A lawyer's resume is no longer a simple checklist of qualifications but an opportunity to express knowledge, experience, and professionalism in very competitive surroundings. Be it an experienced attorney or a newly graduated from law school, a well-written resume sets the applicant above others in the competition.

In this guide, we will walk you through some of the basic steps for writing a lawyer resume to catch the eye of law firms, corporations, or government agencies.

Roles and Responsibilities of Lawyer

Lawyers are very crucial to society as they ensure justice is delivered, ensure the rule of law, and represent individuals, corporations, or governments in courts. Specialization will make the scope of work vary with each lawyer, though some core roles cut across every legal profession. Below is an overview of key roles and responsibilities of a lawyer:

Lawyers are also required to extensively research relevant legal precedents, statutes, regulations, and case law. This process will enable them to understand the related legal precedents and case laws of the previously concluded cases that could be applied to the current case or legal issue.

Check out the free templates for the Lawyer Resume

Template 1

Template 2

Template 3

Template 4

Template 5

Guidelines to Write a Lawyer Resume

1. Professional Summary

Start with a summary The summary is your elevator pitch. It should be an introduction of who you are, your core strengths, and what makes you the perfect fit for the job that has been applied. Try to drive home your legal expertise, special areas of law, and years of experience. For example:

Example: "Accomplished corporate attorney with 7+ years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, contract law, and regulatory compliance. Proven ability to negotiate complex deals and manage high-profile clients in the tech and finance sectors. Looking to leverage expertise to support a forward-thinking law firm in providing strategic legal counsel."

2. Highlight Your Key Skills

In the legal environment, one needs both hard and soft skills to get by. In this case, you can focus mainly on your legal acumen, people skills, and technical knowledge. Make sure these are also some of the skills found in the job posting.

Advanced Skills to Leverage

Legal Research and Writing
Contract Negotiation
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Client Counseling
Regulatory Compliance
Trial Preparation
Case Management Software (e.g., Clio, MyCase)
Legal Drafting (e.g., contracts, motions, briefs)
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Mediation and Arbitration

3. Customize your Experience Section

List all the jobs you have had therein and state your position, firm or organization, location, and dates of employment. Then describe what you accomplished in the said position not just what you have been responsible for. Use quantifiable metrics as much as possible to prove your impact such as cases won, settlements negotiated or clients represented.

Example Corporate Attorney | XYZ Law Firm | New York, NY | June 2018 – Present

Clients counselled in mergers and acquisitions with a value of over $500 million
Complex commercial contract negotiation with a success rate of 95% and adherence to regulatory frameworks.
Coordinated with senior counsel to litigate a multi-million dollar intellectual property dispute which proved effective in deciding the case in favour of the client.

Education Matters

Your educational background is an important part of your lawyer's resume. Do not forget to indicate:

Name of the law school.
This is your degree, such as Juris Doctor
Year of graduation
Honors or distinction (e.g. cum laude, Dean's List, Law Review)
If you graduated recently, include relevant coursework or extracurricular activities such as moot court competitions, internships or student legal clinics.

5. Bar Admission and Certifications

As this is not an attorney position, bar admission is not optional, so it should be explicitly included. States in which admitted to practice law plus any other certifications or specialized training relevant to your areas of practice

6. Publications and Presentations

If you have published, written articles for legal publications or blogs, or spoken at conferences, this section will give much-needed credibility. To that end, try to relate topics to your area of expertise.

Example:

"The Future of Data Privacy Law in a Digital Economy," Journal of Corporate Law, April 2023
Guest speaker at the ABA Annual Conference on "Regulatory Challenges in FinTech," 2022

7. Professional Affiliations and Leadership Roles

That would make a difference: you are an active member of the bar associations or lead in activities therein. These show involvement with the profession and leadership qualities.

Example:

Member, American Bar Association (2017–Present)

Vice Chair, Young Lawyers Division, New York State Bar Association (2021–Present)

8. Action Verbs

Avoid passive descriptions and use more action-related words instead. Strong verbs make your resume energetic and depict your role in bringing about positive results.

Examples:

Advocated
Drafted
Negotiated
Defended
Counselled
Arbitrated
Researched

9. Clean and Professional

The attorney's resume should be clean and professional with proper traditional formatting. Use a clean and readable font, white space, and definite sections with consistent headings. Hold it formatted in a way that fits best in this experience, such as reverse chronological.

10. Perfectly Proofread

Legal work requires you to be meticulous about details; do the same with your resume. One small mistake in the format or a single inaccuracy might give a wrong impression. Make it a point to proofread your resume, or rather, have your trusted colleague read it for you over.

Final Thoughts

The balance between accomplishment and professionalism is what a lawyer's resume is all about. Craft a resume that speaks to the job in question, highlight experiences that make you a valuable asset, and don't forget to bring attention to detail. These guidelines will have you well on your way to landing your next legal role.

Lawyer Resume Templates