Cold Emailing Law Firms Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi- sorry if this has been specifically discussed elsewhere- but I looked for about an hour and couldn't find it.

I'm a year out of law school, been working part time for a consulting firm and now that I passed a bar and have been sworn in, I really need to find a legal job. My law school GPA was dismal (basically failed 1L but all As afterwards, didn't rise very much) so not going to get anywhere that looks at my transcript. I've applied to 70+ jobs all around the US (no ties anywhere). Certain I must be doing something wrong but had my cover letter/resume reviewed by multiple career offices + contacts, small changes made, but nothing monumental. I had a foreign phone # and address but recently got a US one so maybe that will make a difference?

ANYWAYS: I've decided to start emailing firms- I notice on most firms' (I'm interested in at least) sites, they have a "career" section, related specifically to jobs. They state anything from "contact us" with the recruitment attorney email, to "apply for a position, submit your cover letter and resume to...", to "to apply for associate opportunities, please contact...", to "interested in learning more?".

My question is: how should the body of an email look for these types of cold emailing? I'm basically needing to say hi, I graduated + am barred, are you hiring first year associates and if so I would like to be considered- here is my cover letter, resume, references, and writing sample. This isn't a networking email and I don't think thats what their sites are even expecting people to submit? I can't find a good template for this anywhere, would really appreciate some help. I am very aware this may be fruitless but I'm desperate and just want to ensure the body of the email is appropriate.

Thank you!

[RaceJudicata]

Didn’t read full post, so won’t comment on strategy... but you need to up the volume 10x. 70 apps is nothing. When you get to 200 without a response, then reassess.

Also sounds like you are applying to large firms (just a guess based on descriptions of websites)... I think this is a bad idea and a long shot. Shoot for smaller firms to get legal experience.

[Anonymous User]

Definitely not looking at big law! A lot of small law firms and then as reaches, the vault top 150 under 150 have a lot of really great firms in my target town that I'm interested in- so aiming for them.

Thanks, I can tell its a numbers game. Everyone I talk to said they were at least getting responses after 50ish and I'm just getting nowhere but I know I have to just keep at it.

[ClubberLang]

This sort of depends on where you went to school, but if your grades are dismal and you've been out for a year without working as a lawyer, you aren't going to get much traction with firms that have "careers" sections on their websites.