Applying for Clerkships: Cover Letter
- Applying for Clerkships: General Advice
- Applying for Clerkships: Recommendations
- Applying for Clerkships: Writing Samples
- Applying for Clerkships: Cover Letter
- Applying for Clerkships: Resume
- Applying for Clerkships: Scheduling Interviews
- Applying for Clerkships: Scheduling Interviews
- Applying for Clerkships: Scheduling Interviews
Divine angst opined the other day that the cover letter on your clerkship application is just another chance to screw up. In most cases, I have to agree. With a few exceptions, the cover letter can be very short and to the point:
- I’m froggie, a [2L, 3L, overworked associate] at [law school, law firm]
- I’m interested in a clerkship in your chambers1
- Enclosed are my resume, transcript, and writing sample
- Recommendations from persons A, B, and C are [enclosed, coming under separate cover]
- If you need more information or would like to schedule an interview, you can reach me at phone number / e-mail
End of story.
There’s no need to re-hash your resume by pointing out that you were on Law Review or were number 22 in your class or any of that stuff. Even more importantly, comments like “I think my [collection of skills, interest in the law, previous work experience] make me uniquely suited to [be a successful clerk in your chambers, add value, make your decisions even better than they already are]” don’t help. First, no one is “uniquely qualified” for this job. 2 Second, if the judge didn’t think clerks would help her operate more effectively, she wouldn’t hire them. These kinds of statements just sound pretentious and ring hollow. Let the rest of your application speak for itself.
Similarly, there’s no need to explain that being Judge X’s clerk would be a great learning experience for you. It’s true, but it’s true for everyone. And the judge already knows it.
The only other positive purpose that a cover letter serves is to communicate important information that doesn’t have a logical place anywhere else in your packet. The most common one of these is if there is a reason, not clear from your resume, that you want to clerk in a particular jurisdiction. If you’re a Harvard grad and you’re applying only in the Western District of Louisiana because your significant other has taken a job in Lake Charles, that’s useful information. Also, if you’re applying to a judge who hires two-year clerks and you specifically want to clerk for two years, that’s worth mentioning. Beyond that, keep it short and sweet.
- Even this one is not strictly necessary, but the letter reads a little funny without it. [↩]
- I have never seen an application from someone who’s actually been a judge before. That might make you “uniquely qualified.” But that’s about it. [↩]
k said,
June 6, 2008 @ 11:05 am
I’m glad to have this confirmed. This is exactly what my letters are going to read like this year. (They were much more mushy last year. A reason I didn’t get a clerskship? Maybe not, but certainly could not have helped.)
Mine will also, however, note my geographical connection to a place or, in a few cases, that a particular professor recommended I apply. (”I grew up in [State] and my family are all located within an hour’s drive of your chambers.” and “Prof. So-and-So highly recommended I apply to your chambers.”) It’s not quite the same as “I want to clerk only in this jurisdiction” but the idea is similar.
Froggie said,
June 6, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Yep, I think that’s exactly right. Geographic connection is always good since, most of the time, judges sit in the communities where they practiced. There’s likely to be some loyalty there that’s worth using to your advantage. Connections to a particular professor are also excellent. One of the few things that will automatically put an application on the short list is a specific recommendation from a professor the judge knows and trusts.
Thomas said,
July 17, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
So interesting to read this entry, as it’s the complete opposite of advice I’ve given and read for the nonprofit sector. It’s interesting how hiring practices vary from sector to sector.
As the preliminary screener for several hires, I can say that cover letters can make or break applications at the initial screening stage. Of course, we’re working without writing samples or references at that point; the cover letter often serves as a sort of writing sample. I’ve given interviews to people whose resumes mightn’t have done it on their own, and definitely bumped people off the interview list for mechanically sound but uninspired cover letters. No cover letter, when one is explicitly requested in every job listing I post gets you round-filed immediately.