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11 Attorney Resume Examples That Got the Job in 2024

Best for senior and mid-level candidates

There’s plenty of room in our elegant resume template to add your professional experience while impressing recruiters with a sleek design.

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Attorney Resume

• Attorney Resumes by Experience
• Attorney Resumes by Role

Attorney Resume FAQs

As a successful attorney in 2024, you are a stellar researcher, writer, investigator, and client confidante.

But when it comes time to  write your resume , how are you supposed to fit everything you do into one page? You also have to consider formatting, metrics, and whether to add any optional sections.

We’re here to help you handle your resume and  attorney cover letter  so you can do what you do best: practice law.

Our 11 attorney resumes have helped lawyers of different specialties land jobs at top-tier law firms , so they’re perfect for beginning your resume-writing journey. We also have tips and tricks for each resume type to help you rise above the competition and get the attorney job you’ve always dreamed about in 2024.

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Why this resume works

• From what we’ve seen, “dedicated”, “generated,” “developed,” and “communicated” are the kind of words worth a prominent position at the beginning of your resume bullet points. These power starters turn making a strong first impression into a breeze because they clarify and condense your achievements, making them pop.
• Always go out of your way to tailor your attorney resume to the job description and hiring firm’s needs. Phrases like “researching state laws and challenges” and “conduct and consolidate legal research,” for instance, can act as evidence of your relevant chops and know-how. And you know what? That just might get you on the recruiter’s speed dial.
• Listing your job responsibilities is alright. But so will every other candidate applying for that job. To stand out and catch the recruiter’s attention, use numbers to quantify your achievements, such as “84% positive feedback” and “increasing efficiency by 14%.”
• Want to tick that “practical experience” box? By showcasing pertinent skills (think “collaboration with clients,” “negotiations,” and “legal research”) in your work history section, you tell potential employers loud and clear that you’re not just capable in theory but can actually roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Entry-Level Attorney Resume

• You can list projects, internships, and any other work experience you have, even if it’s not related to law.
• Feel free to add relevant courses from your law school to highlight your skills even further!
• As a rule of thumb, you must customize your objective for each job to which you apply.
• If you’re going to use the same objective for each application, leave it off entirely and focus on work experience or projects.

Associate Attorney Resume

• This allows you to include at least four bullet points per entry, which is just enough to learn about your accomplishments without overwhelming the reader.
• Always  check your resume  for typos, grammar errors, and other mistakes before you submit it.

Senior Attorney Resume

• Good skills to include on your senior attorney resume are “contract review,” “ethics,” and any specific areas of law you have experience researching.
• Whatever you choose, double-check the job description to ensure you’re providing the correct information. 

Corporate Attorney Resume

• Sure, you’ve got the basics down—header, work experience, education, skills—all set. But don’t stop there; toss in the certifications and Bar admissions sections to put your eligibility in the spotlight and confirm that you’ve got what it takes to talk the corporate law talk and walk the courtroom walk.

Transactional Attorney Resume

• It’s time to ditch the flashy design quirks (think images, tables, text boxes, and gimmick fonts like Comic Sans) and embrace the beauty of simplicity. Employ bullet lists for easy readability, accentuate key wins with bold and italics, and play with colors to highlight different section headings. It’s about keeping things clean and ensuring the ATS (and eventually, human eyes) can navigate your transactional attorney resume with ease.

Trademark Attorney Resume

• If you’ve never worked as a trademark attorney before, highlight your transferable skills. For example, have you advised clients on how to navigate prospective new legislation? Trademark law is always changing, so  knowing how to research recent litigation is a highly useful skill .
• Use similar keywords and responsibilities to reassure your future employer that you’re fit for the job.

Litigation Attorney Resume

• Don’t downplay your paralegal experience on your litigation attorney resume. It adds a degree of proficiency to your practice.

Real Estate Attorney Resume

• Devote valuable resume space to both your Bar admissions and certifications to demonstrate excellence in your field.

Contract Attorney Resume

• Tailor your  resume skills  section and work experience by including keywords mentioned in the job ad. Include just enough to show your expertise without copying everything word-for-word. Most of all, be honest about the skills you possess.
• Make sure that you list the specific types of contracts you have negotiated and managed, too!
• No matter what content you include, always  check your resume  for errors, including typos, grammatical faux pas, punctuation mistakes, and inconsistencies. Don’t let a few minor issues cost you the job!

Civil Litigation Attorney Resume

• All jokes aside, you can also include metrics related to things other than money. How many cases did you handle? How many clients did you meet? How many contracts or drafts did you review?  Odds are, most of your responsibilities involve numbers !
• Use bullet points and action verbs to cut filler, and avoid using adjectives or adverbs that take up space. 
• Symbols can also help: a $ instead of “dollars” and + instead of “more than” is both simple and effective!

Related resume guides

• Legal Assistant
• Investigator
• Cyber Security
• Security Officer

As an attorney, employers expect you’ll have passed the bar, and depending on the specific type of legal work you’re interested in, you may need more specialized certifications, such as the Certified International Trade Law Specialist or Board Certification in Criminal Law. While hiring personnel will likely request photocopies of your licenses and certifications, you should still list these on your attorney resume since it’s a quick assurance that you’re qualified for the specific role.  

List your highest education first. Start with law school and work your way down to your undergraduate degree (exclude high school). In the education section of your resume, you should list the name of the school along with the location, degree, and when you completed the degree. If you’re recently out of school, consider adding short bullet points that point to academic accomplishments, especially as it relates to legal work. 

No doubt, you’re used to pages of legalese and it’s no sweat for you to make sense of it; however, for your attorney resume, keep it to one page. This is your opportunity to quickly advertise your best law qualifications and accomplishments. Going into detail is best reserved for writing a great cover letter .  

7 Attorney Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Attorney Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)

Most popular attorney resumes.

• Associate Attorney
• Real Estate Attorney
• Immigration Attorney
• Litigation Attorney
• Resume Text Examples

How To Write an Attorney Resume

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

Associate Attorney Resume Example

Real Estate Attorney Resume Example

Immigration Attorney Resume Example

Litigation Attorney Resume Example

Lawyer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Marc H. Forsythe (777) 202-9876 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 54631 Gemini Way, Des Moines, IA 50047

Enthusiastic, highly motivated attorney with over a year of experience and solid academic record in law and business. Able to apply extensive research skills to independent assignments or collaborations with legal research and litigation teams. Adept at building strong professional relationships with colleagues and clients.

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• High familiarity with legal terminology across a wide variety of civil legal contexts
• Thorough legal research skills
• Solid grasp of business and federal laws and legal procedures

Doctor of Jurisprudence/Master of Business Administration, Drake University, Des Moines, IA September 2016 – May 2019

• Legal Writing Teaching Assistant, Drake University, Des Moines, IA (August 2017 – May 2019)
• Developed and researched assignments
• Prepared sample memoranda
• Graded student assignments for grammar, cite-form, and substance (62 students)
• Helped coordinate C. Edwin Moore Moot Court Competition (2017 & 2018)
• Judicial Extern, The Honorable Mary Ann Brown, District 8B Chief Judge, Des Moines, IA (Summer 2018)
• Assisted in researching and drafting judicial opinions for cases involving HIPAA and ERISA

Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, Drake University, Des Moines, IA August 2012 – May 2016

• Dean’s List, three semesters
• Edwin Moore Moot Court Competition, participant and coordinator

Professional Experience

Senior Law Clerk, Law Offices of Isaac L. Brooks, West Des Moines, IA June 2019 – Present

• Assist attorneys with transactional and litigation practice
• Research and draft legal memoranda in the areas of real estate, contracts and other civil litigation
• Draft answers, complaints, motions, responses, and settlement agreements
• Assist attorneys at real estate closings
• File pleadings at state and federal courts

Credentials

• Admitted to Iowa State Bar Association, June 2019

Harry Harrison (222) 222-2222 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 123 America Street, Seattle, WA 99999

A seasoned litigator with expertise in environmental litigation and regulatory compliance. Proven trial, preparation and negotiation skills. Conducted over 500 mediations with a 91% settlement rate.

Senior Counsel, Abraham, Martin & John LLP, Seattle, WA March 2016 – Present

• Assist businesses with water quality permit compliance, stormwater pollution prevention, hazardous waste spill cleanup, and cost recovery litigation
• Advise clients on a broad array of environmental litigation issues, including crisis management, incident response, and civil/criminal enforcement actions
• Provide legal advice on the potential implications of climate change on complex business decisions, including long-term environmental compliance

Junior Attorney, Bruski and Clark, LLP, Tacoma, WA October 2012 – February 2016

• Researched legal issues and drafted documents including internal strategy memos, motions, and briefs
• Independently produced client-ready documents and provided supportive assistance on complex transactions involving energy and environmental regulations
• Created corporate client reports for senior counsel

Legal intern, CGH Law Group, Portland, OR June 2015 – November 2015

• Assisted with drafting and negotiating a broad range of agreements in a timely manner with vendors, contractors, and collaborators
• Performed legal research, writing, and analysis as assigned
• Established and maintained a database of the firm’s clients to ensure each is up-to-date on licensing and federal regulations

Juris Doctor, Law University of Idaho College of Law, Moscow, ID, September 2013 – June 2016 Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy Washington State University, Pullman, WA, September 2008 – June 2012

• Impeccable solution-finding and problem-solving skills
• Thorough understanding of federal energy and environmental regulations
• Strong ability to facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through mediation

Jonathan Douglas (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 987 Third Street, New York City, NY 12345

Civil Litigation lawyer with over 15 years of experience representing clients in personal injury cases. Able to take depositions and has a proven track record of securing substantial settlements on behalf of clients. Consistently takes the initiative and delivers creative solutions that achieve positive results for clients and the firm. Works well in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Litigation Attorney, Schaff, Turner, and Morner LLP, New York, NY December 2010 – Present

• Meet with potential clients to evaluate their case and decide if the firm would take them on as clients – approximately 20 clients per month
• Represent and advise clients in matters involving civil litigation with a focus on personal injury and auto accident claims
• Courtroom experience and oral advocacy: lead negotiations for settlements prior to trial, lead counsel during jury trials, and status and settlement conferences in State and Federal Court
• Take and defend depositions of witnesses and experts

Civil Lawyer, Greenfields Law, New York, NY October 2002 – November 2010

• Researched issues and case law for personal injury cases
• Served documents on parties being served by clients
• Assisted in negotiating settlements
• Deposed witness on the record

Bachelor of Business Administration New York University, New York City, NY, September 1996 – July 2000 Juris Doctor New York University, New York City, NY September 2000 – July 2002

• Communication
• Team leader
• Excellent organization
• Able to meet deadlines

Certificate

• Member in good standing of the New York State Bar

John Bergsen (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio Philadelphia, PA 12345

An associate attorney with four years of experience specializing in regulatory compliance, court litigation, legal research, and environmental law. A proven track record of serving as an advocate for clients and navigating complex legal landscapes to obtain favorable outcomes.

Associate Attorney, Rosenthal LLP, Philadelphia, PA October 2022 – present

• Provided legal support to businesses regarding water quality permit compliance, stormwater pollution prevention, hazardous waste spill cleanup, and cost recovery litigation
• Advised clients on the potential implications of climate change on complex business decisions, including long-term environmental compliance
• Researched legal issues and drafted internal strategy memos, motions, and briefs

Junior Associate , Halsin Legal Associates, Philadelphia, PA June 2020 – October 2022

• Drafted and reviewed legal documents, including contracts, agreements, and legal briefs, ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant laws and regulations, contributing to the successful resolution of over 100 cases
• Participated in client representation in court proceedings and negotiations, which included serving as a client advocate to obtain favorable rulings and outcomes
• Legal research
• Client advocacy
• Environmental law
• Regulatory compliance
• Negotiation
• Pennsylvania State Bar Association, 2020

Juris Doctor (J.D.) Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | June 2020 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Philosophy Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | June 2016

Allison Rosenberg (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio New York, NY 12345

An real estate associate attorney with five years of experience negotiating multi-million dollar commercial real estate transactions. A proven track record of performing comprehensive legal research and risk mitigation activities to achieve favorable client outcomes.

Real Estate Associate Attorney, Kirkland & Ellis, New York, NY November 2021 – present

• Negotiate terms and conditions for over 230 multi-million dollar commercial real estate transactions, consistently achieving favorable outcomes for clients
• Drafted and reviewed real estate documents, including purchase agreements, lease contracts, and deeds, ensuring legal soundness and client satisfaction
• Resolve 50+ real estate disputes, including representing clients in court, mediating between disputing parties, and providing legal advice on dispute resolution strategies

Associate Real Estate Attorney , Kirkland & Ellis, New York, NY June 2019 – November 2021

• Supported the lead attorney in drafting and reviewing real estate documents, contributing to the successful completion of numerous transactions.
• Participated in negotiation processes for real estate transactions and ensured favorable client outcomes
• Performed legal research and due diligence to mitigate risks, including title searches, zoning laws, and environmental regulations
• Real estate law
• Property law
• Risk mitigation
• New York State Bar Association, 2019

Juris Doctor (J.D.) Columbia University, New York, NY | June 2019 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Philosophy Columbia University, New York, NY | June 2016

Raheem Richardson (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio San Diego, CA 12345

A senior immigration attorney with seven years of experience managing and navigating complex immigration, citizenship, and asylum cases. A strong history of serving as a client advocate and consistently achieving high approval rates.

Senior Immigration Attorney, Hamlin LLP, San Diego, CA August 2019 – present

• Successfully represent over 300 clients in immigration court proceedings, including complex deportation and asylum cases
• Manage a high-volume caseload and prepare and file immigration applications, including visas, green cards, and citizenship applications
• Deliver comprehensive legal advice to clients on a wide range of immigration matters, effectively explaining complex legal processes and advising on the best course of action

Immigration Attorney , Corbin Law Associates, San Diego, CA June 2017 – August 2019

• Represented clients in immigration court, effectively argued complex cases, and prepared and filed over 200 immigration applications, resulting in a high approval rate for green cards, visas, and citizenship
• Guided clients throughout the immigration process and provided legal advice to clients on immigration matters, rights, and obligations
• Immigration law
• California State Bar Association, 2017

Juris Doctor (J.D.) University of San Diego, San Diego, CA | June 2017 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Philosophy University of San Diego, San Diego, CA | June 2014

Yaling Zhang (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio Detroit, MI 12345

A litigation attorney with six years of experience representing and advising clients during complex litigations, including property disputes, civil cases, and custody disputes. A proven track record of advocating for clients and achieving favorable outcomes in over 80% of cases.

Litigation Attorney, Highland Legal Associates, Detroit, MI August 2019 – present

• Represent and advise clients during over 300 cases in matters involving civil litigation with a focus on divorce proceedings, parental rights, adoptions, child custody, and property disputes
• Conduct research for complex litigations, developed comprehensive legal strategies, and achieved favorable outcomes in 86% of cases in 2023
• Built and maintained strong relationships with clients and communicated legal advice and status updates with empathy and compassion during emotionally challenging cases

Litigation Attorney , Sanderson Law Firm June 2018 – August 2020

• Drafted and prepared a wide range of legal documents, including pleadings, motions, and discovery requests with exceptional accuracy and diligence
• Represented 100+ clients in court proceedings, effectively presenting arguments, examining witnesses, and advocating for client interests, resulting in a 70% win rate
• Civil litigation
• Criminal law
• Michigan State Bar Association, 2018

Juris Doctor (J.D.) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | June 2018 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Philosophy University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | June 2015

As an attorney, you’re no stranger to crafting briefs and legal documents. Still, it can be harder to effectively and persuasively describe your qualifications and what makes you a good fit for the position when writing your resume. We’ve compiled a list of tips, examples, and templates for writing a lawyer resume to help you take the next step in your career.

1. Craft an outstanding profile with a summary of your attorney qualifications

The profile summary is a short paragraph of just a few sentences about who you are as an attorney and how you can be an asset to a law firm. Mention the type of law you work in and where you excel compared to other lawyers, such as finding precedents to base your case on or representing clients in litigation. If you’re an entry-level applicant, focus on your research skills and how you can collaborate with other lawyers and the firm’s legal team members.

Senior-Level Profile Example

Civil litigation lawyer with over 15 years of experience representing clients in personal injury cases. Takes depositions and has a proven track record of securing substantial settlements on behalf of clients. Consistently takes the initiative and delivers creative solutions that achieve positive results for clients and the firm. Works well in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Entry-Level Profile Example

An enthusiastic, highly motivated attorney with over a year of experience and a solid academic record in law and business. Apply extensive research skills to independent assignments or collaborations with legal research and litigation teams. Adept at building strong professional relationships with colleagues and clients.

2. Outline your attorney experience in a compelling list

Being an attorney is all about results. In the experience section of your resume, show how you’ve utilized your skills to get clients the results they seek. In addition to describing your duties and responsibilities, add your win percentage and how many cases you worked on per month. This gives a hiring manager a better idea of what you can bring to the firm.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example

Litigation Attorney Schaff, Turner, and Morner LLP, New York, NY | December 2010 – present

• Meet with potential clients to evaluate their cases and decide if the firm would take them on as clients – approximately 20 clients per month
• Possess courtroom experience and oral advocacy: lead negotiations for settlements before trial, lead counsel during jury trials, and status and settlement conferences in state and federal court

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example

Senior Law Clerk Law Offices of Isaac L. Brooks, West Des Moines, IA | June 2019 – present

• Research and draft legal memoranda in the areas of real estate, contracts, and other civil litigation

3. Add attorney education and certifications

Your resume should also include your education and any relevant credentials. List your Juris Doctor degree, including where you went to school, when you graduated, and any other degrees you may have. Include a list of credentials and the date you were awarded them, such as when you were admitted to state bars or if you can represent clients with the U.S. Patent Office or in immigration court.

• [Credential Name], [Awarded Year]
• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
• Juris Doctor
• New York University, New York City, NY – July 2002

4. List key attorney skills and proficiencies

As an attorney, you have to wear a lot of hats. There’s research and case law to read through, and you need to communicate what’s going on in layperson’s terms to clients. Also, you must work professionally in high-stakes and often high-conflict situations with other attorneys and the judge. Distilling these skills into a bulleted list can be difficult, but it’s an important part of creating a resume that gets you a job offer. Below, we’ve provided a list of key skills and proficiencies for attorneys to help you get started.

How To Pick the Best Attorney Resume Template

Using a template to help create your attorney resume can save you time and make it easier to plug in your skills, qualifications, and work history into an already formatted design. But it’s still important to put some thought into the template you choose. Ideally, look for well-organized templates that can be quickly scanned or read. There should be a place for a profile summary, past work experience, key skills, career highlights, and education to ensure you have all the space you need.

Erica Pizem - Legal Recruiter and Expert Contributor, Linkedin

Meet our Expert: Erica is a licensed attorney and legal recruiter, whose primary focus is successfully matching lateral attorney candidates with both large and boutique law firms in the New York City area.

1. What are the most in-demand skills for attorneys that should be featured on a candidate’s resume? Please include both hard and soft skills. -

Prospective attorneys should detail their relevant experience and expertise in the field of law of the prospective employer. A potential candidate must manage a case from inception to completion and prepare, proofread, and file legal documents and discovery. A candidate should emphasize their ability to write and think analytically, be comfortable in a team or individual setting, and delegate work as needed to legal assistants and paralegals.

2. What work experience and/or other accomplishments are hiring managers seeking in an attorney? -

Hiring managers are looking for candidates with knowledge of the law the prospective employer specializes in and who can manage various cases with multiple deadlines. Therefore, candidates who are detail-oriented, organized, and multitask are desirable. Candidates should also have excellent communication skills, as the attorney usually is the primary contact for clients and opposing counsel. Attorneys should highlight their extensive legal research and writing skills and familiarity with electronic databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis.

3. What else, in addition to a resume, should an attorney candidate be prepared to provide hiring managers? -

A prospective attorney should provide a cover letter along with his/her resume detailing the relevant experience and skills in the field of law of the employer. A writing sample should also be submitted highlighting a candidate’s ability to think critically and analytically. The writing sample should be no more than 10 pages, preferably a document filed in court (redacting the privileged and confidential portions) and not merely an internal memo.

4. What advice would you give an attorney candidate about their job search? -

A prospective attorney seeking a position should attend networking events such as bar association events, law school alumni events, and even fundraisers and/or charity events that local law firms sponsor. Finally, a candidate should have an updated LinkedIn profile, the first website a prospective employer will often seek out upon researching a candidate.

Frequently Asked Questions: Lawyer Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for attorney resumes -.

When writing the professional experience section of your resume, it’s easy to feel like you’re repeating yourself. And finding a unique action verb to start every bullet on your resume can take some creativity (and maybe a good thesaurus). We’ve created a list of common action verbs to describe job duties and responsibilities on your attorney resume. You may also find some ideas in the job description of the position you’re applying for.

How do you align your resume with a job description? -

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects around 10% job growth for lawyers through 2031, which is faster than average. As you apply for positions, tailor each resume to the specific job description. You can skim the description to find key skills, qualifications, keywords, and job duties and add those to your resume as they fit in the various sections. Usually, it is easiest to work these topics into the key skills and professional experience sections.

What is the best attorney resume format? -

There are a few styles regarding resume formats, but the best choice for an attorney resume is usually reverse chronological. This format is traditional for resumes, with your professional experience making up the bulk of the resume. List your previous positions, starting with the most recent and working backward. If you’ve had an extensive career, you may limit this section to only those that are the same type of law or highly relevant.

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Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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11 Tips for Writing a Successful Lawyer Resume

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The competition for lawyer jobs is now stiffer than ever. Indeed, the annual National Association for Law Placement (NALP) Update on Associate Attrition report shows an overall decrease in associate hiring of nearly 50%. On a positive note, a   survey by the consultancy firm Robert Half found that candidates specializing in bankruptcy, labor and employment, litigation, healthcare, data security, intellectual property, and insurance are in high demand.

While it’s true that law school grads are having a   harder time finding jobs , you can take steps to improve your chances of landing a job at the law firm of your choice. The key to ensuring you stand out from the crowd when applying for a law firm position is to equip yourself with the best tools on your job search—and a great resume tops the list.

To help set your application apart, this guide for new or experienced legal professionals will help you optimize your legal resume to secure an interview. Whether you need design tips, guidance on how to best showcase your accomplishments, or ideas for tailoring your resume to engage multiple stakeholders, these tips will help you create a winning legal resume that will get you noticed—and hired.

1. Use design best practices to ensure your lawyer resume stands out 

When you’re writing a legal resume, first impressions count. Just as you wouldn’t show up at a law firm for a job interview in old sweatpants, you don’t want to distribute a resume that’s disorganized, out of date, or lacking professional polish.

While the content of your resume is obviously important, it’s critical that your lawyer resume looks professional, too. A simple, easy-to-read design that’s laid out with the user experience in mind goes a long way—and boosts your chances of the hiring manager reading your resume. 

Design best practices include: 

• Using a resume template. 
• Opting for bullet points instead of run-on sentences. 
• Ensuring all relevant information is clear and easy to find. 

Spending hours agonizing over how to lay out your lawyer resume like a pro isn’t an effective use of time. No one expects you to be a graphic designer, so use tools to help. Free design software like Canva can provide professional resume templates —making it easy to give your legal resume a polished look to grab a potential employer’s attention. If you’re looking for lawyer resume samples, Yale and Notre Dame have some examples that you may find helpful. 

2. Lead with your lawyer profile or summary statement

As a lawyer, you’re trained to make a concise, persuasive argument—your lawyer resume should lead off in the same manner. Think of your lawyer profile (also known as a summary statement) as your opening statement. In two to four sentences, your profile should succinctly summarize who you are as a lawyer, illustrate what you bring to the table, and highlight your accomplishments.

Consider the profile statement in this lawyer resume example for a litigation defence attorney :

“Persuasive litigator backed by dual-state licensure (NY, NJ) and practice-area expertise spanning antitrust, product liability and catastrophic personal injury defense. Passionately represent client interests, working diligently to analyze case merits, minimize risk and propel positive resolutions to complex legal matters. Proven success achieving case dismissals, no-fault judgements, advantageous settlements and favorable verdicts.”

In three sentences, this example statement effectively summarizes: 

• Who the lawyer is
• What type of law they practice and what they’re passionate about
• Their areas of expertise and where they’ve been successful

By outlining information about your specialties and experience first, you’re essentially summarizing the resume, saving your hiring manager’s time.

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The best legal billing software for large firms in 2024, everyday acronyms your law firm needs to know, what is an e-discovery lawyer, law firm business management: a guide for lawyers, 3. showcase your specialized skills .

Before you list off the first few skills that come to mind, consider this section as an opportunity to paint a picture of your specialized skill set. Each attribute you choose to include is significant, so be sure to highlight what you’re best at—and be specific. 

When listing skills, consider that employers want your lawyer resume to showcase your interpersonal skills and your legal-industry-specific skills—or ideally, a combination of both. 

Here are some examples of relevant interpersonal skills that might be worth mentioning:

• Problem solving and critical thinking
• Conflict resolution and mediation
• Negotiation
• Adaptability and ability to manage pressure

To highlight your suitability for the position, focus on the skills mentioned in the job description. Common examples include:

• Oral communication and arguments
• Persuasive writing
• Legal research
• Technology skills (more on this later)

4. Use action words to strengthen employment history

In the employment history section, balance between including as many details as possible and ensuring you include details relevant to the position you’re applying for. Choose your words carefully. Here are a few tips:

Create an easy-to-follow employment map

Include details like law firm names, years employed, and your job title. Consider bullet points to keep things organized, but only if your information will still fit on one page. You may also choose to list relevant experience first, even if it’s not the most recent.

Use action words  

Don’t just list where you’ve worked and what you did—use action words to convey more meaning. Generic words like “participated,” “worked,” and “managed” take up space on the page and are wasted opportunities. Instead, create a story by using appropriate action words like “advocated,” “negotiated,” and “counselled.” 

Here are some action words that might fit into your employment history:

• Creation-related words: Formalized, conceptualized, orchestrated.
• Teamwork- or leadership-related words: Mentored, collaborated, directed.
• Achievement-related words: Spearheaded, accelerated, expedited.
• Problem-solving words: Overhauled, devised, rebuilt.

Consider these additional action words to create impact and deeper meaning:

Harvard Law School has also compiled a list of action words that you may find useful for optimizing your lawyer resume. 

Highlight your accomplishments

Don’t be shy when it comes to sharing your achievements. Call out your relevant accomplishments to let hiring managers know why you’re the best candidate for the role. 

5. Focus on relevant education

The level of educational background detail you should provide on your lawyer resume varies depending on several factors. These factors include how far along you are in your career, what type of law firm you’re applying to, and how relevant different parts of your education are. Consider these employer-friendly tips when writing the educational background section of your resume:

Highlight the notable

Don’t detail every course you’ve ever taken. Add only the relevant parts of your educational background, including legal designations and honors, such as notable certificates, accolades, or memberships. If you feel expanding on your education background would add value to your application, you may include additional details in your law firm cover letter. Check out our tips on writing a legal cover letter that gets you noticed for help crafting the perfect law firm cover letter. 

List your GPA or class ranking only if it’s remarkable 

As hard as you worked in law school, if you weren’t top-of-the-class at a big-name school, don’t waste resume real estate detailing this part of your educational experience. Unless you’re applying to a Big Law firm, your GPA likely isn’t relevant.

Include only your relevant experience

If you have a few years of legal experience, it may not be necessary to go into extensive detail about your educational background; instead, list the basics (e.g., where you went to law school) and save space for your relevant, recent experience and skills.

6. Demonstrate your tech understanding 

Today’s law firms are looking for staff who can start working efficiently right away—when it comes to using and learning technology. From cloud-based practice management software like Clio Manage to client intake and CRM software like Clio Grow , more and more law firms are using legal technology to streamline processes, facilitate effective remote work , and offer a better client experience. 

Technology skills can help set you apart in the eyes of potential employers, giving them the confidence to know they won’t have to spend time training you to use new software and systems. Keep in mind that if you land an interview, you may be asked to explain or demonstrate how versed you are in the specific programs you’ve listed on your resume.

7. Have an ideal legal practice area in mind 

What sort of position are you seeking in your job search? Are you looking for jobs in immigration law? Do you want to specialize in family law? Regardless of your previous work history, think about the unique characteristics of the legal practice area you’re interested in ( or would like to change to ) and apply them to your lawyer resume. 

Nobody wants to read a generic legal resume. Make sure you tailor your resume to focus on the necessary work history, keywords, and skills that are most relevant to the specific legal practice area you’re targeting.

8. Craft language and content to reflect the specific role

Once you have created a lawyer resume that’s specific to your preferred practice area, you can customize each resume more easily. You can also match the language and tone of the specific employer or firm you’re applying to more easily. A good way to learn a firm’s tone is to read content on their website.

To set yourself up for greater success with each individual law firm, start by editing various sections of your legal resume to make them more relevant to the specific position you’re seeking. This customization is also important to help you get past resume scanning software.

9. Make keywords work for you

You’ll come across many buzzwords on your job search—knowing what to do with them could be the key to your success. But how do you know which keywords to include? While you don’t want to just blindly copy-and-paste words from the job description, you can look to the job description for clues.

Thoughtfully integrating keywords and key phrases into your lawyer resume shows that you’re attuned to the specifics of the legal job that you’re applying for, which may impress legal hiring managers. This keyword integration is especially important if you’re applying for a job at a larger firm to ensure you’re not prematurely eliminated from consideration due to a screening algorithm. Did you know 75% of recruiters and hiring professionals use a recruiting or applicant tracking system (ATS) that screens resumes based on keywords?

In addition, legal hiring managers and other employers often scan resumes quite quickly, especially when there’s an influx of applicants. Including keywords and key phrases helps grab their attention so your application doesn’t get lost in the (digital) pile.

10. Keep your audience in mind

You need to consider all stakeholders who could be reading resumes—and think about who you want to have the biggest impact on. Just as you would tailor your legal arguments to the audience you’re speaking to, your legal resume needs to target the needs and wants of the primary stakeholders that will be evaluating your application. 

Depending on the size of the law firm you’re applying to, your audience could include:

• A resume screener
• A recruiter
• The firm’s hiring manager, or 
• Your future manager

You’ll want to include the right keywords and phrases to cater to those higher on the list, but your resume also needs to offer something that helps you authentically stand out to appeal to firm partners and hiring managers.

Before you send off your resume, consider using an AI resume checker which provides you with a resume score and notes on what to improve on. 

11. Demonstrate your knowledge of industry trends and recent regulatory changes

Potential employers want to know that you’re keeping up-to-date with industry trends and evolving regulations within the legal profession, such as:

• The digital transformation occurring across the legal industry.
• The impact of remote working.
• The growing focus on client experience.
• Workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

By reflecting your understanding of current trends within your desired profession, your lawyer resume can convey a level of professionalism and real-world competence that hiring managers are looking for in an employee. 

Bonus: Tap into your social and professional networks

With as much as 85% of jobs filled with the help of networking , when it comes to finding a job, it often really is about who you know. 

Networking is a powerful tool in your legal job search, and keeping your networking efforts fresh goes hand-in-hand with an effective lawyer resume. While you’re updating your resume, it’s the perfect time to update your LinkedIn profile and other social media platforms. And, if you’re thinking of breaking into a new legal practice area, it’s a good idea to turn to your social networks; if you already know someone practicing in that field, it could be valuable (and help give you a leg up) to connect with them. 

Consider starting a solo law firm

After going through the process of updating your lawyer resume and considering jobs at other law firms, it’s entirely possible that you may not wish to continue your job search or pursue the traditional law firm model. Instead, you may opt for a work-from-home lawyer job , become a freelance attorney , find a way to practice law part-time , or even start your own law firm. With a solo law firm, you get the benefits of owning and running your own business, being a leader, and gaining more control over who your clients are.

Putting lawyer resume tips into action

As a lawyer, you’re a professional when it comes to persuasion—it’s time to leverage those skills to sell yourself via your resume to secure the job you want. 

By using the lawyer resume tips that we’ve outlined here, you can create a winning resume to streamline your job search efforts, or update and refine your current resume to help you get noticed. Be sure to keep relevancy top of mind, tailor your skills and experience to the legal practice area and job you’re applying for, and be succinct . 

Note: The information in this article applies only to US practices. This post is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, business, or accounting advice.

How to write a resume for a law internship?

When applying for a legal internship, craft a resume that looks professional, showcases your specialized skills, and highlights your accomplishments. Only list your GPA or class ranking if they are remarkable, but be sure to highlight your relevant education and experience.

What should a law school resume look like?

A law student applying for a legal internship or post-graduate employment should submit a resume that is polished and easy to read. Consider leading with a profile or summary statement to highlight your accomplishments and stand out from the crowd.

We published this blog post in June 2020. Last updated: September 3, 2024 .

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Lawyer resume examples & templates

Keywords are the key

Earning a law degree is no easy feat, so congratulations! Perhaps you have already begun your career , or maybe you are just beginning to investigate the many options open to you. As a lawyer, you know that the law is a deep and wide field. Because it is complicated and covers every aspect of life, it allows you to find your passion within its boundaries. You may want to be a high-profile litigator, spend your days poring over the minutiae of tax law, or help out a cause with public advocacy law.  Not only do you have a choice of individual fields, but you can also decide what size practice you want to target. 

Let Resume.io's resume guides and resume examples for 300+ professions, backed up by an easy-to-use resume builder, help you make your case with an evidence-based lawyer resume.

This resume guide, along with the corresponding resume example will cover the following topics:

What does a lawyer do?

• How to write a lawyer resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a car sales resume
• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints.

Here are some specializations within the field of law:

• Animal: Ensure animal welfare; these lawyers usually work for animal rights organizations or law firms.
• Appellate: This practice focuses on the appeals process.
• Bankruptcy: Help clients with legal proceedings related to debt and bankruptcy protection.
• Civil Rights: These lawyers fight for individual rights and often work for non-profits or public interest firms.
• Compliance : These lawyers ensure that companies and their employees obey the law, especially pertaining to contracts, operations and policies (based on federal and international regulations in the corporate and financial fields).
• Corporate: In-house lawyers make sure their employers are working within the law and defend them against lawsuits. They may prepare all legal documents for the corporation. They may also work for a law firm whose client is a corporation.
• Criminal: Lawyers may defend the accused or act as prosecutors.
• Elder law: This practice focuses on estate planning, medical directives, long-term care and protecting the rights of the elderly.
• Employment: Ensure that employees are treated fairly and that employers are aware of and follow employment regulations.
• Environmental: These lawyers need expertise in environmental laws and regulations. They may work for government agencies, environmental non-profits, or corporations affect by environmental law.
• Family: This broad practice deals with any family-related area such as adoption, divorce, domestic abuse, and child support.
• Healthcare: Lawyers in this field may work for any type of healthcare provider.
• Immigration : This practice focuses on helping immigrants through the immigration process.
• Intellectual property: The practice of helping people and companies protect their ideas, inventions, and other creative products. They may represent corporations or individual artists.
• International: Focus on legal issues outside the client’s country. Fluency in more than one language may be necessary.
• Municipal: These lawyers usually work for individual government bodies and may deal with property tax, zoning, land use or small business law.
• Privacy and cybersecurity: These attorneys help companies keep personal data secure and comply with privacy regulations.
• Real Estate: These lawyers may focus on land-use lawsuits or contract law.
• Securities: These lawyers must be specialists in the complexity of corporate financing, formation and organization.
• Tax: These lawyers must stay up-to-date on changing tax laws and regulations that affect their clients.

Some lawyers choose not to practice. Instead, they go into careers such as law librarian, law professor, legal recruiting, civil rights investigator, or legal editor. All of these require the expertise of a law school graduate. If you want more resume examples to help you fine-tune your own, look toward our general legal category of resume samples. Here you'll find other related legal resume examples like: 

• Legal Assistant resume sample
• Paralegal resume example
• Attorney resume sample
• Claim Adjuster resume sample

The top five fastest-growing areas of law in 2020 are expected to be: elder, healthcare, labor and employment, privacy and cybersecurity, and bankruptcy, according to Attorney at Law .

Lawyer job market and outlook

Lawyers face somewhat tough times as tuition costs have skyrocketed but fewer positions become available. The good news is that the number of lawyers has remained steady. In 2015, there were 1.3 million practicing attorneys in the United States; by 2019, that number had grown by only 50,000, to 1.35 million, according to Statistica . The good news is that there are jobs out there, and they are spread among many different areas of law. Some of them require specific expertise or even other graduate degrees. 

How to write a lawyer resume

So where do you start? To win your case, you will have to start with a great resume. First, you need to know the components of a lawyer resume. They are: 

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Your job now is to investigate the law firm so that you can echo the style and tone as well as direct your message directly to the needs of the firm. Find out as much as you can about the staff. Get the name of the hiring manager and even who your boss may be. That way, you can check out their background and better speak directly to them.

To build the best resume possible, you need to:

• Target the skills and attributes firms want and those that will help you avoid filtering by the ATS software
• Echo the tone and style of the firm you wish to join
• Design a clean, legible layout that reflects the image of the firm.

Whether you’re an established professional or you’re looking for your first internship , you should think about all your options when you create a resume so that you can individualize it as new job opportunities arise.

Do not think of your resume as a static document. In reality, it is a job application that should change with each new opportunity and should be custom-tailored to each new target employer in a razor-sharp fashion.

Algorithms rule the hiring process, and you need to know how to use those formulas to your advantage. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan and rank your resume based on these algorithms. Don’t make it into the top tier? Your resume will be trashed. What can you do to increase the odds? In general, you should mine job descriptions for keywords and phrases to place in your resume. Several ATS services cater to law firms and, in fact, more than 300 of the largest firms use an ATS. More than 70 percent of those use either viRecruit, Lawcruit/Micron, or Ulripro/Ultimate Software, according to Talentsum . 

You can usually find the name of the ATS on a law firm’s recruiting page or do a quick Google search (many ATS providers openly mention their top clients). Then, you can dig deeper to try to discover the exact algorithm the ATS uses. 

Choosing the best format for a lawyer resume

As you climb the ladder of success, your first rung becomes less and less important. That’s why the most common resume format is reverse chronological order. Within your employment history section, you place your most recent position at the top and work your way backward. No reason to step back more than 10 years or so, since technology and your skills have advanced tremendously since then.

A hybrid resume format may suit you if you are a career changer or are entering the legal job market for the first time. Functional resumes are not favored by recruiters. You should only consider using this format if you are in a highly technical or specialized field as it allows you to emphasize your skills over your work history.

We recommend reverse chronological order for lawyers.

Resume example for lawyer profile: Your opening statement

Lawyers must be excellent with words and your profile (also known as a summary) is your best opportunity to show off that skill. Here is where you wow recruiters with your professional personality and impressive achievements – all in two to four sentences. Firms want to know what you will bring to their roster of attorneys and how hard you are willing to work, so let them know. Sell your professional image in a convincing way. Lawyers are keen arguers and persuaders, so use those talents here. You do not have the space to be modest. Personality is a key issue for law firm recruiters. New hires must not only show achievements, but also be a great fit with the corporate culture. Attune your profile to account for that. 

The cost of a “bad” hire to a law firm is estimated to be $250,000, a Thomson Reuters white paper says. This is why it’s doubly important to provide the right impression: hiring within law firms is approached with the utmost caution.

As you write, be careful to tailor each profile to the job you seek. If you’re looking for a public policy job, there may be no need to mention your real estate expertise. Instead, write about your passion for justice. Individualizing your resume is particularly important because of the Applicant Tracking Systems you will have to pass before a recruiter views your resume.

Experienced and innovative Lawyer with a passion and dedication to justice. Highly organized, and skilled in public speaking. Bringing forth a proven track record of achieving favorable outcomes for clients. Adept in preparing for trials, reviewing documents, and effectively presenting cases in court. A strong leader who works well under pressure, and understands the complexities of the legal system.

Lawyer CV skills section resume sample: How you excel

In addition to being a great communicator, lawyers need a variety of interpersonal skills . You will be working with clients who may be under pressure for any number of reasons. Not only do you have to stay calm, but you have to be able to interpret what they need and explain complicated aspects of the law in a clear, understandable manner. You also need expertise in the area in which you are applying. This section is a list of the top five to 10 skills you want to highlight for each job. Recruiters can do a quick scan of this section to see if your skills match their requirements. Make sure they do. Here are some skills to consider:

• Problem-solving
• Critical reading
• Persuasive and clear writing
• Flexibility in communication tone and style
• Investigation and research
• Calm under pressure.

These do not take into account the industry-specific knowledge you may need to practice in any one area of law but are general skills all lawyers should have. 

Up to 23 percent of the work that lawyers do could be automated by adapting technology that already exists, according to a McKinsey Global Institute analysis . In light of this, make sure you highlight your social side (while not ignoring your competencies). This emphasizes your value as a human employee.

• Corporate taxes
• Real estate contracts
• Data-driven research
• Empathetic listener

Lawyer employment history CV example: Build your case

You need to be precise in telling the story of your career in your lawyer CV. The bullet point list of your past positions should be listed in reverse chronological order (most recent jobs first), and each job should have a sub-list of your accomplishments, achievements and milestones (based on  your duties and cases). Make sure to use strong action verbs and powerful nouns and adjectives, and avoid overly complex grammatical structures that bloat your descriptions. Be detailed without being too wordy.

Try: Presented clients with action sheet of options and answered all questions

Try: Researched, suggested and negotiated solution to personnel dispute

Instead of: Explained legal options to clients

Instead of: Ensured compliance with all personnel law

Explaining what type of cases you handled, how many clients you had, and favorable outcomes all add the details that will take your resume from good to great.

Women make up 37 percent of lawyers in 2021, up from 33% in 2011. The percent of people of color in the law field has not changed since that year, according to the American Bar Association . 

You can impress recruiters with concise, action-oriented descriptions of your cases and how you resolved them. Also give examples of how you coped with working under tight deadlines or when the stakes were high. These specifics will tell firms that you know how to deal with pressure, a key attribute for a lawyer. Focus on your achievements, challenges, and accomplishments to turn this section into a showcase for your growth as a lawyer.

If you are just starting your career, add any experience from law school as well as jobs in other fields. Focus on the skills you used in those jobs that are transferable to your law career.

• Mediated and enforced the proper regulations in housing disputes.
• Advised clients about their legal rights in these disputes.
• Counseled clients about the law and legal options to resolve disputes.
• Developed strong litigation strategies for 5 civil cases that could not be resolved through negotiation.
• Organized documents and summarized cases for court proceedings.
• Effectively represented clients in criminal and civil court proceedings.

Education section resume example: Does your alma mater matter?

If you attended a “T14,” a top 14 school, that’s great, especially if you want to work at a large law firm or clerk for a prestigious judge. These jobs go disproportionately to graduates of those schools. That doesn’t mean that you can’t get one of those jobs if you didn’t go to a T14 school, but it won’t be as easy. List your class ranking and GPA if they are stellar. Law is a very competitive field and you want every advantage you can get. But remember, even if you were not at the top of your class, you can still land a job with the help of a great resume.

In addition, other factors affect whether or not your education helps gives you a boost. If you are already a working lawyer, where you attended law school is less important than your experience. A strong employment history section matters more than your law degree at this point. Location is another big factor. Most lawyers end up practicing in the states in which they attended law school. That’s because you can build connections with professors and other students in the region and get involved in law clinics within the community. Be sure to list any certificates, accolades, memberships or other honors in this section as well.

Of the top 10 largest law firms, five are based in New York, three in Washington, D.C., and two in Chicago, according to Above the Law . 

• 2009-2012 New York Law School, Juris Doctor, New York, NY
• 2005-2009 Marist College, Bachelor of Economics, Poughkeepsie, NY

Resume layout and design: A professional look wins

The design of your resume is almost as important as what you say. This will be the first chance firms have to see how you present yourself. As a lawyer, you will be meeting with clients who need to trust you and your professional conduct. Or you be appearing before a judge and jury. Appearance counts. Busy recruiters are looking for reasons to eliminate resumes, so don’t give them the chance with a bad, cluttered or buggy design. The first rule of thumb: Keep it legible. No fancy fonts , bright colors, or overly distracting design elements. Recruiters and hiring managers scan resumes quickly looking for pertinent information. For lawyers just out of school, that could be the university where you earned your law degree, your contact information, and any internships you have completed. For others, the scan will include your current position, responsibilities and title.

The recruiting firm SocialTalent suggests a 30-second resume scan (the phase where a hiring manager decides whether to move on to the next applicant) broken down as follows:

• Current/last job position: 10 seconds
• Time spent at each job: 5 seconds
• Company name: 5 seconds
• Accomplishments/career highlights: 10 seconds

Don’t rely on your editing skills to look over your work. Have a friend or colleague check for typos and formatting errors.

More and more firms are using data analytics to create profiles of their ideal candidates. For example, a lack of typos and spelling errors in one’s resume “which showed focus and attention to detail” were also associated with more job success, according to Law Crossing .

Design your resume so the information employers seek stands out. Alternatively, use one of Resume.io’s templates. Lawyers must maintain a conservatively professional look, so try a layout within the Professional or Simple categories.

Key takeaways for a lawyer resume

• As a lawyer, your legal career can go in many directions
• Your profile is an introduction to your professional personality
• Keywords and phrases will help you outsmart Applicant Tracking Systems
• Highlight your special abilities in your Skills section, and adjust this for each job
• Build your case with details and data in your Employment History
• Make sure your design is professional and legible

Take the uncertainty out of impressing employers and avoid ATS traps by resume.io's builder tool, resume samples and templates.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

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Lawyer Resume: Examples and Writing Tips for 2024

The legal industry is one of the most competitive fields out there, and landing your dream job as a lawyer requires a stellar resume. Your resume is your first impression, so it is crucial to make it count. The purpose of this article is to provide you with examples and writing tips to help you craft a flawless lawyer resume.

Having a strong lawyer resume is essential because it serves as a representative of your skills, experiences, and achievements. It could make or break your chances of landing the job you desire. A well-crafted lawyer resume showcases your potential to be an asset to a law firm, highlights your achievements and accomplishments, and emphasizes your qualifications and skills. In essence, your resume serves as a tool that sets you apart from other candidates.

In this article, we’ll delve into the nitty-gritty of crafting an exceptional lawyer resume. We’ll show you how to showcase your legal experience and achievements effectively. We’ll also provide you with sample lawyer resumes and writing tips to help you craft a stellar resume that sets you apart from the competition. Whether you’re a seasoned lawyer or a new graduate, this article will give you the insights you need to create a killer lawyer resume. So, let’s get started!

Understanding the Legal Industry

Overview of the legal industry.

The legal industry is a broad and multifaceted field that encompasses a wide range of legal services, including but not limited to litigation, corporate law, intellectual property, and criminal defense. Within the legal industry, there are numerous job roles, including attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and legal secretaries. The legal industry is constantly evolving as new laws and regulations are enacted and court systems change.

Key Components of a Lawyer Resume

A strong lawyer resume should include a variety of key components that highlight your skills and experience. These key components may include your education, work experience, professional skills, language proficiency, relevant certifications, professional affiliations, and volunteer experience, among others. Be sure to tailor your resume to the specific legal industry you are applying to by including industry-specific keywords and highlighting relevant experience.

Tailoring Your Resume to Specific Legal Industries

When applying for a job in a specific legal industry, it is important to tailor your resume to the needs and requirements of that industry. For example, if you are applying for a job in corporate law, you may want to highlight your experience with mergers and acquisitions, securities law, or corporate governance. Conversely, if you are applying for a job in criminal defense, you may want to emphasize your experience with criminal trials or investigations. Additionally, be sure to use industry-specific keywords throughout your resume to showcase your relevant experience and knowledge of the legal industry. By tailoring your resume to specific legal industries, you can show potential employers that you have the skills and experience necessary for the job.

Understanding the legal industry is crucial for creating a successful lawyer resume. By highlighting your relevant skills and experience and tailoring your resume to the specific legal industry, you can increase your chances of securing a job in the legal field.

Formatting Your Lawyer Resume

When it comes to creating your lawyer resume, choosing the right format is crucial. The format you choose can affect how your experience and qualifications are presented to potential employers, as well as how well your resume will be picked up by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Choosing the Best Format for Your Resume

There is no one-size-fits-all format when it comes to resumes, and the same holds true for lawyer resumes. However, the most common formats for lawyer resumes are the chronological and functional formats.

The chronological format lists your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. This format is effective if you have a consistent work history and want to showcase your career progression.

The functional format, on the other hand, emphasizes your skills and accomplishments, rather than your work history. This format is ideal if you have gaps in your employment history or are switching careers.

Ultimately, the format you choose should highlight your strongest qualities and experience as a lawyer.

Importance of Design Elements

The design elements of your lawyer resume can impact how well it is received by potential employers. First impressions matter, and a poorly-designed resume can reflect poorly on your professionalism and attention to detail.

When designing your resume, make sure to choose a clean and professional font, such as Times New Roman or Arial. Use bullet points and appropriate spacing to make your resume easy to read.

Additionally, make sure to include your contact information prominently at the top of your resume. This includes your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile if you have one.

Tips for Optimizing Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems

One of the challenges with submitting your resume online is that it may be scanned by an Applicant Tracking System before it ever reaches a human. This means that your resume needs to be formatted in a way that is easily readable by these systems.

To optimize your lawyer resume for ATS, follow these tips:

• Use keywords: Use keywords that are relevant to the legal industry and the specific job you are applying for. This will help your resume get picked up by the system.
• Avoid graphics and images: The ATS may have difficulty reading graphics and images, so it is best to avoid them.
• Use standard section headers: Use standard section headers, such as “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills,” to make your resume easy to categorize.
• Keep it simple: Avoid using complex formatting or unusual fonts that may be difficult for the system to read.

Formatting your lawyer resume requires thoughtful consideration of the best format for your experience and the design elements that will make it stand out to potential employers. Additionally, optimizing your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems can help ensure that it gets noticed by the right people.

Lawyer Resume Examples

This section of the article focuses on providing sample resumes for different legal positions, analyzing each resume example, and drawing lessons from each sample resume.

Sample Resumes for Different Legal Positions

In this section, we have compiled different resumes of legal professionals from various positions, including litigation lawyers, corporate lawyers, intellectual property lawyers, and more. Each of these resumes highlights the skills and experience necessary for that particular position.

Analysis of Each Resume Example

Each sample resume is thoroughly analyzed in this section, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the resume. We go beyond the mere listing of skills and experience, and focus on how the candidate has demonstrated these abilities in their professional life. We also examine the formatting, language, and overall presentation of the resume, providing insights into best practices and what to avoid.

Lessons to Draw from Each Sample Resume

This section draws lessons from each sample resume about what works and what doesn’t in a legal resume. We delve into the skills and experiences that are most relevant to employers and how to make these stand out. We also provide tips for tailoring a resume for a particular legal position and how to balance brevity with detail. The overall goal of this section is to provide actionable insights that you can use to enhance your own legal resume.

This section provides a comprehensive guide to sample legal resumes, their analysis, and the lessons to draw from each example. By the end of this section, you will have a better understanding of what makes a great legal resume and how to apply these insights to your own application.

Essential Sections of Your Lawyer Resume

When it comes to crafting a winning lawyer resume, there are several essential sections that you need to include to make a good impression on potential employers. Here are the key sections you should include:

Personal Information

The first section of your lawyer resume should start with your personal information. This typically includes your full name, address, phone number, and email address. It is important to make sure that all the information is current and up-to-date so that employers can easily get in touch with you.

Objective Statement/Resume Summary

The objective statement is an important part of your resume that should be tailored to the position you are applying for. It should be a brief statement that describes your career goals and what you hope to achieve in your new role. Alternatively, some lawyers choose to use a resume summary in place of an objective statement. This is a brief paragraph that highlights your most relevant skills, experience, and achievements.

Professional Experience

One of the most important sections of your lawyer resume is your professional experience. This section should provide an overview of your work history, including the name of the law firm or organization, your job title, and the dates of employment. It should also highlight your major responsibilities and accomplishments in each position you have held.

When listing your experience, it is important to use strong action words that showcase your skills and accomplishments. Use metrics to quantify your achievements, such as the number of cases you have won or the amount of money you have recovered for clients.

Education and Certifications

Your education and certifications are also important components of your lawyer resume. This section should include your degree(s), the name of the institution(s) you attended, and the date you graduated. You should also list any area of specialization or concentration, as well as any honors or awards you received during your studies.

In addition, be sure to list any certifications you have earned that are relevant to your current position. This might include certifications in specific areas of law or professional development courses you have completed.

The skills section of your resume should highlight the competencies and strengths that make you a valuable asset to potential employers. Be sure to include both hard and soft skills, such as analytical thinking, negotiation, and legal research. Review the job posting carefully to identify the specific skills that the employer is looking for, and tailor your skills section accordingly.

Achievements and Awards

Finally, the achievements and awards section of your lawyer resume should highlight your accomplishments and accolades in your career to date. This might include awards or recognition for exceptional performance, successful cases you have handled, or publications you have authored.

Including achievements and awards on your resume can help to differentiate you from other candidates, showcase your skills and experience, and demonstrate your commitment to excellence in your field.

The essential sections of your lawyer resume are critical to making a strong case for why you are the best candidate for the job.

Writing Your Lawyer Resume

When it comes to writing your lawyer resume, there are a few key factors to keep in mind in order to make it stand out from the competition. Here are some tips for writing an effective objective statement or summary, highlighting your experience and skills, and listing your education and certifications.

Tips for Writing an Effective Objective Statement or Summary

Your objective statement or summary is the first thing that potential employers will see on your resume. It should be concise, informative, and tailored to the specific job you are applying for. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when crafting your objective statement or summary:

• Be specific about the type of law you practice or want to practice.
• Highlight any relevant experience or skills that make you an asset to the firm or organization.
• Use strong action words that demonstrate your accomplishments and qualifications.

Strategies for Highlighting Your Experience and Skills

Your experience and skills are the heart of your lawyer resume, and they should be the focus of the document. Here are a few strategies to help you highlight them effectively:

• Use bullet points to list your responsibilities and accomplishments in previous jobs. Be sure to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible (e.g., “Managed a team of five paralegals” or “Won a landmark case in X court”).
• Focus on your most relevant experience and skills, making sure to tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for.
• Use active verbs and avoid passive voice to make your accomplishments and qualifications stand out.

Guidelines for Listing Your Education and Certifications

Your education and certifications are important credentials that should be prominently featured on your resume. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

• List your education in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent degree.
• Include the name of the institution you attended, the degree you earned, and any honors or awards you received (e.g., magna cum laude).
• List any relevant certifications or bar admissions, including the state or jurisdiction where you are licensed to practice law.

By following these tips for writing an effective objective statement or summary, highlighting your experience and skills, and listing your education and certifications, you can create a lawyer resume that stands out from the crowd and impresses potential employers.

Crafting a Winning Professional Experience Section

Crafting a winning professional experience section in your lawyer resume can greatly increase your chances of impressing potential employers. Here are a few tips to help you structure your work history and demonstrate your accomplishments:

How to structure your work history

When structuring your work history, it’s important to start with your most recent experience and work backwards. This will allow potential employers to see your most current skills and abilities first. Additionally, consider breaking up your work experience by role, company, or job title to make it easy to read.

Setting up bullet points to demonstrate accomplishments

One way to showcase your accomplishments in your work history is by using bullet points. Use each bullet point to highlight a specific achievement or responsibility from your previous roles. This can help potential employers quickly identify your key skills and abilities.

Describing your role and achievements in an attention-grabbing way

When describing your role and achievements in your work history, try to use action verbs that demonstrate your impact on a company or project. Additionally, consider using specific examples or numbers to showcase your results. This can help you stand out from other applicants and make a strong impression on potential employers.

Quantifying your success

Finally, make sure to quantify your success whenever possible. Use numbers, percentages, or other metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. This can help potential employers visualize your accomplishments and understand the value you can bring to their organization.

By following these tips, you can create a winning professional experience section on your lawyer resume that showcases your skills and experience in the best possible light. With a clear and concise work history, specific bullet points, attention-grabbing language, and quantifiable success, you can set yourself apart from other applicants and land your dream job.

Highlighting Relevant Skills

When it comes to creating a winning legal resume, highlighting your relevant skills is crucial. Not only does it demonstrate to potential employers that you are a qualified and valuable candidate, but it also helps hiring managers quickly identify what you can bring to the table. In this section, we’ll cover the best ways to showcase your skills on a lawyer resume.

Sample Skills Section

A skills section on a resume is a great way to highlight your strengths and make it easy for recruiters to see if you’re a fit for a specific job. When creating a skills section for your lawyer resume, focus on the skills that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for. Here’s an example of a sample skills section:

• Legal research and writing
• Litigation strategy and management
• Contract negotiation and drafting
• Client relationship management
• Case law analysis and interpretation
• Dispute resolution and mediation
• Intellectual property law
• Corporate governance and compliance

Identifying Key Skills for Legal Professionals

When it comes to legal professionals, there are certain key skills that are essential to success. For example, legal research and writing is a fundamental skill needed for all lawyers. Litigation strategy, contract negotiation, and client relationship management are also high on the list of important skills. Similarly, understanding case law, being able to interpret and analyze legal documents, and having a good knowledge of dispute resolution techniques are crucial skills for lawyers.

When identifying your key skills for your lawyer resume, start by reviewing the job posting and researching the company you’re applying to. Look for any skills or qualifications that are mentioned, and make sure to highlight those in your resume. Additionally, consider what skills have made you successful in past roles and how they may be transferable to the new position.

Highlighting Transferable Skills

In many cases, legal professionals have skills that are transferable across multiple industries. For example, strong communication skills and analytical thinking are valuable skills regardless of the industry. When highlighting transferable skills, make sure to tailor your language to the position you’re applying for. Use industry-specific terminology and emphasize how your skills make you an excellent candidate for the job.

Remember, when it comes to highlighting your relevant skills on your lawyer resume, quality is more important than quantity. Make sure to focus on the skills that are most relevant to the position and use specific examples from your experience to demonstrate how you have used these skills in the past. By doing so, you’ll make yourself a standout candidate and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Using Action Verbs and Buzzwords

When it comes to crafting a standout lawyer resume, using action verbs and buzzwords can make a significant difference. However, it’s essential to use them strategically and avoid clichés that might turn off potential employers. In this section, we will discuss the most effective action verbs and buzzwords to use in a resume and how to avoid common mistakes.

Most effective action verbs to use in a resume

Using action verbs in your resume can make you appear proactive and results-driven. Here are some of the most effective action verbs to use in your lawyer resume:

Negotiated: If you have experience negotiating contracts or deals, this action verb can showcase your skills.

Litigated: If you are a litigator, using this action verb can convey your experience in handling legal disputes.

Advised: If you have provided legal counsel to clients or colleagues, using this action verb can highlight your expertise.

Analyzed: If you have a background in research or analysis, using this action verb can display your attention to detail.

Drafted: If you have experience drafting legal documents, contracts, or agreements, using this action verb can show your writing skills.

Buzzwords to include in your resume

Buzzwords are industry-specific terms that can help your resume stand out. Here are some buzzwords that you can include in your lawyer resume:

Compliance: If you have experience ensuring that your clients or organization adhere to legal regulations, adding this buzzword can highlight your experience in compliance.

Legal research: If you have a background in conducting legal research, adding this buzzword can showcase your research skills.

Mediation: If you have experience mediating legal disputes, adding this buzzword can convey your skills in conflict resolution.

Litigation strategy: If you have experience developing litigation strategies, adding this buzzword can show your ability to plan and execute legal cases.

Cross-functional: If you have collaborated with different teams or departments on legal matters, adding this buzzword can highlight your ability to work cross-functionally.

Avoiding clichés and buzzwords that turn off employers

While using buzzwords can help your resume stand out, it’s essential to avoid overusing buzzwords or clichés that might turn off potential employers. Here are some examples of overused buzzwords:

Team player: This phrase is overused and doesn’t convey anything specific about your skills or expertise.

Detail-oriented: While attention to detail is essential in the legal profession, using this phrase can come across as generic and unoriginal.

Results-driven: While it’s crucial to highlight your achievements, using this phrase can sound self-promotional and hollow.

Proactive: While being proactive is essential, using this phrase can sound like a cliché.

Your lawyer resume should showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments.

Friend or Foe? The Cover Letter

A well-written cover letter can be your best friend when it comes to securing an interview for the job you want. However, a poor quality cover letter can become your worst enemy, quickly diminishing your chances of landing the job you desire.

Purpose of a Cover Letter

A cover letter accompanies your resume and it’s a tool for introducing yourself to potential employers. Its purpose is to persuade hiring managers to consider your candidacy by highlighting your relevant skills and experience.

How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Job Posting

Tailoring your cover letter to the job posting can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview. One of the best ways to achieve this is to research the company and the role in question. Identify the specific requirements and desired qualifications that the company is looking for and make sure to highlight these in your cover letter.

Additionally, use the language and tone of the job post to tailor your cover letter to the company’s culture. Address the hiring manager by name if possible, and if not, try to find out who will be reading your application.

Tips for Writing an Effective Cover Letter

Here are some tips to follow when writing your cover letter:

• Keep it concise and focused, ideally not more than one page long.
• Address the job requirements explicitly and explain how your experience, skills, and qualifications meet them.
• Use specific examples from your professional experience to illustrate your suitability for the job.
• Avoid duplicating information that is already on your resume but rather highlight additional relevant information not already featured.
• End with a strong closing sentence that encourages the employer to take the next step and arrange an interview.

The cover letter is a crucial part of your job application process since it’s the first point of contact between you and a potential employer. Therefore, it’s important to put in the time and effort to tailor your cover letter to each job posting and make it effective.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to creating a lawyer resume, it’s essential to avoid certain pitfalls to ensure your resume stands out among the competition. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid:

Resume clichés and phrases to avoid

Recruiters and hiring managers have seen it all before, and using clichés and overused phrases is a surefire way to blend in with the crowd. Avoid phrases like “team player” and “hard worker.” Instead, use concrete examples of your experience and accomplishments to showcase your skills.

Pitfalls in formatting and design

A cluttered, difficult-to-read resume can turn off a recruiter or hiring manager. Be sure to follow a consistent format throughout your resume and use appropriate spacing and font sizes. Use bullet points and headings to organize your content and make it easy to read.

Common mistakes in language and tone

Your resume should be professional and free of any errors, including spelling and grammatical mistakes. Additionally, be mindful of your use of language and tone. Avoid using slang or overly casual language in your resume, and be sure to tailor your language to the legal industry.

In addition, be mindful of the tone you use in your resume. Avoid coming off as arrogant or overly confident, as this can be a turn off to potential employers. Instead, focus on showcasing your skills and experience in a confident but humble way.

A lawyer resume must stand out from the crowd to make an impact. Avoiding common mistakes such as resume cliches, poor formatting, and language and tone mistakes can help your resume shine and impress potential employers. Use these tips to create a polished, professional resume that showcases your skills and experience in the best light possible.

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• • Led a team in negotiating high-value contracts, resulting in savings of over $15 million annually.
• • Advised on mergers and acquisitions, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and minimizing legal risks.
• • Drafted and reviewed complex commercial agreements, enhancing contract clarity and enforceability.
• • Implemented a compliance training program, reducing regulatory violations by 25%.
• • Collaborated with senior management to develop risk management strategies, safeguarding the company's assets and reputation.
• • Managed intellectual property portfolio, securing patents and trademarks to protect company innovations.
• • Negotiated and drafted licensing agreements, facilitating international expansion and increasing revenue streams.
• • Provided legal counsel on data privacy and cybersecurity, resulting in improved data protection policies.
• • Conducted due diligence for acquisitions, identifying and mitigating potential legal liabilities.
• • Developed internal policies to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, reducing audit findings by 30%.
• • Represented the company in litigation and arbitration, achieving favorable outcomes in 90% of cases.
• • Assisted in the negotiation and drafting of real estate transactions, resulting in successful closures worth $500 million.
• • Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda on corporate governance issues, supporting senior lawyers.
• • Managed compliance audits, identifying gaps and implementing corrective measures.
• • Participated in client consultations, providing strategic legal advice and fostering client relationships.

11 Lawyer Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Lawyers handle legal matters, represent clients in court, and provide advice on various legal issues. On your resume, highlight your experience with case management, legal research, and client consultations. Include skills such as negotiation, critical thinking, and strong written communication. Additionally, mentioning successful case outcomes and your ability to build strong client relationships can effectively demonstrate your worth.

All resume examples in this guide

Corporate Lawyer

Criminal Lawyer

Employment Lawyer

Immigration Lawyer

Litigation Lawyer

M&A Lawyer

Patent Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyer

Real Estate Lawyer

Trial Lawyer

Resume guide, lawyer resume sample.

Resume format

Resume experience

Resume with no experience

Hard & soft skills

Certifications & education

Resume summary

Additional sections

In conclusion

As a lawyer, you ensure that all legal matters align with your firm's goals. Dealing with cases and meeting client needs can be challenging, often feeling like a never-ending list of tasks. For new lawyers, understanding the details of the field and finding a balance between work and personal life can be tough, especially with the worry of unfinished work lingering.

With these challenges in mind, this guide is here to help you create a resume that demonstrates your strategic thinking, resilience, and career accomplishments. Underline your ability to manage stress and stay productive, even when it feels like there's no break from work. This will help potential employers see your dedication and make your application catch their attention.

Key takeaways

• Use a reverse-chronological format to outline the progression of your legal career clearly.
• Opt for a clean, readable design and font to make your legal resume stand out.
• Underscore your experience with measurable achievements and concrete results to attract the attention of hiring managers.
• Incorporate metrics to emphasize the impact of your legal work.
• Include a dedicated section for your technical legal skills and weave your soft skills throughout the resume.
• Ensure your educational background is relevant and well-presented, as it remains crucial in the legal field.

Let's begin with the essential guidelines for effective resume formatting.

Here’s a sample lawyer resume to help you.

Madison Taylor

Finance Lawyer

[email protected]  | @linkedin.com | San Francisco, California

Highly skilled Banking & Finance Lawyer with over 5 years of experience in providing legal support and advice on complex financial matters. Proficient in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating finance agreements and related documentation. Strong understanding of finance laws and regulations, with proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively in fast-paced environments. Committed to advising on risk management and ensuring compliance with applicable laws.

Banking & Finance Lawyer

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, NY

January 2022 – Present

• Provide legal advice on leveraged finance, structured finance, and CLO transactions, supporting deals totaling over $500 million.
• Draft, reviewed, and negotiated complex finance agreements and documentation, achieving a 95% client satisfaction rate.
• Manage transactions between lenders and borrowers, ensuring 100% compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external counsel to support financing activities, facilitating the successful completion of over 50 transactions.
• Advise on risk management and mitigation strategies, reducing potential legal risks by 30% for financial transactions.

Legal Associate

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, NY

July 2018 – December 2022

• Assisted in drafting and reviewing financial agreements and transaction documentation, contributing to deals worth over $300 million.
• Conducted legal research and provided analysis on finance-related legal issues, resulting in a 20% improvement in case resolution times.
• Supported senior lawyers in managing client relationships and handling negotiations, helping secure favorable terms in 90% of negotiations.

Juris Doctor (JD) New York University School of Law, New York, NY Graduated: 2018

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Columbia University, New York, NY Graduated: 2015

• Certifications
• Admitted to practice law in New York, 2018
• Certified Specialist in Structured Finance Law, American Bar Association, 2020
• Certified in Negotiation Mastery, Harvard Business School Online, 2019
• Legal research and analysis
• Drafting and negotiation of finance agreements
• Transaction management
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Compliance with finance laws and regulations
• English (Fluent)
• Spanish (Intermediate)

How to format a lawyer resume

The ideal resume format  for lawyers is the reverse-chronological  one, as it features your most recent and relevant legal roles first. This layout allows employers to easily track your career progression and see the impact you've had at each stage.

Here are the resume sections ordered according to how recruiters expect them:

Contact information

• Languages (optional)

We’ll discuss each section separately. For now, let’s focus on some useful formatting tips to ensure your resume gets noticed.

Resume designs

• Maintain consistent margins  of around 1 inch for readability and consider using a traditional resume template  for a sleek, professional look.
• Select clear fonts  such as Rubik or Lato, sized between 10 and 12 points, and use soft colors to underline key skills.
• If you have less than 10 years of experience, keep your resume to one page  but if you’re a senior professional extend it to a two-page document  if necessary.
• Make sure your name is spelled the same way on all your application documents. Match the job title on your resume  with the one you’re applying for.
• Add a resume headline  to highlight your key skills and experiences, which is especially important in the legal field. Write a professional email address  and include a link to your up-to-date LinkedIn profile .
• To follow U.S. resume standards and prevent any biases, avoid including a photo .

File format

• Name your resume  simply, such as "MadisonTaylorLawyerResume.pdf," to ensure recruiters can easily identify it.
• Save your resume as a PDF  unless the job posting requests a different format.
• Avoid using uncommon symbols, special characters, or graphic elements, as these can disrupt Applicant Tracking Systems  and potentially affect your application process.

Want to know if your resume works with ATS? Try our free AI checker  below!

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An organized resume layout can grab a recruiter's eye, but it's your legal experience that will leave a lasting impression. Learn how to underscore yours in the next section.

How to write your lawyer resume experience

When you're creating your lawyer resume, it's important to focus on what hiring managers want to see. Use keywords from the job description  and underline your big wins with measurable results like successful case outcomes, happy clients, and improved efficiencies. Keep your resume experience section  clear and easy to read by using bullet points.

Giving them exactly what they’re looking for will help you stand out. Let’s dive into how you can do this effectively in the next section.

The right way to build a targeted resume for lawyers

Tailoring your resume  to the job offer is essential for bringing your most relevant qualifications to the forefront as a lawyer. This approach makes you more noticeable and greatly improves your chances of capturing the hiring manager's interest. By outlining the specific skills and experiences they want, you show why you're an excellent match for the job.

Here's a lawyer job offer we'll use to tailor our work experience section. In this example we’ll show you how to do it right.

Energy Real Estate Lawyer

Responsibilities:

• Provide legal counsel and support to clients on real estate transactions and projects related to the energy sector, including the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and development of energy facilities, such as oil and gas assets, renewable energy projects, and transmission infrastructure.
• Conduct due diligence reviews and title examinations for energy-related real estate transactions , including assessing property rights, easements, encumbrances, and regulatory restrictions.
• Draft and negotiate a variety of real estate agreements and documents,  including purchase and sale agreements, lease agreements, easement agreements, and development agreements, with a focus on addressing energy-specific issues and requirements.

Qualifications:

• Active bar license  in the state in which you reside.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience  practicing law, with a focus on energy real estate transactions, preferably in a law firm or corporate legal department setting.
• Strong knowledge of real estate laws  and regulations including property law, contract law, and land use regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience advising clients on a wide range of energy-related real estate matters , including oil and gas leases, wind farm developments, solar energy projects, and transmission line easements.
• Familiarity with environmental and regulatory considerations  impacting energy-related real estate transactions, including permitting requirements, zoning restrictions, and environmental assessments.
• Excellent negotiation , communication, and project management skills , with the ability to effectively advise clients and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Check out how we've adjusted this section to suit the position.

• • Provided legal counsel on energy-related real estate transactions, including oil, gas, and renewable projects, totaling over $300 million.
• • Conducted due diligence and title examinations on 50+ properties, assessing property rights and regulatory issues.
• • Drafted and negotiated over 100 real estate agreements, focusing on energy-specific requirements.
• • Streamlined contract review processes, reducing review times by 20%.
• • Advised on over 30 wind farm and solar energy projects, contributing to the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure.
• • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address environmental and regulatory considerations, improving project approval rates by 15%.
• Focuses on specific duties mentioned in the job description, like providing legal advice on energy transactions and conducting due diligence.
• Features concrete metrics and numbers , like overseeing transactions valued at over $300 million and drafting more than 100 contracts— imperative details in the legal and energy industries.
• Important skills, like effective teamwork and improving processes, were underscored to match the job’s needs. Relevant experiences in renewable energy projects and managing regulatory compliance were included to highlight expertise.

Each bullet point starts with an action verb  and focuses on measurable results. We’ll dive into why this style is important for your resume in the next section.

How to quantify your experience on a resume

Using quantitative results on your resume is crucial because they provide concrete evidence of your achievements, making your impact clear to employers. Presenting specific metrics like percentages, monetary savings, or time saved, particularly in legal contexts, quantifies your contributions and enhances your resume's persuasiveness..

For example:

• Quantify the total value of legal cases won or settlements negotiated, underlining specific figures like $5 million in settlements or $10 million in damages awarded.
• Detail the percentage increase in client retention or satisfaction rates resulting from your legal strategies, such as a 15% increase in client retention through effective dispute resolution.
• Showcase the number of contracts reviewed and the total dollar value, such as reviewing 200 contracts totaling over $100 million.
• Highlight cost savings achieved for clients through successful negotiations or legal strategies, specifying amounts like reducing litigation costs by $500,000.
• Include the percentage reduction in case handling time or administrative costs due to process improvements you implemented, such as reducing case preparation time by 25%.

How do I write a lawyer resume with no experience

If you're a new graduate or about to graduate, check your law school’s career services office. It's a great first step in your career journey. Most students enter law school with little to no real legal experience, and that's perfectly normal.

However, your resume shouldn't be a blank page—before reaching out to potential law firms or employers, consider the following tips:

• Choose a functional resume format  to spotlight your skills and educational accomplishments.
• Select a simple template  to ensure a polished look.
• Include pertinent coursework  and academic projects, like studies in contract law or criminal law.
• Show your knowledge of legal research tools such as Westlaw or LexisNexis.
• Feature transferable skills  gained from valuable internships  or part-time jobs, like conducting legal research or interacting with clients.
• Emphasize hands-on experience in drafting legal documents such as briefs or motions.
• Incorporate volunteer work  or extracurricular activities, like involvement in student legal organizations or mock trial competitions.

Resume objective for entry-level lawyer

On an entry-level resume  for lawyers, an objective statement  is crucial as it showcases your career aspirations and enthusiasm for entering the legal field, even with limited work experience .

For a strong objective statement, ensure you:

• State your career goals or the specific position you're pursuing.
• Tailor it to the role and employer, using keywords from the job listing to demonstrate alignment with their needs.
• Underline key skills or qualifications that reassure hiring managers of your suitability.
• Show how your abilities can benefit the firm and contribute to its success.

Below is an example of an effective objective statement.

Now that your experience is outlined, let's focus on the skills section  of your lawyer resume.

How to list your hard and soft skills on your resume

Including both soft and hard skills  on your lawyer's resume is really important. It proves that you have the legal expertise required for the job and the people skills needed for working with clients  and colleagues.

Here’s a detailed overview:

• Hard skills:  These are the specific legal abilities you’ve developed through your education and experience.
• Soft skills : These are about how you interact with others.

Here are some key skills you might want to list on your resume:

Best hard skills for your lawyer resume

• Legal research
• Legal writing
• Settlement negotiation
• Contract drafting
• Case analysis
• Compliance law
• Corporate law
• Civil litigation
• Intellectual property law
• Legal software like Clio
• E-discovery software
• Document management software
• Litigation support software
• Westlaw proficiency
• LexisNexis skills
• Microsoft Office suite
• PowerPoint for presentations
• Spreadsheet skills for budgeting
• Timekeeping software skills
• Online mediation tools

Your soft skills  are vital. Instead of listing them in a separate section, integrate them into other parts of your resume where they can be quantified and described. For example, you could point out your negotiation skills in the experience section by stating: “Negotiated settlement agreements, saving clients 15% in legal fees.”

Consider these common soft skills for lawyers:

Best soft skills for your lawyer resume

• Active listening
• Negotiation skills
• Critical thinking
• Decision making
• Interpersonal skills
• Time management
• Communication
• Multitasking
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving
• Confidentiality
• Conflict resolution
• Professionalism
• Client service
• Proactivity
• Stress management

Moving forward, let's look at ways to strengthen your lawyer resume with strategic details about your education  and certifications.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

To become a lawyer, begin by earning a bachelor's degree. Courses in political science or history can be particularly beneficial. Next, you need to take the LSAT , an essential exam required for law school admission. Once admitted, you’ll complete a three-year Juris Doctor (JD) program, studying a variety of legal subjects.

It's also important to gain practical experience through internships or clerkships during this time. Upon graduation, you must pass the bar exam in the state where you plan to practice . Finally, secure admission to the state bar association and continue your professional development to maintain your license.

Point out academic achievements like making the Dean's List , graduated Cum Laude , or received a scholarship  to prove your dedication and excellence.

Check the example below:

• • Relevant Coursework: Contract Law, Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Legal Writing, and Criminal Law
• • Relevant Coursework: American Government, International Relations, Public Policy, and Political Theory

This resume is a strong example of shining a light on a lawyer's educational background, with several key strengths:

• The resume includes both the JD and the bachelor's degree, providing a thorough view of the candidate's academic background.
• Listing key courses like "Contract Law" and "American Government" concisely illustrates the candidate's specialized knowledge in important areas relevant to a legal career.
• Each entry contains essential details like the degree, institution, location, GPA, and date range, giving a complete and clear presentation of the educational background.
• Including a GPA  provides a metric of the candidate's academic performance.
• The resume is well-organized and easy to read, featuring key information without overwhelming the reader.

Your resume can be significantly enhanced by adding certifications , which underscore your specialized skills and your dedication to the legal profession. Let's review the certifications that can best support your career advancement as a lawyer.

Best certifications for your lawyer resume

• Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)
• Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA)
• Legal Project Management Certification (LPMC)
• Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP)
• Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)

With your education covered, let's spotlight your key legal skills in a summary.

How to write your lawyer resume summary

The summary section of your resume  is essential for making a strong first impression, offering a concise overview of your legal experience and skills.

Here are the key elements to feature in a powerful lawyer summary:

• Start with your title (e.g., "Experienced Energy Real Estate Lawyer") and years of experience in the legal field.
• Present specific legal skills, such as contract negotiation, litigation, and regulatory compliance.
• Include measurable achievements that demonstrate your impact, like winning significant cases or achieving favorable settlements.
• Mention your familiarity with relevant legal fields or industries, such as intellectual property or corporate law.
• Write 3-5 clear sentences, using strong descriptors to showcase your achievements and avoid the first-person perspective .

The following example is tailored to the job offer detailed earlier in this guide.

The lawyer summary is effective because it incorporates key terms from the job posting, such as "real estate transactions," "title examinations," and "regulatory compliance," aligning perfectly with employer expectations. It also highlights specific achievements, like managing transactions totaling over $200 million, demonstrating the candidate's tangible impact in the field.

To further enhance your resume, consider using tools like the Enhancv resume builder , which can help you add sections showcasing your resourcefulness and leadership skills, making your qualifications even more compelling to potential employers.

Additional sections for a lawyer resume

Adding optional sections in your lawyer resume can offer a more well-rounded view of your qualifications and character, making you more appealing to potential employers. These sections can display your broader skills and experiences.

Here are some examples:

• Pro bono work and community involvement:  Emphasize your commitment to giving back to the community and your willingness to provide legal services to those in need, demonstrating strong ethical values.
• Publications and presentations: Shows your expertise and thought leadership, such as writing for law journals or speaking at legal seminars and conferences.
• Professional memberships:  Reflects your active engagement in the legal profession and ongoing professional growth, including memberships in organizations like the American Bar Association or state bar associations.
• Language proficiency :  Listing additional languages can underscore your ability to work with diverse clients or in international settings, which is beneficial for firms with global reach.

This guide gives you the key tips for building an impressive lawyer resume that can catch the eye of hiring managers. By showcasing your skills, experiences, and unique strengths, you'll set yourself up for a successful move in your legal career.

Lawyer resume examples

Explore additional lawyer resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

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50+ Legal Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

To break into the legal industry, you need a strong resume that highlights your experience in the industry. if you need inspiration, look no further — we've provided a ton of downloadable resume samples that you can use as a starting point for your own legal resume..

Choose a category to browse Legal resumes

We've put together a number of free Legal resume templates that you can use. Choose a category depending on your field, or just scroll down to see all templates.

Attorney Resumes

Attorneys are always in demand, so what better time than now to brush up your skills and update your resume? In this guide, you’ll find resume templates for you to use as examples, as well as industry-specific tips and a walkthrough on how to narrow down the perfect skills and keywords.

Associate Attorney

Experienced Attorney

Litigation Attorney

Real Estate Attorney

Corporate Attorney

Compliance Attorney

Transactional Attorney

Family Law Attorney

Patent Attorney

Entry-Level Attorney

Immigration Attorney

Contract Attorney

Lawyer Resumes

Practicing law continues to be a lucrative field as individuals and corporations alike seek to navigate the increasingly complex legal system. In this guide, we’ll cover three specialties and look at templates you can base your lawyer resume on, in addition to discussing the skills and action verbs you should focus on including.

Corporate Lawyer

Immigration Lawyer

Junior Lawyer

Employment Lawyer

Real Estate Lawyer

Legal Assistant Resumes

Wherever there are lawyers, you’ll find legal assistants — hard-working support staff working behind the scenes. The position is ideal for people seeking an administrative career or on their way to a law or paralegal qualification. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to land a legal assistant job, including resume templates and tips on essential skills and keywords.

Entry Level Legal Assistant

Experienced Legal Assistant

Policy Analyst Resumes

Policy analysts are problem identifiers and solution builders. They research and interrogate policy, look at the effects of policies, and create/recommend more effective and mutually beneficial policies. As such, they must be strong researchers and creative problem solvers. This guide will help you craft a resume that highlights your most attractive skills and qualifications to get your desired job.

Insurance Policy Analyst

Junior Policy Analyst

Compliance Resumes

Although compliance officers may go unnoticed, they are a solid foundation for ensuring transparent processes in any business. The current demand for these professionals is great for the coming years. Therefore, if you choose this work field, we want to help you write the best resume to apply for these jobs. Take a look at the top 10 compliance resume examples below.

Compliance Officer

IT Compliance Analyst

Corporate Compliance Manager

Regulatory Compliance Specialist

Quality Compliance Coordinator

Compliance Engineer

Compliance Auditor

Legal Compliance Officer

Underwriter Resumes

Being a financial expert isn’t the only thing that magically lands you a job in the underwriting world. A resume showcasing you in the best light will help you get far in your career! If you’re wondering what a successful underwriter resume can look like, all you need is to go through our guide for underwriter resume examples where we provide downloadable resume templates as well as tips to make the best out of your resume!

Loan Underwriter

Commercial Underwriter

Credit Underwriter

Assistant Underwriter

Regulatory Affairs Resumes

Regulatory affairs professionals evaluate pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agrochemicals, and medical products before they are commercialized. They make sure that these products are ready for consumption and meet regulatory compliance. Remember that these items often play a huge role in people’s wellbeing, so regulatory affairs specialists are the guards of public health. If you have a regulatory affairs specialist and would like to create your resume, we have you covered. This guide will provide you with tips and resume examples templates that you can customize with your own experience and skills.

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Regulatory Affairs Associate (Entry Level)

Contract Specialist Resumes

Our increasingly global workplace has brought along new intricacies in our development of contracts and increased the number of contracts we use. Contract specialists ensure that a company’s contracts are in the best interest of the company and are in line with all laws. Here is a guide to help you create a contract specialist resume that will grab the attention of recruiters today.

Contract Administrator

Contract Manager

Public Policy Resumes

Public policy professionals review, revise, and pinpoint areas for improvement within current public policy. This career path is especially fruitful in today's world, due to the pandemic and subsequent socioeconomic effects of it, talented public policy professionals are in high demand. Some public policy professionals oversee several parts of a public policy team, such as with public policy directors. Other public policy professionals closely investigate singular aspects of public policy by researching and analyzing data to make changes, such as a public policy analyst. This career path holds lots of opportunities to grow. If you want to learn more about how to land a public policy job, keep reading.

Director of Public Policy

Action Verbs For Legal Resumes

• Represented
• Streamlined
• Collaborated

How to use these action verbs?

You might be wondering how to structure your resume's bullet points. An easy place to start is to always use an action verb when speaking about your accomplishments. This list on the left are perfect examples of action verbs you can use when discussing your legal experience. The legal field prioritizes professional communication, so make sure you stress your experience here by including action verbs like "Drafted" or "Presented" — verbs like these show to recruiters that you have strong communication skills, skills that are essential in the legal industry.

Legal Resume Guide

• Attorney Resume Templates
• Lawyer Resume Templates
• Legal Assistant Resume Templates
• Policy Analyst Resume Templates
• Compliance Resume Templates
• Underwriter Resume Templates
• Regulatory Affairs Resume Templates
• Contract Specialist Resume Templates
• Public Policy Resume Templates
• Legal Action Verbs
• All Resume Examples

Download this template for free

Download this ats-compatible resume template in word or google docs format. edit it directly in google docs.,    access samples from top resumes, get inspired by real resume samples that helped candidates get into top companies.,    get a free resume review, get actionable steps to revamp your resume and land more interviews using our free ai-powered tool..

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• Lawyer Resume Example

Resume Examples

• Common Tasks & Responsibilities
• Top Hard & Soft Skills
• Action Verbs & Keywords
• Resume FAQs
• Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on Lawyer Resumes:

• Drafting and reviewing legal documents, such as contracts, wills, and leases
• Negotiating settlements and representing clients in court
• Researching and analyzing legal issues
• Advising clients on legal matters
• Interpreting laws, rulings, and regulations
• Preparing legal briefs and opinions
• Representing clients in administrative hearings
• Appearing in court to argue motions and defend clients
• Advising clients on business transactions
• Filing legal documents with the court
• Keeping up to date with changes in the law
• Developing strategies to resolve legal disputes

Speed up your writing process with the AI-Powered Resume Builder . Generate tailored achievements in seconds for every role you apply to. Try it for free.

Lawyer Resume Example:

• Successfully represented a high-profile client in a complex litigation case, resulting in a favorable settlement and saving the client over $2 million in potential damages.
• Developed and implemented a legal compliance program for a multinational corporation, resulting in a 30% reduction in legal risks and avoiding potential fines and penalties.
• Advised a startup company on legal matters related to their initial public offering (IPO), resulting in a successful IPO and raising $10 million in funding.
• Negotiated a favorable settlement for a client in a high-stakes contract dispute, resulting in a 25% increase in revenue for the client.
• Conducted extensive legal research and analysis on a complex regulatory issue, resulting in a successful appeal and saving the client over $1 million in fines.
• Advised a non-profit organization on legal matters related to their fundraising activities, resulting in a 50% increase in donations and successful compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Drafted and reviewed legal documents for a major real estate development project, resulting in a successful closing and generating over $5 million in revenue for the client.
• Represented a client in an administrative hearing, successfully arguing for a favorable outcome and saving the client over $500,000 in potential penalties.
• Developed and implemented a legal strategy for a startup company, resulting in successful acquisition by a larger corporation and generating $20 million in value for the client.
• Litigation and dispute resolution
• Legal research and analysis
• Contract drafting and negotiation
• Regulatory compliance
• Legal strategy development
• Intellectual property law
• Corporate law and governance
• Real estate law
• Administrative law
• Legal risk management
• Legal advice and counseling
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Securities law and initial public offerings
• Non-profit law and fundraising compliance
• Client relationship management
• Communication and negotiation skills
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Time management and organization
• Attention to detail
• Adaptability and staying current with legal trends

Top Skills & Keywords for Lawyer Resumes:

Hard skills.

• Legal Research and Analysis
• Contract Drafting and Negotiation
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Case Management and Trial Preparation
• Legal Writing and Communication
• Client Counseling and Representation
• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
• Intellectual Property Law
• Corporate Law and M&A Transactions
• Employment Law and HR Compliance
• Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Tax Law and Estate Planning

Soft Skills

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Analytical and Research Skills
• Attention to Detail and Accuracy
• Time Management and Prioritization
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Leadership and Team Management
• Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
• Emotional Intelligence and Relationship Building
• Decision Making and Strategic Planning
• Creativity and Innovation
• Empathy and Client-Centric Mindset

Resume Action Verbs for Lawyers:

• Investigated
• Represented

Build a Lawyer Resume with AI

Resume FAQs for Lawyers:

How long should i make my lawyer resume, what is the best way to format a lawyer resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a lawyer resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a lawyer, compare your lawyer resume to a job description:.

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the Lawyer job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for Lawyers:

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Lawyer Resume: Free Template & Guide

Defending legal clients or prosecuting criminals can be time-consuming for a Lawyer. Save time and energy by using our personalized resume templates. Make sure you win your case when your resume is standing trial.

Lawyer Resume Example MSWord® Download our free Lawyer Resume template in Word to get the verdict you need from a job recruiter.

Pursuing a career in law is a beastly undertaking . There are countless reasons why this is so, but we can start by pointing out two main ones:

• You need to study insanely hard to earn a law degree from a good university
• You need to be extremely good at your job , as people’s lives and careers will depend on you

In order to get a lawyer’s position though, you first need to market yourself in order to get the job . For this reason, you need a stellar lawyer resume to set you apart from the rest. Therefore, we’re here to help with just that!

In this resume guide, we’ll outline various tips to help you write the perfect resume that we hope will get you a barrage of job offers ! 

Lawyer Resume Sample

Before we head straight into the details of how to formulate each section of your lawyer resume, let’s cover the basics first .

By that we mean taking a look at a good lawyer resume sample. Go ahead and see what you document should look like and include. 

Later, you can use one of our many downloadable resume templates to put yours together.

[Jessica Hue]

[Bay Area, California | +1-555-455-555 | [email protected]]

K and L, Attorneys at Law | New York, NY

Corporate Lawyer

2018 – Present

• Have litigated 170+ cases, including complicated civil and commercial litigation that covered a wide range of legal issues.
• Represented 50+ clients in negotiations regarding mediations, arbitration, and settlements.
• Overseen over 30 associates, provided mentorship and guidance on litigation, settlement, and trial strategies.
• Coordinated counsel to improve consistency by 63% in legal positions for cases that span in multiple jurisdictions.
• Developed litigation, settlement, and trial strategies, increasing wins by 46%.
• Advised 32 clients on procedures related to mergers and acquisitions.

Junior Corporate Lawyer

2015 – 2018

• Interacted with 15+ court clerks, attorneys, and legal staff for procedures in over 20 lawsuits.
• Involved in providing solutions for 17 financial disputes and insolvency problems.
• Prepared 7 commercial claims and counseling labor litigations.
• Assisted eight human resource staff members in updating databases, labor contracts for 100+ employees, and termination of 50 employees.

Legal Undertakings, Co. | San Diego, CA

Legal Assistant

2012 – 2015

• Assisted 16 lawyers with arbitrating disputes, appraising inventory, and filing legal pleadings.
• Met with 50+ clients in order to obtain preliminary information before senior attorneys became involved.
• Gathered research data that increased the positive likelihood of winning by 18%.

Education  

San Francisco State University , San Francisco, CA

Master of Judicial Science ; Major in Legal Studies

• Corporate Law
• Legal Research
• Dispute Resolution
• Legal Writing
• Legal Advice
• Joint Ventures
• Privacy Law
• Negotiation
• Microsoft 365
• Intellectual Property

You didn’t finish a law degree by cutting corners. Let’s go into even more detail of what you should and shouldn’t include on your resume, how to organize it, and, finally, how to phrase it, we’ll go over every resume aspect separately.

We’ll start with the essential aspect— the resume structure , or more specifically, the resume format.  

What’s the Best Lawyer Resume Format?

There are several different types of resume formats that are more applicable to different industries. But, not all of them are ideal for every position. 

Before we delve into the different resume format types to choose from , let’s cover some layout and design basics, applicable to every candidate out there:

• Divide the different sections clearly
• When possible, use bullet points
• Use numbers —percentages, people, cases—in order to add credibility to your claims
• Choose a professional font, size it appropriately (11 or 12pt) and bold your headings
• Leave margins , so that the document doesn’t look too cluttered
• Keep several templates at hand—different job positions warrant different lawyer resumes

What all of these points do is they emphasize the importance of the candidate’s presentation.

You may need to tailor your resume for each new position you apply for, depending on the job vacancy. Try to cater to every company you apply for with a smart layout and design.

Lawyer Resume Format Options

Let’s go over the three principal types of resume formats that you can choose from: a reverse chronological format, a skills-based format, and a combined format.

• The reverse chronological resume starts off with the summary or objective, moves on to the experience starting with the most recent position and working backwards, and is then followed by the education and skills sections. This format is the best way to put your most recent achievements at the forefront.
• The skills-based resume format accentuates all professional skills immediately after the summary or objective and leaves all other sections further down in the resume. It is best for skill-oriented job vacancies and more inexperienced applicants .
• The combined resume format also starts off with an objective or summary but then combines both the skills and education/experience sections, playing up the applicant’s strengths. 

When it comes to writing a lawyer resume, the most recommended resume format is reverse chronological as it’s the clearest and most legible format of the three.

Once you’ve settled for one of these resume styles, it’s time to pay closer attention to organizing and filling out the sections that make up your document. Let’s get going. 

How to Write a Lawyer Resume Summary or Resume Objective?

The best place to start is at the beginning—with your lawyer’s resume summary or objective .

This text is a few sentences long and comes at the beginning of your lawyer resume. It serves to introduce you to your potential employers and give a punch to your entire application.

The summary or objective simultaneously gives your lawyer resume some personality, but it also accentuates your drive and ambition.  

There is a slight difference between a resume summary and an objective, though. 

While a resume summary is more suited for experienced candidates who have an entire past career to summarize, an objective is better for new applicants , with high hopes and ambitions.

An Example of a Lawyer’s Resume Summary

In order for you to do that, let’s first have a look at a lawyer resume summary sample.

Corporate and criminal lawyer with 24 years experience regarding all aspects of legal proceedings, while representing clients and their legal rights in criminal and civil cases. Handled and supervised more than 45 civil lawsuits every year with claims ranging from $3,000 to $110,000.  Won 97% of all represented cases by compiling and presenting sufficient and acceptable facts, precedents, and legally nuanced data, aligned with existing laws.

This applicant knows they’re good and they value their quality . They emphasize their particular achievements over the years, using fixed numbers to back their claims. 

A summary like this will increase your chances of securing a job interview

However, even if you lack a particular job experience, you can still impress with your objective.

How to Write an Entry-Level Lawyer Resume Objective

There is a rule of thumb when writing an entry-level lawyer resume objective— be confident .

There’s a reason why you’re applying in the first place—you already have some legal knowledge, and you’ve probably volunteered or worked as an intern at some company. 

Rely on such experiences in your objective to propel yourself as a suitable candidate. Most of all, be sure to discuss your ambitions and what you can offer the firm. Let potential employers know that they’re dealing with a future successful lawyer . 

Entry-Level Lawyer Resume Objective Example

Let’s have a look at examples of lawyer resume objectives for candidates starting out in the profession.

Extremely focused, committed, confident, and dedicated Associate Lawyer with a strong sense of ethical values, a passion for the truth, and a thirst for justice, seeking to uphold and utilize the full strength of the law to help those in need find trust and solace in our judicial system. My objective is to combinine acquired legal expertise, foundational practical experience, negotiation skills and customer service abilities to benefit your clients.

This person clearly has a drive and they can’t wait to excel in their career as a lawyer. This sort of motivation and dedication is of paramount importance when seeking to impress future employers in law firms .

But this is just the start. The following section is a completely different beast to tame and encompasses something much more physical and practical— professional experience .

How Should You Describe Your Lawyer Experience?

The experience section of your lawyer resume will shed light on your professional achievements, abilities, knowledge, and ambitions. Moreover, it deals with the hard facts.

Here, you should clearly state where you worked before, how long you worked there, what role you had, and everything that you achieved during your prior employment. All facts can be checked by your employer, so do not be tempted to lie on your resume in this section.  

If you need more real examples of how to describe your previous professional experience, you can check other legal field related resumes such as our paralegal resume guide or legal assistant resume template .

In order to excel in writing good lawyer resume experience sections, you need to abide by the simple rule: back every fact with numbers.  

This can include the number of subordinates you managed during a project, the percentage of case wins, the yearly improvement of the company, etc. 

Clear expression and good organization are also essential. You need to articulate yourself in an immaculate manner without sugarcoating any information.

Experience Section Examples

To illustrate our advice above, here is a lawyer resume example for the experience section:

Lawyer | Soni & Preg Law Associates

New Orleans, LA | July 2017 to June 2021

• Managed 37 corporate lawsuits per year , and represented clients on cases encompassing fraudulent schemes and criminal cases. 
• Developed fortified litigation approaches for 9 civil cases that could not be solved through negotiation.
• Influenced the increase of the firm’s success rate from 87.4% to 96.5% by implementing innovative case management strategies. 
• Satisfyingly represented clients in criminal and civil court proceedings.
• Led and supervised a team of 14 legal assistant interns , delegating necessary word-processing and management tasks to them.
• Gave clients advice about their legal rights in various sorts of disputes.
• Organized and summarized case documentation for court proceedings.
• Mediated and enforced the proper regulations in legal disputes, counseling clients about the law, their rights, and the possible legal options to resolve said disputes.

The provided example presents an applicant who has had significant law experience and knows how to present it in a short, striking, yet easily comprehensible way. 

Using numbers and percentages, as well as professional terminology and important keywords , they’ve made a lasting impression on potential employers.

Entry-Level Lawyer Experience

At this point, entry-level applicants may start to worry about how to manage the experience section without much or any experience at all. 

Luckily, there’s no need to fret since employers know that everyone has to start somewhere and that applicants for the position will come from all walks of life and experience levels.  

When creating your lawyer resume, feel free to fill your experience section with achievements from volunteer work, school or university projects related to law activities , and relevant practical coursework .

The key is to present these experiences as valuable to the role —because to you, a passionate, ambitious lawyer—they were.

If you have completed, or are currently completing, an internship , you can list this just as you would any other work experience entry. Jut make sure you job title includes ‘Intern’.

Is Your Education Section Primed? It Should Be

Yet another essential part of your lawyer resume is the education section.

Unlike previous sections, this is one that every applicant should easily fill out. The important issue is how.

For starters, know which information is irrelevant enough to exclude . No need to mention that you were part of the uni rumba dance team for 2 years!

Focus on the important information, and make it easily visible; outline the years that you studied , when you enrolled and when you graduated, the title you earned , and the n ame and location of your college .

This aside, you can even mention your GPA score or some other extra achievements. These can be helpful if you’re an entry-level applicant with no practical work achievements yet.

Have you won any awards at college that would be relevant to the job ? If so, and you are a less experienced candidate, add another bullet to this section.

Lawyer Resume Education Section Examples

To be as clear as possible, here is an education section example you can trust:

Juris Doctor | Stanford University

Stanford, CA

• Graduated Cum Laude in May 2021

Master of Juridical Science, Major in Legal Studies, Minor in History | New York Law School

New York, NY

• Graduated Summa Cum Laude in June 2017

B.A. in Economics and Business Administration | Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

• Graduated Summa Cum Laude in July 2015
• President of the Environmental Law Society 2013-2015

Colleges with a good reputation, impressive qualification titles, location, and titles earned—these can all make a difference in your resume’s education section. 

The Best Lawyer Skills For Your Resume

In your lawyer resume, mention both technical and communication skills . When practicing law, the division between these two types of skills aren’t always rigid, but they are necessary!

A good skills section is an invaluable part of your lawyer’s resume . You need to know which skills to put at the forefront, and which to avoid mentioning due to their irrelevance. 

This will mostly depend on the particular lawyer job you’re applying for. 

Are the employers looking for a criminal law employee? 

If so, analytical skills , persuasive writing, presentation, and strong oral communication skills will have to be at the top of your list.

Be aware that you can mention both technical and communication skills . With lawyers, the division between these two isn’t always rigid, but it can be helpful in organizing your thoughts more clearly. 

Also, hard and soft skills differ from one another , and if you have a lot of both—and you should—it’s best to first list the hard and then the soft skills you have. 

Keep the following skills in mind when writing your lawyer resume skills section:

Soft Skills

• Adaptability
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Commercial Contracts
• Corporate Governance
• Oral Argumentation
• Oral Communication
• Due Diligence
• Conflict Resolution
• Problem Solving
• Critical Reading and Thinking

Hard Skills

• Criminal Law
• Contract Law
• Entertainment Law
• Civil Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Persuasive Writing
• Data Analytics
• Data Privacy

Even if you’re not able to list every single one of these (in fact you shouldn’t, ideally you should list max. 10 skills that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for), bear them in mind as these professional skills, as well as people skills are incredibly important for your lawyer resume.

Do You Need to Add Other Sections for an Effective Resume?

To round things out, you’ll preferably want to fill in the “Other” section of your resume as well. Usually, these come last in your resume, regardless of the format you chose. 

Here, don’t include irrelevant information, like regular visits to the gym. Instead, use this section to mention other significant aspects of your career that you couldn’t feature in any of the previous sections.

Think of professional certifications you studied for , acknowledgments you have, conferences you attended, awards you received, volunteer work you did, etc. This is the place where you show how much you love practising the law and how good you are at being rewarded for it.

Relevant hobbies and interests can be included in your resume too , such as debating societies, law journal subscriptions, podcasting on legal process developments, etc.

“Other” Sections for Your Lawyer Resume

Good lawyer resume samples for the “Other” section should include:

Certificates:

• Immigration Lawyer Bootcamp (2015), examination pass and merit

Conferences:

• San Francisco Lawyers United Conference (2017), presentation and submission of research

Feel free to add or subtract any achievements, awards, and events; this section serves to personalize your application using your main law-related interests and achievements!

Closing Argument

Having covered every step of the way, you should now have a fairly good idea of how to write the best lawyer resume for the job you apply for. 

Go through some of our modern resume templates to find a good design that suits you , review our samples and t horoughly examine every job vacancy you’re applying for in order to know what they’re looking for.

If you are applying at various different companies that have different requirements in terms of your resume, do your best to tailor your information each time , so all its versions fit the employer’s demands.

Remember to keep your resume up-to-date with each new role or responsibility you take on to save yourself time later too.

With these tips in mind, we hope you land that dream interview soon!

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Using resume templates that are proven to work will help you to move your career search forward. Start and customize as many resumes as you need with our free resume builder , available for a 14-day trial.

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Legal Resumes

This guide contains some basic suggestions about preparing resumes, and includes samples for you to consult. If you would like to have a Career Development Office attorney-counselor review your draft resume, send it to the career email box, [email protected] . The resume process, from start to finish, can take much longer than you anticipate. Start early, and give yourself plenty of time .

A. What is a Resume?

B. effective resumes, c. writing your resume, d. resume suggestions, e. finalizing your resume.

• Sample Resumes – Students (These are included as a pdf to preserve formatting, an essential element of effective resume-drafting.)
• Suggested Action Words for describing experiences
• “1L Resume Workshop” Presentation (10/2023)

A resume is a marketing device whereby you present the most attractive, true picture of yourself with the goal of convincing an employer to meet with you. During an interview, you may be asked questions about any entries on the document. For lawyers, the resume also is a writing sample that shows your ability to communicate clearly and concisely and your attention to detail.

Your resume is often your first contact with a potential employer and will probably determine whether your qualifications and background warrant an interview or serious consideration for a job. While employers do not usually hire on the basis of a resume alone, they may decide not to interview an applicant on the basis of a poorly prepared or presented resume. Therefore, excellent content and presentation are vital. Employers assume that your resume represents your best work and is indicative of your general work product in terms of clarity, organization, accuracy and appearance.

Most decisions about what to include and how best to present information in your resume are based on your personal assessment of your strengths, the kind(s) of position you are seeking, your own taste and style, and your knowledge of how resumes in the legal profession traditionally look and read. Consider having more than one resume to emphasize different things for different types of prospective employers.

Resumes for public interest organizations. For these employers, a demonstrated commitment to public interest work will be a key factor. Evidence of your commitment can take the form of extracurricular activities, journals, internships, clinics and volunteer work, all of which should be included on your resume. Consider including substantive clinical work or student organization activities (e.g., CARC) in your “Experience” section, where you can elaborate on your tasks and responsibilities. If your experience justifies it, you may consider creating an additional section entitled “Community Service” or “Volunteer Activities” to list your volunteer or community activities that will emphasize the extent of your dedication to public interest issues. In addition, languages can be very important to public interest/public sector employers, depending on the communities they serve or the work you can do for them. Unlike resumes aimed at private sector employers, public interest resumes can go over one page if your experience requires it; however, it is still critical to use concise language and efficient formatting.

Resume Rules. There are a few absolute rules for writing resumes. Your resume must be:

• scrupulously honest;
• conservative (graphically and linguistically, not necessarily politically);
• selective (because your resume is not your whole life history, perhaps not even your entire employment history);
• visually appealing so it will be easy to read rapidly;
• absolutely free of typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies.

Difficult Issues. Some items you might include in your resume may reveal political leanings, religious beliefs, ethnicity, disability, and/or sexual orientation, which, depending on the prospective employer, could work against you or in your favor. (This is true regardless of the legality of taking such factors into account.) The decision whether to include such information is a personal one. First, consider how important the inclusion of such information is to you, and whether you would want to work for an employer who would use it in making a decision whether to hire you. If you choose not to include this information, you still have the option of bringing it up in an interview, or later in the hiring process. If you are unsure about whether to include items of this kind in your resume, contact a CDO attorney-counselor.

Accuracy of Resume Information and Verification of Resumes. It is imperative that all information presented on your resume be scrupulously honest and free of embellishment. The potential for misrepresentation of academic or work performance is of great concern to employers; they typically verify this information. Berkeley Law has established practices to ensure the fair and accurate presentation of students in the placement process, including procedures for the verification of statements concerning grades, journal membership, or other law school achievements that a student has made in a resume or other document. By making such statements to an employer in writing, a student consents to the Law School verifying the substance of these statements at the employer’s request. (Berkeley Law’s Registrar will inform the employer whether written grade information is accurate, but will not provide the correct grade information to the employer without the student’s prior consent.)

Any falsification or misrepresentation of law school grades or other records, recommendations, or other qualifications is a violation of the Academic Honor Code.

First, brainstorm. Inventory your background and accomplishments and list everything which helps to distinguish you individually, professionally, and as a student. You might ask for input from family or friends because you may overlook some basic but important areas. Remember to focus on what you bring to the table based on your experience. What will make the employer interested in you?

Name and Contact Information

This information should go in large (font size 14-16) bold face type at the top of your resume. If you choose to include both your school address and your permanent address you should indicate which is which. (Students often include an out-of-area address in order to show that they have a connection to an area outside of Northern California.) Always include your phone number and email address, but only one of each. (Your email address, as well as your voicemail greeting, should be professional.)

List your education in reverse chronological order (law school first). Include basic information on schools attended, degrees received and dates (or anticipated dates) of graduation, and major field(s) of study.

Under your undergraduate school heading, include major and minor areas of study and thesis topics, if applicable. Be consistent. If you use the term “J.D,” then use “B.A.” Alternatively, if you write out “Juris Doctor” then write out “Bachelor of Arts.” Other than law schools, you need not include schools from which you transferred and did not graduate. No need to include your high school. If you acquired a degree which employers might not recognize by its abbreviation, spell out the degree name.

For your law degree, you can either list it as “J.D. Candidate” with your expected graduation date, or you can list “J.D.” and the date as “Expected May 20XX.”

A Special Note for Transfer Students : If you transferred here from another law school, put Berkeley Law first, followed by the other law school, for at least your first year at Berkeley Law. If you received honors at the other school, put them under that law school’s section. If you were invited to join law review at your former school and didn’t because you transferred here, indicate that you were invited to join and explain why, e.g., “Invited to join University of San Diego Law Review on the basis of high academic achievement.”

Joint Degree Students : If you are pursuing a joint degree program, be sure to list both schools under your education section.

Honors and Activities. Honors attached to your degree should appear in lowercase after the degree awarded, e.g., B.A., summa cum laude , June 2006. (If the honors are in Latin, they should be italicized.) Other academic honors are listed separately below your degree, along with school activities.

If you have extensive undergraduate honors and activities, you might consider listing only a representative number of them. Make sure it is clear which activities are at which institutions. If you were involved during school with an activity not related to the school, it should go under a different section of your resume.

For law school, list all honors and activities of importance such as law review, participation on other journals, moot court, trial advocacy, clinics, fellowships, scholarships, committees, student organization membership, and academic awards.

If an activity in college or law school was or is especially involved or relevant, consider putting it under the Experience section. For example, if you are a public interest student, your participation in CARC could go under Experience, with a description of the work you did on your asylum case.

Grades, Rank and LSAT Scores. Because Berkeley Law does not use a traditional grading system, students do not have GPAs. Under Academic Rule 19.6, the Dean, Dean of Students, faculty, students, and alums shall not disclose information about academic honors, class standing or GPAs provided under Rule 19 for any professional purpose other than aiding in obtaining a judicial clerkship or academic position. Revealing this information for any other professional purpose is a violation of the Honor Code. LSAT scores should not be listed on your resume, as they are designed to predict law school performance only, and are not an indicator of professional performance.

Use reverse chronology. You can list a brief summary of your most important duties, or list the skills you have developed at the job so that the employer can see what you can bring to the table. Your experience is worth including not for what you did, but for what it says about you and what you can do in the future. 

List the name and location of the employer, your title, the dates of employment, and a brief summary of your most important duties. Emphasize law-related work in any area, but do not struggle to make your experience appear more law-related than it really is; many students come to law school with no legal experience whatsoever, and employers know this. Three or four phrases are usually all you need, but elaborate further if you have the space and believe that your duties were especially interesting, responsible, and/or relevant to your legal career.

• If the name of the employer is inadequate to convey the nature of the business, try to incorporate a description of the employer in your job duties, e.g., “prepared marketing materials and sales analysis for start-up company selling online pet products.”
• Avoid insider jargon.
• Use present tense verbs to describe your current job and past tense verbs with all former positions.
• Provide specific information about actions and responsibilities (e.g., budget, percentage of increase in revenues or sales, number of staff supervised, direct work with clients, etc.) Many skills obtained in non-law jobs are transferable to law practice (e.g., attention to detail, meeting deadlines, writing, research and analytical skills, working under pressure, working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, etc.). Try to highlight such skills.
• If you were at one job for a long time, show promotions and increased responsibility, if applicable.
• If you had many part-time or temporary jobs while in school, consider summarizing them, e.g., “Worked part-time during undergrad to finance education.” (Employers will value the fact that you have worked while going to school, particularly if you were still able to do well academically.) For certain jobs, such as in retail or restaurants, or as a ski instructor, it can be appropriate to omit the description altogether, as most people know roughly what this work entails.
• Include summer jobs to avoid time gaps on your resume.
• If a prior job is your only link to a prospective employer’s city, include it.
• Any experience can be relevant, regardless of whether or not it was paid, so if your volunteer or community service is substantial, include it in the main body of your resume, especially if you are applying for public interest positions. Volunteer work can also be presented in a separate Community Service section, or at the end or your resume under a heading such as “Other Information.” Jobs are usually assumed to be full-time and paid unless you indicate otherwise; be sure not to appear to overstate your experience.

Other Categories.

If space allows, you may choose to elaborate on one or more of the following categories, under a heading such as “Other Information” or “Interests and Activities”:

• Languages : If you include languages on your resume, state your level of fluency (e.g., “fluent,” “proficient,” “reading knowledge only” (where your fluency is very limited, it is probably not worth listing the language)). Do not overstate your level of proficiency.
• Publications : You may include a short list of publications on law-related topics, particularly if the area of research is relevant to an employer’s practice. A more extensive list of publications should be compiled as a separate document. Be prepared to discuss in interviews any publications you list.
• Professional Licensing and Affiliations : Include any relevant licenses or certifications (such as a CPA license). Include past and present memberships with your title, if any, and dates. Give the full name of the organization.
• Bar Admission : Bar membership, only applicable to graduates, should appear at the top of your resume, above the Education section. If you have a substantial amount of experience as an attorney, the Experience section of your resume should precede the Education section. If you are registered to take the bar exam or awaiting the results of a bar exam you have written, you can include that information in a cover letter.
• Keep your resume to one page, unless you have substantial working experience prior to coming to law school, or for public interest resumes.
• Do not use abbreviations, with these exceptions: the two-letter state abbreviations and academic degrees.
• List each item only once. If you list Debate Team Captain as a college activity, don’t repeat it under Other Activities at the bottom.
• Make your resume easy to read. The reader should be able to locate your graduation date, duties of employment, etc., by scanning (not reading) your resume.
• Use short descriptive sentence fragments separated by semicolons with strong action verbs to relate your job responsibilities, not sentences. (A list of “ action words ” can be found at the end of this guide.).
• Be specific about what you did at your jobs; avoid vague expressions such as “gained exposure to,” “participated in” or “assisted with.”
• List your job responsibilities in descending order of responsibility and challenge (start with the most impressive and work down to a “catch-all” item, if appropriate).
• Put your references on a separate document, and don’t include “references available on request” on your resume. Employers know to ask for them.
• Avoid extraneous information and try not to convey too many ideas at once.
• Do not include computer abilities, except as part of a job description where you used highly specialized skills.
• Do not include such personal information as age, marital status, etc.
• Do not include anything in your resume you would not want to discuss in an interview.

Resume Style. Resume styles vary, as presented by the samples found at the end of this guide.

In addition to using physical layout, take strategic advantage of the various ways to highlight important information, such as bold face, capitalization, italicizing, and underlining. Be completely consistent with the choices you make (e.g., all educational institutions in boldface, all job titles in italics), all the way down to the way you use commas, periods and spaces. For legal resumes, it is most typical to use Times New Roman font (or another similar serif font) in size 11 or 12. Look for a pleasant balance of text and white space on the page. While margins can be smaller than the standard for a term paper, you should allow at least .7″ all around.

Proofreading. Once you have your resume set up as you want it with content and layout, proofread it carefully. Look for inconsistencies in style as well as actual typos. Do not trust yourself as the only proofreader; enlist the aid of at least one other person. If you discover a typo, you must redo your resume, even if it has been already been printed; no typo is insignificant.

A few technical notes.

• If you send your resume electronically, it is preferable to convert it to a PDF file first; this way your formatting and any document history are invisible, and you can control exactly the way your resume appears and prints.
• Email addresses in your contact information should be text, like your phone number, not a hyperlink.

Sample Resumes (These are included as a pdf to preserve formatting, an essential element of effective resume-drafting.)

  Return to Contents   

Resume Advice & Samples

Resume advice and samples.

Section Menu

• Review your resume with a CDO counselor prior to applying to jobs. 
• Your resume is a sales tool, not an autobiography. When making decisions about what to include, consider recency and relevancy to the job for which you are applying.  
• Be prepared to discuss everything on your resume in an interview. 
• Be scrupulously honest. Exaggerations or misrepresentation will damage your reputation and professional relationships. 
• Make your resume visually clean and clear. What will an employer see in 30 seconds? 5 seconds? 
• Keep your resume to one page.
• Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Garamond.
• Select a font size of 11 point or 12 point.
• Create margins no smaller than .5 inches on all sides.
• Use bold, underlining, and italics consistently to enhance readability.
• Make deliberate style choices, then stick to them throughout.
• Ensure your resume is error free.
• Follow our advice, “ Resume Formatting: How to Use Tabs & Styles ” to give your resume a professional look.

Resume Construction

• Include your name, mailing address, cell number, and Yale email address.
• If you do not have a mailing address in New Haven, that is fine, as mailing addresses are becoming optional.
• Add your permanent mailing address to emphasize ties to that area when applying to positions nearby.
• List your gender pronouns if you wish.

Education Section

• List degrees in reverse chronological order.
• Include all courses of study: past, present, and future.
• List each educational institution, location, degree, and degree date (expected date if currently enrolled).
• Do not include high school or LSAT score.
• Think strategically about how much space you devote to each degree. What message are you sending to employers?
• Include at your option with a strategic mindset.
• YLS awards few Honors.
• Moot court/mock trial awards and paper prizes are Honors.
• List Yale Law Journal as an Honor, due to the competitive admission process. List other journals as Activities or create a separate Journal sub-section under Yale Law School.
• List those that are not based solely on financial need and are awarded through a competitive process.
• If space permits, provide a very brief description of the selection criteria.
• Examples: Tilman Scholarship; the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans; and the NAACP LDF Earl Warren Civil Rights Scholarship.
• List scholarship or fellowship awards that are associated with summer or post-graduate employment with the position in the Experience section.
• Do not list need-based scholarships and fellowships, including SPIF funding, summer Mary McCarthy funding, and Kirby Simon travel grants.
• List the following positions as Activities or in the Experience section: Coker Fellow, Research Assistant, Orientation Leader, Community Leader, Student Representative, Tsai Leadership Program Fellow, and CDO Student Advisor.
• Use this section to emphasize relevant skills and interests including research and writing skills, oral advocacy, teamwork, and leadership.
• Narrow the list, if necessary, by selecting only one of several activities that are of the same genre.
• If applying for public service positions, include as many of your service-related activities as space permits to demonstrate your commitment to service.
• Move particularly relevant, intensive, or skills-enhancing activities to the Experience section. Example: clinics.
• Be clear about the timing of future commitments, however, describing the exact timing of past activities is not strictly necessary.

Optional Sections

• Create a Select Courses sub-section to highlight courses that reflect your interest in a practice area.
• Tailor this section depending on your target employer(s).
• List courses you have already taken and courses you intend to take in the future (with a parenthetical indicating that the course is expected).  
• Create a Study Abroad sub-section in your undergraduate education listing.  
• Create a Thesis sub-section in your undergraduate education listing.
• Include especially if the topic relates to the law.

Experience Section

• List experiences in reverse chronological order.
• Include experiences to which you have committed, but not yet begun; describe using future-tense verbs.
• Dates can be general (e.g., Summer 20XX).
• Omit job titles if unimpressive or do not clarify your responsibilities, however, be consistent about including/excluding titles throughout.
• List experiences that demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas relevant to legal employers, especially research, writing, and analysis.
• Emphasize professional skills including organizational ability, leadership, initiative, creativity, communication skills, common sense, and intellectual ability.
• List both paid and unpaid experiences.
• Include work associated with a scholastic experience, including legal clinic experience, research for a professor, and extensive work for a student organization.
• Rewrite past descriptions written for different industries and audiences. Eliminate jargon and terminology unfamiliar to a general audience.
• Summarize smaller or less relevant positions to fill gaps. E.g., “Held various positions as salesclerk, server, and receptionist while in college.”
• Be prepared to discuss significant gaps at interviews.
• Think strategically about the amount of physical space devoted to each experience. More space = greater emphasis.
• Use action verbs and rich detail in descriptions. E.g., “researched and wrote memoranda on issues of jurisdiction and venue,” rather than “involved in assisting attorneys in the researching and writing of…”
• Languages: List if relevant and/or skill level is high. May be useful to delineate written vs. spoken proficiency. Be scrupulously honest regarding skill level.
• Think strategically about employers’ impressions. Publications show writing skills, but a long list of publications may signal interest in an academic career which may not be well received by non-academic employers.
• Consider selective list or summary if publication list is long.
• Use Bluebook citation format.
• Be clear about co-authored pieces.
• Interests: Include a few special interests that may be compelling and serve as icebreaker topics during an interview.
• Other skills: list only relevant skills, eliminating those which are universal (e.g., MS Word) or unrelated to legal employers’ needs (e.g., C++ programming).

Do Not Include

• Objective or introductory statements.
• Personal information (e.g., marital status, parental status).
• Salary requirements.
• “References available on request.”

Think Ahead to Your Next Resume

Develop your skills and knowledge through career-related experiences

• Summer employment
• Student organizations
• Research Assistant positions
• Leadership positions

Sample Resumes PDF   Sample Resumes Word

Jump to: First Year Student Examples | Second Year Student Examples | Third Year Student Examples

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Creating Your Law School Resume

Last Updated: Aug 28, 2024

Putting a law school resume together probably isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. The experience can be tedious, to say the least, but it’s important to take the time and effort to get it right.

A resume is often the first impression a potential employer will have of you during law school. You want to use your resume to open the door for an interview request and set the tone for a productive meeting. Chances are good that the person you’re appealing to has more than one resume in front of them and not much time to thoroughly review each one, so you have a very brief window in which to catch that person’s attention.

To make your resume count, we’ve partnered with  Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA) , the world’s leading legal search firm, to provide a how-to for creating a stellar law school resume.

Watch this video and learn more below.

The essential elements

There is certain basic information that every law school resume should have. This includes:

Your name, address and phone number.  Your name and contact information should be prominently displayed somewhere on the page and are most often centered across the top of the resume.

Education.  Be sure to date everything from your current educational experiences to your expected graduation date. Early on in your resume-building, it’s recommended that you work in reverse chronological order starting with your law school education and then any graduate school time followed by undergraduate. Include accolades, awards and scholarships earned at each school along your academic journey.

Experience.  Here, you want to list the positions and/or  legal clerkships or internships  you’ve had since completing your undergraduate degree. It’s important to list what you do or have done that is relevant to the job for which you are applying. As a law student, you might not have any relevant experience to list — and that’s okay. Do the best you can at highlighting what you’ve accomplished so far to draw the reader in. The rest will come over time.

Publications.  This is where you want to list your note or comment from Law Review or any articles you have researched or co-written with a professor. As you get further along in your legal career, you may also have the opportunity to speak on panels. It’s worth listing what you have spoken on, when and where.    

Interests.  This is a great place to let your personality shine through. Interests can act as good conversation starters/icebreakers and are a way to make a connection with an interviewer.  Volunteer work  also offers a glimpse at who you are and what you value.

Licensures.  If you are already licensed in a certain state, you will definitely want to note it. Also important is any court you are admitted to or if you are a member of a patent bar. Other licenses, such as a real estate or broker license, will demonstrate you have what it takes to get through a rigorous licensing process.

It probably goes without saying (but worth repeating) that your resume should be free from typos and formatting issues. You don’t want to rule yourself out for a position based on a misspelled word or missing space. Keep your resume clean, concise and one page in length. As you get further into your career, you will have the chance to expand on your merits. For now, make it scannable and desirable!    

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Jan. 6 hearing: New evidence could emerge after judge's ruling

Former President Trump's election interference case resumed with a hearing.

Attorneys argued over issues of presidential immunity after former President Donald Trump, through his lawyer, entered a plea of not guilty to charges in the superseding indictment in his election interference case on Thursday.

Thursday's hearing, following months of delays in the case, came a week after special counsel Jack Smith filed the new indictment that revised the original Jan. 6 charges to reflect the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling that Trump is entitled to immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts undertaken while in office.

Top headlines:

• 6:05 PM EDT Judge to allow prosecutors to file brief on immunity
• 11:20 AM EDT Judge says both sides can file more motions
• 11:04 AM EDT Prosecution says it can move 'quickly'
• 10:53 AM EDT Judge won't immediately rule on VP conversations
• 10:13 AM EDT Trump, through attorney, pleads not guilty

Judge to allow prosecutors to file brief on immunity

In a scheduling order issued following Thursday's hearing, Judge Chutkan said she would allow special counsel Jack Smith to file a comprehensive brief on presidential immunity by Sept. 26.

Chutkan's order allows Smith and his prosecutors to essentially defend their superseding indictment by presenting grand jury testimony and evidence that they believe bolsters their argument -- something that Trump's lawyers adamantly opposed during Thursday's hearing, because it departs from normal federal court procedure regarding which side gets to file papers first.

Trump's lawyers also suggested that such a filing would allow the special counsel to cherry-pick evidence.

As expected, the order contains no trial date for the case, as Chutkan acknowledged in court Thursday that setting such a date -- given the approaching November election -- would be "an exercise in futility."

Court adjourned, judge to issue scheduling order

After arguments concluded, Judge Chutkan adjourned the hearing.

She said she would issue a scheduling order as soon as possible regarding the next steps in the case.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who was present during the hearing, departed with multiple members of his team.

Judge says both sides can file more motions

Judge Chutkan says she is inclined to let both sides file more motions or briefs related to the Trump's teams challenges to the case on statutory grounds -- but she also made clear that she believes those statutory issues can be handled at the same time that the parties also try to resolve immunity-related issues.

“Immunity is the lynchpin here,” and both sets of issues can be handled concurrently, she said.

Prosecution says it can move 'quickly'

Prosecutor Tom Windom made some final points supporting the prosecution's views. Among them, he noted that in the New York hush money case against Trump, Trump's legal team filed a 52-page motion to vacate the case only nine days after the SCOTUS ruling related to immunity.

"The defense can move comprehensively, quickly and well, and so can we," and the judge should consider that in setting the schedule in this case, Windom said.

Defense attorney John Lauro then said he wanted to speak briefly. Chutkan said it had to be brief, saying, "I don't need any more rhetoric on how serious and grave this is."

"It's not rhetoric, it's called legal argument," Lauro shot back.

Lauro again insisted that special counsel Jack Smith's appointment was unlawful. "We have an illegitimate prosecutor. We have an illegitimate indictment," he said.

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Down to last strike, Tigers stun Padres with slam

Parker Meadows cracked a grand slam with two outs in the top of the ninth inning Thursday night to lifting the visiting Detroit Tigers to a stunning 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres.