In the world of rules and law, law professionals often depend on the help of their paralegals. These paralegals are to support these professionals by taking on some of the work. In case you did not know, a paralegal is someone who is professionally trained to assist lawyers in various roles. Paralegals have to do research, draft documents, work with clients and manage cases.
Being a paralegal is a big responsibility, therefore if you are interested in that sort of career then you need a good cover letter.
What is a Cover Letter
A cover letter is a one-page document that gives employers why you are most qualified for the job and why you would be a good fit for the company. These can be difficult to write and yours has to stand out from hundreds of others.
So, if you want that paralegal job, then you need to make the best cover letter for a paralegal. Let’s get started!
Put Emphasis on Your Paralegal Skills
In your cover letter, you need at least a paragraph that details your best achievements that relate to this line of work. So in your paralegal cover letter, you need to highlight your skills that are relevant to this career as well as more technical skills such as knowing the rules of law and having some proficiency in computers. Other skills that would be beneficial to add on are organization and time management.
But, a paralegal’s job from day to day will differ depending on what kind of law you work with and at what firm. In your cover letter, you need to state what skills you have that are not only good for the job position, but for the company as well. Who knows where you could end up there?!
Here are some various skills that you should put on your cover letter:
- Legal Terminology
- Data Entry
- Knowledge of Administrative Protocols
- Knowledge of Laws, Legal Codes, and Court Protocols
- What Account Software you can use
- Proficiency in other apps like Microsoft Office, Excel, and Word
- Project Management Software Proficiency
- Proficiency in Information Retrieval Software
The above are all sorts of hard skills, skills that are learned from education and experience. Soft skills are also important. These are the skills that help separate you from others. Keep in mind that these can vastly improve your chances of being hired:
- Accuracy
- Detail
- Multitasking
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Social Skills
- Teamwork
- and many more
Use Cover Letter Format
In case you didn’t already know, law professionals are known for their attention to detail. That means that they will be keeping an eye on your cover letter for any mistakes. Your cover letter needs to be perfect and the best way to do that is to use a cover letter format. There are many different templates that you can use for your letter.
In order to give the recruiter a wonderful first impression, use the traditional format. Here is what you need:
- Use an easy-to-read font
- Set font between 10.5-12
- Adjust margins to 1”-1.5”
- If you are applying online, make sure it is sent as a PDF or a DOCX
Remember, a cover letter does not need to be a manifesto. One page up to 400 words is plenty enough.
Drive It Home with the End Statement
All job fields are competitive, especially when you are looking for jobs. Ending your letter in a memorable way can make your letter stand out. To write out a strong paralegal closing statement, mention the following:
- Express your interest and enthusiasm for the career opportunity. You need to show them that you have the will and passion to take on the strenuous job.
- Highlight what your paralegal strengths are as well as your skills that can assist the rest of the law firm.
- Make sure to include the call to action. Urge them to push for a meeting in-person for further application.
- And of course, thank them for the time and consideration in reading the letter.
Conclusion
Being a paralegal is a lot of responsibility. It is long hours and a lot of reading, talking, and terminology. But, if you are trained for this sort of work, then you will have no problem with it. Thus, it is the cover letter that will be your golden ticket.
You have to talk about yourself, so learn how to sell yourself essentially. You know yourself better than anyone else, so it should be easy. Also, remember to pay attention to grammar and spelling, otherwise, you are going to have to keep looking.
A cover letter can be a stressful document to write. But, if you have a template and the drive and skills to complete the job, then you won’t have any problems at all.
