How To Structure A Training Contract Covering Letter (Practical Example)

[recruitment manager’s name]

Travers Smith LLP

10 Snow Hill

London

EC1A 2AL

Dear [recruitment manager’s name],

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

I am attracted by the small intake of trainees which I feel will offer me bespoke training that is individually tailored to my interests, experience and aptitude. Small teams also suggest that I will have increased responsibility and operate as a lawyer from day one in an informal and collegial working environment. More importantly, I will receive the excitement and challenge of working on high value, complex transactions and disputes, in the size of office where everyone knows who you are. For me this will mean getting involved in real work from the start whereby I will be able to add something to the cases I work on.  This environment will unquestionably foster my professional and personal growth in my capacity as a lawyer.

I am also exhilarated by the idea that partners are to the fore throughout every transaction and that they lead small and close-knit teams that stay with clients for the long-term. Being a member of such a team will allow me to develop real relationships with clients and a genuine in-depth understanding of their business. This will therefore increase my sectoral expertise and allow me to deliver quick and efficient solutions to client problems. Similarly, the work will become more personal and subsequently personally and professionally rewarding. Travers Smith’s entrepreneurial approach distinguishes it from many other firms since it focuses on results it can achieve for its clients rather than focussing on scoring points. I feel that this is a very equitable and ethic approach to conducting business, which would therefore make Travers Smith LLP a real pleasure to work for.

I want to become a solicitor because every day is varied, challenging and engaging. At university, I enjoyed applying and manipulating 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. As commercial matters span many areas of law, industries and borders, they demand the application of lateral thinking and extensive problem-solving. In turn, this would see me work in integrated teams with a commercial focus on the problem in a quick-paced environment with approaching deadlines.  At [law firm] , I especially enjoyed working in teams across different time zones to solve commercial problems. This produced more interesting work, greater variety and a wider group of experts to learn from which made my work environment stimulating and rewarding.

I possess initiative, drive and commitment which makes me suited for a training contract with Travers Smith LLP where I will have to transgress boundaries when solving complex problems. For the first time in fifty years, I have established the ‘University of [university] Amateur [sport] Club’ in [year] and was the president of the society. I have been involved in amateur [sport] for a decade and have 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 at 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], 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. At the end of the meeting, the solicitors were more informed of the client’s problem which allowed them to act more swiftly.

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]