Cover Letter Personalization
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:44 pm
How much does personalization matter on cover letters? Is referring to a judge's opinions beneficial? Or will it seem inauthentic/ brown-nosy?
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FWIW, I never personalized beyond geographic connection generally to the court. Did not have stellar grades and landed several interviews (district and coa) and accepted two clerkships. Haven't started yet so can't chime in on what it looks like from the other side. Referring to judge's opinions seems odd to me. ("I really liked your opinion in Smith v. Jones, great writing and solid analysis!" seems try-hard and generic). OTOH, that is sometimes a topic in interviews where you're asked if you've read the judge's opinions or tangentially as an answer to why this judge.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:44 pmHow much does personalization matter on cover letters? Is referring to a judge's opinions beneficial? Or will it seem inauthentic/ brown-nosy?
Same level of knowledge from me, same advice. No, referring to specific opinions seems goofy. Geographic or personal connections (e.g. your prof is a friend of the judge and encouraged you to apply) are fine though. Unless I knew something specific about what the judge looks for, especially stuff from the OSCAR posting (often a public service focus), I didn't really customize besides geography. Worked out well, no shortage of interviews and offers.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:54 pmFWIW, I never personalized beyond geographic connection generally to the court. Did not have stellar grades and landed several interviews (district and coa) and accepted two clerkships. Haven't started yet so can't chime in on what it looks like from the other side. Referring to judge's opinions seems odd to me. ("I really liked your opinion in Smith v. Jones, great writing and solid analysis!" seems try-hard and generic). OTOH, that is sometimes a topic in interviews where you're asked if you've read the judge's opinions or tangentially as an answer to why this judge.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:44 pmHow much does personalization matter on cover letters? Is referring to a judge's opinions beneficial? Or will it seem inauthentic/ brown-nosy?
Those are about all the things you'd mention. If the career pre-judging was specific and you have some actual interest in that area, then that can show that you've done some homework. Meaning, if the judge did some sort of niche prosecution as an AUSA and you are knowledgable about that niche area, that might be worth bringing up. But if the judge was sort of a generic criminal AUSA, it isn't a very special thing you're going to create by mentioning that you also want to be a crim AUSA. Same with the judge having been a lit partner at a law firm.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Dec 29, 2020 3:07 pmAs an applicant, is there really anything to say beyond geography, common law school, or their career path? Most judges I apply to have worked for a firm or the government (generally as an AUSA), do I say something like "I'm also interested in doing those things" or just mention it's an interesting career path? Not sure exactly how to word these things.
I agree that judges don't need you to explain why you want to do a clerkship (except if you're non-traditional). But focusing on why you'd be an asset to the judge often boils down to rehashing your resume, which I think is actually the most common mistake applicants make. I don't quite subscribe the the Harvard (?) school of cover letters, which basically say only, "I'm applying for term [whatever], I'm a student at Law School X, happy to talk to you at any time at your convenience" kind of thing - I think a little more info than that is helpful. But don't go overboard describing all your accomplishments in your cover letter, either, because it ends up listing everything they'll see in your resume. Short and sweet.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 12:32 pmI agree with most of the above, but am just chiming in to note that, as a general matter, it is far more important to focus on why you'd be an asset to the judge, rather than emphasizing why the clerkship would be great for whatever your career plans are. Emphasis on the latter instead of the former is probably the most common mistake applicants make. Judges know that clerkships are valuable to your career. An exception might be where you are a mid career applicant or something and need to provide a brief (like 1 sentence) explanation as to why you, as a nontraditional applicant, are interested.
I'd agree rehashing your resume at length is an equally bad thing. It should be 1, 2 sentences max focusing on what you think you bring to the table that others don't ("As someone who did X and Y, I think I'd be a great asset to your chambers" or something similar). This can also be a geographic connection if the judge isn't in a huge market and might be interested in clerks who will stay local, subject matter expertise if you know the judge is looking for something like that, work experience, noteworthy law school accomplishment, etc. I'd also be careful not to force it if you don't have anything particularly distinguishing to say. A cover letter should be very short as a general matter.nixy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 1:14 pmI agree that judges don't need you to explain why you want to do a clerkship (except if you're non-traditional). But focusing on why you'd be an asset to the judge often boils down to rehashing your resume, which I think is actually the most common mistake applicants make. I don't quite subscribe the the Harvard (?) school of cover letters, which basically say only, "I'm applying for term [whatever], I'm a student at Law School X, happy to talk to you at any time at your convenience" kind of thing - I think a little more info than that is helpful. But don't go overboard describing all your accomplishments in your cover letter, either, because it ends up listing everything they'll see in your resume. Short and sweet.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 12:32 pmI agree with most of the above, but am just chiming in to note that, as a general matter, it is far more important to focus on why you'd be an asset to the judge, rather than emphasizing why the clerkship would be great for whatever your career plans are. Emphasis on the latter instead of the former is probably the most common mistake applicants make. Judges know that clerkships are valuable to your career. An exception might be where you are a mid career applicant or something and need to provide a brief (like 1 sentence) explanation as to why you, as a nontraditional applicant, are interested.
YMMV, but I think my judges mostly would've found that a little disingenuous, or at least not particularly helpful. Applicants often don't have enough career experience or know enough about how chambers works to address that issue in an interesting, credible way. (There probably ARE situations where it could work or be useful, but I don't think it's especially important for most applicants to address this or that not addressing it is the most common mistake.)Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:52 pmI'd agree rehashing your resume at length is an equally bad thing. It should be 1, 2 sentences max focusing on what you think you bring to the table that others don't ("As someone who did X and Y, I think I'd be a great asset to your chambers" or something similar). This can also be a geographic connection if the judge isn't in a huge market and might be interested in clerks who will stay local, subject matter expertise if you know the judge is looking for something like that, work experience, noteworthy law school accomplishment, etc. I'd also be careful not to force it if you don't have anything particularly distinguishing to say. A cover letter should be very short as a general matter.nixy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 1:14 pmI agree that judges don't need you to explain why you want to do a clerkship (except if you're non-traditional). But focusing on why you'd be an asset to the judge often boils down to rehashing your resume, which I think is actually the most common mistake applicants make. I don't quite subscribe the the Harvard (?) school of cover letters, which basically say only, "I'm applying for term [whatever], I'm a student at Law School X, happy to talk to you at any time at your convenience" kind of thing - I think a little more info than that is helpful. But don't go overboard describing all your accomplishments in your cover letter, either, because it ends up listing everything they'll see in your resume. Short and sweet.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 12:32 pmI agree with most of the above, but am just chiming in to note that, as a general matter, it is far more important to focus on why you'd be an asset to the judge, rather than emphasizing why the clerkship would be great for whatever your career plans are. Emphasis on the latter instead of the former is probably the most common mistake applicants make. Judges know that clerkships are valuable to your career. An exception might be where you are a mid career applicant or something and need to provide a brief (like 1 sentence) explanation as to why you, as a nontraditional applicant, are interested.
I don't disagree with that either. What I'm perhaps inartfully trying to express is that judges, to the extent they are interested in the cover letter at all, are generally going to be more interested in what you can do for them relative to what they can do for you. In most cases, for law student applicants especially, there isn't anything noteworthy to say on either end of the spectrum, and that discussion should be avoided entirely. The judges I worked for would get sooooo many letters talking at length about what great opportunities the clerkships would be for the applicants, and both my judges explicitly talked about not appreciating that discussion. Take that observation for what it's worth.mjb447 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:16 pmYMMV, but I think my judges mostly would've found that a little disingenuous, or at least not particularly helpful. Applicants often don't have enough career experience or know enough about how chambers works to address that issue in an interesting, credible way. (There probably ARE situations where it could work or be useful, but I don't think it's especially important for most applicants to address this or that not addressing it is the most common mistake.)Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:52 pm
I'd agree rehashing your resume at length is an equally bad thing. It should be 1, 2 sentences max focusing on what you think you bring to the table that others don't ("As someone who did X and Y, I think I'd be a great asset to your chambers" or something similar). This can also be a geographic connection if the judge isn't in a huge market and might be interested in clerks who will stay local, subject matter expertise if you know the judge is looking for something like that, work experience, noteworthy law school accomplishment, etc. I'd also be careful not to force it if you don't have anything particularly distinguishing to say. A cover letter should be very short as a general matter.
I feel pretty much the same way about mentioning what a clerkship will do for you. It might be okay if you have something unusual to say but, most of the time, it'll be clear that you're trying to generate a unique application package from pretty run-of-the-mill circumstances.
No real disagreement here; maybe my judges were lucky enough not to receive many of those kinds of letters.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 8:27 pmI don't disagree with that either. What I'm perhaps inartfully trying to express is that judges, to the extent they are interested in the cover letter at all, are generally going to be more interested in what you can do for them relative to what they can do for you. In most cases, for law student applicants especially, there isn't anything noteworthy to say on either end of the spectrum, and that discussion should be avoided entirely. The judges I worked for would get sooooo many letters talking at length about what great opportunities the clerkships would be for the applicants, and both my judges explicitly talked about not appreciating that discussion. Take that observation for what it's worth.mjb447 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:16 pmYMMV, but I think my judges mostly would've found that a little disingenuous, or at least not particularly helpful. Applicants often don't have enough career experience or know enough about how chambers works to address that issue in an interesting, credible way. (There probably ARE situations where it could work or be useful, but I don't think it's especially important for most applicants to address this or that not addressing it is the most common mistake.)Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:52 pm
I'd agree rehashing your resume at length is an equally bad thing. It should be 1, 2 sentences max focusing on what you think you bring to the table that others don't ("As someone who did X and Y, I think I'd be a great asset to your chambers" or something similar). This can also be a geographic connection if the judge isn't in a huge market and might be interested in clerks who will stay local, subject matter expertise if you know the judge is looking for something like that, work experience, noteworthy law school accomplishment, etc. I'd also be careful not to force it if you don't have anything particularly distinguishing to say. A cover letter should be very short as a general matter.
I feel pretty much the same way about mentioning what a clerkship will do for you. It might be okay if you have something unusual to say but, most of the time, it'll be clear that you're trying to generate a unique application package from pretty run-of-the-mill circumstances.