means of obtaining a job was a letter or other "self-initiated contact" with the employer..."
Employers do read the cover letter, don't they? Well, yes, but briefly. Since employers only spend about a minute looking over all application materials and most of that time is spent on the resume, an employer will probably only spend 10 to 20 seconds reading your letter. Make it succinct. This is your chance to quickly inject some of your personality into your application package. After reading your cover letter, an employer should feel that he or she knows you a little better. This is also your chance to demonstrate the writing ability you honed in law school or through years of writing briefs. Just keep one thing in mind: The cover letter is a brief supplement to your resume. It is not the main attraction. Also, when employers spend so little time reading the cover letter, it is not worth it to customize a letter to each firm or company. Instead, make sure your cover letter focuses on your best assets. Essentially, your letter should serve as a short introduction that lets the employer know who you are, what you can do, and how to reach you.
First Paragraph
Identify yourself without sounding trite. Try to lead with your strengths. If you are about to graduate at the top of your law school class, say so. If you have had successes in your current job, but are looking for new challenges, let the potential employer know. Remember, an employer is only going to spend a few seconds reading your letter. Make sure your opening paragraph is an attention-grabber. Show some enthusiasm!
Middle Paragraph(s)
Here, you can go into more detail about your relevant experiences. You don't want to simply rehash what is on your resume, but you should not bring up anything that isn't listed on your resume. Flesh out your background with anecdotes that demonstrate your accomplishments. This is the time to show potential employers why you can be of value to them. Highlight your unique skills and experiences in a concise fashion, and let them draw conclusions about where to place you. You don't want to focus your search too narrowly. Avoid statements like, "My past experience in taxation can make me a valuable asset to your tax department." What if the tax department doesn't have an opening, but the hiring partner thinks you would be perfect for the finance department? If you seem closed-minded, you could miss out on a great opportunity.
There are always exceptions to the "detail" rule, of course. Remember, your cover letter needs to get to the point quickly. If you are a senior associate, or if you have an impressive string of accomplishments, you may find it most effective to use a bulleted list to highlight your achievements. Make it easy for a potential employer to get the main idea before flipping to your resume. The more experience you have, generally, the less explanation you need in a cover letter.
The middle paragraphs also give you an opportunity to explain any inconsistencies or gaps in your resume. Don't dwell on periods during which you were out of work, but do consider giving a brief explanation. That will prevent the employer from assuming the worst. Also, if you have worked for a firm for many years, but are now seeking an in-house position, explain why. If you have specialized in a particular area of law, but now want to switch your focus, demonstrate how the skills you have learned can be transferable to this new area. Always keep your tone positive, and show the employer how he or she could benefit by hiring you.
Final Paragraph
This is your opportunity to close the deal. Your middle paragraphs should make a persuasive case. The final paragraph should sum up your abilities and stress your interest in working for this potential employer. Say that you hope to meet in person or that you look forward to an interview. However, we do not recommend that you indicate that you will follow up with them. Many employers do not wish to receive calls. Besides, you may be applying to hundreds of firms, making it impossible for you to follow up with all of them in a timely manner. If your cover letter and resume have presented you in the best possible light, employers should be eager to contact you.
Close the letter with a cordial tone. According to Miss Manners, "Yours truly" is the proper way to close a business letter. "Sincerely yours" is used for more personal letters. You may consider other closings, such as "Kind regards," but closings like "In anticipation" or "Eagerly" can sound silly. Sometimes it's best to stick with the classics.
Legal Authority has years of experience in crafting dynamic cover letters. We can revise your current letter or create a new one from scratch. Remember, the cover letter is a reflection of you as a potential employee. We use a standardized style sheet for consistent spelling, grammar, capitalization, and formatting. We also ensure that your letter sets a professional tone. Let our expertise work for you.
Cover Letter Do's and Don'ts
A relatively comprehensive list of what to do and, perhaps more important, what not to do when composing your cover letter, by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., and Katharine Hansen.
Cover Letter Resource Guide
A comprehensive guide to writing cover letters, discussing who needs a cover letter, what makes a good cover letter, a sample cover letter and including links to other resources on the web.
How to Write a GREAT Letter
A collection of links to articles describing effective letter-writing strategies, including tips on how to organize your thoughts and ideas, common letter-writing mistakes, and how to follow up.
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Just fill out our Sign Up Form and we will contact you to set up an appointment to talk to you about your job search. We will interview you in depth over the phone to understand what type of legal employment you are seeking. If you would like, ask us for a resume critique, and we will provide you with suggestions to improve the impact and effectiveness of your resume. In addition, we will provide a market evaluation and give you an assessment of your overall marketability. This critique and market evaluation are absolutely free, and there is no obligation to continue. We are committed to helping you find a job, whether you decide to use our full services or not.
Legal Authority has helped thousands of attorneys and law students find new opportunities and new careers throughout the country. While we can't speak for each and every one of our clients, the growing list of customer testimonials is a proven track record of our success!
The reason is simple. Legal Authority is a convenient, inexpensive and reliable way to help jobseekers apply directly to almost any legal employer in the country. With a database that can not be offered by any other job boards, classified sections of legal newspapers, legal recruiters, on-campus interviewing programs, or job fairs, Legal Authority is able to give its clients the exposure they need to get hired. And it requires very little effort. Legal Authority does all the grunt work for you, from customized cover letters and envelopes to professionally crafted resumes. All you do is sign, seal and deliver. We've been told by our clients that the hardest part of the process was deciding between job offers!
It's hard to guarantee the level of success that you will have in your job search, however, if it's any indication of how people have felt about our service, our growth has come almost entirely from word of mouth in the legal profession. Legal Authority's satisfied and happily employed clients have continuously referred us to their colleagues, friends and family. We hope you let Legal Authority work for you in your career journey.
Sign up for a "Free, No Obligation Resume Critique" and "Free Market Evaluation". Let us tell you how much potential you have!
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Testimonials
What Our Clients Are Saying
Thanks for your help! I just received the documents yesterday and only made a few changes. I was able to finalize them yesterday evening and send them off to Production with confidence. I really thou... - H.P., Chatham, N.J.
After searching for a job on my own, I knew that I was going to need some help. I contacted Legal Authority to assist me in my job search. I have been so impressed with the shipment and organization o... - Daniel S.
Whoever said it's impossible to find a job fresh out of law school and without a bar license obviously has never met Legal Authority. I didn't have any problem at all! During my last year of law schoo... - B.C.
