University of Michigan Law School Office of Career Services
Sample Resumes, Cover Letters and Other Professional Correspondence
625 S. State St. 210 Hutchins Hall Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1215 734.764.0546 734.764-5228 fax lawcareers@umich.edu http://www.law.umich.edu/currentstudents/careerservices
Ms. Haley D. Randall
112 W. 7th Street, Ann Arbor, MI 99999 (313) 555-5555/haleyr@umich.edu ________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL, Ann Arbor, MI J.D. expected May 2009 Member, Environmental Law Society Member, Women Law Students Association TULANE UNIVERSITY, New Orleans, LA B.A. with honors, English Literature, May 2004 Phi Beta Kappa Editor, The Tulane Times-coordinated writing and printing of daily college newspaper
EXPERIENCE
SMITH, SMITH & JONES, P.C., Boston, MA May 2004- July 2006 Paralegal in 25-attorney law firm specializing in environmental law. • Analyzed and drafted summary of several provisions of the Clean Water Act. • Reviewed and summarized Environmental Impact Statements. • Conducted pretrial preparation: summarized witness testimony; organized and prepared trial notebooks. WOMEN=S CRISIS CENTER, New Orleans, LA 2002-2004 Peer Counselor, part-time • Advised women on health care issues, domestic violence, and divorce. • Wrote training manual for peer counselors. SOFTWARE, INC., Detroit, MI Sales Clerk • Organized and maintained business records. • Provided service to retail customers. Summer 2003
LANGUAGES
Spanish (proficient)
INTERESTS
Creative Writing, Skydiving, Jazz
Ms. Haley D. Randall
112 W. 7th Street, Ann Arbor, MI 99999 (313) 555-5555/haleyr@umich.edu
December 10, 2006
Ms. Marion A. Duncan, Director Environmental Law Group 333 Clear Avenue Washington, D.C. 10000 Dear Ms. Duncan: I am a first-year law student at The University of Michigan Law School, and am interested in a summer intern position with the Environmental Law Group. I have long been interested in environmental issues, and am committed to using my law degree to advocate on behalf of protecting the environment. Prior to entering law school, I worked at a small law firm specializing in environmental law. In one case, I assisted attorneys in advising a small corporation of its compliance requirements under the Clean Water Act. Moreover, my experience analyzing several environmental impact studies provided me with useful technical knowledge in the environmental field. This experience, as well as my education and my work as the Editor of The Tulane Times, helped me strengthen my writing and analytical skills. These skills have been further developed at law school with my two semester legal research, writing, and analysis class. My work as a peer counselor at the Women’s Crisis Center afforded me valuable experience in advising clients, problem-solving on a variety of crisis intervention issues, and in educating others by writing a training manual. In addition, my work at the Crisis Center enabled me to improve my oral communication skills. At Software, Inc., I developed my organizational and interpersonal skills, and worked with financial records. I have enclosed a resume for your review. I will be in Washington, D.C. over the December break, and would enjoy the opportunity to meet with you to discuss further my qualifications. I will call you next week to try to arrange a convenient time to visit your office. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,
Haley D. Randall Enclosure
MOLLY P. WILLIAMS
1600 Washtenaw Ave., Apt. #139, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (734) 764-0546 mpwilliams@umich.edu EDUCATION THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL, Ann Arbor, MI Juris Doctor expected May 2009 Newsletter Coordinator, Asylum and Refugee Project, Winter 2006 Student Attorney, Family Law Project, Fall and Winter 2006 KENYON COLLEGE, Gambier, OH Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, June 2006, Majors: Political Science and Public Policy Intern, Ohio General Assembly, Office of the Senate Majority Leader, Fall 2005 UNIVERSIDAD DE MADRID, Madrid, Spain, Fall 2003-Spring 2004 Intensive study of Spanish language, culture, and history EXPERIENCE DETROIT COMMUNITY SERVICES, Detroit, MI June 2004-June 2005 Public Policy and Legislative Specialist Researched emerging policy issues for metropolitan Detroit health and human service organizations Produced weekly newsletters for member organizations Coordinated annual legislative conference IMMIGRANT ASSISTANCE, Inc. Washington, D.C. July-December 2005 Public Policy Intern Researched and prepared memoranda regarding social, health, and policy issues affecting immigrant women Provided research assistance to domestic violence advocates Assisted in lobbying Congress about pending domestic violence legislation U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN, HON. PATRICIA E. KING, Detroit, MI Summer 2003 Intern Observed court proceedings including trials, motions, and settlement conferences Performed basic legal research under the supervision of the judge’s law clerks Assisted with updating library materials GREEN VALEY COUNTRY CLUB, Oakdale, MI Swimming Instructor to children ages 3 to 10 LANGUAGES Fluent in Spanish, conversant in Portuguese Summers 2000-2002
MOLLY P. WILLIAMS
1600 Washtenaw Ave., Apt. #139, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (734) 764-0546 mpwilliams@umich.edu December 11, 2006
Attorney General Michael Cox Office of the Michigan Attorney General P.O. 30212 Lansing, MI 48909 Dear Attorney General Cox: I am a first-year law student at University of Michigan Law School and would like to apply for an internship this coming summer with the Attorney General’s Medicare Fraud Office. I grew up in Michigan and I am committed to a public service career here in order to make access to health care available to everyone. Prior to starting law school, I worked at Detroit Community Services as a Public Policy and Legislative Specialist. My primary area of responsibility was emerging health policy issues. My duties included coordinating an annual legislative conference attended by health care providers, health and human service organization professionals, and members of the legislature. This experience gave me a view of the organizational and substantive problems faced in providing health care to low income individuals. In addition, working with these groups fueled my desire to go to law school. Furthermore, I will be taking a class on Health Law this coming semester. I believe my experience will enable me to be an asset to your office and have enclosed my resume for your review. I am available to interview after my last exam on December 18th. Thank you for your time and consideration. I will contact your office in two weeks to arrange a mutually agreeable interview time.
Very truly yours,
Molly P. Williams Encl.
Morton O. White
mow@umich.edu
PERMANENT ADDRESS CURRENT ADDRESS 121 Augusta Dr. 551 South State St Chicago, IL 60609 Ann Arbor, MI 48109 312.667.4941 734.764.0546 ___________________________________________________________________________
Education
University of Michigan Law School Juris Doctor expected May 2008 Member, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity Member, Future Tax Lawyers of America Work part-time to finance law school education University of Chicago Bachelor of Arts, May 2005 Major: Mathematics Minor: Accounting Certificate Program in Statistics Completed Member, Mathematics Honor Society: Served on Careers Committee Member/Treasurer, University of Chicago Students’ Hunger Task Force Honors : Received Sophomore Scholarship for Highest GPA in Mathematics Department
Experience
The Hon. Caridad Hechavarria, Chicago Municipal Tax Court Intern, Summer 2006 • Researched city tax code on a variety of issues including commuter tax, gasoline tax, and local property tax. • Observed court proceedings and attended settlement conferences. • Drafted court opinions and findings of fact. American Mathematics Academy, Hanover, NH Mathematics Tutor and Coach, Summer 2005 • Served as Mathematics Olympics Coordinator. • Assisted in recruitment, training, and supervision of over 100 coaches and volunteers. • Organized curriculum for math teams. University of Chicago Student Financial Aid Office Student Worker-Office Assistan,t Summer 2004 • Processed financial aid applications, responsible for data entry.
Morton O. White
551 South State St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 734.764.0546 mow@umich.edu September 20, 2006
Ms. Yvette LaRue Legal Recruitment Coordinator Reese & Frey 100 West Wacker Dr. Chicago, IL 60609 Dear Ms. LaRue: I am currently a second- year student at the University of Michigan Law School, and I am interested in obtaining a summer associate position at Reese & Frey. I am confident that my particular experience, training, and enthusiasm would benefit your firm this summer. The opportunity to work at Reese & Frey would provide me with the opportunity to explore my interest in tax law while living and working in my hometown of Chicago. This past summer, I interned with the Honorable Caridad Hechivarria of the Chicago Municipal Tax Court. This internship reaffirmed my interest in practicing tax law. Judge Hechivarria critiqued my writing extensively and reinforced the basic tenets of legal research and writing. Both that internship and the extensive two semester Legal Practice Program at Michigan have sharpened my legal research, writing, and analysis. Furthermore, my job during the summer of 2005 as a mathematics tutor and coach at the American Mathematics Academy as well as my classes in tax law have strengthened my desire to practice law in that area upon graduation from Michigan. I have enclosed a copy of my resume for your review, which includes my permanent address and phone number in Chicago. I would be happy to answer any questions that you have about my qualifications and experience. From December 24th to January 6th will be at home in Chicago and would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you. Thank you very much for your consideration. I will call you in two weeks to arrange a convenient time to visit your office. Sincerely,
Morton O. White Encl.
SAMPLE THANK-YOU LETTER FORMAT using personal letterhead
Date Contact Person Title Law Firm or Organization Address City, State Zip Salutation: (Use formal titles even if directed during the interview to address interviewers by first name) Paragraph one: Express your gratitude to the individual (your host or the recruitment coordinator) and/or the group of interviewers you met with during your visit. You may mention here if there was a topic of conversation during your interview that was of special interest, or if you discovered a common interest or tie between you and the interviewer. Paragraph two: Mention enclosures or anything that may require attention, such as materials that were requested by the organization. Paragraph three: Conclude your letter by reiterating your interest in the organization and advising them to contact you if they require any additional materials or information. Sincerely,
Your Name
SAMPLE TRANSMITTAL LETTER FORMAT using personal letterhead This letter style may be used after the interview process to submit additional materials to the employer. Date
Contact Person Title Law Firm or Organization Address City, State Zip Salutation: (Use formal titles even if directed during the interview to address interviewers by first name) Paragraph one: Address it to the individual who received your thank- you letter. A reminder of who you are and when you interviewed with the firm should be included in this paragraph. Paragraph two: Explain what materials you are enclosing and why. You may have recently completed a note or received a letter of recommendation from a past employer that you want the potential employer to review before making its final decision. Paragraph three: Conclude your letter by reiterating your interest in the organization and advising them to contact you if they require any additional materials or information. Sincerely,
Your Name Enclosure(s)
SAMPLE LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE FORMAT using personal letterhead
Date
Contact Person Title Organization Address City, State Zip Salutation: Paragraph one: Accept their offer of employment, stating the term of employment (Summer 2007), or if it is a permanent offer, your beginning date (Fall 2007). If the offer was extended and accepted via telephone or by email, indicate whom you previously communicated with and confirm your acceptance. Paragraph two: Indicate any future actions with the employer or information you expect to convey to them, such as your anticipated availability or specific starting date of employment, or if you plan to follow up with an individual at the organization at a future date to verify details regarding your employment. Paragraph three: Conclude your letter with a sincere statement of your gratitude or of your anticipation in working for the organization. Sincerely,
Your Name
SAMPLE LETTER OF REJECTION using personal letterhead
Date
Name Title Organization Address City, State Zip Salutation: Paragraph one: Indicate that you are rejecting their offer of employment and the term of employment that was offered and by whom the offer was made. Paragraph two: This is where you can explain why, in as much or little detail that you feel is necessary, you are rejecting their offer. You may want to keep your options open for the future! If you do not want to offer an explanation, merely state that you have decided to pursue other opportunities. Paragraph three: Thank the employer for the offer once again and for their attention. Sincerely,
Your Name