How long should a legal cover letter be?

Keep an online application concise. A greeting, three or four focused paragraphs, a conventional closing and your typed name are enough unless the employer gives different instructions.

What can I use if I have no formal legal experience?

Use relevant coursework, projects, volunteering or transferable responsibilities. Explain what you did and what resulted, then connect that evidence directly to the legal vacancy.

Which sign-off should I use in the UK?

Use "Yours sincerely," when addressing a named person. Use "Yours faithfully," with "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Sir or Madam".

Role cover letter

Legal cover letter example and writing guide

Q: Should I mention solicitor qualifications?

Mention only the route and stages that accurately describe your position. In England and Wales, the standard university route requires a degree or equivalent, SQE1 and SQE2, two years of qualifying work experience, and meeting SRA character and suitability requirements. The Solicitor Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship is an alternative route that includes a law degree, SQE preparation and qualifying work experience.

Updated 5 November 2026

A legal cover letter should connect the vacancy with evidence from your work, study or projects. Use the four examples below alongside the legal CV writing guide, replacing each bracketed prompt with one accurate fact from your background.

Square brackets mark facts only you can supply. Replace each prompt; never send the placeholders unchanged.

Choose the version that matches your situation

The role stays the same. The evidence changes with your starting point. Replace every square-bracketed prompt before sending.

Experienced

Replace every highlighted prompt

Dear [Hiring manager's name],

The opportunity to support [specific employer service] is what draws me to the legal position at [Company name].

Evidence

On [relevant project], I researched legal records and case law before drafting confidential legal documents. Close attention to detail helped me achieve [measurable result]. I also advised clients on available courses of action, listening carefully and explaining the issues in clear terms.

Fit

This experience would help me contribute to [team objective]. I would bring careful research, precise drafting and clear client communication to the work described in the vacancy.

I would welcome a conversation about how my experience could support your legal team.

Yours sincerely,

[Your full name]

Write your own covering letter

Opening

Name the legal position and give a specific reason for applying to the organisation. Follow it with your strongest relevant qualification, project or responsibility. Address a named recipient when you know the name; otherwise use "Dear Hiring Manager" without guessing.

Choose your evidence

Choose two or three priorities from the advertisement and employer research. Support each one with a credible example and genuine result. Depending on the vacancy, useful evidence may include advising clients on legal matters, researching legal records and case law, drafting confidential legal documents, legal research and writing, communication, attention to detail, analysis, organisation or competent software use. Do not claim a qualification route you have not completed. In England and Wales, the standard university route to qualify as a solicitor requires a degree or equivalent, SQE1 and SQE2, two years of qualifying work experience, and meeting SRA character and suitability requirements. A Solicitor Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship is an alternative route that includes a law degree, SQE preparation and qualifying work experience.

Build the body

Use two or three short body paragraphs. Establish your best evidence first, then connect it to the vacancy. An early-career applicant can draw on a relevant academic, volunteer or personal project. A career changer should explain the reason for the transition and link a previous responsibility to recent legal preparation. An internal applicant should name an achievement from their current position and explain how it prepares them for the advertised responsibility.

Format it

For an online UK application, use a salutation, a concise three-to-four-paragraph letter, a conventional closing and your typed full name. Omit postal details when the application system already collects them. Keep the presentation professional and proofread the final version for spelling and grammar.

Close and sign off

Connect your evidence to the team's needs and express interest in a conversation. Use "Yours sincerely," after a named greeting. Use "Yours faithfully," after "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Sir or Madam".

Final check before you send it

The position and [Company name] appear in the opening.
The letter gives a specific reason for applying to this employer.
Each claimed strength has a relevant example.
Every stated result is accurate and can be explained.
Qualification wording matches the route actually completed.
The closing matches the greeting.
Every bracketed prompt has been replaced with one concrete fact.
Spelling, grammar and employer details have been checked.

Frequently asked questions

One application, one story

Match the letter to a CV built around the same evidence.

Use cvlift to tailor your CV to the role, then carry the strongest proof into your cover letter.

Tailor my CV

Tools

Resources