[student name] [student name and address information can alternatively be in a header]

[street address]
[city],[province][postal code]
[email address][phone number]

[date], [year]

Attn: [Mr. or Ms.] first and last name of employer contact person
[employer]
[address]
[city], [province] [postal code]

Dear [Mr. or Ms.] employer contact person. [Avoid using first names. Also avoid using “to whom it may
concern”: make the effort to find who will be reading your application, if possible].

Re: [Position [i.e. 2018 Summer Student Position]]

[Paragraph 1: Explain who you are and what you want] Set out your year of study along with the position
that you are applying for. If space permits, indicate what you have enclosed in your application.

[Paragraph 2: Explain why you want to work for the particular Firm/Employer] This paragraph must be
tailored for each firm so you will need to do some research. Your interest can stem from their articling
program, practice areas, firm culture, recent cases, discussions at Career Day, etc. Previous networking will
make filling out this section much easier for you. Mention any significant contact you have had with anyone
at the firm/employer in the past. Employers dislike generic cover letters and can generally spot a form letter:
make the effort to show an interest in the firm/employer to differentiate yourself from everyone else.

[Paragraph 3: Explain what can you bring to the firm/employer] What are the skills/assets that you possess
that make you a good candidate for the job? This is your opportunity to show (rather than tell) employers
that your past experience has given you the skills that align with what they are seeking in a potential hire.
You must walk a fine line here – you want to sell yourself without sounding too arrogant. Highlight key
elements of your background along with the transferrable skills (particularly ones that relate to the practice
of law) that you have gained as a result. Avoid making unsubstantiated, subjective pronouncements about
your abilities (i.e. I am hard-working, have good interpersonal skills and am an excellent time manager).
Instead, link these attributes to an experience on your resume (i.e. “throughout law school, I qualified for the
Dean’s List while working an average of twenty hours per week”).

[Paragraph 4: Conclusion] Conclude your letter by expressing interest in further discussing your
qualifications, application or suitability with the employer and thanking them. [Note: Make sure each
paragraph has a topic sentence and that the following sentences flow logically and cohesively. Transitional
phrases and concluding words may seem to take up valuable space, but they are important. Pay close
attention to detail and review for spelling, grammar and typographical errors. Make sure that your resume
follows the same formatting as your cover letter (including size, font, spacing, etc.)].

Sincerely,

[actual signature]

[typed name]

For a more detailed overview on “Tips for Writing Cover Letters” please login to the Resources section of Orbis
under Resumes and Cover Letters for more commentary and examples