Letter of Motivation Review

Hi all,

As a non-native speaker, I am never confident about my writing. I am preparing a motivation letter for my application to a post-master program in Europe. Please help to review my letter. I appreciate your comments and feedback.

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[…] September, 2012

Dear Sirs or Madams,

I am applying to your xxx program. I believe the program is the best choice to develop my career, given that I aim to be a high-profile legal practitioner in areas where international cross-border businesses mostly involve, including international trade, project finance, private equity, capital market, corporate governance, dispute resolution to name a few.

From my working experience, I understand that knowledge on economics is critical to lawyers. I worked two years as a legal assistant in a Vietnamese law firm that typically serves foreign investors and multinational corporations. My job, among the others, was to draft legal advice and opinion and prepare legal research. During my works, my supervisors always emphasized that lawyers advising business should understand business; otherwise, those advices would be impractical. Also, I was reminded that a legal research on an economic policy would be less valuable and persuasive if the researcher could not present or analyze the underlying economic benefit or motivation of such policy.

This lesson repeated when I was doing internships in the United States of America in 2011. My first internship was at a global pro bono law firm. Once, I was assigned to research on the fundamental issues of the World Trade Organization. My research was provided for the government of an African least developed country who was considering to access to the World Trade Organization in the future. My research, even though would have focused only legal issues, had not been approved until I introduced, even roughly, impacts that the accession would bring to the country’s economic which heavily relies on oil. I realized that my legal research could be more valuable if it would take into account economic situation and present impacts thereon by new trade regime.

I had another internship at a social enterprise operating as an investment fund which bases in Washington D.C yet operates only in Asian, African, and Latin American countries. My job was to assist the general counsel to provide legal support for investment officers with their deals in foreign countries. The intern enabled me to work with colleagues who majored in finance and economics. Working with them was an amazing experience because I could observe how legal advice would affect and compromise with an investment decision and the vice versa. Working at the fund – a social enterprise also allowed me to work on legal documents tailored for non-profit/for-profit operative motivation.

Above representative experience articulates my decision to attend a program that can provide me knowledge on economics which is likely to add value to my legal practice in future. I choose to pursue the program because I want to distinguish myself with other lawyers in my home country, by cultivating my knowledge through interdisciplinary and globalized courses, and enhancing my international communication through cultural exchange with foreign professionals. This desire of mine is also inspired and convinced by the student’s experience shared on the program’s website. With the introductory courses on economics and courses on the economic analysis of law, I expect to gain knowledge to apply economic perspective to analyze laws. Also the program excites me by the chance to interact, discuss, and learn from economists who plays a pivotal role in business decisions and economics policies. Internationality is another decisive feature that the program amazes me. I have spent 1,5 year to study a master of law program in the United States and enjoyed the experience and opportunity to study with professionals from all over the world. Now, I want to explore the European cities and universities and encounter more wonderful people to enrich my cultural experience.

I believe the above experience explains my desire and commitment to the program. At the program, I undertake to meet the program’s expectation and contribute my experience, expertise, and knowledge for the benefit and interest of the EMLE and other students in the program.

Thank you for kind consideration and I look forward to your acceptance.