Secondly, you can include in a cover letter important information about yourself that may not be suitable in a resume, e.g., the precise nature of a commendation from an employer, which really doesn't belong in your resume's list of achievements. (A compliment on your work is really a reaction to what you have accomplished, isn't it?) Here's an example from an Attorney Resume client: "At a formal dinner for 75 associates, I was publicly commended by a partner for my work on the XX trial." This explanation, although brief, is still too detailed for a resume.
Thirdly, if you are going off in an entirely new career direction, it can be explained in a cover letter: why you are doing it and the range of your transferable expertise and skills. One Attorney Resume client went back to her childhood, where she had first observed and then participated in a similar family endeavor. In doing so, she linked up a lifetime of experience to her present goal.
Lastly, in a cover letter, you can cautiously reveal information about your personal situation, if you think failure to mention it would cause you to be rejected out of hand. This could happen if you were applying for a position in another country. The first questions that would enter the mind of the reader in that country might be these: "Why would this applicant want to work here?" and "How long would this person stay?" and "How could this foreigner possibly fit in to our society?" In the case of an Attorney Resume client who wanted to work in France, the answer was obvious: She was marrying a native françois, permanently settling in Paris, and had been studying French language and culture at the Sorbonne for several years. It was definitely worth mentioning in her cover letter, especially because the norms in France are different from those in the United States.
A cover letter must still conform in certain ways. It should have the same format as your resume in heading, margin width, font style, and font size (main text). Keep to one page only and, even then, not a full page, blackened with words. Each cover letter is custom-designed (although much of the basic content can be used for all your letters) so that it speaks to your skills in relations to the specific position for which you are applying.
The first section of your cover letter should give a brief picture of who you are and what you want from the reader. This would be a good place to put your Yale Law School J.D. and high GPA. It would also be a good place to name your law school if it is located in an area where you plan to practice, e.g., University of Georgia School of Law, if you want to practice anywhere in Georgia. Also, somehow, some way, mention the name of the firm that has the open position, rather than writing "your firm."
The second section speaks of your work experiences, in reverse chronological order. But don't just list them. Talk about what you accomplished and what you got out of your work concerning professional training or point of view. Ask yourself, "What do they want?" and "What do I have that fits?" For example, if you worked for a general law firm as a legal intern and want to go into real estate law, primarily refer to your real estate law activities, not divorce settlements. Keep in mind that the employer is calculating your potential value to the firm.
See 6 Things Attorneys and Law Students Need to Remove from Their Resumes ASAP If They Want to Get Jobs with the Most Prestigious Law Firms for more information.
The final section of your cover letter is a summation and should contain a gracious thank you. It is appropriate to ask your potential employer to contact you to discuss your qualifications, but no more than this, i.e., don't give them your locations for the next six months or alternate telephone numbers.
Finally, slowly read your cover letter out loud to catch any errors (omitted words, redundant words, and misspellings—do check the name of the firm!) and to see if it flows nicely from word to word, phrase to phrase, sentence to sentence, and paragraph to paragraph. If you think your cover letter says exactly what you want to express, then set it aside for a while. If it still sounds great with a second reading, all is well. And don't forget to sign your name.
