how to write the perfect attorney resume

by Kyler Jenkins 8 min read

9 Tips for Writing a Great Legal Resume.

  • 1. Keep it short and sweet. Key advice for writing resumes: Be concise. Legal hiring managers scan resumes quickly, and if you write one that's too ...
  • 2. Education or experience first? It matters!
  • 3. Provide a brief narrative with action verbs.
  • 4. Tailor your resume for each job.
  • 5. Think simple elegant layout.

Full Answer

How do you List A lawyer on a resume?

Choosing the best resume format for an attorney Nine times out of ten, a reverse chronological order resume format is your best bet when writing an attorney resume sample. Employers want to see your most recent experience first when they peruse your employment history section. There are cases, however, where you may want to use a different style.

Can I write an attorney resume with no legal experience?

Apr 24, 2017 · 9 Tips for Writing a Great Legal Resume 1. Keep it short and sweet. Key advice for writing resumes: Be concise. Legal hiring managers scan resumes quickly, and... 2. Education or experience first? It matters!. Whether you start your resume with your legal education or experience ... 3.  Provide a ...

What should an ideal attorney resume template look like?

Mar 04, 2022 · Five Key Resume Tips For Writing An Attorney Resume: 1. Relevant Experience Make sure that the jobs, experience, and accolades that you include are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Investigated and defended EEO complaints filed by …

How to write a legal resume summary?

Besides the obvious (your name and contact information), your legal resume should begin with a brief attorney profile and your legal experience. Bullet points make it easier for the reader to quickly learn about your legal experience. Be sure to highlight any bar admissions you have at the top of your resume.

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What should an attorney put on resume?

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.Mar 2, 2022

How long should a resume be for a lawyer?

one to three pagesYour resume should convey your unique qualifications in a clear, succinct, and organized manner. Attempt to limit your resume to one to three pages—especially if you have fewer than five years of work experience.May 5, 2019

How many pages should an attorney resume?

Two-Page Resumes Are The Norm For Lawyers Unless you are an entry-level attorney, chances are your resume will be two pages. Don't try squeezing all the information into a single page just to fit that one-page myth. Your resume should be as long as it needs to be in order to properly convey your experience.Aug 31, 2021

How do I make my resume stand out for law school?

How to create a law school resumeUse the right structure.Use the right format.Use an appropriate length.Include your name and contact information.Add your educational experience.List your honors, awards and scholarships.List employment and internship experiences.List volunteer work and leadership organizations.Sep 3, 2021

Do legal resumes need to be one page?

The Only Rule You Need to Know Your resume should be a long as it takes (and no longer) to tell your story to your audience for your particular purpose. For some, like the vast majority of law students, this means their resumes will in fact be one page.

Can legal resumes be 2 pages?

A resume should typically be only one page in length. However, there are certain circumstances under which a two-page resume is acceptable. As long as all the information that is included is important and relevant to the employer, resume length is secondary.

Is it OK for a resume to be 3 pages?

Depending on the job description and your work experience, your resume should be one or two pages long. If you have over 10 years of relevant experience, a multi-page resume works better than a one-page.Jan 1, 2021

What does a good law school resume look like?

A good resume for law school should clarify the skills and experience you bring from work, school and other activities. It won't paint a full picture of who you are, but it should provide a frame for the admissions committees to understand the rest of the application.Feb 10, 2020

What do law schools look for in a resume?

A law school resume emphasizes your academic achievements It's important to note your passions while illustrating how you spent your time in college. Any leadership positions, professional responsibilities, and volunteer experiences could be beneficial to highlight.Dec 10, 2018

Do law schools check your resume?

Many law schools now request a resume. It can really make a difference in your application. Like your personal statement, it gives you a chance to tell the admissions committee about what you have done that makes you stand out from the pack.Dec 9, 2013

Law Resume Summary or Resume Objective?

A brief's opening paragraph should tell the judge what the case is about.

How to Put Skills on a Resume for an Attorney

Convince the hiring manager of your legal skills, and you'll get the interview.

How to Add Contact Info to Your Resume

What contact info belongs on a legal resume? What should you leave off?

Key Takeaway

Now you know how to write a legal resume that gets a lot more interviews. Be sure to follow these key tips:

What do attorneys do?

Most attorneys in this sector start as research assistants or law clerks for experienced attorneys or judges. Attorneys may work for a governmental body, such as a school board, or they may become an assistant district attorney, prosecuting defendants in court under the direction of a district attorney.

What is the job of a private attorney?

Typically, these firms hire attorneys to work in one practice area or for one client. These may include employment law, general corporate law, litigation, employee benefits, tax or real estate.

How much do medical attorneys make?

Medical attorneys make an average of $150,881 annually. They are the highest-paid attorneys. In contrast, corporate attorneys average $98,822 annually and public interest attorneys earn an average of $62,157, according to Money Inc. and Payscale.com.

What does it mean to be an in-house counsel?

In-house counsel. Working at a corporation, or as an in-house counsel, means you have one client: your employer. These clients usually look for attorneys who have worked at large law firms for several years since those firms offer training programs to their employees.

What is the header of a resume?

The resume header. The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement) The employment history section. The resume skills section. The education section. Whether you plan to argue cases or research arcane tax law, you need to be a great communicator who can code-switch depending on the situation.

What will be the job growth in 2029?

Growth in jobs for attorneys through 2029 is expected to be 4 percent, slightly lower than all fields, according to U.S. labor statistics, however, recent law graduates are being hired at a higher rate than they have been since 2009, the National Association of Law Placement found.

How to write a lawyer resume?

The impeccable “servant of the law” self-presentation should be thought out to the smallest detail. Among all the possible attorney resume templates, we have chosen the most effective one: 1 Contact information. Employers are interested only in valid phone numbers, email, and social network pages. 2 Summary. Write up to 10-15 sentences about your experience and accomplishments. The summary goal is to familiarize the recruiter with your career successes in a concise manner. So, it would help if you stuck to the case. 3 Work Experience. Follow the chronological sequence. Do not indicate more than 3-4 relevant segments of professional activity. Focus on job responsibilities. Pointing out your experience, pay more attention to the skills that a potential employer is looking for. 4 Education. If you are an experienced attorney, do not indicate high school: mention higher specialized education and any relevant training courses. Employers always value regular self-development. Entry-level job seekers should note completed legal internships. 5 Languages. If you speak any other languages, be sure to mention it. Indicate the level of your knowledge. 6 Top Skills. Do not make this list too long. Write job-specific skills that are relevant to your profile. If you are a “veteran”, do not indicate soft skills. 7 Honors-Awards. It is a critical section for qualified professionals. Any legal reward is a kind of objective evidence of your expertise and skills.

What is ATS in resume?

Use keywords. Your paper must pass the ATS test. ATS (applicant tracking system) is a program that recruiters use when selecting suitable resumes. It works on the principle of searching for specific keywords in the text.

What is an attorney on a resume?

An attorney is someone who is authorized to practice law in any of the jurisdiction and perform the civil and criminal legal functions on the client’s behalf. The best way to land a good job is that your resume should catch the eye of the recruiter. Below, you can find an attorney resume example that you can use to get some ideas ...

What is the job of a regulatory attorney?

To review, draft and negotiate contracts for the clients. To file claims, defend those claims and also respond to all the regulatory inquiries. To research and interpret the rules, statutes, regulations and the decisions taken by the regulatory bodies. To examine and analyze the data before advising the clients.

What are the duties of a securities lawyer?

Work Duties and Responsibilities. To represent the regulated entities, public companies, and individuals in all the phases of a trial, both local and federal. To provide legal services and advice with respect to securities regulations. To review, draft and negotiate contracts for the clients.

1. Keep it short and sweet

Key advice for writing resumes: Be concise. Legal hiring managers scan resumes quickly, and if you write one that's too wordy, you run the risk of burying the things that make you a good fit for the job. You don't have to keep the document to one page if you have five or more years of experience, but don't let it go on too long.

2. Education or experience first? It matters!

Whether you start your resume with your legal education or experience  will depend on the length of your career. If you've worked as a lawyer or paralegal for more than three years, lead with your experience. If you're a new associate,  start with your education.

4. Tailor your resume for each job

Think about your resume as a living document — you should continually update it, and customize it for each job you apply for.

5. Think simple elegant layout

Steer clear of unusual  colors or graphics when you're writing resumes for a legal job. A flashy format will make your resume stand out in a bad way. Also avoid using multiple fonts that might make your document hard to read. Simple black serif type (such as Cambria, Times New Roman and Garamond) on a clean, neutral background is best.

7. Highlight your publications

If you've published a few  law articles, list  them all on your resume, especially  if they're related to the firm's practice area. If your publishing history is extensive, compile your law articles in a separate document and include a note on your resume that states, "List of published works available upon request."

9. Proofread and get help reviewing for typos

Someone else's  grammatical and spelling errors  might be funny, but not yours — especially on a resume. Even one little error can torpedo your chances of getting a job, so make sure to read your resume thoroughly before you send it out. Print a copy to  proofread it; it's much easier to spot changes on a piece of paper than on a computer screen.

Attorney Resume Samples And Guide

Finding the inspiration to write an awesome resume can be tough. You may want to tailor it to fit a specific job description. Or maybe you're having a hard time deciding what job experiences to include. Everything that goes into creating a perfect attorney resume can take hours, days, even weeks. All of that work for an employer to take a glance.

10 Best Attorney Resume Templates In 2021

Build a professional attorney resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10 + resume templates to create your attorney resume.

What Should Be Included In An Attorney Resume

Your name should be the biggest text on the page and be at or near the top of the document.

Build a professional resume in minutes

Our AI resume builder helps you write a compelling and relevant resume for the jobs you want. See 10+ resume templates and create your resume here.

What is a legal resume?

A legal resume is a resume that is designed for to-be-lawyers and lawyers in all stages of their career such as: An advocate resume is a legal resume for advocates. A law student resume is a legal resume for law students. A general counsel resume is a legal resume for general counselors.

What is a general counsel resume?

A general counsel resume is a legal resume for general counselors. An entry-level attorney resume is a legal resume for entry-level attorneys. They are all legal resumes for different legal professionals. You need a legal resume to get shortlisted for your dream job.

Why is location important on a resume?

Your location is another important element of your law resume. It gives the recruiter a fair idea of the place of your residence, which further helps him/her identify if you would be up for a job-switch in another city or state.

Why is email ID important in law?

Your email ID is just as important as the mobile number in your law resume as it is the official mode of communication between two professionals - the recruiter and the applicant.

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Objective

  • I am a highly accomplished attorney with a proven record of relevant industry experience. I am interested to work for a company which will give me enough exposure and space to grow along with the company. I am good at managing teams and have been licensed to work in the states of Georgia and Florida.
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Skills

  1. Plus years of experience in securities law specifically encompassing areas like regulations and litigation.
  2. Relevant industry experience in the field
  3. A proven as well as experienced manager and a great team player
  4. Respond to the evolving securities laws and regulations quickly and accurately
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Experience

  • Associate Attorney: June 2015 to Present, Kolger and Young, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303 Work Duties and Responsibilities 1. To represent the regulated entities, public companies, and individuals in all the phases of a trial, both local and federal 2. To provide legal services and advice with respect to securities regulations 3. To review, draft and negotiate contracts for the clients 4. To file claims, …
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Education

  • Clarkmore School of Law, University of Atlanta, May 2015 GPA – 3.9 Activities: Social Chair, Editor, Federal Careers Club and Law review Tallahassee State University , Florida, 32311 B.A, Art History May 2016, GPA 3.7 Grover Cavs Humanities High, Florida, 32822 HS Diploma June 1997 GPA – 3.4
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Courses

  1. Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited law school
  2. 3 years of full-time study or 4 years of evening class studies in a law school
  3. A bachelor degree is a must
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Personal Information

  1. Civil Status – Married with 1 Child
  2. Birthday – 22ndApril 1981
  3. Interest – Gardening, Reading Books
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