Many students make the mistake of applying to paralegal positions the same way that they do to clerkship positions. As explained in our article on how Paralegal positions are different to Clerkships, the intention of the recruiter is quite different when recruiting an individual for a paralegal position as opposed to a clerkship. The different intention actually changes the way that the recruiter assesses your suitability for the role – the focus becomes the extent of your current capabilities as opposed to your potential and suitability to the firm. As the criteria changes, so should your approach when applying for these roles.
In this article, we share our main tips on how to tailor your application for paralegal opportunities.
1. Firm Specific Information is no longer the focus
Perhaps one of the biggest differences when applying for a paralegal position as opposed to a clerkship is the amount of detail you dedicate to firm specific information. While firm specific information is great to help you stand out and demonstrate your research into the law firm, these are of lesser importance when applying for a paralegal position. This is because of the intention of the recruiter when recruiting paralegals as described above. As the focus is on technical competency, firm specific research such as firm awards, Chamber rankings, and culture become of lesser importance in a paralegal application. Recruiters are less concerned about why you would like to remain at the firm or passion for law more broadly (as the role is often short-term in nature). Note that this does not mean that you completely forget about firm specific research – some research remains useful for demonstrating your interest in the law firm, the practice area and task(s) that you would perform as a paralegal at the firm.
2. Emphasise your Skills over your Attributes
In our article on Conquering the Cover Letter: The Winners Guide, we examined the difference between your skills and attributes. When applying for a paralegal position, we recommend that you spend more time emphasizing your skills over your attributes throughout your written application. This is because the recruiter is looking for competency. What they want is confidence that you will be able to complete the project efficiently and to a standard that meets their client’s expectations.
As a result, it is clear that the focus in your paralegal application should be your skillsets rather than your attributes and how you fit with the culture of the firm. Do not get us wrong; attributes such as enthusiasm are important in every role. However, recruiters are more interested in your skills and experiences when they recruit paralegals for a large, labour-intensive project. Besides, you can demonstrate attributes such as enthusiasm and passion in your interview.
Within your cover letter, we would recommend 2 to 3 key skills that can demonstrate your ability to get the job done. Whether it is your attention to detail, commercial awareness, or any other sought-after skillset, it is important that these skills are relevant or essential to the advertised paralegal position. These key skills can serve as the starting point for your written application, which you can then begin substantiating with relevant professional, volunteering, or extracurricular events.
3. Continue to link your skills with your experiences
In any application, it is important to link your key skills with relevant professional, volunteering, or extracurricular events. This remains especially true for paralegal positions, where the credibility of your skills and technical capabilities can only be properly backed up with appropriate professional or extracurricular experiences. Be specific and detailed about the tasks and projects that you worked on, referring to clients, documents, or research you conducted in your role and refer to metrics if possible. The more closely it aligns with your role and tasks to be performed in the advertised paralegal role, the better chance you have to stand out as a competent and desirable candidate.