March 12, 2015
Lloyd & Smith, PLLC
111 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10011
Re: Entry Level Paralegal
Dear Hiring Manager,
Referring to your recent job posting at LinkedIn, I have great interests in applying for the entry level paralegal position. Enclosed is a copy of my resume.
During the past six years, I have been a multi-tasks doer handling front desk, accounting, secretarial and administrative support duties at a non-profit international trade promotional organization with headquarters in Hong Kong. Yet, I love the job and thrive to better myself to do a better job on each and every day for I know I have a mission to help small businesses, entrepreneurs and the economy to grow. My prior role was a Legal Secretary to two attorneys at a long-established commercial debt collection and litigation law firm in Manhattan mid-town. Today, I am still thankful to the attorneys who had kindly gave me the chance to learn and be trained to adept at preparing and filing various types of litigation documents, including the Summons and Complaints, Answers, trial documents, motions and replevins.
Now I am ready and prepared for a change to land on a paralegal job. I hope to have an opportunity to contribute the best of my best, should I be hired, to benefit an organization that can offer me proper training and career development prospects in becoming a knowledgeable, confident, reliable and supportive paralegal.
Thanks for your time and I look forward to your favorable reply soon.
Sincerely,
Teresa Yeung
Encl.
I would think that the job requires the employee to be able multi-tasks, write and file variety of litigation documents, and has at least couple years of experience in the field. Yes, Teresa will be a good applicant. First, she has six years field experience in front desk and secretarial service. Second, she has trained to know the procedure in filing litigation documents.
Yes, there are multiple grammar errors. I would suggest the author to do a spelling check online.
Fixes:
…on LinkedIn…
…each and every day since…
…the economy grow…
…Manhattan midtown…
…kindly given…
…and replevin…
Reverse Engineer the Letter: Without looking at the job ad/listing, read the letter. Then write down what you think the job ad says—you are reverse engineering the letter/ad by doing this—trying to see if you can figure out the job ad just from the letter.
I believe Lloyd & Smith, PLLC posted their ad as follows:
We are looking for an entry level paralegal position candidate for a respectable law firm.
This entry level positon provides on the job training. At least
Positon includes:
Front desk duties [basic office software}
Preparing and filing litigation documents.
Should be familiar with all types of documents including be not limited to Summons and Complaints, Answers, trial documents, motions and replevins.
Read the job ad. Were you close in your reverse engineering attempt? If you were, then the letter probably meets with some of the employer’s needs. If you weren’t, has the author missed understanding the employer’s needs? Or have they just emphasized certain things and overlooked others?
Since there is no job ad I can tell that you emphasized the fact that u want an entry level position as a paralegal. To receive on the job training and front desk duties. If you do encounter an ad briefly mention the office software that you are familiar with.
Does the letter make the person applying seem like a good applicant; an unappealing applicant; or an outstanding applicant?
This letter makes you seem like a good applicant because of your years of experience with the international trade promotional organization.
Explain why and how you made the judgment in #3. If the applicant was not an outstanding candidate, explain what you think the author needs to do to get into a higher pile.
In order for you to become an outstanding applicant I believe you should focus on a couple of skills that u possess that will help the company as a whole. Using your experience focus on a problem that large companies usually encounter and say how you can solve it or help solve it. This should only be done in a sentence or two. The listing of the kinds of litigation documents that you are familiar with should be in your resume rather than on your cover letter. If there is one kind of legal document that requires an experienced paralegal to organize and fill because of its importance then it should be mentioned briefly.
Is the letter free of spelling, mechanical, and grammar errors? Let the author know about the errors you see.
From what I can see there are small spelling errors but it can be fixed with a spell and grammar check.
• Reverse Engineer the Letter: Without looking at the job ad/listing, read the letter. Then write down what you think the job ad says—you are reverse engineering the letter/ad by doing this—trying to see if you can figure out the job ad just from the letter.
The job ad is for a paralegal with basic secretarial skills.
• Read the job ad. Were you close in your reverse engineering attempt? If you were, then the letter probably meets with some of the employer’s needs. If you weren’t, has the author missed understanding the employer’s needs? Or have they just emphasized certain things and overlooked others?
• Does the letter make the person applying seem like a good applicant; an unappealing applicant; or an outstanding applicant?
An outstanding applicant
• Explain why and how you made the judgment in #3. If the applicant was not an outstanding candidate, explain what you think the author needs to do to get into a higher pile.
The author of the letter has six years of experience in the paralegal field. That shows dedication. Also from reading the cover letter the author appears to have determination.
• Is the letter free of spelling, mechanical, and grammar errors? Let the author know about the errors you see.