Struggling to showcase your legal knowledge, analytical skills, and professional potential in a way that demonstrates your readiness for the competitive world of Australian legal practice? You’re not alone. Many law graduates find it challenging to translate their academic achievements and limited practical experience into compelling written content that resonates with partners and hiring managers at law firms. The reality is that senior lawyers and recruitment partners want to see evidence of your ability to think critically, communicate persuasively, and handle the demanding workload of legal practice whilst demonstrating genuine passion for the law and commitment to client service. This comprehensive guide includes a realistic cover letter example, legal industry-specific formatting strategies, and proven techniques to help you secure positions with leading Australian legal practices, from top-tier commercial firms to boutique practices and community legal centres operating within Australia’s legal framework regulated by state Law Societies and professional standards.
Law Graduate Cover Letter Example (Text Version)
[email protected]
0421 567 890
LinkedIn.com/in/isabellachen-lawgraduate15 September 2025
Mr David Richardson
Partner, Corporate and Commercial Law
King & Wood Mallesons
Level 61, Governor Phillip Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Dear Mr Richardson,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Graduate Lawyer position within the Corporate and Commercial team at King & Wood Mallesons. With my Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from UNSW Law School, practical experience gained through internships at top-tier firms, and demonstrated academic excellence including the Dean’s Award for Corporate Law, I am excited to contribute to KWM’s reputation for delivering innovative legal solutions to Australia’s leading corporations whilst developing my expertise in complex commercial transactions.
During my final year, I completed a 12-week internship with Ashurst’s Banking and Finance team, where I assisted with due diligence for a $450 million acquisition in the mining sector, researched regulatory compliance requirements under the Corporations Act 2001, and drafted client memoranda on recent ASIC guidance relating to continuous disclosure obligations. This experience reinforced my passion for corporate law whilst developing practical skills in legal research, document drafting, and client communication. My academic achievements include graduating with First Class Honours, receiving the University Medal for Legal Studies, and completing additional coursework in Advanced Corporate Finance Law and International Commercial Arbitration.
What particularly attracts me to King & Wood Mallesons is your market-leading expertise in cross-border transactions and your innovative approach to legal service delivery, exemplified by your recent work on landmark deals including the merger of TPG and Vodafone. During my placement with the Federal Court of Australia, I gained valuable insights into commercial litigation processes and judicial reasoning, skills that complement my transactional law focus. My involvement in the UNSW Law Revue editorial board and volunteer work with Marrickville Legal Centre have developed my ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly whilst maintaining attention to detail under pressure – essential skills for effective commercial legal practice.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my academic foundation, practical experience, and commitment to legal excellence can contribute to your team’s continued success in advising clients on their most significant commercial challenges. Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to the possibility of beginning my legal career with King & Wood Mallesons’ distinguished practice.
Sincerely,
Isabella Chen
How to Format a Law Graduate Cover Letter
- Length: Max 1 page (3–5 paragraphs)
- Font: Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman (10–12pt)
- Spacing: Single or 1.15 line spacing
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- File format: PDF
What to Include in a Law Graduate Cover Letter (Australia)
Your law graduate cover letter should demonstrate both legal competency and professional readiness whilst emphasising your potential for growth:
- Contact Details: Include your full name, professional email address, phone number, LinkedIn profile, and consider mentioning your law degree classification (Honours, Dean’s List) that immediately establishes academic credibility.
- Salutation: Address the partner, senior associate, or graduate recruitment coordinator by name when possible. Research the firm’s structure on their website or legal directories to identify the appropriate contact person.
- Opening Paragraph: State the specific graduate position and practice area you’re applying for, mention where you found the role, and immediately highlight your strongest qualification (law degree with honours, notable internships, academic awards, or relevant legal experience).
- Middle Paragraph(s): This is your legal capability showcase. Discuss specific legal experience from internships or placements, mention relevant coursework and academic achievements, highlight research and writing skills, and demonstrate understanding of the firm’s practice areas and recent work.
- Closing Paragraph: Express genuine interest in the specific firm, mention their reputation or notable cases that attracted you, and include a confident call to action requesting an interview or further discussion.
Right vs Wrong Example
Entry-Level Law Graduate Cover Letter Tips
Just starting your legal career? Focus on these strategies to demonstrate your professional potential:
- Highlight academic excellence: Mention law degree classification, specific subject achievements, academic prizes, law review contributions, or thesis topics that demonstrate your legal analytical abilities.
- Showcase practical experience: Include law firm internships, judicial associateships, legal clinic work, or paralegal roles that provided exposure to real legal practice and client work.
- Emphasise research and writing skills: Provide examples of legal research projects, published articles, case note writing, or complex assignments that demonstrate your ability to analyse legal issues and communicate effectively.
- Demonstrate professional development: Mention moot court competitions, law society involvement, continuing legal education attendance, or networking events that show engagement with the legal profession.
Entry-Level Cover Letter Sample for Law Graduate
Top Mistakes to Avoid in a Law Graduate Cover Letter
- Being generic about legal interests: Instead of “interested in corporate law,” specify “passionate about mergers and acquisitions law, particularly cross-border transactions in the resources sector.”
- Overlooking firm research: Don’t send generic applications. Research the firm’s recent deals, notable cases, or practice innovations and reference them specifically.
- Underestimating soft skills: Legal practice requires teamwork, client relationship skills, and business acumen – demonstrate these alongside technical legal knowledge.
- Not addressing practical experience gaps: If you lack extensive legal work experience, emphasise transferable skills from other roles, volunteer work, or academic projects.
- Ignoring writing quality: Legal writing must be precise and error-free. Any mistakes in your cover letter suggest poor attention to detail that’s critical in legal practice.
How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Job Ad
- Match specific practice areas: If applying to family law firms, emphasise relevant coursework, family court placements, or volunteer work with family violence services.
- Address firm culture: Top-tier commercial firms value different qualities than community legal centres – tailor your examples to match their client base and work environment.
- Highlight relevant academic focus: If they specialise in intellectual property, mention relevant subjects, research projects, or technology law coursework that aligns with their practice.
- Reference recent firm achievements: Mention specific cases they’ve won, deals they’ve advised on, or awards they’ve received that demonstrate your knowledge of their work.
How to Sign Off Your Law Graduate Cover Letter
- Professional legal closing: Use “Sincerely,” “Yours faithfully,” or “Respectfully” to maintain appropriate formality for legal practice environments
- Academic achievement emphasis: Consider including degree classification after your name (e.g., “Bachelor of Laws (Honours)”) to highlight academic excellence
- Complete professional profile: Include full name, phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn profile that reflects your legal education and professional aspirations
Cover Letter Signature Example
James Wilson
Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours)
[email protected]
0433 567 891
LinkedIn.com/in/jameswilson-lawgraduate
How to Submit a Cover Letter in Australia
- File format: Always submit as PDF to preserve professional formatting across different legal practice systems and ensure compatibility with law firm application processes.
- Professional naming convention: Use “FirstnameLastname_CoverLetter_GraduateLawyer_FirmName.pdf” to help graduate recruitment coordinators organise applications efficiently.
- Law firm application systems: When applying through firm career portals or legal recruitment platforms, ensure your cover letter complements any application forms or competency questions.
- Multiple practice area applications: If applying to different practice groups within large firms, tailor each cover letter to the specific area while maintaining consistent professional presentation.
Final Tips for Writing a Great Law Graduate Cover Letter
- Demonstrate legal reasoning: Show your ability to analyse complex issues, identify key legal principles, and construct logical arguments even in a brief cover letter format.
- Show commercial awareness: Understand the business context of legal practice, recent legal developments, or market trends affecting your target practice areas.
- Highlight resilience and work ethic: Legal practice is demanding – provide examples of handling pressure, meeting tight deadlines, or managing competing priorities successfully.
- Balance confidence with humility: Show readiness for legal responsibility whilst acknowledging the learning curve and mentorship opportunities ahead.
- Emphasise client focus: Demonstrate understanding that legal practice ultimately serves client needs and business objectives, not just academic legal theory.
More Resources for Job Seekers
Strengthen your legal career application with our comprehensive Law Graduate Resume examples designed for Australian legal practices. Prepare for competency-based interviews with our interview questions guide, covering legal scenarios and professional development discussions. For detailed law firm applications, our Selection Criteria templates will help you demonstrate your legal capabilities and professional potential across key legal practice competencies.
Your legal career in Australia’s dynamic legal profession starts with a compelling cover letter that showcases your academic foundation and professional potential. Use this guide and example to create a personalised application that demonstrates your value to potential employers, whether you’re targeting top-tier commercial firms, mid-tier practices, or community legal services working within Australia’s legal framework overseen by the Law Council of Australia. Remember, exceptional law graduates combine strong academic performance with practical experience and genuine commitment to the legal profession – let your cover letter be the first demonstration of this essential combination that launches successful legal careers built on excellence, integrity, and service to clients and the broader community.
