[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-233229-105":53,"doc-detail-233229-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","effective-cover-letters-cover-letter-guide","Effective Cover Letters - Cover Letter Guide","","A practical guide to writing effective cover letters that persuade employers to review a resume and extend interview invitations. It explains formal business-letter formatting and key writing practices such as using action verbs, varied adjectives, avoiding excessive “I,” and eliminating grammar or spelling errors. The guide also outlines a five-part cover-letter structure for law-related applications, including a clear introduction, geographic connection, employer-specific interest, relevant skill evidence with examples, and a courteous closing with an invitation for follow-up.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/effective-cover-letters-cover-letter-guide/233229/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/effective-cover-letters-cover-letter-guide/233229.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"McQueen","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-18","2026-09-10",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":30},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the main goal of a cover letter?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"The goal is to persuade the employer to read the resume and extend an interview invitation. It should be formal business correspondence formatted as a business letter.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What should the first paragraph include for legal applications?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"It should introduce the applicant by stating graduation year (or year in school), law school, and the specific position sought such as summer associate or judicial law clerk.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How long should a cover letter be and how should it relate to the resume?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"The cover letter should not exceed one page. The resume and cover letter should complement each other without repeating the same content.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},233229,1789076476,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":30,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":47,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":125,"read_time":73},5909890329169,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","EFFECTIVE COVER LETTERS  \nThe goal of a cover letter is to persuade the employer to read your resume and extend an interview invitation. Cover letters are formal business correspondence and should be formatted as a business letter. A well written cover letter will use action verbs and varied adjectives, avoid overuse of the word“I”, and be free of grammatical and spelling errors. Have a friend or a strategist in the Career Center read your cover letter before sending to employers.  \nRegardless of your prior work history, your cover letter should not exceed one page. Your resume and cover letter should complement each other without being repetitive.  \nA well written legal cover letter will:  \n1. Introduce yourself to the employer: The first paragraph of your letter should identify your graduation year (i.e.,“Class of 2021”or“second year student”) and law school and state the position you are seeking (i.e., summer associate, judicial law clerk) . For example:  \n“I am a second year student at Washington University School of Law, and I am writing to apply for a summer associate position at Lowenstein & Jackson for summer 2020.”  \n“I am a first year student at Washington University School of Law and am seeking a 2020 summer legal internship at Chicago Legal Aid.”  \n2. Establish a geographic connection to the employer: State any ties you have to the employer’s location. This is typically included in the first paragraph of your cover letter. If you do not have any ties to the area, state your commitment to practice in that location during the summer and following graduation. For example:  \n“I am committed to remaining in St. Louis following law school.”  \n“I completed my undergraduate degree in Miami and look forward to returning next summer and following graduation from law school.”  \n“I am committed to practicing in Los Angeles following graduation. I will be in the city from July 21st through July 23rd and would appreciate the opportunity to meet.”  \nIf you are applying to multiple offices of the same firm, note the other offices where you are applying. For example:  \n“I grew up outside of Boston and look forward to practicing in New England following graduation. In addition to your Boston office, I am applying to your Providence, Manchester and Bangor offices.”  \n“I am open geographically and am applying to your Los Angeles, Denver and Miami offices.”  \n3. Express genuine interest in the particular employer: Research the employer prior to drafting a cover letter. Ata minimum, review the employer’s website, Martindale-Hubbell and/or the NALP Directory form (if applicable) . Based on your research, draft tailored language that shows you have researched the organization and are interested in the organization for a specific reason. For public interest employers, it is important to show that you identify with the employer’s mission. For example:  \n“I am particularly interested in Lowenstein & Jackson because of its highly regarded trusts and estates practice.”  \n“Your organization’s mission of providing tax representation to low income individuals aligns with my interest in tax law and my commitment to pursuing a public interest career.”  \n4. Highlight your relevant skills and abilities: A cover letter should not simply reiterate what is already stated on your resume. Your cover letter should identify the skills, abilities and traits you possess that will benefit the organization and allow you to succeed in the position you are seeking. Provide examples from your experience as evidence of these skills, abilities and traits. For example:  \n“My attention to detail helped me excel in my legal writing class where I received the highest grade in my section.”  \n“I believe my strong work ethic will enable me to provide high quality work on tight deadlines. This past semester, I achieved a 3.85 GPA while taking a full course load and working 20 hours a week.”  \n“My role as a judicial intern allowed me to hone my legal research and writing ski","cbCaipgGnCyAC2Or","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipgGnCyAC2Or","pdf",162416,"English","# EFFECTIVE COVER LETTERS\n## Core purpose and writing principles\n## Cover letter structure (law-focused)\n## Cover letter format\n## Name and address","[{\"question\":\"What is the main goal of a cover letter?\",\"answer\":\"The goal is to persuade the employer to read the resume and extend an interview invitation. It should be formal business correspondence formatted as a business letter.\"},{\"question\":\"What should the first paragraph include for legal applications?\",\"answer\":\"It should introduce the applicant by stating graduation year (or year in school), law school, and the specific position sought such as summer associate or judicial law clerk.\"},{\"question\":\"How long should a cover letter be and how should it relate to the resume?\",\"answer\":\"The cover letter should not exceed one page. The resume and cover letter should complement each other without repeating the same content.\"}]","Effective Cover Letters - Cover Letter Guide | PDF"]