Write a Cover Letter for a Law Internship (With Samples)

If you are a law student or recent graduate, you’re probably looking for your next career move, and legal internships are a great option. You can intern for a judicial clerkship, at a legal clinic, or as a summer student. Some of the tasks involved in legal internships might be attending meetings, doing research, reviewing legal documents, and general administrative work. To land a good position, you need to put your best foot forward with a well-written legal intern cover letter. 

As with any job application, it’s best to provide a strong cover letter for a legal internship. An application letter is a good way to expand on the skills and experience you have in your resume and stand out in your application. Law intern cover letters can be challenging to prepare, but there are a few easy things you can do to improve your law internship application letter and maximize your chances of landing the job. 

Whether you are writing a law intern cover letter for a judicial clerkship or a large corporation, it helps to have some sample letters to base your writing on. Use the following sample cover letters for a legal internship to improve your own writing and get an interview. 

✉️ Sample cover letter for legal internship with no experience 

It’s not impossible to get a legal position without experience, since you can use your law intern cover letter to elaborate on your skills or education. To help you in your writing process, review this sample legal internship cover letter with no experience. 

✉️ Sample cover letter for a law internship in the legal department of a company

Company legal departments need people who are organized and good communicators, so a cover letter for a law internship is a good way to give examples of your soft skills. Use this sample cover letter for a legal internship as a reference. 

✉️ Sample cover letter for a summer associate at a law firm

Summer associates are competitive positions, making your law intern cover letter even more important to your application. For law students, your internship letter should be well-written and underscore your education and any relevant work experience you may have. Use this sample cover letter for a law firm internship as a guide when you are writing. 

✉️ Sample cover letter for a judicial internship in a judge’s chambers

A well-written judicial internship cover letter is essential for a position in a judge’s chambers. Highlight experience and skills like document drafting, organization, and communication. The following is a sample cover letter for a legal internship in a judge’s chambers, to use as a reference. 

Since legal internships are competitive and challenging, writing a cover letter for a law internship is understandably stressful. Use these simple tips to help you write a strong and persuasive law intern cover letter. 

📝 Tailor your law intern cover letter to the role. 

Don’t give out a general cover letter for a legal internship to every position you apply to. Tailor your legal intern cover letter to the role by including specific details about the position or company. A generic cover letter for a legal internship doesn’t convey much interest in the position. 

📝 Highlight relevant skills, experience, or courses you’ve taken. 

When you are writing a cover letter for a legal internship, consider what the job requires and think of your most relevant skills and experience to include. Any experience in research, drafting documents, or client service could be helpful to highlight in your cover letter for a law firm internship. Soft skills like communication and organization will go a long way, provided you give examples. And if you’ve taken any courses related to law, include them in your law intern cover letter. 

📝 Keep it concise. 

More information is not necessarily better in a legal intern cover letter. Make sure the details you include are relevant and clearly written. A long and rambling law internship application letter won’t be a compelling or persuasive read, so keep things brief but informative. 

📝 Proofread and ask for feedback. 

It’s crucial to proofread your legal intern cover letter before submitting it, to look for mistakes in grammar or flow. It’s also best practice to ask someone to read your cover letter for the legal internship and provide feedback. Another set of eyes can pick up on things that you might have missed or provide another perspective. 

📝 Research the company or firm. 

A little research goes a long way to improving your law intern cover letter. Research the firm or company’s values and mission, so you can incorporate that into your law internship application letter. You can also look into the firm’s current projects so you can highlight how your skills match their needs. 

A legal intern cover letter will include the same elements as any standard cover letter, such as proper greetings and basic personal information. These elements are important because they follow an industry standard, and without them your law intern cover letter might be overlooked. Make sure your law internship application letter includes the following components. 

✅ Your name and contact details

Make sure to include your name, phone number, and email at the top of your legal intern cover letter. This is important reference information for the hiring manager reviewing your application, so they can contact you easily.

✅ Date

Don’t forget to include the date in your law intern cover letter. Depending on your format, this could be on the upper left- or right-hand side. 

✅ The recipient’s name and title

It’s best to include the hiring manager’s name and their official title in your cover letter for a legal internship. You can try and get this information online or by contacting the company if the manager’s name is not immediately clear. Addressing your legal intern cover letter to the right person is more professional and shows you took the time to find them. 

✅ The company’s name and address

Include the name and address of the company you are applying for in your law internship application letter.

✅ Greeting

The greeting of your law intern cover letter should be professional, and never casual. It is recommended to use ‘Dear’ as a greeting in a legal internship application letter. 

✅ A short introduction

The first paragraph of your law intern cover letter should be short but compelling. Briefly explain why you are right for this internship by highlighting your most relevant experience and skills. You can use the rest of your legal intern cover letter to elaborate further.  

✅ Body paragraphs

Use the body of your law intern cover letter to expand on your relevant accomplishments, experience, and education. Use specific examples to outline your skills and how you acquired them. The body of your cover letter for a legal internship should be concise and relevant, so avoid long paragraphs about your work history. 

✅ Closing

In the closing paragraph of your legal intern cover letter, you should explain why you are excited by this position and demonstrate your knowledge of the company’s values or projects. You can also use the closing paragraph of your law internship application letter to thank the hiring manager for their time and let them know how they can contact you.  

✅ Sign-off

Keep the sign-off of your legal intern cover letter professional and not too familiar. Sincerely, kind regards, or yours truly are all good ways to end a cover letter for a law internship. 

--- Originally written by Tiffany Quinn ---