Cover Letter Q Forum

[lhanvt13]

Quick Question: Do I mention that I've already applied to a firm before for 1L summer if I'm applying again for 2L summer in the same office?

[ph14]

Quick Question: Do I mention that I've already applied to a firm before for 1L summer if I'm applying again for 2L summer in the same office?

I probably wouldn't. Keep it short and sweet. My cover letters were maybe 3 sentences (per OCS's sample cover letters on our internal website).

[lhanvt13]

Quick Question: Do I mention that I've already applied to a firm before for 1L summer if I'm applying again for 2L summer in the same office?

I probably wouldn't. Keep it short and sweet. My cover letters were maybe 3 sentences (per OCS's sample cover letters on our internal website).

3 sentences?! crap, I'm doing something wrong.

[ph14]

Quick Question: Do I mention that I've already applied to a firm before for 1L summer if I'm applying again for 2L summer in the same office?

I probably wouldn't. Keep it short and sweet. My cover letters were maybe 3 sentences (per OCS's sample cover letters on our internal website).

3 sentences?! crap, I'm doing something wrong.

I mean maybe your OCS might disagree. Mine were along the lines of:

Dear [Recruiting Person]

My name is [Name] and I am a 1L at Harvard Law School. I am writing to apply for a summer position for 2015. Please find attached my [resume, transcript, etc.]. Thank you.

Sincerely,
[Name]

Edit: Typo

[lhanvt13]

Quick Question: Do I mention that I've already applied to a firm before for 1L summer if I'm applying again for 2L summer in the same office?

I probably wouldn't. Keep it short and sweet. My cover letters were maybe 3 sentences (per OCS's sample cover letters on our internal website).

3 sentences?! crap, I'm doing something wrong.

I mean maybe your OCS might disagree. Mine were along the lines of:

Dear [Recruiting Person]

My name is [Name] and I am a 1L at Harvard Law School. I am writing to to apply for a summer position for 2015. Please find attached my [resume, transcript, etc.]. Thank you.

Sincerely,
[Name]

ours told us to do the standard 3 paragraph format... (don't know if standard, but that's what they call it..)
Now I'm confused

[ph14]

I probably wouldn't. Keep it short and sweet. My cover letters were maybe 3 sentences (per OCS's sample cover letters on our internal website).

3 sentences?! crap, I'm doing something wrong.

I mean maybe your OCS might disagree. Mine were along the lines of:

Dear [Recruiting Person]

My name is [Name] and I am a 1L at Harvard Law School. I am writing to to apply for a summer position for 2015. Please find attached my [resume, transcript, etc.]. Thank you.

Sincerely,
[Name]

ours told us to do the standard 3 paragraph format... (don't know if standard, but that's what they call it..)
Now I'm confused

Hmm, well, I would go with what your OCS says then. Disregard my advice.

Edit: And don't typo in your cover letter like I did.

[lhanvt13]

Hmm, well, I would go with what your OCS says then. Disregard my advice.

Edit: And don't typo in your cover letter like I did.

will still keep your advice in mind thouhg.

and yeah, Re: typo - I once sent a cover letter with "regards" but replaced the "g" with a "t" ...

[ph14]

Hmm, well, I would go with what your OCS says then. Disregard my advice.

Edit: And don't typo in your cover letter like I did.

will still keep your advice in mind thouhg.

and yeah, Re: typo - I once sent a cover letter with "regards" but replaced the "g" with a "t" ...

Yeesh, that's rough . I'm sure they understood the typo though (if they even noticed).

[lhanvt13]

Hmm, well, I would go with what your OCS says then. Disregard my advice.

Edit: And don't typo in your cover letter like I did.

will still keep your advice in mind thouhg.

and yeah, Re: typo - I once sent a cover letter with "regards" but replaced the "g" with a "t" ...

Yeesh, that's rough . I'm sure they understood the typo though (if they even noticedread my application).

[ph14]

Hmm, well, I would go with what your OCS says then. Disregard my advice.

Edit: And don't typo in your cover letter like I did.

will still keep your advice in mind thouhg.

and yeah, Re: typo - I once sent a cover letter with "regards" but replaced the "g" with a "t" ...

Yeesh, that's rough . I'm sure they understood the typo though (if they even noticedread my application).

True, true.

[Jchance]

Different advices from different schools. If your resume has HLS, u can get away with a 3 sentence CL. If its not, listen to ur OCS on this one.

[transferror]

Different advices from different schools. If your resume has HLS, u can get away with a 3 sentence CL. If its not, listen to ur OCS on this one.

Yeah, it's translated "I'm a student at HLS so read what I attached. Thanks bro." For people at lowly non-Harvard schools, you should definitely write more. I keep mine to the typical 3 P format, but the first is just the intro "I'm a student at TLS and am writing to apply for summer of..." I'll include a quick sentence on ties to the area if I have them. Body is 3-4 quick sentences on skills/interests/why X firm, and Conclusion is "I have attached/enclosed blah blah I hope to speak with you soon blah blah."

I think this is the standard and it worked well for me in 1L summer-job cycle. Also, name drop in the second sentence (where ties would go) if you have a connection and have checked with them to make sure it's cool. Something like "X person, a former partner at your firm and my current Torts professor, recommended I apply for this position..." I got responses from places that, IMO, would have never otherwise made it to my résumé.