DO AS I SAY!! (WELL, NOT ALWAYS!): Should a law student send out a "bulk" Cover Letter??

                                          That's me and my law school buddy driving cross-country
                                          I' m behind the wheel. . do you like my hair? #Route66

When a law student asks for job search strategies for getting a job or internship, I usually say that the one thing that should NOT be done (for sure!) is to send out a “one size fits all” cover letter. Well, if I may step up to the confessional and kneel. . . I would tell you that I did EXACTLY that when I was a rising 3L applying for a summer internship.

Midway during my 2L year, I decided that I wanted to intern with a United States Attorney’s Office – any U.S. Attorney’s office – anywhere! I did want a position in the Criminal Division, but if offered one in a Civil Division, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. So I did the unthinkable – I sent a generic cover letter to over 50 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country (during the years that I went to law school, most law students at Georgetown Law didn’t even know what Career Services was (like me), so I sure that I am not offending anyone in that current office by this admission against interest). . .

. . Low and behold – I got two “bites.” The U.S Attorney’s Offices in Los Angeles AND San Diego were interested! Yes, the only two offices that were the least bit interested in me were both over 3,000 miles away from my apartment in Washington, D.C!

After final exams, I gathered up what passed for traveling money that I had (it would be called “loose change” today) and with some added financial assistance by my parents, I boarded an airplane and flew cross-country for the final ‘in person” rounds of interviews with both offices (San Diego first, and then I rented a car and drove up through Disneyland and into the Spring Street office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles).. Two weeks later, I received the letter that I had already become accustomed to the – “You have such absolutely off the charts stellar credentials that we simply cannot believe it!!!. . BUT, unfortunately we are sorry to say that we can’t hire you.” – letter.  However, a week later, my fortunes took an abrupt turn for the better as I received an acceptance letter for an summer internship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, CA. . Yes, indeed! . . off to lalaland!

I packed up my UN-air-conditioned Chevy Chevette (do they even make those things anymore?) and headed cross-country, arriving three and a half days later (having dropped off a colleague who was interning in Denver along the way). I was able to quickly sublet an apartment in San Monica from two guys who were sound engineers for the motion picture industry. One looked like Charles Manson and the other a young Michael Chang (probably Warner Brother guys) . Sorry Michael ( @changesq. ). but you know I care!)

I’ll share one trial experience that I had during this summer internship in Part II. For now, keep in mind that there are no strict rules that work for everyone in their search for summer and/or fall internships. While I STILL DON’T recommend “blasting” out generic cover letters, I do appreciate that all law students need to “think out of the box” and figure out for themselves new and innovative strategies to go out and get internships. Don’t just stare into your Symplicity screen and sigh because there is nothing available.

WATCH OUT FOR PART II OF MY L.A. INTERNSHIP:  . . . .BAG MEN, DEFENDANTS CRYING ON THE WITNESS STAND. . It will be better than an episode of “The Good Wife!”