Harold Lincoln 2000 Elliot Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 206-448-4628 harold.lincoln@gmail.com
Fenton Walsh Junior Partner, Colt & Wesson Lawyers, 800 Terry Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
Dear Mr. Walsh,
This is with reference to your advertisement in "The Seattle Times", dated December 5, 2011, inviting applications for the position of a junior civil lawyer in your reputed institution. I hereby submit my application for the said post. I am qualified for the position in accordance with the conditions of eligibility mentioned in your advertisement. I have three years of experience as a civil lawyer and I specialize in dealing with defamation cases. I am seeking employment with your organization as it is one of the best known names in the legal discipline with specialized departments for every sub field of law.
During the three years of experience, I have been a part of numerous law suits. I have acted as the chief assistant lawyer in three defamation cases and as the main lawyer in one defamation case. During my career, I have devoted most of my time for research. This has strengthened my grasp over all the laws related to defamation and I am conversant with the latest legislation and verdicts related to this sub discipline. I have excellent interpersonal abilities that help me to understand the clients and act accordingly. I am well aware of the fact that this job has no fixed office hours and, therefore, I routinely work overtime.
In the past six months, I have had greater experience with the presentation of arguments in courtrooms. This has honed my skills of persuasion, presentation, and communication. I hold a bachelor's degree in law and I am a member of the bar in the state of Washington. I am impressed with the degree of specialization in your firm that is the reason for making this application.
I have attached my resume with this letter. You can contact me on the telephone number or the email address mentioned above.
Yours sincerely
(Harold Lincoln)
Enclosure: Resume
Table 10.1 Elements of a Business Letter
Content
Guidelines
1. Return Address
This is your address where someone could send a reply. If your letter includes a letterhead with this information, either in the header (across the top of the page) or the footer (along the bottom of the page), you do not need to include it before the date.
2. Date
The date should be placed at the top, right or left justified, five lines from the top of the page or letterhead logo.
3. Reference (Re:)
Like a subject line in an e-mail, this is where you indicate what the letter is in reference to, the subject or purpose of the document.
4. Delivery (Optional)
Sometimes you want to indicate on the letter itself how it was delivered. This can make it clear to a third party that the letter was delivered via a specific method, such as certified mail (a legal requirement for some types of documents).
5. Recipient Note (Optional)
This is where you can indicate if the letter is personal or confidential.
6. Salutation
A common salutation may be “Dear Mr. (full name).” But if you are unsure about titles (i.e., Mrs., Ms., Dr.), you may simply write the recipient’s name (e.g., “Dear Cameron Rai”) followed by a colon. A comma after the salutation is correct for personal letters, but a colon should be used in business. The salutation “To whom it may concern” is appropriate for letters of recommendation or other letters that are intended to be read by any and all individuals. If this is not the case with your letter, but you are unsure of how to address your recipient, make every effort to find out to whom the letter should be specifically addressed. For many, there is no sweeter sound than that of their name, and to spell it incorrectly runs the risk of alienating the reader before your letter has even been read. Avoid the use of impersonal salutations like “Dear Prospective Customer,” as the lack of personalization can alienate a future client.
7. Introduction
This is your opening paragraph, and may include an attention statement, a reference to the purpose of the document, or an introduction of the person or topic depending on the type of letter. An emphatic opening involves using the most significant or important element of the letter in the introduction. Readers tend to pay attention to openings, and it makes sense to outline the expectations for the reader up front. Just as you would preview your topic in a speech, the clear opening in your introductions establishes context and facilitates comprehension.
8. Body
If you have a list of points, a series of facts, or a number of questions, they belong in the body of your letter. You may choose organizational devices to draw attention, such as a bullet list, or simply number them. Readers may skip over information in the body of your letter, so make sure you emphasize the key points clearly. This is your core content, where you can outline and support several key points. Brevity is important, but so is clear support for main point(s). Specific, meaningful information needs to be clear, concise, and accurate.
9. Conclusion
An emphatic closing mirrors your introduction with the added element of tying the main points together, clearly demonstrating their relationship. The conclusion can serve to remind the reader, but should not introduce new information. A clear summary sentence will strengthen your writing and enhance your effectiveness. If your letter requests or implies action, the conclusion needs to make clear what you expect to happen. It is usually courteous to conclude by thanking the recipient for his or her attention, and to invite them to contact you if you can be of help or if they have questions. This paragraph reiterates the main points and their relationship to each other, reinforcing the main point or purpose.
10. Close
“Sincerely” or “Cordially” are standard business closing statements. (“Love,” “Yours Truly,” and “BFF” are closing statements suitable for personal correspondence, but not for business.) Closing statements are normally placed one or two lines under the conclusion and include a hanging comma, as in Sincerely,
11. Signature
Five lines after the close, you should type your name (required) and, on the line below it, your title (optional).
12. Preparation Line
If the letter was prepared, or word-processed, by someone other than the signatory (you), then inclusion of initials is common, as in MJD or abc.
13. Enclosures/Attachments
Just like an e-mail with an attachment, the letter sometimes has additional documents that are delivered with it. This line indicates what the reader can look for in terms of documents included with the letter, such as brochures, reports, or related business documents.
14. Courtesy Copies or “CC”
The abbreviation “CC” once stood for carbon copies but now refers to courtesy copies. Just like a “CC” option in an e-mail, it indicates the relevant parties that will also receive a copy of the document.
15. Logo/Contact Information
A formal business letter normally includes a logo or contact information for the organization in the header (top of page) or footer (bottom of page).
