• Student Discount
  • Credit Card
  • Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)

All About Careers

  • Six Month Certificate Programs
  • Highest paying agriculture jobs
  • Best paying jobs in industrial machinery/components
  • Jobs that don’t require college
  • Behavioral questions and answers for interviews
  • Technical Interview
  • Sample thank you email after interview
  • You were fired on an application
  • Kohl’s Job Application
  • Baskin Robbins Hiring Age
  • Subway Hiring Age
  • Target Hiring Age
  • Apply to hobby lobby
  • Physiologist
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Maurices Credit Card Payment
  • How can I pay my Verizon bill? Find the easiest ways!
  • How to Pay my TJ Maxx Credit Card?
  • How To Apply For Dicks Sporting Goods Credit Card?
  • How Suddenlink bill can be paid?
  • How to make Furniture Row credit card payment?
  • Bed Bath & Beyond’s Credit Card Payment Process
  • Netspend Atm
  • Trial deposit Amazon Creditbuilder
  • Transfer Money From EDD Card to a Bank Account
  • Credit online shopping
  • Transfer funds with Routing and Account Number
  • Increase Total Loan Balance
  • Bad Credit Loans Urban BCL
  • Reduce Total Loan Cost
  • Canceling Student Loan Debt
  • Unsubsidized Student Loan
  • Borrow money from a millionaire
  • H&R block Emerald Advance
  • Chevy offer 0 Financing
  • Days Mortgage Approval
  • Mortgage on 1 million
  • Subscriber Id Insurance Card
  • United American Insurance Provider Portal
  • Unregistered Vehicle with Insurance
  • Home Insurance Claim Adjuster Secret Tactics
  • Agi renters condo insurance
  • Walgreens accepted insurance
  • Dentist that take caresource
  • Redpoint county mutual insurance company
  • Insurance walgreens accepts
  • Cricket wireless insurance claim
  • Stop paying child support
  • Home depot health check
  • Beat contempt of court for child support
  • Medical Schools that don’t require mcat
  • Social security Recipients Stimulus check
  • Find 401k Social Security Number free
  • Cash Advance Unemployment Benefits
  • Laminate Social Security Card
  • Ice Skating
  • Tattoo Shops
  • Verizon Store

All About Careers

Training Contract Covering Letter

Finding a training contract is hard enough without a bad covering letter letting you down. You might think your CV is the star of the show, but without a good supporting act, your application will flop.

Even in these days of fancy online applications, many firms will still ask for a covering letter to accompany your application. You’ll also definitely need a covering letter if you’re planning on applying to high street and medium-sized firms.

Covering letters do much more than just ‘cover’ your CV…

A good covering letter will give a voice to the person behind your CV. It’s your chance to highlight the impressive parts of your CV, smoothly convince the employer that you’d be a fantastic trainee, and tell them what it is that makes you jig with excitement at the thought of working for their firm.

Seeing as drafting letters will be part of your responsibility as a trainee, a poorly constructed, ineffectual covering letter, riddled with mistakes, won’t exactly set a good example.

Before you put pen to paper…

Think of yourself as a Savile Row tailor, every training contract covering letter should be custom-made for the law firm. Put your excellent research skills into practice and find out as much as you can about the firm.

What areas of law do they specialise in? What is their company culture? What kind of skills are they looking for in trainee solicitors? Visit them at law fairs and scrutinise their website. You should know exactly who they are and what they do.

Next, think about the kind of skills you will need as a trainee solicitor and make a list of your own personal strengths.

Take a look at your CV and pick out the skills and experience you want to highlight in your training contract covering letter.

Constructing your training contract covering letter…

Research over; let’s have a crack at writing that covering letter. In its very basic form, it should answer these five questions:

1. Who are you?

2. Why are you writing to me?

3. Why do you want this role?

4. Why do you want to work for this firm in particular?

5. Why should we offer you a training contract?

As well as these questions, there are two words you need to keep in mind: relevance and brevity.

Keep the covering letter short, concise, and to the point. Here’s a suggestion for the general structure of your training contract covering letter, but it’s by no means gospel:

Structuring your covering letter…

Use a formal business letter template: your address and the name and address of recipient should be at the top of the letter. If you are emailing them, put the covering letter in the body of the email and omit the addresses.

Try to find out the name of the person who will be reading your covering letter. That way you can address it to them. It might be a small thing, but it does make a difference.

Paragraph One

Here you can answer the first two questions: “Who are you?” and “Why are you writing to me?” You might want to tell them the position you are applying for (e.g. trainee solicitor), how you found out about it and, if the firm advertises more than one training contract, the year you’ll be able to start.

For example, you could say something like: “Further to your advertisement on AllAboutCareers.com, I would like to apply to your trainee solicitor position starting in 2014.”

Paragraph Two

Next, you might want to show them why you are interested in the type of work they do at the law firm. Give examples to back up your claims, such as relevant work experience, extracurricular activities or modules you’ve chosen to take at university.

Most important of all, tell the firm why you’re interested in them specifically. What is it about the firm that made you want to apply to them? And no, “the sizeable salary” and “sheer desperation” aren’t the right answers.

Paragraph Three

Here you might want to summarise the strengths and skills you have which you feel would make you an ideal trainee solicitor. Back each assertion with an example, whether that’s from previous work experience, extra-curricular activities or something else.

For instance, you might want to use your vacation work as an example to demonstrate your interpersonal skills or your commercial awareness.

Say when you’re available for interview and cover any practical issues they ask about (e.g. what your salary expectations are). Be positive: “I’m looking forward to your reply.”

You should end the letter “Yours sincerely” if it’s being sent to a named person; if you haven’t managed to find out a name then use “Yours faithfully”, followed by your name (obviously!).

Final points…

– Think about the tone of your letter. It needs to be professional and formal, but, at the same time, you need to convey your own personal voice. You might want to use different ways to structure and formulate your sentences to really show off your writing style.

– If you’re emailing your covering letter or they’re likely to read it onscreen, then use a font designed to be read on a screen, such as Verdana or Helvetica. You should also use shorter paragraphs in emails as well.

– Go back over it with a harsh editing eye. Strike out anything superfluous. Can you make your sentences shorter? Can you get that point across in fewer words?

– Scrutinise your cover letter for mistakes. Double check it. Triple check it. Get your parents, your granny, the postman and your friends to proofread it. Spelling and grammar mistakes aren’t cool. End of.

Related Posts:

  • Top 30 Graduate Employers
  • Banks that let you Overdraft right away!
  • What Jobs can you Get at 14 Years Old? + 20 Companies hiring
  • What is the SAT?
  • FAQ Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)?
  • How to send Money on Cash App Without a Debit Card?…

+ Categories

  • COMPARATIVE

Recent Posts

  • Demystifying Compliance: A Small Business Owner’s Regulatory Guide
  • Does Chime work with Zelle? The answer will surprise you!
  • Learn How to Cash a Check on Cash App and Enjoy Its Benefits!
  • Apple Music Not Working? Here’s How to Fix Some Common Issues
  • How Do I Make A Cricket Phone Insurance Claim? Step-by-Step Guide
  • Bank cash app on plaid
  • Apps that pay instantly to cash app
  • Cash app bank name
  • Hack cash app with your name
  • Random person sent me money on cash app
  • Send money on cash app without debit card
  • Transfer money from gift card to cash app
  • Cash app payment completed but not received
  • how to add money to cash app card at walgreens
  • Need a debit card for cash app
  • Doordash background check take
  • Free food on doordash
  • Make $500 a week with doordash
  • Doordash close
  • How old do you have to be to doordash
  • Chick fil a pickup
  • Convert amazon gift card to paypal
  • Transfer visa gift card balance to paypal
  • Make $1000 per day
  • Split payment on paypal
  • Paypal pay in 4 refund
  • How old do you have to be to have a paypal
  • Buy money order online with paypal
  • Increase paypal credit limit
  • Chime have zelle
  • Use zelle without a bank account
  • Ally zelle limit
  • Zelle with a credit card
  • Huntington bank have zelle
  • Varo work with zelle
  • Tjmaxx credit card payment synchrony
  • Kay jewelers credit card login
  • How much does facebook pay for views
  • Free atm for netspend
  • Afterpay declined
  • Does quiktrip have money orders?
  • Bank of america atm check deposit limit
  • APPRENTICESHIPS
  • CAREER INDUSTRY
  • CAREER PATH
  • COVER LETTER
  • INTERNSHIPS
  • POSTGRADUATE
  • SCHOLARSHIPS
  • SELF EMPLOYMENT
  • STUDENT DISCOUNT
  • WORK EXPERIENCE
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY & GDPR
  • COOKIE POLICY

© 2004 - 2024 allaboutcareers.com

StandOut CV

  • Training Contract cover letter examples

Andrew Fennell photo

A good cover letter will make your application stand out from all the other Training Contract candidates, and ensure that your CV gets noticed.

But selling yourself effectively in a few sentences can be tricky.

So, to help you out, we have put together 3 Training Contract cover letter examples and a guide that tells you everything you need to know about writing a winning cover letter.

Guide contents

How to write a Training Contract cover letter

  • What to include in a Training Contract cover letter

CV templates 

Training Contract cover letter example 1

Training Contract cover letter 1

Training Contract cover letter example 2

Training Contract cover letter 2

Training Contract cover letter example 3

Training Contract cover letter 3

These Training Contract cover letter examples provide you with some guidance and inspiration for writing a cover letter that gets noticed and ensures your CV will get opened.

But if you really want to master the art of writing a winning cover letter , then follow our step-by-step cove letter writing guide below.

Here’s how you can write your own eye-catching cover letter, broken down into simple steps.

How to write a cover letter

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

When you send a cover letter with a job application, you should always write your message into the body of your email – or the body of the messaging system if you are sending via a job website.

Why do this?

Simply because you want to get your message seen as soon as the recruiter opens your application.

If you attach the cover letter as a separate item, this means the recipient will have to open it before they can read it – slowing down the process and potentially causing frustration along the way.

So, write your cover note in the body of your email/message to ensure you make an instant connection with the reader.

Cover letter writing

Start with a friendly greeting

Cover letter address

To kick your cover letter off, start with a friendly greeting to build rapport with the recruiter instantly.

Your greeting should be personable but professional. Not too casual, but not too formal either

Go with something like…

  • Hi [insert recruiter name]
  • Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid old-fashioned greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very formal companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

  • Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
  • Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.

Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.

  • I am interested in applying for the position of Training Contract with your company.
  • I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 406f57393)
  • I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
  • I saw your advert for a junior project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The main purpose of your cover letter is to excite recruiters and make them eager to open your CV. And you achieve this by quickly demonstrating your suitability to the job you are applying for.

Take a look at the job adverts you are applying for, and make note of the most important skills being asked for.

Then, when you write your cover letter, make your suitability the focal point.

Explain how you meet the candidate requirements fully, and why you are so well suited to carry out the job.

This will give recruiters all the encouragement they need to open your CV and consider your application.

Cover letter tips

Keep it short and sharp

It is best to keep your cover letter brief if you want to ensure you hold the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers. A lengthy cover letter will probably not get read in full, so keep yours to around 3-6 sentences and save the real detail for your CV.

Remember the purpose of your cover letter is to quickly get recruiters to notice you and encourage them to open your CV, so it only needs to include the highlights of your experience.

Sign off professionally

To finish off your cover note, add a professional signature to the bottom, stating your important contact details and information.

This not only provides recruiters with multiple means of contacting you, but it also adds a nice professional appearance to the cover letter, which shows that you know how to conduct yourself in the workplace.

Include the following points;

  • A friendly sign off – e.g. “Warm regards”
  • Your full name
  • Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
  • Email address
  • Profession title
  • Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Aaron Smith Customer service professional 075557437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip : To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.

Cover letter sign off

What to include in your Training Contract cover letter

So, what type of information should you write about in your Training Contract cover letter?

The specifics will obviously depend on your profession and the jobs you are applying to, but these are the key areas you should be covering.

  • Your industry experience – Tell recruiters the types of companies you have been working for and the roles you have held in the past.
  • Your qualifications – Highlight your most important relevant qualifications to show employers you are qualified to do the roles you are applying for.
  • The impact you have made – Demonstrate the positive impact you have made for employers in previous jobs. Have you saved money? Improved processes? Made customers happy?
  • Your reasons for moving – Employers will want to know why you are leaving your current/previous role, so provide them with a brief explanation here.
  • Your availability – When will you be able to start a new job ? Check your current contract to find out your notice period if you are in a position already.

To round up

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a Training Contract, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

Username or email  *

Password  *

Forgotten password?

[email protected]

+44 (0)20 8834 4579

Training Contract Applications - How Can You Stand Out?

Recruiters can receive hundreds, even thousands, of training contract applications every year. How do you make yours stand out? This guide offers some essential tips.

Training Contract Applications Advice

  • Discover what the application process involves
  • Get top tips on how to write a knock-out CV
  • Learn how to stand out in your cover letter
  • Find out what to do once you receive an offer

Jump to Section

  • Deciding on Law
  • How to Become a Lawyer
  • Areas of Law
  • Solicitor vs Barrister
  • What is a Solicitor
  • Becoming a Barrister
  • Legal Executive
  • What Is A Legal Secretary?
  • How to Become a Judge
  • Legal Apprenticeships
  • Studying Law at University
  • Law at Oxbridge
  • Studying Law Abroad

Personal Statement

  • Law Research Techniques & Resources
  • Commercial Awareness
  • Law Work Experience

Vacation Schemes

  • Law Courses
  • Non-Law Students
  • PGDL (Conversion)
  • Bar Training Guide
  • Training Contract Applications

Watson Glaser Test

  • Firms Requiring the Watson Glaser Test
  • Watson Glaser Test For Clifford Chance
  • Watson Glaser Test For CMS
  • Watson Glaser Test For DLA Piper
  • Watson Glaser Test For Freshfields
  • Watson Glaser Test For Hogan Lovells
  • Situational Judgement Tests

Training Contract Interviews

  • Training Contract Salaries
  • How Many Applications Should I Send?
  • In-House Training Contract Guide
  • Baker & McKenzie: Application Timeline
  • Expert Insight: A Day in the Life (Debevoise)
  • Freshfields: Training Contract
  • Freshfields: Top TC Tips
  • Gibson Dunn: Hong Kong Secondment
  • Herbert Smith Freehills: Training Contract
  • Simmons & Simmons: Top Tips
  • Taylor Vinters: Training Contract
  • Taylor Vinters: Top Tips
  • Law Firm Applications
  • Pupillage: a Guide for Aspiring Barristers
  • Law Firm Insights
  • Networking Guide
  • Diversity In Law

Heading into your training contract applications, strong academic records and relevant work experience are a great start. However, learning to sell your unique experiences is just as important.

How To Apply For A Training Contract

To apply for a training contract, you will need to identify the law firms that you want to submit an application to. You will need to work out what kind of law firms you want to apply to. For example, are you interested in commercial law or criminal law? Do you want to work for a city firm or a regional law firm?

You will need to do your research. Once you have chosen which law firms you want to apply to, you need to treat every application like an individual project.

Usually, you will need to complete a training contract application form and submit a solicitor CV and covering letter to each law firm you apply to.

To help you prepare for your training contract applications, Clifford Chance offers a series of Skills Sessions which are designed to help you build your commercial awareness as well as tips and advice on how to apply. 

Take a look at Clifford Chance’s video on how to prepare an application and what you should do you before you apply:

Check out Clifford Chance’s training contract page for more information on their programme structure, benefits and application procedure.

How Many Should I Apply For?

Five to ten law firm training contract applications are recommended. If you try to apply with too many firms, you risk missing deadlines trying to complete them all. If you only apply to one firm, you risk having no other law firms to fall back on if your application is rejected. You need to apply to just enough law firms, but not too many.

See our dedicated guide on law training contracts for more information.

How Competitive Are Training Contracts?

It is no secret that securing a training contract is a difficult process. The odds vary massively between firms. However, at the top end of the scale, at elite US or Magic Circle law firms, you could be roughly looking at a success rate of anything between 20% and 5%. 

Your odds are significantly higher based on a number of criteria, however, including the university you have studied at or the grade you have achieved (e.g. a 1 st compared to a 2:1). 

Which Firms Should I Apply To?

Based on the competitive point above, it is natural to want to apply to a number of different law firms for a training contract. Estimates vary widely between aspiring lawyers, though many will aim to send off somewhere between 5 and 15 applications.

You also need to consider which actual firms pique your interest. Shortlisting firms to apply to can be based on a number of factors, including:

  • Practice area specialism
  • Law school support (whether firms will cover your fees for the PGDL and SQE / LPC if relevant – plus the provision of a maintenance grant to live on during that time period).
  • Firm culture
  • Working hours  
  • Number of training contracts offered per year
  • Any particular benefits/perks .

Who Is Eligible To Apply For Training Contracts?

Eligibility for training contract and vacation scheme applications will vary for each firm. The only way to be sure is to check on each firm’s individual website. If the information is not clear at that stage, feel free to drop an email to the firm’s recruitment team.

Training Contract Deadlines

Each firm sets their own deadlines for training contracts. Most aspiring lawyers will be applying to vacation schemes in the hopes of receiving a training contract at the end of the scheme, but others will submit ‘direct’ training contract applications. These two paths will usually have different deadlines.

Broadly speaking, training contract and vacation scheme application cycles roughly align with the first term of the academic year – you’ll probably be busiest with applications between September and November.

It is also worth noting that some firms deal with applications on a ‘rolling’ basis – meaning they will be accepted or rejected as they come in. Prioritise these applications first.

For an overview of dates, you could take a look at The Lawyer Portal’s training contract deadlines page.

Stand Out In Your Law Interviews

Check out our Training Contract Interview Guide for Top Tips

Training Contract CV

Not all training contract applications require a CV. Those that do will often use them as a key part of the application process, and so it is important to refine yours as much as possible. These are a few key elements of a solicitor CV to consider:

Formalities 

Standing out in your CV does not mean being overly outrageous in your choices of formatting. Stick to safe fonts such as Times New Roman, basic colours and adequate line spacing and borders. Overall, your text itself should do the talking when it comes to your individuality. 

In terms of length, most people can adequately fit their relevant experience onto one side of A4. Aim to stick to one side of A4. 

While not compulsory, it can really help your CV to stand out if you are able to include a few personalised lines at the top of the page providing a broad overview of who you are. This could include your current educational institution, a handful of concise, work experience examples, a few adjectives best encapsulating your character or personality, and a particular area of passion within the legal sector. Keep it short, concise, and relevant.

Many training contract applicants are students or recent graduates. As a result, you are unlikely to have amassed a huge catalogue of work experience. Instead, your educational achievements are likely to shine through the most. Provide details of your grades (anything from GCSE or age 16 onwards is often recommended), as well as predicted grades for university study if you have not yet graduated. 

Not all applicants will have relevant legal work experience at this stage. If you do, then you should certainly include it. If not, use your unique experiences to your advantage. Other easy ways to gain experience with some relevance to law include becoming a brand ambassador. The Lawyer Portal has a shared brand ambassador scheme with law firm Bird & Bird. You can also look out for online virtual work experience programmes.

For each piece of work experience, include the name of the organisation, the name of your specific role, the tasks involved in this role, and the start and end dates. Order your work experience by relevance – the best at the top, then work your way downwards.

Training Contract Cover Letter

Tailor your letter for each firm .

A small number of firms will ask for cover letters . This is an excellent chance to personalise your application, since covering letter for law firms are essentially an opportunity to link your personal experiences and demonstrate how these are closely aligned.  For this reason, cover letters need to be very closely tailored to the firm itself.

Law Cover Letter Format

There is no set structure or format for a covering letter for a law firm, but many will choose to follow some of the following guidelines:

  • Stick to one A4 side
  • Open the document as you would a letter (with the firm’s name and address, followed by ‘Dear [Insert Firm Name]’, etc.)
  • Introduce yourself – your background, how you came to discover the legal industry, etc.
  • Hone in on your experience and passion in the legal sector
  • Focus intensely on the specifics of the firm you are applying to – why does it appeal to you? What are some recent deals they have worked on that interest you? 

Training Contract Application Questions

The vast majority of applications will feature a handful of boxes asking you specific questions, which you will need to answer in a paragraph or two. Common questions include:

  • What interests you about becoming a solicitor?
  • Why are you specifically interested in this firm?
  • Do you have a particular practice area that interests you?
  • Tell us about a recent news story that you think could affect our firm’s work.

Launch Your Career With Clifford Chance

Discover training opportunities to kickstart your solicitor career

The key point to add in terms of differentiating yourself at the interview stage is the fact that your abilities on paper (e.g. educational qualifications, work experience, etc.) have ticked a box. Whether via video call or face-to-face, interviews are your chance to really let your personality shine through. Make sure to come across as personable, engaged and genuinely passionate about participating in a training contract with this firm. Your interviewers may be your supervisors one day – they will also want to see if you will integrate well into the firm’s culture.

Every law firm has a different training contract application process, but you will find that many of the questions give you an opportunity to demonstrate what makes you different from other applicants. Some of the training contract questions might include:

Why do you want to be a lawyer?

If a training contract application asks this question, avoid being overly academic or focusing solely on legal theory. You need to demonstrate how your experiences relate to you wanting to become a lawyer. Make sure your answer is personal, talks about your skills, motivations and relevant experience . You should also cover your short- and long-term career goals.

How would you describe your personality?

A lot of law firms ask this question to assess your character. To answer this question, make sure you use the job specification to guide you. The job specification usually features the type of characteristics a law firm is looking for. Once you know what a law firm is looking for, you can be specific with your answers.

Give an example of a time you demonstrated a specific quality or personality trait. It is important that you can back up what you say when answering personality-focused questions.

Why do you think you are suited to a career with us?

To answer this question, you must do your research on the law firm(s) that you are applying to. Specifically, you should research the key practice area(s) of the law firm, their training program and their culture. You should answer in a natural and structured way.

Law firms are looking for clear communication so that when they first read your answer they can quickly see how you have linked your career aspirations with what they can offer you.

Discuss a news article that interests you.

This training contract application question is designed to assess your commercial understanding, motivation to join a firm and your analytical ability. For this question, you need to fully research the law firm(s) you are applying to for a training contract.

You will need to go beyond the law firm’s website with your research and look at the type of candidates a firm recruits, the skills and qualities the firm values in its people. You should research the firm’s clients, the sectors they operate in, its market position and its strategy.

Training Contract Offer

Once you’ve gone through all the steps of the recruitment process, you should hear back from the firm within a few days to a month on whether you were successful at gaining a place. So what do you do once you’ve received an offer?

It’s important to take some time to carefully consider your options. Evaluate the firm’s culture, values, and the opportunities they offer for professional growth . Consider reaching out to current or former trainees to gain insights into their experiences. If you have multiple offers, compare the benefits, such as practice areas, salaries, and training programs. Take into account your long-term career goals and how each offer aligns with them.

Once you have made your decision, promptly notify the firm of your acceptance and express your gratitude for the opportunity. Remember, this is just the beginning of your legal career, so make sure to start off on the right foot by making an informed decision.

Take a look at Clifford Chance’s video on what the next steps are once you’ve received an offer:

Find out more about what life is like as a trainee at Clifford Chance .

Law Firm Directory

Explore key stats, training opportunities and more with our detailed law firm listings.

Training Contracts

Stay ahead of the game and keep track of upcoming training contract deadlines.

Keep track of the latest deadlines & get your foot in the door of a top law firm.

Law Firm Open Days

Don't miss an opportunity to meet law firms & register for upcoming open days.

The Medic Portal - The Resource for Medical School Applicants

Loading More Content

Trainee Solicitor Surgery

Covering letter for training contract application – an essential guide, looking for one to one tc coaching.

Work with our experienced former lawyer who has helped 100's of candidates secure TC offers.

Covering letters are usually sent with a CV as a form of training contract or vacation scheme application where the completion of an application form is not required.

However, some firms do request a covering letter as part of an application form.

In either case, a covering letter can make or break your application.

Where Can I Get A Covering Letter Template?

I am regularly asked for template covering letters for training contract and vacation scheme applications.

However, there is no one template that is right for everyone. There is also a high risk that any template provided will be used to guide the drafting of the substance of the content much too closely.

Instead, it’s better to work to a pre-determined structure (see below) and then draft the content of the letter from scratch each time.

How To Produce A Winning Covering Letter

Here are our tips on producing a winning training contract application covering letter:

  • Personalise Your Letters – address it to the actual person who is in charge of receiving trainee applications. Always telephone or email the firm to confirm who you should address your application to – don’t just rely on what is published as it may be out of date.
  • Include Your Address – your address goes at the top right of the letter and the addressee’s name and firm’s address goes below the last line of your details but on the left of the letter. The date goes below their address. There is no need for your name at the top as this appears at the bottom. You also don’t need to include your telephone number and email address as these will already be on your CV or elsewhere on the application form.
  • Presentation – covering letters should fit on one page of A4 paper and, in the rare cases where they are to be posted as opposed to emailed, be printed on good quality white or cream paper and typed in a common and professional-looking font such as Times New Roman or Arial.
  • Spelling & Grammar – check, check and check again – any spelling or grammar mistakes will usually see your application being filed in the big round filing tray marked ‘bin’ no matter how good a candidate you are.
  • Write Clearly – write in a simple, direct and concise manner – help the reader by getting your points across in a succinct manner.
  • Tailor Your Letter – tailor each letter to the specific firm you are writing to – this obviously takes more time than mass mailing the same letter but the time spent will be the difference between success and failure in most cases.

The Structure Of A Covering Letter

The body of a good covering letter would read along the following lines:

1. Why you are writing

Open the letter with why you are writing.

For example, you are writing to apply for a training contract with the firm commencing in September 2014.

Mention the advertisement if you are applying in response to one (but not necessary if the vacancy is a recurring annual vacancy that appears on the firm’s website or in one of the law firm directories).

2. Introduce yourself

A quick summary of what you are doing now or have done/achieved recently so as to give a quick snapshot.

For example, you are currently studying the LPC at the University of Law, having previously graduated with a 2:1 from the University of Hull.

3. Why that firm?

This is where you show that you are not just applying to firms in a scatter-gun fashion.

Avoid using generalisations here that can apply to many firms. For example, do not just say you are applying to XYZ LLP because it is a leading firm with a good reputation.

Instead, be more specific about appealing aspects of the firm and tell them why those things are important to you. This can still include a firms reputation in an area of law but they will want you to explain more specifically why that has influenced your decision to apply to them.

This is where you display the knowledge you have gained when researching the firm.

What is it specifically about the firm’s size, location, areas of law practised, training contract, etc, that has made you apply to them (and therefore ignore many other firms)?

Seek to back up your reasons and personalise them by mentioning how your work experience and other experiences and knowledge have helped you make an informed decision to apply specifically to them.

4. Why you?

Highlight a particular quality you have and/or competencies or achievements of yours that show you have what they are looking for (as discovered during your research).

Focus on those parts of your experience to date that might help persuade them that you are the right person for them.

The key with a covering letter is to avoid just repeating lots of things that are already on your CV or elsewhere on your application form.

Instead, briefly mention a couple of the highlights from your CV but tie this into some reasoning as to why you feel you would be a good fit for the firm.

5. Sign off professionally

Thank them for their time in considering your application, state your availability for interview and ask that they contact you with any queries.

Do not waffle or go overboard here by stressing your desire to work for the firm or saying you want to contribute to the firm’s future success.

These should be obvious given the care you have taken over your research and your application.

Help The Recruiter

Finally, as with all drafting in your applications, be sure to help the recruiter by writing in a clear and concise manner.

Use short sentences and paragraphs in order to ensure the points you are presenting do not get lost in a sea of words.

They will be assessing your writing skills when reading your application so ensure you give a good account of yourself.

Read more: Essential Guide to Training Contract Applications

Struggling with the TC Process?

One to one law career coaching.

  • Discover the most effective strategies for securing a training contract or vacation scheme.
  • Learn the secrets to succeeding with your TC applications, interviews & assessment centres.
  • Get 1-2-1 support & guidance from a former FTSE100 lawyer with 25+ years experience of trainee solicitor recruitment.
  • Join 100's of previous candidates who secured a training contract through the coaching programmes.

Avatar photo

Matt Oliver

Privacy preference center

We care about your privacy

When you visit our website, we will use cookies to make sure you enjoy your stay. We respect your privacy and we’ll never share your resumes and cover letters with recruiters or job sites. On the other hand, we’re using several third party tools to help us run our website with all its functionality.

But what exactly are cookies? Cookies are small bits of information which get stored on your computer. This information usually isn’t enough to directly identify you, but it allows us to deliver a page tailored to your particular needs and preferences.

Because we really care about your right to privacy, we give you a lot of control over which cookies we use in your sessions. Click on the different category headings on the left to find out more, and change our default settings.

However, remember that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of our website. Finally, note that we’ll need to use a cookie to remember your cookie preferences.

Without these cookies our website wouldn’t function and they cannot be switched off. We need them to provide services that you’ve asked for.

Want an example? We use these cookies when you sign in to Kickresume. We also use them to remember things you’ve already done, like text you’ve entered into a registration form so it’ll be there when you go back to the page in the same session.

Thanks to these cookies, we can count visits and traffic sources to our pages. This allows us to measure and improve the performance of our website and provide you with content you’ll find interesting.

Performance cookies let us see which pages are the most and least popular, and how you and other visitors move around the site.

All information these cookies collect is aggregated (it’s a statistic) and therefore completely anonymous. If you don’t let us use these cookies, you’ll leave us in the dark a bit, as we won’t be able to give you the content you may like.

We use these cookies to uniquely identify your browser and internet device. Thanks to them, we and our partners can build a profile of your interests, and target you with discounts to our service and specialized content.

On the other hand, these cookies allow some companies target you with advertising on other sites. This is to provide you with advertising that you might find interesting, rather than with a series of irrelevant ads you don’t care about.

Training Specialist Cover Letter Samples & Examples That Worked in 2024

Milan Šaržík — Certified Professional Résumé Writer

How to craft an impressive training specialist cover letter

Training specialists play a vital role in any large company, helping to complete the employee onboarding process and ensure these new employees receive the training they need to succeed in their roles. To earn a job as a training specialist, you must write an impressive cover letter that showcases your various talents.

In this guide, you will learn all about the 5 key elements to include in a training specialist cover letter. Keep reading to learn:

  • How to create your training specialist header & headline
  • Why you need to tailor your cover letter as a training specialist
  • What information to include in your training specialist introduction
  • Ways to highlight your best skills & accomplishments as a training specialist
  • How to conclude your training specialist cover letter properly

Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.

Training Administrator Cover Letter Example

1. How to create a proper training specialist header & headline

To begin writing your job-winning training specialist cover letter , the first step to take is to create a well-formatted header and headline.

A cover letter header will contain all the necessary information about the applicant and employer, including:

  • Your name and professional title
  • Your professional contact information
  • The name of the company & department you are applying to
  • The company’s address

Make sure to keep this information well-organized, with your name listed first in larger text. This will help your name stand out and make it more memorable for the employer.

Here is an example of a well-formatted training specialist header

Joe King , Training Specialist (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/joe-king

To: KPMG, Employee Training Department 1234 Street Address Atlanta, GA, 30301

With your header constructed and in place, the next step is to create your cover letter headline . This headline is a short title statement that helps to engage the attention of an employer and should include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word , a powerful adjective or verb , and a promise .

Here is an example of an effective training specialist headline

My Best 3 Skills as a Training Specialist & How They Can Benefit Your New Hires

Trigger Word/Number : 3 Skills Keyword: Training Specialist Adjective/Verb: Best, Benefit Promise: Your New Hires – this detail indicates to the employer that your cover letter will discuss their company and its employees’ needs specifically.

2. How to properly tailor your cover letter as a training specialist

As a training specialist, it is essential to tailor your cover letter for the exact job you are applying to. By tailoring your cover letter to address a specific company’s needs, you will have a much better chance of catching an employer’s eye and impressing them.

In order to tailor a cover letter in this way, you will need to research the company thoroughly beforehand, looking for information such as:

  • What current projects or clients the company is involved with
  • What the company’s goals are, as well as what keywords and language the company uses that you can reflect in your cover letter
  • Who at the company will review your cover letter – this information will be used to create a personalized greeting , a type of greeting that addresses a specific person by name

Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings

Dear Mrs. Jill Miller,

  • Dear Manager Jill Miller,
  • Dear Jill Miller & the Training Team,

Find out your resume score!

Resume Analytics

3. How to craft a compelling training specialist introduction

With your header, headline, and greeting in place, the next major element to add to your training specialist cover letter is the introduction .

In this introduction, aim to include:

  • An overview of your professional history (years of experience, specializations, etc.)
  • A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
  • A mutual acquaintance (when possible)

Pro Tip: Always include a mutual acquaintance when you can, as this helps to leave an excellent first impression on the employer. If you do not have a mutual acquaintance, use a professional platform like LinkedIn to connect with current employees or associates of companies you are interested in.

Here is an example of a well-written training specialist introduction

I am a training specialist with more than 4 years of experience teaching corporate employees how to use productivity and presentation software. Recently, I offered a public course on negotiation presentations which was attended by one of your managers, Mr. John Doe. Upon completing my course, Mr. Doe recommended I apply for this opening as my skills and expertise are a great match for your company’s current needs.

4. How to highlight your best skills & accomplishments as a training specialist

After your introduction come the body paragraphs of your training specialist cover letter. You should aim to include between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer key questions, such as:

  • What excites you about working at this company?
  • What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
  • What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
  • What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?

Describing skills and accomplishments in the body paragraphs is especially important, as they help to show employers the real-life value you can offer their company. As you describe these qualifications, make sure to use specific, quantifiable, and contextual details.

Here are 6 examples of training specialist skills to describe in a cover letter

  • Knowledge of various training methods
  • Developing training programs & curriculum
  • Conducting performance assessments
  • Creating demonstrations & presentations
  • Project management
  • Excellent verbal communication

Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a training specialist cover letter

As a training specialist for [Former Employer], I saw a great need for improving training efficiency. This drove me to develop a new digital training program that could be completed both onsite and remotely, leading to a decrease in total training time by 30% while boosting new employee comprehension by 45%.

5. How to conclude your training specialist cover letter properly

To conclude your training specialist cover letter properly, you need a strong closing statement that includes:

  • An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
  • An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
  • A formal sign-off

Here is an example of an effective training specialist closing statement

I am beyond eager to get to know your company and team better, and I hope to hear from you in the next week about this position. To best reach me, you may call me any weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (123) 456-7890. If I have not heard back by next Monday, I will reach back out to check on the status of my application.

Warm Regards,

[Applicant Name]

If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two .

Milan Šaržík — Certified Professional Résumé Writer

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

All human resources cover letter examples

  • Human Resources Assistant
  • Talent Acquisition Specialist

All training specialist cover letter examples

Training Specialist Cover Letter Sample

Related training specialist resume examples

Training Specialist at Evolution Resume Sample

Let your resume do the work.

Join 3,600,000 job seekers worldwide and get hired faster with your best resume yet.

english template

how to write a training contract cover letter

Sample cover letter for Full Time position at White and Case

Training contract.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Application for Training Contract at X.

I am writing to apply for a training contract at Y commencing in September 2016. I have recently graduated with a BA degree in X from X University, and I am about to start my GDL course.

A training contract at Y would allow me to train at a well-established, leading international law firm that is committed to excellence in the practice of law promoting ethical standards, diversity and staff individuality. I find particularly interesting Z. Furthermore, I find it highly impressive that Xhas advised on some of the largest transactions. Finally, I am enthusiastic about X commitment to Pro Bono work.

I feel confident that I could contribute substantively to the firm.

Before university, I worked as X. I have learned how tomultitask as well as how to take decisions in decisiveness and determination while at the same time listening to other people’s opinions. I have tremendously enhanced my leadership and teamwork skills, and continue to strive to improve myself on an ongoing basis to increase both my professional and personal integrity as well as to practice and develop creative thinking.

My work experience with Y, who specializes in IP, Competition, Commercial and IT law demonstrates my commitment towards the law profession. As part of my work with Y I delivered legal research and participated in legal meetings with both clients and solicitors regarding legal cases in his primary fields of expertise.

I had the opportunity to write an honours thesis on X for which I received a first class grade.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely, 

  • Skip to content

How to write winning covering letters for law firms

targetjobs editorial team

Last updated: 24 Mar 2023, 17:42

When applying for a training contract or vacation scheme, your covering letter may be the first part of your application a law firm considers.

f

Your covering letter creates a powerful first impression, so make it easy for the recruiter to see that you have strong potential as a lawyer.

Many law graduate jobs at solicitors’ firms in the UK will ask you to apply for a training contract with a covering letter. Read this advice from recruiters at Slaughter and May, Cleary Gottlieb and Ince & Co, then follow our law cover letter template.

Some recruiters will want you to upload your covering letter as part of an online application form (such as Baker McKenzie and Jones Day), while others – usually smaller, high street law firms – will want you to send the letter alongside a CV (see our law CV example here ).

  • Cover letter template: see our annotated law covering letter sample for more tips and format examples .

How to write a law cover letter tip #1: use the letter to explain why you want to be a solicitor at that particular law firm

A covering letter is a golden opportunity to explain your motivations for becoming a lawyer and for applying to that specific firm. ‘My advice is to use the cover letter to introduce yourself and to explain why you are applying to that firm,' says Janine Arnold, trainee recruitment manager at Slaughter and May . ‘Be sure to include any additional information that you feel is relevant to your application.’

If you’re uploading a covering letter as part of a larger application form you should avoid repeating examples you’ve used to answer questions on the form. Give as broad a picture of your skills and experience as possible and only repeat something if you think it is particularly significant to that law firm. Your covering letter is an introduction to get the recruiter’s attention – a sample of your potential, if you like – not your overall application.

‘A well-written, succinct, persuasive covering letter crafted by an aspiring trainee solicitor who has really thought about the firm stands out,’ says Nichola Rowe, director of legal human resources at Cleary Gottlieb . ‘Ask yourself: what sets this firm apart from other law firms and how do my individual skills and experiences marry with that firm?’.

How to write a law cover letter tip #2: how long should it be?

A covering letter should be a maximum of one page, with a font size of 11 or 12. Slaughter and May ’s Janine Arnold agrees: ‘A lengthy covering letter is not necessary; aim for it to be no longer than one side of A4.' Remember that some firms will give a word count for the covering letter they want you to write as part of your application. It's important to stick to that word count. It shows that you can write succinctly and follow instructions.

Get the insights and skills you need to shape your career journey with Pathways. We’ll show you exactly what goes into a convincing cover letter, so you can give yourself the best chance of getting to the next stage of the application process.

How to write a convincing cover letter

How to write a law cover letter tip #3: the format law firms like

The best law cover letter examples have a clear structure, such as:

1. The introduction to your cover letter

Introduce yourself, explain what stage you are at in your degree course (including the university you’re attending), state that you are applying for a training contract and where you read about the law firm. This should only be a sentence or two.

2. A paragraph on why you want to work at that law firm

The second paragraph should cover why you want to be a solicitor and why you want to work for that law firm in particular. Highlight any experiences you’ve had that have convinced you that you want to be a solicitor, such as vacation schemes, open days or insight days. You can even mention mini-pupillages – it will impress graduate recruiters if you’ve put the effort into comparing the two sides of the legal profession, as long as you have good reasons for picking a career as a solicitor (this could come up at interview).

Make it clear why you want to work in the particular area of law that the firm focuses on. For example, if it’s a commercial firm you’ll want to draw on any work experience you’ve had at other commercial firms. Show off your research about the firm by explaining your interest in their main legal practice areas – don’t just say ‘I am interested in shipping law’, for example, but provide evidence of that interest.

You might also want to mention the firm’s training structure. Some firms will have compulsory seats, in which case you’ll need to show an interest in those areas. If you’ve chosen a firm that doesn’t have compulsory seats, or has no seat structure at all (such as Jones Day for example), then you could explain why this appeals to you above a more defined training contract structure.

3. A paragraph highlighting why you're a good fit for the law firm

Next, you need to pitch yourself to the recruiter. Make it clear that you are suited to a career as a solicitor: highlight achievements that show you have the competencies the firm has asked for. If the firm hasn’t specified exactly what it's looking for, see our article here on the skills most legal recruiters want from applicants. Don’t just say ‘I have good communication skills’ – you need to mention an achievement that hinged on your use of those skills.

4. The ending to your law covering letter

Close by referring the recruiter to your CV or application and stating your availability for interview(s) or assessment centre(s).

How to write a law cover letter tip #4: explain any extenuating circumstances

'Covering letters should also explain any mitigating circumstances relating to exam results and to address any questions that you may reasonably expect to arise from your application, such as any gaps in your CV,’ explains Janine.

How to write a law cover letter tip #5: proofread your cover letter before you hit ‘send’

Once you’ve put your covering letter together, don’t be tempted to rush it off. Ask friends, family and your university careers adviser to check it. ‘There is no good excuse for spelling errors, especially when you’re applying for a job that requires scrupulous attention to detail,’ points out a legal recruitment adviser at Ince & Co . ‘The number of applications we receive that contain errors is surprising. Your application is all we’ve got to go on, so you owe it to yourself to ensure it’s not let down by something so easily avoidable.’

Remember that law firms will be judging your ability to communicate professionally with clients on the professionalism of your covering letter – you’re making a pitch, just like you would do as a practising lawyer.

Legal recruiters at major law firms read through hundreds, if not thousands, of applications from aspiring trainee solicitors each year and will only spend a minute or so reading your covering letter. Some recruiters say that they make their decision paragraph by paragraph – if you haven't impressed upon them that you would be a good fit for their firm halfway through the cover letter, they might not even read the rest. Your covering letter creates a powerful first impression, so make it easy for the recruiter to see that you have strong potential as a solicitor by following the tips above.

In other news: Massive changes to the way solicitors qualify are on the horizon. Do you know how they will affect you? Find out here .

targetjobs editorial advice

This describes editorially independent and impartial content, which has been written and edited by the targetjobs content team. Any external contributors featuring in the article are in line with our non-advertorial policy, by which we mean that we do not promote one organisation over another.

People reading this also searched for roles in these areas:

  • Law graduate jobs

Related careers advice

undefined background image

We've got you

404 Not found

The Jobs Index

Writing a Training Contract Cover Letter: A Guide (With Sample)

  • Post author By Bote Elizabeth
  • Post date October 11, 2023
  • No Comments on Writing a Training Contract Cover Letter: A Guide (With Sample)

What is a Training Contract Cover Letter?

In the UK, applying for a training contract with a solicitor’s company frequently involves submitting a cover letter along with your resume and other materials. You have the chance to demonstrate your commitment to and interest in a legal career at this point. As a result, your training contract cover letter should be properly written, highlight your greatest traits, and be personalized for the business you’re applying to. This post will explain the value of training contract cover letters, demonstrate how to create one and offer a sample.

how to write a training contract cover letter

What is a Training Contract Cover Letter?

A Training Contract Cover Letter is a formal document submitted as part of the application process for a legal training contract in the United Kingdom. A training contract is a crucial step in a law student’s journey toward becoming a qualified solicitor in the UK. It typically spans two years and provides aspiring solicitors with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at a law firm or legal organization, developing practical skills and knowledge.

The training contract cover letter is a written statement that accompanies the applicant’s CV (Curriculum Vitae) and other application materials. It serves several key purposes:

  • Introduction: The cover letter introduces the applicant to the potential employer or law firm. It provides a personalized and engaging opening to the application.
  • Demonstration of Interest: It demonstrates the applicant’s genuine interest in the specific law firm or organization and the training contract opportunity. This shows that the applicant has done their research and is not submitting a generic application.
  • Highlighting Qualifications: The cover letter highlights the candidate’s qualifications, skills, and experiences that make them a strong candidate for the training contract. It provides an opportunity to align the applicant’s background with the requirements of the role.
  • Professionalism: It showcases the applicant’s professionalism, writing skills, and attention to detail. A well-crafted cover letter is an indicator of the applicant’s ability to communicate effectively, a crucial skill in the legal profession.
  • Personalization: A training contract cover letter should be customized for each application. It allows candidates to address the law firm’s specific requirements and demonstrate how they are an ideal fit for the firm’s culture and objectives.
  • Request for Consideration: Finally, the cover letter typically concludes with a polite request for consideration and may include contact information for further communication.

In summary, a Training Contract Cover Letter is a tailored document that law students and graduates in the UK use to apply for a legal training contract. It is a critical part of the application process and plays a key role in convincing potential employers of the applicant’s qualifications, motivation, and fit for the training contract role.

What is the significance of a training contract cover letter?

A training contract cover letter is frequently requested in addition to your resume and any other relevant documents when you apply for a training contract at a law firm. The last phase before you qualify is a two-year placement known as a training contract, which is completed by trainee solicitors. It’s the legal profession’s equivalent of an apprenticeship in this regard, making it crucial to your legal career. You need a strong cover letter if you want to stand out from a crowded field of applicants.

Legal firms prefer to choose the best applicants for training contracts because they often last two years. Your training contract cover letter is a personalized essay that outlines why you’re the most qualified applicant.

A training contract cover letter holds significant importance for several reasons:

  • Introduction and First Impression: The cover letter is your initial introduction to a potential employer or organization. It’s the first document they read before delving into your CV or resume. A well-written cover letter creates a positive first impression and sets the stage for a deeper review of your qualifications.
  • Demonstrating Enthusiasm: Your cover letter allows you to express your enthusiasm and genuine interest in the training contract. Employers are often looking for candidates who are genuinely excited about the opportunity and the organization, and your cover letter is the ideal place to convey your passion.
  • Personalization: It provides an opportunity to tailor your application to the specific organization and training contract. You can highlight why you’re a great fit for that particular role and how your skills and goals align with the organization’s mission and values.
  • Showcasing Soft Skills: A well-crafted cover letter can showcase your communication skills, attention to detail, and writing abilities. These skills are highly valuable, especially for positions that require clear and effective communication.
  • Addressing Gaps or Unique Qualifications: If you have any gaps in your CV or unique qualifications that need further explanation, the cover letter is the place to do so. You can address any questions or concerns the employer might have.
  • Personality and Culture Fit: Employers often seek candidates who not only have the right qualifications but also fit well with the organization’s culture. Your cover letter can give a glimpse of your personality and how you would contribute positively to the workplace.
  • Professionalism: Submitting a well-structured and error-free cover letter demonstrates professionalism and a serious commitment to the application process. It shows that you’ve put thought and effort into your application.
  • Differentiation: In competitive fields, a strong cover letter can differentiate you from other candidates with similar qualifications. It allows you to tell a unique story about yourself and your motivations.
  • Interview Invitation: A compelling cover letter can significantly increase your chances of being invited for an interview. It’s an opportunity to make a strong case for your candidacy, which may lead to further discussions and assessments.

In summary, a training contract cover letter is a vital component of your job application. It serves as your introduction, a platform to express your enthusiasm and qualifications, and a means to address specific employer concerns. When well-crafted, it can substantially impact your chances of securing a training contract.

How to Create a Training Contract Cover Letter

Several prospective solicitors submit applications to law firms after finishing the Legal Practice Course (LPC) in the hopes of getting a training contract. A lot of them are generic and only slightly different from a model or master copy. To stand out and improve your likelihood of being chosen, your training contract cover letter needs to be organized and customized. Writing a strong cover letter requires a bit more work, but the effort is worthwhile. This post offers you a step-by-step manual on writing this kind of cover letter:

1. Describe your motives for writing

Your training contract cover letter should begin with an explanation of why you are writing it. Explain that the reason for your application is a particular position that you saw advertised if that is the case. You can also state how you discovered the listing. Indicate the type of training contract you’re requesting as well as the start date.

2. Identify yourself to the recipient

After stating your purpose for writing, you can give a quick introduction of yourself. In your training contract cover letter, mention whether you are nearing completion of the LPC or have just finished it. Additionally, you can specify where you obtained your LLB and the grade you earned upon graduation.

3. Describe your motives for applying to the company.

The chance to specifically address the company in question in your cover letter is now. If you wish to stand out from the crowd, don’t send multiple versions of your training contract cover letter to different companies like many applicants do. Since this is also fairly generic, you need to say more than just that you would like to work there because it is a “big and respectable firm.”

Research the company before writing your cover letter. Learn about the practice’s location, size, and any current modifications or additions, as well as the legal subjects that are covered there. Then you can explain why you find these things appealing. Justify your rationale and anticipate being prompted to do so in an interview.

4. Suggest reasons why they need to choose you.

The second step in convincing the reader of your training contract cover letter is to list your most admirable qualities, traits, and accomplishments. Your prior research about the company can help you understand its priorities and the qualities it seeks in candidates. Discuss how you have the attributes they are seeking. Along with your expertise, you are welcome to discuss your extra talents and skills as long as they somehow relate to the training contract. While without reiterating anything, your cover letter should complement your resume.

5. End the cover letter.

After presenting your case for being selected, thank the person for reading and considering your application. You can quickly reaffirm your interest in the company’s training contract and let the reader know when you’re available for an interview. Sign off formally by providing your complete name and any pertinent contact information.

6. Check your cover letter for errors

Before sending your cover letter, spend some time reviewing and editing it. This provides you the chance to check your writing for any spelling or grammar errors and make any necessary corrections. You can evaluate your writing to see how well it flows if the formatting must be changed, and whether you missed any crucial details. You can ask a relative or a friend who has relevant expertise to review your cover letter and offer comments.

Training contract cover letter sample

Here is a sample training contract cover letter to assist you in creating your own. It is built on the previous steps and recommendations. You can use the following as a rough template or guideline.

Dear Ms. Kim,

My name is William Cooper, and I’m writing to express my interest in the training position at Harold and Quinn. My desire to work for the company dates back to when Mr. Harold delivered a guest lecture at my institution. I could relate to his explanation of why clients must understand the law, and it inspired me to constantly strive to be able to do so.

I received my LLB from the University of Bedfordshire with first-class honors, and I will soon finish my LPC at the College of Laws. Additionally, I finished a summer program that taught me how to create trademark opposition and revocation paperwork. The lawyers I worked with never had to take these back for revision. This experience also taught me how important case law relevancy and laws about charities are.

I’ve actively sought out opportunities to gain knowledge and abilities that would make me a great asset at Harold and Quinn, and I’m looking forward to the chance to finish my training contract with your company.

I appreciate that you took the time to review my application. I welcome your response and am willing to speak with you at any time that works best for you.

William Cooper

[email protected]

111-222-3344

how to write a training contract cover letter

It is essential to write a strong cover letter if you want to obtain a training contract, so put in the effort to get it right.

You can write a captivating cover letter that will impress hiring managers and guarantee that your resume is reviewed, resulting in more job interviews for you, by using the suggestions and examples above.

Wishing you success in your job hunt!

Frequently Asked Questions about Training Contract Cover Letter

  • What is a contract cover letter?

A one-page typed overview of your qualifications for the position you want is typically included in a cover letter for a contract expert. You can go into greater detail about the professional experiences and talents you’ve stated on your resume or application for a job using this format.

  • What are the three different kinds of cover letters?

Application cover letters, prospecting cover letters, and networking cover letters are the three primary varieties. Short emails are another efficient and more popular approach to presenting your resume (we call them “non-cover letter cover letters”).

  • What are the top 3 requirements for a cover letter?

Three paragraphs should make up a cover letter: an introduction, a sales pitch, and a conclusion.

  • How long should a training contract cover letter be?

A training contract cover letter should typically be concise and to the point. Aim for one page, with clear and well-structured content. Avoid being overly lengthy or including irrelevant information. Your goal is to capture the employer’s attention and make a compelling case for your qualifications in a brief and focused manner.

  • Should I include specific examples of my achievements in the cover letter?

Yes, including specific examples of your achievements can be beneficial in a training contract cover letter. These examples provide evidence of your skills and experiences and make your qualifications more tangible. However, ensure that these examples are directly relevant to the position and organization you’re applying to, and keep them concise to maintain the overall brevity of the cover letter.

  • Tags Cover Letter , training contract , training contract cover letter

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

404 Not found

404 Not found

The Cut

How to Write a Cover Letter That Will Get You a Job

I ’ve read thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of cover letters in my career. If you’re thinking that sounds like really boring reading, you’re right. What I can tell you from enduring that experience is that most cover letters are terrible — and not only that, but squandered opportunities. When a cover letter is done well, it can significantly increase your chances of getting an interview, but the vast majority fail that test.

So let’s talk about how to do cover letters right.

First, understand the point of a cover letter.

The whole idea of a cover letter is that it can help the employer see you as more than just your résumé. Managers generally aren’t hiring based solely on your work history; your experience is crucial, yes, but they’re also looking for someone who will be easy to work with, shows good judgment, communicates well, possesses strong critical thinking skills and a drive to get things done, complements their current team, and all the other things you yourself probably want from your co-workers. It’s tough to learn much about those things from job history alone, and that’s where your cover letter comes in.

Because of that …

Whatever you do, don’t just summarize your résumé.

The No. 1 mistake people make with cover letters is that they simply use them to summarize their résumé. This makes no sense — hiring managers don’t need a summary of your résumé! It’s on the very next page! They’re about to see it as soon as they scroll down. And if you think about it, your entire application is only a few pages (in most cases, a one- or two-page résumé and a one-page cover letter) — why would you squander one of those pages by repeating the content of the others? And yet, probably 95 percent of the cover letters I see don’t add anything new beyond the résumé itself (and that’s a conservative estimate).

Instead, your cover letter should go beyond your work history to talk about things that make you especially well-suited for the job. For example, if you’re applying for an assistant job that requires being highly organized and you neurotically track your household finances in a detailed, color-coded spreadsheet, most hiring managers would love to know that because it says something about the kind of attention to detail you’d bring to the job. That’s not something you could put on your résumé, but it can go in your cover letter.

Or maybe your last boss told you that you were the most accurate data processor she’d ever seen, or came to rely on you as her go-to person whenever a lightning-fast rewrite was needed. Maybe your co-workers called you “the client whisperer” because of your skill in calming upset clients. Maybe you’re regularly sought out by more senior staff to help problem-solve, or you find immense satisfaction in bringing order to chaos. Those sorts of details illustrate what you bring to the job in a different way than your résumé does, and they belong in your cover letter.

If you’re still stumped, pretend you’re writing an email to a friend about why you’d be great at the job. You probably wouldn’t do that by stiffly reciting your work history, right? You’d talk about what you’re good at and how you’d approach the work. That’s what you want here.

You don’t need a creative opening line.

If you think you need to open the letter with something creative or catchy, I am here to tell you that you don’t. Just be simple and straightforward:

• “I’m writing to apply for your X position.”

• “I’d love to be considered for your X position.”

• “I’m interested in your X position because …”

• “I’m excited to apply for your X position.”

That’s it! Straightforward is fine — better, even, if the alternative is sounding like an aggressive salesperson.

Show, don’t tell.

A lot of cover letters assert that the person who wrote it would excel at the job or announce that the applicant is a skillful engineer or a great communicator or all sorts of other subjective superlatives. That’s wasted space — the hiring manager has no reason to believe it, and so many candidates claim those things about themselves that most managers ignore that sort of self-assessment entirely. So instead of simply declaring that you’re great at X (whatever X is), your letter should demonstrate that. And the way you do that is by describing accomplishments and experiences that illustrate it.

Here’s a concrete example taken from one extraordinarily effective cover-letter makeover that I saw. The candidate had originally written, “I offer exceptional attention to detail, highly developed communication skills, and a talent for managing complex projects with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and multitask.” That’s pretty boring and not especially convincing, right? (This is also exactly how most people’s cover letters read.)

In her revised version, she wrote this instead:

“In addition to being flexible and responsive, I’m also a fanatic for details — particularly when it comes to presentation. One of my recent projects involved coordinating a 200-page grant proposal: I proofed and edited the narratives provided by the division head, formatted spreadsheets, and generally made sure that every line was letter-perfect and that the entire finished product conformed to the specific guidelines of the RFP. (The result? A five-year, $1.5 million grant award.) I believe in applying this same level of attention to detail to tasks as visible as prepping the materials for a top-level meeting and as mundane as making sure the copier never runs out of paper.”

That second version is so much more compelling and interesting — and makes me believe that she really is great with details.

If there’s anything unusual or confusing about your candidacy, address it in the letter.

Your cover letter is your chance to provide context for things that otherwise might seem confusing or less than ideal to a hiring manager. For example, if you’re overqualified for the position but are excited about it anyway, or if you’re a bit underqualified but have reason to think you could excel at the job, address that up front. Or if your background is in a different field but you’re actively working to move into this one, say so, talk about why, and explain how your experience will translate. Or if you’re applying for a job across the country from where you live because you’re hoping to relocate to be closer to your family, let them know that.

If you don’t provide that kind of context, it’s too easy for a hiring manager to decide you’re the wrong fit or applying to everything you see or don’t understand the job description and put you in the “no” pile. A cover letter gives you a chance to say, “No, wait — here’s why this could be a good match.”

Keep the tone warm and conversational.

While there are some industries that prize formal-sounding cover letters — like law — in most fields, yours will stand out if it’s warm and conversational. Aim for the tone you’d use if you were writing to a co-worker whom you liked a lot but didn’t know especially well. It’s okay to show some personality or even use humor; as long as you don’t go overboard, your letter will be stronger for it.

Don’t use a form letter.

You don’t need to write every cover letter completely from scratch, but if you’re not customizing it to each job, you’re doing it wrong. Form letters tend to read like form letters, and they waste the chance to speak to the specifics of what this employer is looking for and what it will take to thrive in this particular job.

If you’re applying for a lot of similar jobs, of course you’ll end up reusing language from one letter to the next. But you shouldn’t have a single cover letter that you wrote once and then use every time you apply; whatever you send should sound like you wrote it with the nuances of this one job in mind.

A good litmus test is this: Could you imagine other applicants for this job sending in the same letter? If so, that’s a sign that you haven’t made it individualized enough to you and are probably leaning too heavily on reciting your work history.

No, you don’t need to hunt down the hiring manager’s name.

If you read much job-search advice, at some point you’ll come across the idea that you need to do Woodward and Bernstein–level research to hunt down the hiring manager’s name in order to open your letter with “Dear Matilda Jones.” You don’t need to do this; no reasonable hiring manager will care. If the name is easily available, by all means, feel free to use it, but otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager” is absolutely fine. Take the hour you just freed up and do something more enjoyable with it.

Keep it under one page.

If your cover letters are longer than a page, you’re writing too much, and you risk annoying hiring managers who are likely sifting through hundreds of applications and don’t have time to read lengthy tomes. On the other hand, if you only write one paragraph, it’s unlikely that you’re making a compelling case for yourself as a candidate — not impossible, but unlikely. For most people, something close to a page is about right.

Don’t agonize over the small details.

What matters most about your cover letter is its content. You should of course ensure that it’s well-written and thoroughly proofread, but many job seekers agonize over elements of the letter that really don’t matter. I get tons of  questions from job seekers  about whether they should attach their cover letter or put it in the body of the email (answer: No one cares, but attaching it makes it easier to share and will preserve your formatting), or what to name the file (again, no one really cares as long as it’s reasonably professional, but when people are dealing with hundreds of files named “resume,” it’s courteous to name it with your full name).

Approaching your cover letter like this can make a huge difference in your job search. It can be the thing that moves your application from the “maybe” pile (or even the “no” pile) to the “yes” pile. Of course, writing cover letters like this will take more time than sending out the same templated letter summarizing your résumé — but 10 personalized, compelling cover letters are likely to get you more  interview invitations  than 50 generic ones will.

  • ‘I Had a Great Job Interview — Why Haven’t I Heard Back?’
  • How to Answer ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ in a Job Interview

by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images

IMAGES

  1. Training Contract cover letter examples [Get Noticed]

    how to write a training contract cover letter

  2. Training Facilitator Cover Letter Examples

    how to write a training contract cover letter

  3. Training Coordinator Cover Letter

    how to write a training contract cover letter

  4. Contract Cover Letter

    how to write a training contract cover letter

  5. Training Contract cover letter examples [Get Noticed]

    how to write a training contract cover letter

  6. Training Coordinator Cover Letter

    how to write a training contract cover letter

VIDEO

  1. Cover letter for job application

  2. Want to Write a Letter to President Clinton?

  3. Request Letter for Renewal of Teaching Contract

  4. HOW TO WRITE COVER LETTER for CVs RESUMES//COVER LETTER FOR JOB APPLICATION

  5. How To Write A Cover Letter For A Job Application

COMMENTS

  1. How To Write a Training Contract Cover Letter (With Example)

    1. Explain why you're writing The opening line of your cover letter ought to explain why you're writing it. If you're applying based on a specific vacancy that you saw listed, then explain that this is the basis for your application. You can also mention where you came across the listing.

  2. Training Contract Covering Letter

    1. Who are you? 2. Why are you writing to me? 3. Why do you want this role? 4. Why do you want to work for this firm in particular? 5. Why should we offer you a training contract? As well as these questions, there are two words you need to keep in mind: relevance and brevity. Keep the covering letter short, concise, and to the point.

  3. Training Contract Cover Letter: Example & How to Write

    The training contract cover letter example below is easily better than four out of five out there. This article will show you, step-by-step, how to write a cover letter for a training contract that's at least as effective.

  4. Training Contract cover letter examples [Get Noticed]

    Hi [insert recruiter name] Hi [insert department/team name] Avoid old-fashioned greetings like "Dear sir/madam " unless applying to very formal companies. How to find the contact's name? Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship.

  5. Stand Out in Your Training Contract Application

    Usually, you will need to complete a training contract application form and submit a solicitor CV and covering letter to each law firm you apply to.

  6. How to Write a Training Contract Cover Letter (With Example)

    1. Include a proper header to the letter One of the fundamental components of any cover letter is to include your address and the recipient's, along with names. This information is typically in two blocks, the block on the top left-hand corner usually contains your first and last name, full address, mobile number and email address.

  7. Training Contract Covering Letter

    The date goes below their address. There is no need for your name at the top as this appears at the bottom. You also don't need to include your telephone number and email address as these will already be on your CV or elsewhere on the application form.

  8. Training Contract Cover Letter: Example & How to Write

    Writing a winners training contract cover sending needn't be such ampere painful experience, though. The training contract hide letter example below is easily better rather four out a five out there. This blog will show you, step-by-step, how to write a cover letter for a training contract that's for least than valid.

  9. Training Specialist Cover Letter Examples and Templates for 2024

    777-555-0100 [email protected] April 25, 2023 Dear Hiring Manager, My name is Brittany Taylor, and I am writing to apply for the position of Training Specialist at Woodpecker Paper Company. As a human resources specialist with five years of experience, I believe I would make a valuable addition to the Woodpecker Paper Company team.

  10. Training Specialist Cover Letter Samples & Examples 2024

    To begin writing your job-winning training specialist cover letter, the first step to take is to create a well-formatted header and headline. A cover letter header will contain all the necessary information about the applicant and employer, including: Your name and professional title. Your professional contact information.

  11. White and Case Cover Letter

    View a real cover letter for the White and Case Full Time position, training contract. Access our database of cover letters for internships and recent grad positions. ... Application for Training Contract at X. I am writing to apply for a training contract at Y commencing in September 2016. I have recently graduated with a BA degree in X from X ...

  12. How to write winning covering letters for law firms

    1. The introduction to your cover letter Introduce yourself, explain what stage you are at in your degree course (including the university you're attending), state that you are applying for a training contract and where you read about the law firm. This should only be a sentence or two. 2. A paragraph on why you want to work at that law firm

  13. Training Contract Cover Letter: Example & How to Write / How to write

    The training contract cover letter example below is easily enhance than four out of fives out there. This article will show you, step-by-step, how toward script a screen letter by a training contract that's at minimal as effective. White and Case Cover Message | Full Time | training covenant

  14. Writing a Training Contract Cover Letter: A Guide (With Sample)

    In the UK, applying for a training contract with a solicitor's company frequently involves submitting a cover letter along with your resume and other materials. You have the chance to demonstrate your commitment to and interest in a legal career at this point.

  15. HR Training & Development Manager Cover Letter Examples

    Keep the content of this letter fresh and recent. Do provide measurable examples of your work, such as the rate of improvement that resulted from a presentation you made or technical training you organized. Don't discuss qualifications you lack or draw attention to areas of weakness. If you've never created training materials, discuss your ...

  16. Training Contract Cover Letter: Example & How to Write

    An training contract cover letter example below the easily ameliorate than four out of five out there. Save article will show you, step-by-step, how to write a cover letter used a train contract that's at least than effective. Training contract cover letters are an important part of the user process forward the two-year training periods ...

  17. Training Contract Cover Letter: Example & How to Write

    This article will showing you, step-by-step, how to write a cover letter for a training contract that's at least because effective. Read on the find plenty of tested and tested advice, UK-specific product, and a data-driven approach in communicating your skills and suitability which takes the need for brilliant creative-writing skills off the ...

  18. How to Write a Cover Letter That Will Get You a Job

    So let's talk about how to do cover letters right., First, understand the point of a cover letter., The whole idea of a cover letter is that it can help the employer see you as more than just ...

  19. How to write a strong CV for a lab assistant position

    How to write a management accountant CV (with example) How to write a training contract CV (with example) Good CV examples (With extra tips and best practices) How to write a contractor CV (with steps and example) How to highlight maths skills on your CV (With examples) How To Write a Security Officer Cover Letter (With a Template and an Example)