Public Interest Cover Letters
Public interest employers place significant weight on cover letters when assessing applicants. A strong cover letter is your opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to public interest work, highlight relevant skills and experiences, and explain why you are a strong fit for a particular role and organization.
Format & Structure
- Use standard business letter formatting with proper spacing and a professional salutation.
- Use traditional fonts like Times New Roman or Garamond, matching the font style used in your resume. Font size should be between 10 and 12 points. Margins should be set between 0.7 and 1 inch on all sides.
- Avoid abbreviations or shortcuts, such as using slashes for "and/or." However, if there is an accepted short form of the name of the organization you are writing to (e.g., ACLU or AI Justice), it is acceptable to use it in the text of your cover letter.
- Include your phone number and email address either at the top of the letter or in the closing paragraph.
- Address your letter to a specific individual whenever possible. If the job posting provides contact information or instructions, follow them exactly. Where you are unable to identify the name of the individual to address your cover letter to, you may state "Dear Hiring Committee" or "Dear Hiring Manager."
- Where you know the recipient of your letter, the traditional salutation used is "Dear [Ms./Mr.] [Last Name]." However, we understand that this traditional salutation is not inclusive of individuals who do not use those titles or identify as gender nonbinary. While Mx. has recently come into use, we suggest only using it when you know the individual prefers it or identifies as gender nonbinary. Another alternative is "Dear [First Name] [Last Name], which avoids presuming how the recipient of your letter identifies. However, some employers, such as government agencies, may wrongly assume that omitting a title reflects a lack of formality or familiarity with professional norms. One way to navigate this is to see if the recipient of your letter has an online presence that might provide a clue as to how they prefer to be addressed. In some cases, they may have a staff bio.
- Keep your cover letter to one page. This rule should be strictly followed without exceptions.
Content
Begin your cover letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing. For example: "I am a first-year student at Stetson University College of Law and am writing to apply for a summer internship with Bay Area Legal Services."
Then, briefly give the recipient a reason to continue reading your letter. If you have a personal or professional connection to the organization, such as a prior internship, volunteer experience, or referral, you can mention it here. If not, establish a meaningful link between you and the organization. This could include a demonstrated commitment to their practice area, prior experience serving similar communities, or a genuine interest in their mission.
This section is the most important part of your cover letter. It is your opportunity to demonstrate you are the best candidate for the position. Rather than restating bullet points from your resume, use this space to explain how your personal, professional, or academic experiences have helped you develop skills and insights that align with the organization's goals as well as the responsibilities of the position.
You can use the job description (where one exists) to get a sense of what competencies the employer values. While this information can guide you on what types of skills and experiences to highlight, you should not simply imitate the language of the posting.
When mentioning specific skills (e.g., legal research, writing, client interviewing, advocacy), provide concrete examples showing how you have successfully applied them. Keep in mind, public interest employers, especially those involved in direct services, also look for soft skills that demonstrate a candidate can connect with diverse or underserved populations (e.g., empathy, cultural competence, interpersonal skills).
As much as possible, connect your motivations and experiences to the organization's mission and specific needs. In addition to carefully reading the job posting, research the organization's mission, client demographics, recent projects/campaigns, to tailor your letter to the position you are applying to.
Reiterate your interest. You can also briefly recap what you discussed in your cover letter (e.g., why you may be a good fit for the position) but do so briefly in no more than 1-2 sentences. If you're submitting additional materials, mention enclosures. For example: "I have enclosed a copy of my resume, writing sample, and references for your review." Do not enclose documents the employer did not request. Include your phone number and email, if not set forth at the top of your letter. Thank the employer for their consideration. Lastly, you can state that you hope to hear from them soon or have the opportunity to further speak with them.
Don't forget to include a professional closing at the end of your cover letter. "Sincerely," followed by your full name, is the most commonly accepted and safest choice. You cana lso include a signature above your name (either a scanned image or name typed in script font) to give it a polished finish.
Common Mistakes
- Using the same cover letter for every application without tailoring it to the specific organization or position you're applying to.
- Focusing on what the job will do for you rather than on how you can contribute to the organization and support its mission.
- Simply restating your resume without explaining why your experiences matter and how they prepare you for the role.
- Neglecting to proofread. Spelling, grammar, or formatting errors can automatically take you out of the running for an interview. Your cover letter is the employer's first impression of your writing and communication skills.
- Using language that is overly casual or assumes a personal relationship with the recipient. For example, "I am extremely excited by the possibility of working with you this summer and would love to chat about how I can contribute," can come across as too informal. Enthusiasm is great, but it should be expressed professionally.
- Failing to understand the organization's work or advocacy style. Public interest employers expect you to have a basic understanding of how they approach their work. For example, organizations that use a community lawyering model focus on lifting up the voices of the people they serve, not speaking for them. Telling such an organization that you want to work there because you "hope to be a voice for the voiceless" would suggest a lack of understanding of their mission. Make sure you understand not just what the organization does, but how they talk about their work.