LLM COVER LETTER SAMPLES These samples are intended to provide you with a guide to what a typical U.S. legal cover letter might look like. Your own cover letter should be unique to you and be written in your own words. You should not copy any of the sentences here (or in any other cover letter samples you find elsewhere, such as online).
Xian (Helen) Kang 1000 Smith Road, Brookline, MA 02446 (617) 888-1234 hkang@bu.edu May 16, 2017 Jane M. Smith Human Resources Manager Boss & Boss, LLP 100 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016 Dear Ms. Smith: I am an LLM candidate in American Law at Boston University School of Law, and also hold a law degree from a top Chinese university with a major in Civil and Commercial Law. After completing my LLM program in May 2017, I plan to sit for the New York Bar Exam. I write to apply for the position of Legal Intern at Boss & Boss. I am confident that my practical experience as a legal intern and my strong academic background would make a valuable contribution to your law firm. Through my internships at Zhong Law Firm and Xinchao Law Firm, I developed valuable legal and analytical skills. In these roles, I worked closely with senior attorneys in the litigation and corporate departments, receiving constructive feedback and learning legal strategy from participating in attorney meetings. I effectively communicated with clients, prepared drafts of key legal documents, and served as a translator and interpreter using my English skills. Prior to working in law firms, I honed my administrative skills and attention to detail while serving as a court clerk, where I managed hundreds of court records and case files and prepared legal documents for court proceedings. In addition to my professional experience, I have a strong academic background that illustrates my work ethic and ability to learn quickly. Prior to my LLM program, I excelled in my law studies at one of China s most prestigious law universities, while also serving as captain of a winning debate team and volunteering in a legal aid center. Through studying both the common and civil law systems, I have been trained to analyze legal issues from different angles. I now look forward to applying and testing my knowledge and skills in a legal position in the U.S. I am authorized to work in the U.S. for one year as part of my Optional Practical Training after the completion of my LLM program in May 2017. I have enclosed my resume for your review. I will be in New York in early June, and would welcome an opportunity to meet with you to discuss my qualifications and your hiring needs. Sincerely, Xian Kang 2
JOHANNES KRAUS 3399 St. Paul Street, Brookline, MA 02446 (617) 888-9767 abhatia@bu.edu April 1, 2017 Richard J. Berenstein, Esq. Director of Legal Recruiting Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 1285 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019-6064 Dear Mr. Berenstein: I am an experienced German lawyer currently attending Boston University School of Law and expect to receive an LLM degree in Banking and Financial Law in May 2017. I am interested in applying for a foreign associate position in the corporate department of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. I am confident that my international transactional training and top academic credentials would make me a strong addition to your legal department. Although I am originally from Germany, I am a permanent resident of the United States and have authorization to work here. I have been licensed to practice law in Germany since 2010. During my five years as an associate in the corporate department of Simmons & Simmons s Munich office, I developed an expertise in international transactions and gained substantial experience dealing with international clients. For example, I participated in the firm s largest ever transnational purchase, and negotiated the purchase of over 26 billion U.S. dollars in machinery from an American manufacturer for a French client. As part of this project, I managed a team of junior attorneys and legal staff, coordinated communications with attorneys in France, and actively contributed to legal strategy discussions with senior lawyers of the firm. The Banking and Financial Law LLM program at Boston University has complemented and expanded my knowledge of the financial industry, and I have concentrated my studies on International Business Practice. This semester, I am enrolled in courses focusing on financial policy and global securities markets. Through my international work at Simmons & Simmons and my legal studies, I have developed a strong interest in the U.S. legal system and its impact on international commerce I would welcome the chance to apply my significant skills and knowledge to contribute to the international corporate practice at your world-class firm. Enclosed please find a copy of my resume. I look forward to speaking with you to discuss my qualifications and your hiring needs in greater detail. Sincerely, Johannes Kraus 3
LILIAN REZENDE 100 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 617-500-5000 lrezende@bu.edu Matthew Morris, Esq. Senior Partner Morris, Bradlee & Loehmann 60 Congress Street Boston, MA 02109 Dear Attorney Morris: April 20, 2017 I am a Brazilian attorney with several years of experience in corporate law at a major publicly-held Brazilian corporation. I am currently enrolled in an LLM Program in Banking and Financial Law at Boston University School of Law, which I will complete in May 2017. I am interested in applying for an associate position at Morris, Bradlee & Loehmann. Through my work as in-house counsel and my international legal education, I have acquired strong legal and business skills that would add value to the Transactional Department at your firm. Before starting the LLM program in the U.S., I worked as an in-house counsel at Grupo Global, where I provided legal assistance on corporate matters (e.g. corporate restructurings, shareholder and board of director meetings), negotiated commercial agreements, and prepared legal opinions on compliance with a variety of regulations. I led a group of ten lawyers in transactional corporate work and legal consulting, guiding them to seek the best solutions for their clients. In addition, I managed projects in the financial, energy, and water industries for companies based in Brazil and Latin America. I consulted with boards of directors and CEOs of corporations on key legal issues, development of master plans, and strategic programs. I have also excelled academically in all phases of my legal studies. I graduated with a degree in law from a top Brazilian university, and received a merit scholarship for an exchange program in England. During this exchange program, I had the opportunity to study the European Union s laws, leading to a better understanding of the international legal systems and a fascination with cross-border transactions. In my LLM Program at Boston University, I won a Dean s Award for outstanding achievement in my Corporations course. I believe my significant practical experience and outstanding academic credentials have prepared me to excel in an associate position at your firm. I have enclosed my resume for your consideration, and would be glad to provide any additional materials upon your request. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely Yours, Lilian Rezende 4
ALEXA M. GARRISON 411 Shamut Avenue Boston, MA 02118 October 6, 2016 Jennifer Rhoads Professor of Public Interest Law Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School 122 Boylston Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02139 Dear Professor Rhoads: Professor Timothy Albert of the University of Melbourne recommended that I write to you to express my interest in the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. In May 2016, I completed the Taxation LLM program at Boston University School of Law. Since then, I have been working as a volunteer at Greater Boston Legal Services, where I assist low-income taxpayers in resolving their tax controversies and disputes of tax deficiency, tax refund, and innocent spouse relief. My experience working with low-income taxpayers in Boston has given me excellent preparation for a full-time opportunity in your Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. In addition, I have valuable experience serving as an intern at several Australian law firms and the Massachusetts Superior Court, which have honed my strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills. My legal experience in Australia was focused on both tax and international financial transactions. I directly assisted senior and junior tax partners, researching and drafting legal memoranda on issues involving conduit companies, interpretation of foreign tax treaties, and tax haven countries. More recently, I served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Jones in the Massachusetts Superior Court. In this role, I observed jury trials, plea hearings, motion hearings, and other courtroom proceedings. I spoke directly with the judge and discussed the issues of concern, specifically in 1 st degree murder and rape cases. I also had the opportunity to observe a civil trial on medical malpractice. My practical experience with courtroom procedure will also help me to add value to your team. I am confident that my skills, education, and enthusiasm make me an excellent candidate for your Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. In both Australia and the United States, I have excelled in high volume, demanding legal environments with a focus on multiple projects. I have demonstrated that I can effectively prioritize my work and manage multiple assignments to ensure that all deadlines are met. Finally, I am committed to practicing in the field of tax law, and I am passionate about working for low-income taxpayers I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss my interests and qualifications for this position. Thank you for your time and consideration. Very truly yours, Alexa M. Garrison 5