Application for a newly qualified associate role with Covington & Burling

Re: Application for a newly qualified associate role with Covington & Burling

Dear [Name]

I would like to submit this covering letter in support of my application for a newly qualified associate role with Covington & Burling LLP. I would be grateful if you could consider me for the firm’s corporate and litigation practice areas as these are the areas in which I have the most experience.

I have decided to apply to Covington & Burling LLP because I am attracted to the firm’s strong international reach and capabilities as well as its ‘one team’ approach to cross-border work. This aspect will provide me with an opportunity to work in highly integrated international teams and develop an understanding of how different elements fall into place to produce seamless solutions for clients. My language skills and cultural empathy will allow me to forge effective relationships with the firm’s international professionals and clients. I am very keen to apply my creativity and experience to bring a fresh perspective to legal matters without precedent solutions.

Another element that sets Covington & Burling LLP apart from its counterparts is its ability to combine its strength in litigation, investigations and corporate practice areas. This aspect will allow me to build on my strong experience in litigation, corporate and regulatory practice areas. Moreover, I feel that Covington & Burling LLP will offer me with a more multi-disciplinary perspective when developing tailored solutions for clients by bringing together different elements from multiple practice areas. Covington & Burling LLP’s expertise across different sectors will enable me to apply my knowledge of various business sectors gained during my employment. 

The firm’s inclusive and collegiate culture will give me a chance to work in one of the largest international law firms with the intimacy of a smaller office, which will allow me to get to know my colleagues and clients on a more personal level whilst still having access to the depth and breadth of the firm’s global resources. 

During my employment at some of the leading international and US law firms, I have received direct exposure on some of the most high-profile legal matters. This experience helped to develop my entire set of skills which will enable me to operate successfully as a newly qualified solicitor. I was vested with high levels of responsibility and have demonstrated an outstanding ability to manage my workload and prioritise competing deadlines.

I possess very good teamwork skills, which will allow me to work successfully with lawyers and clients from different countries and jurisdictions. I have very good communication and drafting skills. In my previous roles, I helped to draft witness statements, expert reports, a prospectus for an IPO of a luxury goods company and regularly corresponded with clients via email, conference calls and in-person. I had attended a board of directors EGM where I explained complex issues to clients and lawyers in a very simple and understandable language.

During my employment, I have received quality exposure to multiple industries and legal practice areas, including oil and gas, telecoms, banking and financial services, real estate and some others. This has developed my commercial awareness which, in turn, allows me to align all of my work with the requirements of clients and their respective businesses. I have received a lot of direct contact with very high-profile clients and their associates, which has developed my client-facing skills. I always undertake my work with utmost attention to details. My language skills will allow me to add value to international cases and forge effective relationships with overseas lawyers and clients. I possess very good problem-solving skills and enjoy working on complex cases to devise cutting-edge solutions to problems without any precedents.

I am very motivated and enjoy new challenges. In my spare time, I regularly do [sport] and help to coach others. [sport] has helped to hone my discipline and resilience to pressure and new challenges.

I thank you for your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely