- Sep 9, 2024
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While I am not completely certain about this, the way I see it, the "why are you interested in the work we carry out" bit could potentially be interpreted as a "why are you interested in the work of commercial lawyers (particularly in the transactional sphere)". It also seems to me that including a why commercial law section as well is the less risky option. If the graduate recruitment team did not mean this question as asking for it and a candidate chooses to add it anyway, recruiters will at worst see this as a slightly overeager attitude - though I think it is more likely they will not have an issue with it, since it gives useful information as to the background and experiences of the applicant. However, if grad rec wants to see the why commercial law part be addressed and a candidate does not, that could significantly reduce chances of progression. My view is that the optimal way of structuring the cover letter is (i) integrating some clear 'why commercial law' reasoning into the section about your interest for Davis Polk's transactional practices (such as explaining how your general interest in commercial law has to do with complex negotiations and learning about businesses in a variety of industries); or (ii) writing a short independent 'why commercial law' paragraph.
As for more general tips on how to make the cover letter stand out, I would advise you to try to make your why Davis Polk reasoning very specific. The firm's London office does great work in corporate M&A and capital markets and has recently been making substantial investments into growing their PE, finance, and restructuring practices. To stand out, I would try to show off (i) my knowledge of what makes Davis Polk's M&A and capital markets practice unique among well regarded teams in the City (look comparatively at types and sizes of deals they work on, client base, financial results) and (ii) my knowledge of the recent expansion and strategy changes.
