Davis Polk Training Contract Cover Letter Example

Dear [name],

I have completed a qualifying law degree at the [University] with an upper second class grade in [year]. I am applying for a training contract to commence in [year] advertised on Latestlawjobs.com.

I am attracted to Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP because it operates an approach whereby trainees work closely with and learn from the firm’s senior lawyers in London and in the firm’s offices around the world. This will enable me to operate in highly integrated teams where I will receive a hands-on experience on high-profile and complex legal matters and learn closely from the firm’s lawyers. The relatively small size of the London office will enable me to receive a broad exposure across the firm’s different practice areas. This will allow me to view different laws and make a great contribution to the growth of the London office, all of which will help me to develop into a well-rounded lawyer. I am attracted by the firm’s strong global capabilities because this will expose me to complex cross-jurisdictional problems and enable me to operate in diverse teams across the firm’s different offices. This will see me constantly push boundaries and set new standards, which will make my experience challenging, stimulating and rewarding. What sets Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP apart from other firms is its culture of teamwork and collaboration which will enable me to receive exposure to high quality and exciting work across the firm and according to the needs of the clients. This will enable me to pursue my interests freely and provide me with a broad exposure which will ultimately help me to realise my full potential and develop into a leading solicitor.

I want to become a solicitor because every day is varied, challenging and engaging. At university, I enjoyed applying and manipulating black-letter law to hypothetical scenarios during my modules and mooting competitions because it stimulated my intellectual curiosity since every situation was never the same and required a different approach. I have decided to become a solicitor whilst working at several law firms. I have especially enjoyed working in teams on an international platform because it enabled me to actively participate in complex and interesting cases. I was very fascinated by exposure not only to law but also different business structures that required different solutions. This meant that I was required to apply a different approach to different cases in order to reach the best solution. At [Law Firm Name], I realised that I wanted to become a solicitor after attending a board of directors EGM in Amsterdam. I enjoyed thinking on my feet and applying commercial acumen to respond to imminent problems as this made my work environment challenging and stimulating. At [Law Firm Name], I collaborated with lawyers from across the London and [city] offices. I was very fascinated by the multi-jurisdictional elements of the case as it allowed me to take multiple angles to the problem and form my own view.

I possess initiative, drive and commitment which makes me suited for a training contract with Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP where I will have to transgress boundaries when solving complex problems. For the first time in fifty years, I have established the ‘[University] Amateur [Sport] Club’ in [year] and was the president of the society. I have been involved in amateur [Sport] for a decade and won over sixty trophies and a gold medal for England. As a dedicated member of the [environmental society], I helped to introduce and develop social responsibility initiatives at University. I had successfully organised and developed a scheme whereby all unused desktops in the library were turned off during the vacation breaks to help reduce the University’s carbon footprint.

I should be offered a training contract because I possess outstanding interpersonal skills and commercial acumen. At [Law Firm Name], I assisted on a shareholder dispute in a joint venture vehicle. I attended a Board of Directors EGM of a joint venture in Amsterdam in my capacity as an interpreter between clients and overseas solicitors. I successfully managed the meeting and demonstrated initiative. I applied a sharp analytical mind to explain complex issues in a simple language and made sense of a very complicated situation. I was required to think on my feet and always align myself with client’s commercial objectives.

Having worked for a number of leading legal firms, I can attest to the importance of building and maintaining professional relationships. This, coupled with my fluency in languages would make me a valuable asset when working on cross-border transactions or with international clients.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to attend an interview for which I am available at your convenience.

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

Yours Sincerely,

[Name]