Drafting an Effective Cover Letter

By: Kandice Thorn

Drafting a cover letter can be an intimidating process.  Most people aren't sure what to include so they opt for the "kitchen sink" approach - include everything ("everything but the kitchen sink," as the saying goes) so as not to leave out the one thing that an employer might find interesting. 

Unfortunately this approach usually backfires, as the letter contains so much information that the reader doesn't know what to focus on and misses whatever important point you are trying to make.  Worse, the reader comes away with the impression that you are long-winded and don't know how to edit yourself.


In many countries, a long cover letter is customary.  But in the U.S., cover letters rarely exceed 3 short paragraphs (approximately 215 words, not including addresses/salutations) and are extremely concise.  Remember that your resume should already cover pretty much everything you want the employer to know about you.  You do not need to repeat everything in the cover letter.  Instead, use your cover letter to highlight the one or two things from your resume that make you a particularly good fit for the position (or a particularly impressive candidate). 

By keeping your cover letter concise, you show the employer that you are thoughtful and that you know how to zoom in on the important things - an important skill for any lawyer to have!

For additional information about drafting an effective cover letter, I encourage you to read our Mini-Guide on drafting cover letters.