Ms. Marie Richardson
Director of Legal Recruitment, The Legal Aid Society
199 Water Street, New York, NY 10038
February 18, 2011
Dear Ms. Richardson:
I am a third-year student at Harvard Law School and am very interested in joining the Legal Aid Society as an
attorney. After learning more about your work, I believe that the Legal Aid Society would be an ideal place for
me to work because it builds on my longtime commitment to serving people who face social inequality. In turn,
I hope to further Legal Aid’s mission through my dedication and experience. The Legal Aid Society’s
grassroots work appeals greatly to my passion for legal services, and New York offers a myriad of opportunities
to work with clients from different backgrounds on pressing issues. I very much hope to become a part of the
Legal Aid Society’s mission to address these urgent needs.
This past summer, I was an intern at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest working in disability law, health
justice, and environmental justice. There, I had the opportunity to engage in community lawyering involving
both direct services and systemic law reform. During my first summer in law school, I worked at Advocacy,
Inc., a disability law organization. I had a chance to work on both individual cases and policy research. Through
all of my legal experience, I have come to see that the power of the law, strong in everyone's lives, has a
particular force and urgency for underrepresented people in challenging situations. They rely heavily on the
legal process to protect their rights, secure the benefits they are entitled to, and fundamentally improve their
quality of life.
Prior to entering law school, I worked at a highly diverse Title I elementary school as an AmeriCorps member.
By helping connect families to the school and community resources, I developed the interpersonal skills needed
to effectively assist clients from a variety of backgrounds. I also gained awareness of the many issues facing
people of color, those in poverty, and immigrants. Before this position, I worked at a community-based activity
program for children with autism. There, I developed close relationships with my students and witnessed the
social barriers often faced by people with disabilities.
In law school, I have had many opportunities to expand my commitment to public service and develop my skills
as an advocate. I have taken courses in disability law, child welfare, and gender and racial justice. Through the
Family Law clinic, which I have participated in for four semesters, I work directly with LGBT clients and those
who have experienced domestic violence. Through the Harvard Mediation Program, I have had the opportunity
to mediate cases in small claims court, help low-income and elderly people living in local housing authorities
resolve disputes with their neighbors, and resolve conflicts involving criminal charges against juveniles. This
year, I have also participated in intensive workshops in negotiation and trial advocacy, and these courses will
enable me to serve clients more effectively. All of these professional, academic, and extracurricular experiences
have exposed me to the structural inequality faced by many in our society and have reaffirmed my commitment
to using law as a means to promote social justice.
Both during and before law school, I have been passionately committed to providing services that people need to
survive and thrive. In addition to this dedication to clients, I have developed legal advocacy skills that will
transfer to any kind of law. I very much hope that I will have the opportunity to speak with you about how I
may contribute to the Legal Aid Society’s work meeting low-income New Yorker’s legal needs. Thank you for
your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Christine Light