Cover Letter Checklist
by the Summer Associate Hub Team
As you prepare your materials for 2L applications, it can be difficult to keep your content organized for each firm. Â
For example, the most common mistake on cover letters is addressing it to the wrong firm (which is a pretty much automatic way to not get a screener). Other common mistakes include spelling the firm’s name wrong or leaving in info that is not relevant to that firm (for example, expressing your interest in a firm’s “top-notch corporate practice,” when that firm only does litigation).Â
Attention to detail is absolutely key in this process, and your initial materials are often the first real impression you make with a firm.
So, we’ve created our Cover Letter Checklist – print it out, have it on your desk, and check off the boxes as you finalize your materials for each firm! It’s a fool-proof way to nail the easy stuff on your cover letter and avoid common mistakes.
Checklists are one of the most powerful tools we can use – instead of winging it, have these items written down in front of you to verify each and every time, so you don’t miss the low-hanging fruit.
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â—‹ Addressed the cover letter to the correct firm
â—‹ Did not mention any other firms in the cover letter inadvertently
â—‹ Customized the portion about the firm accordingly, without any holdover from a previous draft written for another firm
— Tip: This is a great place to mention any personal engagement you’ve had with the firm. For example, if you’ve learned about specific aspects of the firm from an attorney there, if you’ve met team members at a firm networking event, or if you’ve attended and learned something from a firm event on campus.
â—‹ Addressed to the correct recruiting contact (i.e., the name of the recruiting contact at the correct firm, and not a holdover from a previous draft written for another firm)
â—‹ Used the official firm name correctly, including all surnames, correct placement of commas/ampersands, and suffix (for example, LLP)
— Tip: If you are unsure of the full firm name (with all of the names and suffix, such as LLP), check the firm’s website and scroll to the bottom. Almost always, the official firm name is listed in the website copyright notice. If you cannot find it there, you can find it in the firm’s website privacy policy or terms of use.
â—‹ Spelled the firm name correctly
–Often times, firms have names that are spelled differently from the common spelling of that last name – double-check that you spelled the firm’s name correctly
â—‹ Updated the file name to include the correct firm
–Even if your cover letter itself includes the correct firm inside, it is uncomfortable if your cover letter file name is “[Other Firm] Cover Letter.pdf” – so make sure to update that accordingly for each cover letter
â—‹ No other typos or punctuation errors
â—‹ No formatting errors (for example, inconsistent fonts or uneven margins)
â—‹ Saved and proofed as PDF
—Note: Law firms highly recommend submitting your materials, including resumes and cover letters, in PDF form (not Word). This avoids formatting issues that can arise with editable Word documents. Save/print your Word document as a PDF and submit the PDF version. Make sure to review your PDF version to make sure there are no formatting errors from converting from Word… and you may even catch a typo with fresh eyes!
Bonus Tip: As you prepare your cover letter and other materials, save each set of materials in a separate folder for each firm. Otherwise, you may have files for different firms in one folder, making it more likely to upload the wrong file. By separating into separate folders for each firm, when it is time to submit your application, you reduce the risk of uploading the wrong file in the same folder.
Summer Associate Hub Team
This content is based on our own experiences as former law students and BigLaw attorneys, and countless conversations with firm recruiting teams, law students, law school career advisors, legal career coaches, and hiring partners.
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