Telling your story : a step-by-step guide to drafting persuasive legal resumes and cover letters

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Where to find it

Law Library — 2nd Floor Collection (2nd floor)

Call Number
KF297 .L49 2017
Status
Available

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Summary

Everyone has a story, and in a professional context, students tell their stories in resumes and cover letters -- two of the most important pieces of persuasive writing they will ever draft. Telling Your Story uses techniques students learn in legal writing classes to teach them how to draft memorable resumes and cover letters. This book can be used as part of a legal writing curriculum, as a weeklong or weekend course on professional development, or by career advisors (both in law school and undergraduate school) when working with students.

When used as part of a legal writing curriculum, it provides a framework to draft resumes and cover letters one step at a time and avoid the familiar rush to meet a deadline, which often results in something less than memorable. The book starts by focusing on audience and purpose, like all effective legal writing. Students are encouraged to think about their professional goals by completing a questionnaire and to work with career advisors to fine-tune their resumes and cover letters for specific internships.

Each chapter includes: 1) the purpose of a specific section of a resume or cover letter; 2) a step-by-step guide to drafting that section; 3) annotated "before and after" student samples; and 4) a checklist. The student sample resumes are divided into groups based on years of work experience before law school and the sample cover letters are grouped by the level of connection a student has to the potential employer. The book includes chapters on writing samples, requesting references and recommendation letters, and job prospecting and networking tips.

PowerPoint slides are available to professors upon adoption of this book. Download a sample of the full 103-slide presentation here . If you have adopted the book for a course, contact bhall@cap-press.com to request the PowerPoint slides.

Contents

Introduction : how can I use this book to help me get a job? -- Part I. Legal Resumes -- Identifying information: who are you and how can I contact you? -- Education: where did you go to school and what did you do while you were there? -- Work experience - general information and format: what skill categories best describe your work experience? -- Work experience - substantive descriptions: what specifically did you do in each position you held? -- Special skills and interests: what do you do outside of law school and work? -- Part II. Cover Letters -- Purpose and logistics: why do I need a cover letter and what do I put in it? -- Heading, addressee, and introduction: who are you and why are you writing this cover letter? -- Facts: what are one or two things that you want me to know about you? -- Discussion/argument: why are you a good fit for our organization? -- Closing: how do I end my letter and what is the next step? -- Part III. Writing Samples, References and Recommendation Letters, and Networking -- Writing samples : what is a legal writing sample and how do I put one together? -- References and recommendation letters : what are they and how do I get one? -- Tips for job prospecting and securing a job : what can I do now to start establishing my professional network?

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