5 Professional Counsel Cover Letter Examples for 2024

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Your counsel cover letter must immediately capture the reader's attention. Highlight your most compelling experiences right at the start. Ensure your letter is concise and reflects your understanding of the legal field. It's essential to tailor your expertise to the requirements of the position.

All cover letter examples in this guide

Embarking on your job search, you've quickly learned a compelling counsel cover letter is your ticket to standing out. Yet, crafting this one-page pitch is no small feat. It's not about echoing your resume; it’s your chance to weave a narrative around your proudest professional triumph. Stay clear of the clichés and adopt a formal tone that reflects your individuality. Let’s journey through making your cover letter not just informative but memorable.

Discover our guide on writing your counsel cover letter with tips and tricks on how to:

  • Introduce your profile to catch recruiters' attention;
  • Use professional templates and examples to make sure your counsel cover letter follows the best industry standards;
  • Settle on your most story-worthy achievement to shine a light on what makes your application unique;
  • Write a counsel cover letter, even when you lack professional experience.

Ready to start with the basics: upload your resume to Enhancv's AI, below, to see the counsel cover letter it would write for you.

Counsel cover letter example

OWEN WRIGHT

New York City, New York

+1-(234)-555-1234

help@enhancv.com


Dear Hiring Manager,

Having established a legal career committed to excelling in healthcare law, I am intrigued by the opportunity to contribute to your reputable organization by melding strategic legal acumen with a proactive approach to compliance and transactional operations.

During my tenure as Senior Legal Counsel for Cigna, I led an initiative that revamped the way we handled healthcare regulations, achieving a significant reduction in legal risks and fortifying compliance across multiple departments. The crowning achievement of this initiative was orchestrating the legal advisory for M&A transactions that expanded the company’s service coverage by an impressive 25%. This not only demonstrated my ability to meld law with business strategies effectively but also showcased my strong leadership skills in enhancing team efficiency by 30%.

I am keen to bring this same diligence and strategic foresight to your esteemed team. I look forward to the prospect of discussing how my expertise can be an asset in achieving and surpassing your company’s objectives in healthcare compliance and legal affairs.

Sincerely,

OWEN WRIGHT, Senior Attorney | Healthcare Compliance & Transactions
What makes this cover letter good:


  • Highlighting specific achievements relevant to the target role – mentioning the initiative that revamped how healthcare regulations were handled showcases the ability to generate impactful results pertinent to healthcare law.
  • Demonstrating measurable outcomes – providing quantifiable metrics such as the reduction of legal risks, a 25% expansion of service coverage, and increasing team efficiency by 30%, all of which are significant in illustrating competency and effectiveness.
  • Leadership and strategic integration – pointing out leadership in orchestrating legal advisory for M&A transactions indicates a readiness to take on complex tasks and implies a strategic mindset beneficial for a senior legal counsel position.
  • Expressing an understanding of the company's objectives – by expressing a desire to contribute to healthcare compliance and legal affairs, the cover letter shows alignment with the company’s goals, making the applicant appear well-suited for the organization’s needs.

The format of your counsel cover letter: structure, fonts, margins, and more

Your counsel cover letter should include a header (with your name, position, and date); a greeting and introductory paragraph; a body and closing paragraphs; and an optional signature.

Remember that you're writing your counsel cover letter for recruiters - as the Applicant Tracker System won't scan this content.

Here are a few more tips and tricks to keep in mind when formatting your counsel cover letter:

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The top sections on a counsel cover letter

  • Header: Includes your contact information, the date, and the employer's details; it is imperative for ensuring your letter reaches the right person and sets a professional tone.
  • Greeting: Opens with a formal salutation directed at the hiring manager or relevant party; tailored greetings show you've done research and are serious about the position.
  • Introduction: Briefly mentions your current role, highlights your interest in the position, and specifies why you are pursuing a career in law; it serves as a hook to grab the recruiter's attention.
  • Body: Outlines your relevant legal experience, key accomplishments, and specific skills that align with the responsibilities of a counsel; this section showcases your suitability and readiness for the role.
  • Closing: Reiterates your enthusiasm for the role, mentions your availability for an interview, and includes a thank you note; this section leaves a positive, lasting impression and encourages a call to action.
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Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter

  • Strong analytical and research skills: Essential for identifying legal issues, interpreting laws and regulations, and providing accurate legal advice.
  • Excellent drafting and communication skills: Necessary for creating clear, persuasive legal documents and effectively communicating with clients, courts, and other attorneys.
  • Proven negotiation and conflict-resolution abilities: Critical for representing clients' interests, resolving disputes, and achieving favorable settlements or agreements.
  • In-depth knowledge of relevant legal areas: Specialized understanding of specific legal fields pertinent to the company's industry is crucial for providing targeted legal counsel.
  • Experience with compliance and regulatory matters: Important for advising organizations on how to operate within the bounds of applicable laws and helping to mitigate legal risks.
  • Demonstrated leadership and management capabilities: Beneficial for overseeing legal teams, collaborating with other departments, and providing strategic guidance to leadership or the board of directors.

Personalizing your counsel cover letter salutation

Always aim to address the recruiter from the get-go of your counsel cover letter.

Use:

  • the friendly tone (e.g. "Dear Paul" or "Dear Caroline") - if you've previously chatted up with them on social media and are on a first-name basis;
  • the formal tone (e.g. "Dear Ms. Gibbs" or "Dear Ms. Swift") - if you haven't had any previous conversation with them and have discovered the name of the recruiter on LinkedIn or the company website;
  • the polite tone (e.g. "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear HR Team") - at all costs aim to avoid the "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam", as both greetings are very old-school and vague.
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List of salutations you can use

  • Dear Hiring Manager,
  • Dear [Law Firm Name] Team,
  • Dear [specific name if known, e.g., Mr./Ms. Smith],
  • Dear Members of the [Department Name] Department,
  • Esteemed Colleagues,
  • Respected [Job Title or Selection Committee],

Introducing your profile to catch recruiters' attention in no more than two sentences

The introduction of your counsel cover letter is a whole Catch 22 .

You have an allocated space of no more than just a paragraph (of up to two sentences). With your introduction, you have to stand out and show why you're the best candidate out there.

Set out on a journey with your counsel cover letter by focusing on why you're passionate about the job. Match your personal skills and interests to the role.

Another option for your counsel cover letter introduction is to show you're the ideal candidate. Write about how your achievements and skills are precisely what the company is looking for.

However you decide to start your counsel cover letter, always remember to write about the value you'd bring about. Making it both tangible (with your metrics of success) and highly sought out.

Intro Paragraph
Immersed in the latest legal precedents and deeply resonant with your firm’s commitment to unwavering ethical standards, I am poised to contribute to the distinguished legal team at Davidson & Associates with a dynamic blend of precision and agility.
RIGHT

The middle or body of your counsel cover letter body: a great instrument to tell a story

Now that you've set the right tone with the greeting and introduction of your counsel cover letter, it's time to get down to business.

Hear us out, the body of your counsel cover letter is the best storytelling instrument you have, in your job-hunting arsenal.

Writing the next three to six paragraphs, take the time to reassess the advert to discover job-crucial requirements.

Next, choose one accomplishment that covers those key skills and talents.

Use precisely that achievement to tell an exciting story of how you match the ideal candidate profile.

In the undertones of your story or counsel cover letter body, hint at the difference you'd make and sell your application as the perfect one for the job.

Body Paragraph
Leading a team through a complex merger, I innovated a due diligence process that streamlined analysis by 30%, mitigating risk and enabling a 20% faster transaction closure. This success reflects my acute legal acumen and project management skills, pivotal for high-stakes environments.
RIGHT

Closing remarks to end your counsel cover letter

Of course, you'll have to show gratitude to the recruiters, who have assessed your profile at the end of your counsel cover letter .

A "Thank you for the consideration" would work wonders, instead of the standard "Sincerely yours".

Do you want to make an even better impression?

Close off your counsel cover letter by promising how you see yourself excelling in the role and the positive impact you'd bring about.

A sentence that encourages some further action on the recruiter's end could also be a good way to close off the communication (e.g. provide your availability for an interview).

Closing Paragraph
I am eager to discuss how my qualifications align with the needs of your team. Please consider scheduling an interview at your earliest convenience.
RIGHT

Keep this in mind when writing your zero experience counsel cover letter

Even though you may not have any professional experience, your counsel cover letter should focus on your value.

As a candidate for the particular role, what sort of skills do you bring about? Perhaps you're an apt leader and communicator, or have the ability to analyze situations from different perspectives.

Select one key achievement from your life, outside work, and narrate a story that sells your abilities in the best light.

If you really can't think of any relevant success, you could also paint the picture of how you see your professional future developing in the next five years, as part of the company.

Key takeaways

Winning at your job application game starts with a clear and concise counsel cover letter that:

  • Has single-spaced paragraphs, is wrapped in a one-inch margin, and uses the same font as the counsel resume;
  • Is personalized to the recruiter (using their name in the greeting) and the role (focusing on your one key achievement that answers job requirements);
  • Includes an introduction that helps you stand out and show what value you'd bring to the company;
  • Substitutes your lack of experience with an outside-of-work success, that has taught you valuable skills;
  • Ends with a call for follow-up or hints at how you'd improve the organization, team, or role.

Counsel cover letter examples

Explore additional counsel cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

By Role

General Counsel

When applying for a General Counsel position, it's important to showcase your expertise in corporate law and any specialties you may possess, such as intellectual property or international law. Highlight your experience in handling complex legal transactions and your ability to mitigate risk for the organization. Mention your law degree and any additional qualifications like a Master of Laws in a relevant field if applicable. Illustrate your impact by detailing legal strategies you've implemented that have led to successful outcomes for past employers.
View General Counsel Cover Letter

In House Counsel

For an In-House Counsel application, stress any legal internships or clerkships you've completed. Essential competencies include analytical thinking and precise knowledge of corporate law. If you have experience with contract negotiations or compliance issues, highlight these areas. Show your ability to manage risk by citing specific legal challenges you've navigated. Mention law school accomplishments, relevant courses like 'Corporate Law' or 'Ethics in Business', and, if applicable, your bar admission details. Use a 'challenge-strategy-outcome' structure to illustrate your legal acumen.

Corporate Counsel

When targeting a Corporate Counsel position, highlight your legal expertise and any internships or experience within a corporate legal department. Underscore your proficiency in contract law, compliance, or intellectual property, whichever aligns best with the company’s sector. Showcase your ability to effectively manage risk and provide strategic legal advice, giving specific instances where your counsel delivered tangible business benefits. Include your bar admission status and any pertinent legal specializations, employing a 'challenge-solution-impact' narrative to illustrate your contributions.

Legal Counsel

When targeting a Legal Counsel position, prioritize showcasing your legal expertise and any internships or clerkships you've completed. Emphasize your proficiency in legal research, drafting legal documents, and providing sound legal advice. If you have any specialized knowledge in areas like corporate law or IP rights, underline those as they can set you apart. Use 'task-outcome' examples to demonstrate how your legal advice has led to beneficial outcomes or risk mitigation for past employers or clients.
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Volen Vulkov
Volen Vulkov is a resume expert and the co-founder of Enhancv. He applies his deep knowledge and experience to write about a career change, development, and how to stand out in the job application process.
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