Sample Cover Letters Template (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

AITLIN

HORNTON

42 Linneaen Street, Apt. B

Cambridge, MA 02138

(617) 495-3108

cthornton@jd13.law.harvard.edu

September 13, 2011

William Jones

Cohen Milstein

1100 New York Ave NW, Suite 500 West

Washington, DC 20005

Dear Mr. Jones:

I am writing to apply for a summer associate position at Cohen Milstein. I had the privilege of

inviting Joseph Sellers to speak at Harvard last year for a Women’s Law Association event about

Dukes v. Walmart. During the course of our dinner conversation, it became clear to me that I was

attracted to Cohen Milstein’s mix of socially responsible work, complex litigation and fast-paced

and challenging environment. Since then, I have spoken at length with Sarah Smith, a past

summer associate in your D.C. office, who agreed that Cohen Milstein would be an exceptional

fit for my interests and abilities.

I came to law school with a strong commitment to public interest litigation. For two years after

college, I worked in the Sex Crimes Unit at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. I found

myself energized by the opportunity to work for and with vulnerable populations, and I

discovered that litigation can be a useful and exciting tool. Initially, I was drawn to the field of

employment law because of my work on gender issues. However, after taking employment law

as my one elective last spring, I discovered that I am interested in the general field. I therefore

am particularly interested in Cohen Milstein’s Civil Rights and ERISA practices.

While I am convinced that a summer in your office will challenge me to be a better lawyer, I also

feel confident that my strong foundation in public interest litigation would allow me to assist

your attorneys with their work. In addition to the two years of legal work before law school, I am

currently a student attorney with the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (HLAB). Although I have

clinical mentor, I have my own docket of family law and employment cases. Both HLAB and

the district attorney’s office have prepared me to juggle a complicated caseload, to handle both

pre-trial and trial work, and to work with a wide variety of clients and supervisors. In addition, I

had the opportunity to refine my legal research and writing skills at the Women’s Law Project

this past summer. Finally, I am building upon my 1L employment law course with a class on

employment discrimination this semester.

I believe that my legal research and writing skills, my litigation experience, and my dedication to

Cohen Milstein’s mission will enable me to be a useful member of your team of summer

associates, and hope I will have the opportunity to interview with you. Enclosed please find my

resume, writing sample, and transcript. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Caitlin Thornton

Sample Cover Letters Template Page 3