PUBLIC INTEREST RESUME AND COVER LETTER GUIDE

PREPARED BY

THE MORTIMER CAPLIN PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER

THE PUBLIC INTEREST RESUME

The public interest resume is similar in many respects to any other resume. The resume, with the cover letter, introduces you to potential employers. It also will be the basis for your interviews; the resume is generally used as a conversation starter during an interview. In some situations, the resume and cover letter may be the only example of your written work that the hiring organization ever sees. The sample public interest resumes contained in this handbook are intended to serve as guides.

RESUME BASICS
Remember that a resume is often skimmed, not read. A successful resume is neat, well-organized, and quickly highlights the skills and experiences you want to market. Make sure that your resume is wellwritten, carefully proofread for spelling and typographical errors, and will guide the employer to your strengths during an interview. Your resume should be able to sell you at a glance. Look over your resume: Does it look cluttered? Is the information regarding your educational and work experiences presented clearly? Have you included specific examples of community service and volunteer activities? Edit selectively and do not list every job you ever had or every club you ever belonged tobe selective and carefully describe those experiences the employer will be most interested in. The activities and experiences that you value most should have the longest descriptions. Public interest resumes should demonstrate your commitment to public service. Your enthusiasm for public interest can be evinced through your academic accomplishments, previous jobs, volunteer experiences, internships, and any other relevant experiences. Relevant non-legal employment and experiences should be included. Descriptions of your experiences should focus on the skills you gained. Choose active verbs. Delete throat clearing terms: worked assisting professor with research can usually be edited to researched. Some resumes will focus on clients that were served to demonstrate the skill of working with a particular client base.

INFORMATION TO INCLUDE
Your resume will start with your name and address (if your email address is not professional, change it!). Resumes are organized in reverse chronological order. Your resume should contain a section for education, experience, and any personal items likely to be of interest to the employer such as language skills. The education section of your resume should be listed first (until you have been out of law school for at least five years), followed by experience and then, space permitting, personal interests. The education section will include your year in law school, law school honors, and activities. Other graduate work comes next. Your college section should include honors and activities and, if applicable, the title of your thesis. Do not include GPAs or LSAT scores on your resume. The experience section will vary widely depending on factors such as whether you worked between college and law school. Some college or law school activities, if significant (such as pro bono work, internships, and school clinics), should be set out in the experience section rather than as a school activity. For public interest resumes, you should consider highlighting:

Public service employment Functional skills (research, organizing, client interviewing, drafting, analysis) Experience in substantive areas Volunteer work Clinical experience, moot court, volunteer work with student organizations Public service affiliations Pro bono work Other special skills or information, especially language abilities

RESUME LENGTH
While a one-page resume is the norm for most 1L resumes, individuals with substantial public service and volunteer experience may be advised to lengthen their resume. Many public interest employers have no objection to concise resumes of more than one page, providing the information contained is relevant. And, as you gain experience during law school, 3L applicants for fellowships and permanent jobs often have longer resumes documenting their substantial skills and knowledge.

COVER LETTERS
The cover letter provides prospective employers with their first exposure to you and thus, it should demonstrate your commitment to (or interest in) public service. Most cover letters are a page in length, although two page cover letters are acceptable. A successful cover letter is addressed to a particular person, starts with an introductory paragraph that identifies you and the position you seek, describes your qualifications, skills and interests, and concludes with an ask. In the cover letter it is important for students to demonstrate in the first paragraph that they know something about the work of the organization. You can then discuss in subsequent paragraphs how your skills fit the organizations needs. You should address your cover letter to the hiring attorney or intern coordinator if you know who that is. If not, you can use general forms of address, such as To whom it may concern or Dear Sir or Madam. In the introductory paragraph, you should identify yourself and the specific position you seek. You should mention how you learned of the position or organization; if you have a personal contact, mention this in the first paragraph. The most common mistake students make when writing cover letters is describing only why the job would be perfect for them. While you may well want to discuss how a summer with the employer fits into your long-term goals, the objective is to sell yourself. You need to describe the skills and knowledge that make you stand out. Answer the question of why you are interested in this particular area of law or particular employer. What prior experiences have you had that gave you skills? Dont merely restate your resume; the cover letter is an opportunity to analyze for the employer how you have the skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm they need, citing examples from your resume. The conclusion should state your interest in arranging an interview to discuss the position and state the time during which you are available for an interview (during a Career Fair, over winter break when you will be in Seattle, etc.). Do not forget to include contact information where you may be reached.

After you have submitted a cover letter and resume, if you do not hear back from the prospective employer within two or three weeks, you can follow up with the contact person to make sure that your resume and cover letter were received.

BASIC RULES FOR RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS

4 Use the same font consistently throughout both the cover letter and resume (where necessary, use bold, italics, or small capitals). Use the same abbreviations throughout the cover letter and resume. Be consistent in your use of commas. If relevant, be sure to use the correct form of the journal or publication you worked on. Never use the first person in your resume. Be specific when describing job functions, cases worked on, research areas, and documents drafted. There are two spaces after the period at the end of every sentence and after every colon. Commas and semi-colons are followed by only one space. Spend as little space as possible discussing your reasons for wanting to work with a particular organization. Focus instead on your experiences and skills. Vary the structure of your sentences to avoid repeated rhythm. Do not start every sentence with I. Avoid using contractions. Make sure that the cover letter flows smoothly and that your transitions make sense. Proofread every document do not rely solely on spell check, as it does not catch every mistake. Make sure that the name of the organization and the contact person are spelled correctly. If you are unsure of the contact persons gender, call the organization.

JANE Q. PUBLIC
STREET ADDRESS CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22903 434.000.0000 ALIAS@VIRGINIA.EDU

EDUCATION
University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, VA J.D. Expected, May 2011 Public Interest Law Association, Member First Year Council and Student Body Representative Undergraduate College, City, ST B.A., Major, May YEAR Honors: General & Departmental Honors Activities: Resident Advisor; Research Assistant; Resident Staff, Foreign Affairs Symposium Writing: Staff Editor, My Colleges Newspapers University of Barcelona Summer Program, Barcelona, Spain Course of Study, Month, YEAR

EXPERIENCE
Employer, Washington, D.C. Intern, Summer 2008 Description here; Description here; Description here. Employer, Alexandria, VA Extern, 2006 - 2007 Description here; Description here; Description here. Employer, Washington, DC Research Assistant, 2006 Description here; Description here; Description here. Employer, Alexandria, VA Life Guard, Spring Recess, 2004 Description here; Description here; Description here.

LANGUAGE SKILLS; INTERESTS

5 Language: Spanish (proficient) Interests: Major League Baseball; reading U.S. History

PERMANENT ADDRESS 1800 KING STREET ALEXANDRIA, VA 22201

JOHN Q. PUBLIC, JR.

alias@virginia.edu | 703.555.4596

SCHOOL ADDRESS 1800 TJS PLACE CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22903

EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SCHOOL OF LAW, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA J.D. EXPECTED, MAY 2011 Conference on Public Service and the Law, Conference Organizer Public Interest Law Association (PILA), First-year representative Rex E. Lee Society, Member PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, PRINCETON, NJ A.B. ECONOMICS (MINORS IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES; FINANCE), SUMMA CUM LAUDE, JUNE 2004 Finance GPA: 3.88 Law and Public Affairs Forum, Member Princeton Young Achievers, Inductee EXPERIENCE Employer, New York, NY Analyst, 2004-2008 Description here; Description here; Description here. Employer, Washington, D.C. Title, Summer 2007 Description here; Description here; Description here. Employer, San Francisco, CA Title, Summer 2005 Description here; Description here; Description here. Employer, Roanoke, VA Title, Winter Recess, 2004 Description here; Description here; Description here. INTERESTS PUBLIC INTEREST: I have volunteered in homeless shelters and soup kitchens in New York City, San Francisco, and Roanoke. SPORTS: Avid college and professional football fan; Weightlifting TRAVEL: Extensive travel throughout Eastern Europe OTHER: enjoy cooking, reading Australian history 6

Jeanne Q. Public
2 0 0 0 15th S t r e e t , No., 3 1 1 | C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e , V i r g i n i a alias @ v i r g i n i a . e d u 434.555 .7 9 8 2 EDUCATION University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, VA Juris Doctor Expected, May 2011 Just Democracy, Member Lambda Law Alliance, Member Federalist Society, Member North Grounds Softball League, Participant University of Maryland, College Park Athens, GA Bachelor of Arts, Theatre, May 2008 | GPA: 3.9/4.0 Phi Beta Kappa Graduated Summa Cum Laude, with Honors Sigma Kappa Sorority: Social Chairperson, International Summer School, American University in Paris, 2006 EXPERIENCE Employer, Boston, MA Title, May September 2008 Description here Description here Description here Employer, Boston, MA Title, May September 2008 Description here Description here Description here Employer, Washington, D.C. Title, Date Description here Description here Description here Employer, City, ST Title, Date Description here Description here Description here PERSONAL Interests include international relations, human rights law, and criminal defense work; Working knowledge of French Interested in music and film criticism, professional baseball 7 22903

SAMPLE COVER LETTER NO. 1 APPLICATION TO A LEGAL AID ORGANIZATION Jane Q. Publico 111 Cedars Court, Apt. Z-9 Charlottesville, VA 22903 (434) 555-9999 January 6, 2009 Barbara Kaban Deputy Director, The Childrens Law Center of Massachusetts 298 Union Street Lynn, MA 01903 Dear Ms. Kaban: I am a second-year student at the University of Virginia School of Law. I write to express my sincere interest in working with the Childrens Law Center of Massachusetts as an Intern for the summer of 2005. I learned of your organization when I participated in the Childrens Law Network training program that took place at my law school in October. I met Brigid Kennedy-Pfister at that time and she encouraged me to forward my application materials for a summer internship with the Childrens Law Center. The efforts of your organization in providing legal services to children and their families and to train the individuals who work closely and most often with children are commendable. While I developed my interest in working with young people in college, my experience as an Academic Counselor with the Virginia Tech Upward Bound program solidified that interest. Upward Bound is a federally-funded program that works to encourage atrisk youth to matriculate from high school to college. Last summer, I worked as a Law Clerk with the JustChildren program in Charlottesville. As you are likely aware, JustChildren works to insure that young people in Virginia have access to the services and supports necessary to live successful lives in their communities. I remain in contact with the JustChildren staff, including the programs director, Andy Block, who supervised my internship. It was Andy who invited me to participate in the Childrens Law Network events. While clerking, I was able to complete several legal research and writing projects that assisted my supervising and other staff attorneys in trials and hearings and in pending class actions and other litigation. I was also fortunate to interact with clients directly and assumed responsibilities for several clients throughout the summer, including three young men imprisoned in the states juvenile detention centers. I learned a lot from this experience and in addition to developing my research and writing skills, my experiences with JustChildren have lead me to want to explore how children are treated outside of Virginia. Your organizations work matches nicely with my past work and the type of work I envision doing as an attorney. It is my strong desire to continue to be an advocate for children. As such, I think my work with the Childrens Law Center will be mutually beneficial. I should add that your work in educational matters is of special interest to me because I hope to eventually focus my work in childrens law on the legal issues that children face in school systems. I am enclosing my resume and a writing sample for your review. I would appreciate having the opportunity to interview with you at your convenience. You may contact me at the number above or by e-mail at address@virginia.edu to set a meeting time. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely yours,

Jane Q. Publico Enclosures (2)

SAMPLE COVER LETTER NO. 2 APPLICATION TO A LEGAL AID ORGANIZATION John Q. Public 1111-9 Barracks Road Charlottesville, VA 22901 February 11, 2009 Lisa Boan Human Resources Department The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20037

Dear Ms. Boan, I am a second-year law student at the University of Virginia and I am writing to apply to the 2008 Summer Internship with Animal Protection Litigation Section of the Humane Society. I have a long-standing personal interest in animal welfare. As an undergraduate, I received my B.A. in animal behavior, and I originally planned to continue my research in graduate school. I was particularly interested in pursuing research that could be applied to improve techniques for the maintenance and treatment of captive animals, with the goal of increasing their quality of life. However, as I inquired into various programs, I quickly discovered the lack of concern for welfare held by many in the scientific community. This realization, while not entirely surprising, was certainly discouraging. However, it proved pivotal in guiding me toward the conclusion that if my goal was to improve conditions for animals, then perhaps a career in law, rather than research, was the most effective path. The features of the Humane Society that I find most impressive are the expertise and resources you have for advocating on behalf of animals. In addition, the success with which you are able to modify and change both state and federal law is inspiring. The organizations dedication to animal protection on a broad level is clearly shown by its reputation and national support. I am confident that a summer spent with you would be a rewarding and invaluable experience. It is an opportunity I would welcome.

I have enclosed my resume and a writing sample. If you require any additional information, please email me at address@virginia.edu or you can reach me by phone at (703) 555-9999. I look forward to further discussing the summer clerk position with you.

Sincerely yours,

John Q. Public

Enclosures (2)

SAMPLE COVER LETTER NO. 3 APPLICATION TO A PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE Jane Q. Public 105 Good Luck Avenue, No. 404 Charlottesville, VA 22902 address@virginia.edu (703) 555-5555 January 28, 2009

Allen F. Bareford, Esq., Public Defender Fredericksburg Office of the Public Defender 2300 Fall Hill Avenue, Suite 300 Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Re: Application for Internship Position (Summer 2008) Dear Mr. Bareford: I am a first year student at the University of Virginia School of Law and am writing to express my interest in an internship position with the Fredericksburg Public Defender Office during the summer of 2008. I grew up in Fredericksburg and intend to practice law in that city following graduation from law school. My legal studies during my first semester of law school coupled with my passion to defend important rights provided in our Constitution has led me to strongly consider pursuing a career in indigent defenseasdefense as a public defender. I am fascinated by our criminal justice system and am deeply convinced in the need to provide effective legal assistance to those in our society who are unable to afford legal representation. I can think of no better place to begin my legal career as a public defender than as a summer intern in your office. I am convinced that an internship at the Fredericksburg Public Defender will provide me an excellent opportunity to hone my research, writing, and advocacy skills. The internship would also provide me significant exposure to the various types of criminal cases that are litigated in Fredericksburg and the Commonwealth of Virginia. I have enclosed my rsum and a writing sample for your review. Thank you in advance for considering my application. Sincerely,

Jane Q. Public

Enclosures (2)

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SAMPLE COVER LETTER NO. 4 APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Jane Q. Public 100 East Main Street Charlottesville, VA 22903 February 12, 2006 John L. Stevens Section Chief U.S. Dept. of Justice 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20005

Re: Application for Internship Position in Department of Justice: Civil Liberties (Summer 2006) Dear : Please accept this letter and enclosed documents as my application to the Legal Affairs Departments summer internship program. I am a first-year student at the University of Virginia School of Law with a background in economics and a strong interest in pursuing opportunities in finance and international development following graduation from law school. My interest in working on issues relating to civil liberties stems primarily from my personal conviction that the Constitution affords certain fundamental protections to this countrys citizens. In my experience, the denial of these basic rights, not only had detrimental consequences for the individual, but also for society as a whole. Given this conviction, I cannot imagine a better place than DOJs Civil Rights Division where a law student would be able to work on an array of issues, all under the watchful eyes of highly skilled attorneys. I will bring several attributes to the Legal Department: (1) a demonstrated commitment to serve underprivileged communities in the United States and abroad; (2) a strong background in research and writing; (3) an educational background in economics that allows me to understand complex economic issues. My work with Teach For America, a national corps committed to closing the disparity in educational opportunities between students in low income communities and their wealthier peers, allowed me a glimpse into the inequities in our education system and how this ultimately hinders the development of productive society. My experience in Mumbai, India, where I taught at an orphanage, and where I began a program to tutor street children, taught me a similar lesson that a governments failure to invest in its children whether in Atlanta or Mumbai, has a devastating effect on a societys ability to overcome ingrained economic hurdles. These experiences ultimately informed my decision to pursue legal studies; to combine my background in economics and law to advocate in favor of equal protection for underprivileged communities. Given Charlottesvilles proximity to the District, please know that I will be happy to travel to your office at a moments notice. Thank you in advance for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely,

Jane Q. Public

Enclosures

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SAMPLE COVER LETTER NO. 5 APPLICATION TO AN ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE Jane Q. Public 100 East Main Street Charlottesville, VA 22903 February 13, 2007 Lars F. Nance Special Deputy Attorney General North Carolina Department of Justice 9001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-9001 Re: Application for Internship Position in Services to State Agencies Section (Summer 2007) Dear Mr. Nance: I was very excited to find out that the Attorney Generals Office has such a wide-ranging summer internship program. I am a second-year student at the University of Virginia School of Law and am writing to apply for an internship in your office during the upcoming summer. My work as a judicial intern in two North Carolina courts last year instilled in me a deep desire to represent and advocate on behalf of the State of North Carolina in either the civil or criminal realms. Raleigh is of particular interest to me given my upbringing in North Carolina, my college experience in the Triangle area, and my hope to begin my legal career in Raleigh following graduation from law school. I am attracted to working in your office because I enjoy taking on challenges and value the inevitable knowledge gained from overcoming them. For example, the grade I am most proud of in my life was an A in a Spanish literature class that I chose to take while abroad, in which I was the only non-native Spanish speaker. I am extremely eager to put my skills to work helping my home state in whatever way I may be of use, including using my third year practice certificate if possible. Interning at the North Carolina Court of Appeals gave me significant exposure to a wide range of substantive areas of the law. I read countless briefs and records, which helped me understand what makes an effective brief and allowed me to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of legal arguments. I further developed my clear, concise writing style by explaining those strengths and weaknesses in writing, a style that can be seen in the three opinions I drafted. The law clerks at the Court of Appeals came to rely on me as the go to intern whenever they had an urgent project because they knew that I would not have to sacrifice accuracy for speed. Judge Elmores letter of recommendation will follow this application under separate cover. Please find enclosed a copy of my rsum and application. I will be in Raleigh from February 27th through March 6th for Spring Recess. I would be happy to meet with you then or any other time that is convenient for you. If you wish to reach me, I am available via e-mail at jane.q.public@virginia.edu, or by telephone, at (434) 555-5555. Thank you in advance for considering my application. Sincerely,

Jane Q. Public Enclosures (2)

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SAMPLE COVER LETTER NO. 6 APPLICATION TO A LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYER JANE DOE e-mail@virginia.edu 2309 South Road Charlottesville, VA 22903 January 29, 2007 Mr. Darrell Chambers, Esquire Assistant Solicitor Baltimore City Law Department 101 City Hall Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Re: Application for an Internship Position (Summer 2007) Dear Mr. Chambers: I am a first year student at the University of Virginia School of Law and am writing to express my interest in an internship position with the Baltimore City Law Department. I have an extensive background in litigation, a commitment to assist the ongoing improvement in Baltimore - a city where I grew up, and a diverse educational background. I am convinced my work and academic backgrounds will allow me to be a valuable addition to your summer program: prior to entering the School of Law, as a legal assistant at the National Association of Attorneys General, I assisted with the filing of several multi-state litigation cases against major tobacco companies. Moreover, even though I am interested in the adversarial aspect of our legal system, my undergraduate studies at Yale University provided me a substantive introduction to the workings of city governments and their ability to control urban development through the planning and legal processes. My senior thesis studied the ability of city governments to use zoning as a redevelopment tool while partnering with private companies. Finally, please know I have a deep commitment to serve the public as evidenced by my work in the public interest and volunteer work in New Haven, the District of Columbia, and Charlottesville. My extensive research on the work of the Law Department indicates its extensive functions in both litigation and transactional matters. An internship in your office would provide me an unparalleled opportunity to learn from skilled attorneys in the departments principal divisions, allow me to hone important research, writing, and advocacy skills, and provide me a valuable glimpse into the workings of a law department in a city where I intend to practice law following graduation from law school. I have enclosed my resume, a list of references, and a writing sample for your review. I will be happy to forward my law school transcript once my first semester grades are available in a few weeks. Please accept my thanks in advance for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely,

Jane Doe Enclosures (3)

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