Transcript
"Should I include references in a cover letter?"
No, you do not need to include references in a cover letter, that's not a good idea. Typically, people who want your references, they will ask for them, but you don't need to write down your references in the cover letter. If you've been referred to the firm by someone, meaning someone has asked you to apply, someone has told you to write them that works there, then you should name who that person is. Or if you are close to someone in the firm and you know them, then you should do that as well.
As a general rule though, if you know another associate there and you're an associate or something other, typically, you have to be very careful when you name drop with firms, because different associates leave all the time, they come and go in most firms, and partners are in good standing or bad standing. So sometimes, mentioning someone can actually hurt you, so you just need to be careful about that. And then, no, you don't want to include your references in the cover letter, unless they're people that are there that have asked you to apply, which I guess can be a form of reference. But other than that, no.
