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KENNETH ALLEN 485 W. Wexler St., Apt. 110, Madison, WI 53703 (608) 469-8886

August 3, 2009

Ms. Nora Gill Director of Legal Hiring and Recruiting Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office 69 W. Washington, Suite 3200 Chicago, IL 60602

Dear Ms. Gill:

As a third year law student at the University of Wisconsin, I have a strong and demonstrated interest in criminal law and public service, and would welcome the opportunity to work as an ASA in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. I am particularly interested in the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau or Special Prosecutions Bureau, where I would have the opportunity to put into action my interests in litigation, criminal law, and public service.

My passion for litigation is demonstrated by my success on the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Mock Trial team, and by my first place finish in the Nathan S. Heffernan Appellate Advocacy Competition, an appellate advocacy competition with both brief writing and oral advocacy components. My experience at the Jefferson County DA’s Office last summer confirmed for me that criminal law is the area in which I would like to employ my oral advocacy skills and writing ability. I especially enjoyed observing the prosecutors operate in the courtroom; most seemed very comfortable in a room that daunts so many other attorneys, and I attributed that to the amount of time they spent in front of judges and juries.

I have a unique background working as an interpreter in the Army, which positions me well for a career as an ASA. I literally have had people’s lives in my hands on a daily basis and am accustomed to the fast- paced and accurate action that such responsibility entails. Furthermore, my commitment to public service is reflected by the long, difficult hours I put in, and by the hundreds of hours I devoted to community service in addition to my regular duties, for which I received two medals. I find the role of prosecutor particularly appealing because it would put me in a unique position to serve the interests of justice and public safety, a role which I enjoyed while in the military, as well as the opportunity to experience the challenge of adversarial litigation in the courtroom soon after graduation.

The research I have conducted and conversations I have had with former summer interns in your office confirm that the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau provides a dynamic and challenging environment in which to develop my legal career. Furthermore, I plan to sit for the Illinois Bar Exam and to practice law in Chicago, where I expect to settle after graduation. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you at the upcoming on-campus interviews at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Allen