Month Day, Year

Program
Placement
City, State
 

Re: Thomas M. Cooley Law School Externship Program
 

Dear Potential Field Supervisor:

First Paragraph - Why are you writing?

1. Why are you interested in this placement?
Describe: why you want to participate in an externship? Why with his/her office? Why you are interested in the area(s) of law the office practices?

a. A previous extern recommended it
b. You've researched the placement and it interested you - why?
c. Straight-forward approach - I'm interested in working for you because...

2. Who you are

a. Third-year Cooley student

3. What you want

a. An interview for a potential externship placement

Second Paragraph - Why should he/she interview you?

1. Let the supervisor know that you have researched his/her office and why you are qualified for the externship

2. Describe: how can they benefit from working with you?

a. State the substantive law you have excelled in or the specific electives you have taken that strengthen your appeal
b. State the experience you have had with research and writing skills
c. State the experience you have had preparing and arguing your Advocacy/Law Practice Brief
d. State other specific academic/employment experience you have had and what skills are directly transferrable to a position with his/her office, especially: Management skills, Negotiation skills, Interviewing skills, Writing skills, Computer skills, and Communication skills
e. Make sure you're not just listing, but back it up with facts (i.e. I have strong research and writing skills because Professor Kimble taught me..., my moot court experience, my high grades in advocacy, research and writing, law review, law journal, previous work experience for ...., and my tenacity for finding all the facts and summarizing them into "Plain English." - a little over done, but you get the point)

3. Focus on reader's interests, not your own

4. If you plan on practicing in the area of law or the geographical area of the placement, let the placement know - especially if it is an extremely specialized area or you're applying for an out of state placement.

Third Paragraph - What do you want now?

1. What are you going to do and what do you want them to do?

a. Some ideas: you want them to select you for an interview, you want them to review your resume and writing sample because ..., you want the opportunity to discuss your qualifications further, you are going to be available for an interview, you are going to await their response...
b. Describe how you plan to follow up

Sincerely,

/S/

Name
 
 

enclosures: resume
writing sample

OTHER GENERAL TIPS

1. Review cover letter, resume, and writing sample for typos, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Supervisors take your applications very seriously - so should you.

2. Let the tone of your letter portray your confidence, enthusiasm, motivation, and ability to hit the ground running.

3. Never portray your interest in terms of prospective employment. It's an obvious driving force behind the externship experience, but the supervisor's do not want to read about it directly. If you prove yourself on the job -- you'll get the offer you're looking for. Several externs have been hired at the conclusion of their externships.

4. Do NOT reiterate what's on your resume in your cover letter. Explain why it's on your resume and why it is important to this particular position. Prove that you have the ability.

Ex. JC Penney Corp - Lansing, MI 12/13/97- 1/6/98

My Christmas Break job at JC Penney's taught me invaluable interviewing and negotiation skills. I was in charge of all returns: I asked for the reasons behind the return to determine the products quality and ability for resale, I drafted return vouchers from customer-solicited information, and negotiated solutions for customers without receipts and who returned used merchandise.

5. Follow-up after the interview with a follow-up letter. Handouts are available in Career Services to show you how.