Law Legal Resume Template Examples Guide 20+ Tips

Law Legal Resume Template Examples Guide 20+ Tips The evidence is clearAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more law students graduate each year than there are jobs available.In 2018 there were 1.34 million lawyers slugging it out for 824,000 jobs.Therell always be that hungry pack chasing you from behind. To get a legal job in todays market you need to make a powerful case to succeed.Heck, with that much competition you need to be a veritable Clarence Darrow.Follow our brief though and youll have a winning law resume template in no time.This guide will show you:A lawyer resume sample better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.How to build a resume that lands you more interviews.Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a lawyer resume.How to describe your experience for law jobs to get hired forthwith.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowLooking for guides for specific legal roles? See our guides:Attorney ResumeParalegal ResumeLegal Assistant ResumeLaw Student ResumeLaw School ResumeLegal Resume SampleContact InfoIla Cousteau Esq.Attorney513-554-3278ilacousteau@teleworm.uslinkedin.com/ilcousteau_zetytwitter.com/ilcousteau_zetyProfessional SummaryEnvironmental lawyer with 10+ years experience representing environmental advocacy groups in citizen suit claims seeking damages and injunctive relief under the federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Specialist in facilitating aggressive enforcement of environmental protection statutes and assisting plaintiffs to seek maximum recovery for personal injury, property damage, and medical monitoring based on exposure to haza rdous substances. Member of Environmental Law Institute and have obtained advantageous settlements in 90%+ of cases. Looking to leverage my expertise as environmental attorney with Debevoise Plimpton.Law LicenseBar AssociationMember in good standing of the Kentucky Bar AssociationProfessional ExperienceAttorneyGrotefeld Denenberg LLC, Louisville, KYAug 2012PresentDefended high profile corporate client against alleged breach of Kentucky Clean Air Regulations, achieving successful outcome in highly publicized trial. Won settlement for client in subsequent civil action.Achieved advantageous pre-trial settlement in 95% of class action toxic tort cases where plaintiffs sought recovery for personal injury.Mean client net promoter score of 9.Maintained annual average of 2000 billable hours.Junior AttorneyConvertino Assoc, Owensboro, KYNov 2008Aug 2012Assisted senior attorneys with pre-trial research for corporate clients defending against enforcement actions relating to violations of di scharge permits. Contributed to successful outcome in +90% of casesDeveloped strategies specific to not-for-profit organizations, increasing mean client net promoter score from 6.5 to 8.Interpreted laws, rulings and regulations regarding environmental qualityMaintained annual average of 2100 billable hoursEducationJuris DoctorUniversity of Kentucky, 20052008Pursued a concentration in environmental lawWinning team, Earle E. Zehmer Moot Court Competition 2007Published faculty/student paper in conjunction with Professor Agnes Acopio inEnvironmental Law ReviewGeopolitical Consequences of Environmental RegulationBachelor of ScienceUniversity of Kentucky, 20022004Major in EconomicsMinor in FrenchKey SkillsAbility to craft winning arguments for courtachieved successful outcome in 90% of contested cases.Adaptable to changeled on training in implementation and practice of new state and federal environmental legislation and regulationsKnowledge of key environmental protection legislationsubje ct matter expert in CERCLA, RCRA, mini-Superfund statute, chemical handling, and registration laws.FrenchFluentJournalsEnvironmental Justice: A Growing Union124 Tennessee L. Rev. 1001, 1011 (2013)ConferencesMid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law ConferenceSpoke on panel about waste water discharge regulations 2017Southeastern Environmental Law Regulation Conference, keynote speaker 2014-2018Community WorkVolunteer lecturer for Kentucky Association for Environmental EducationBoard member Kentucky Conservation CommitteePro bono work for Bluegrass Land Conservancy1Whats the Best Format for a Lawyer Resume?Hiring managers at top legal firms are swamped with applications. Like we said, in this market supply exceeds demand.Your hiring manager might even be a law graduate themselves.Submitting a poor application will get you rejected faster than a judge overruling a frivolous objection.And youve only got 7 seconds to stop this from happening.SoMax out every moment with the right leg al resume format. The best structure is the reverse chronological resume.Like a well-crafted complaint, it will set out your career history with a clear structure. Recruiters will get what they want upfront: your most recent experience listed above the fold..Heres a recommended legal resume template to follow:Legal Resume TemplateContact InformationResume Summary or ObjectiveLaw LicenseWork ExperienceEducationSkillsAdditional SectionsWhen writing a law resume for yourself, frame it with ample use of white space, readable resume fonts, and clear headings.Want to learn more about law resume formatting? Check out our primary authority: Resume Format.2Legal Resume Summary or Resume Objective?Your resume for law jobs should start with a resume profile. This is a brief one to four sentences long statement of your skills and qualifications for the job youre applying for.It generally comes in two forms: a resume summary or resume objective. Think of it as an opening statement for your entir e law resume that follows.So which one to use?If youre a well seasoned legal eagle then opt for a resume summary. It neatly sets out your experience and achievements.Applying for entry-level legal jobs? Go for a resume objective. In the absence of experience, it highlights your professional goals and enthusiasm for this law job.Lets look at some legal resume samples.Lawyer Resume SampleSummaryRIGHTEnvironmental lawyer with 10+ years experience representing environmental advocacy groups in citizen suit claims seeking damages and injunctive relief under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Specialist in facilitating aggressive enforcement of environmental protection statutes and assisting plaintiffs to seek maximum recovery for personal injury, property damage, and medical monitoring based on exposure to hazardous substances. Member of Environmental Law Institute and have obtained advantageous settlements in 90%+ of cases. Looking to leverage my expertise as environmental attorney w ith Debevoise Plimpton.WRONGHighly experienced environmental lawyer seeking challenging new role. Expert knowledge of Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Client focussed and diligent in pursuit of litigation.The first example? Case closed.It outlines the highly specialized knowledge needed for the job you apply for. Then it seals the deal by highlighting membership of a premier specialist law group and measurable career success. Youve landed that interview.The second? Nice statements but no proof. Application rejected.Now time for an entry-level lawyer resume objective sample.Lawyer Resume SampleObjectiveRIGHTDedicated junior attorney with a passion for transactional practice and contract law. Experienced in conducting pro bono client interviewing and legal research for legal aid agencies. Assisted with pro bono transactional legal assistance for community-based non-profit organizations. Seeking to build on my experience as a junior attorney at Allan Berger Associates.WRONGRecent l aw graduate seeking entry-level position with Allan Berger Associates. Looking to gain new skills in transactional practice.Doing it right means thinking outside the box. This applicant has cleverly made use of their volunteer work at college and they already look like an experienced hire.The second?Well give you a hint. 22% of the class of 2018 still dont have a job 10 months after graduation. Theyre one of them. Still begging for their first relevant law job and offering nothing in return.Want more resume objective examples? Weve got a guide for that:50+ Resume Objective Examples: Career Objectives for All JobsIs it more summary statements youre after? Theres a guide for that too: Resume Summary Examples (30+ Professional Summary Statements)3How to Show Bar Admission on a Lawyer ResumeIf you practice law by providing legal representation you have to be admitted to the bar.And though it might seem obvious:You have to highlight bar admission on your legal resume.Let the hiring mana ger know from the outset. Dont leave it as an afterthought because theyll conclude youre not licensed.How to list your bar admission on a lawyer resume?First, according to the American Bar Association recommendation, put Esq. after your name. Then, add a small section titled Law License immediately after your resume summary like so:How to Show Bar Admission on a Legal Resume ExampleBar AssociationMember in good standing of the XYZ State Bar.If your membership is pending, do this:Bar AssociationXYZ State Bar (awaiting results)Bar admission is the most common type of professional certification held by lawyers. But its by no means the only one.See our guide for more tips on putting professional certifications on a resume: How to List Certifications on a Resume: Guide (+20 Examples)4How to Describe Your Experience on a Lawyer ResumeThe law is a highly specialized profession requiring forensic attention to detail.Nobody knows this more than the hiring manager. They want your legal resume to prove youve got the experience to excel.How to do it?Frame your legal experience to march in lockstep with the job opening youre applying for. This is called tailoring your resume to the job ad.Then make your case watertight with an expert witness in the form of performance metrics, i.e. your professional achievements for a resume.See these legal resume samples:Experienced Lawyer Resume SamplesWork HistoryRIGHTBoult Cummings Conner BerryAttorneyJanuary 2013PresentDefended high profile client against vicarious liability action, achieving successful outcome in highly publicized trial.Achieved advantageous pre-trial settlement in 95% of cases.Mean client net promoter score of 9.Maintained annual average of 2000 billable hours.This example has the power of a mandatory injunction to get the hiring managers attention. Its packed with attention-grabbing achievement measures.WRONGCondominium Law GroupAttorneyJanuary 2013PresentNegotiated with opposing parties to avoid litigation and ac hieve resolution.Drafted and reviewed contracts in line with legislation and regulations.Conducted research and investigation for litigation.This reads more like a laundry list of duties. It says nothing about your successes. Instead, it actually testifies to the lack of thereof.But what if you dont have relevant experience or achievements as a lawyer?Theres a way around it.(And it doesnt mean we want you to lie on your resume.)So, how can your legal resume have a work experience section without you having the experience?If you scroll back up to the part with our legal resume objective samples, youll notice a smart law student can still show off some valuable legal experience. Even if it comes from entry-level legal jobs only.If this scenario applies to you too, in the job description section of your resume make sure to list your:Summer associate jobsTemp or casual work as a paralegalWork for local legal aid agenciesInternshipsExternshipsWhat are externships? These are programs prov ided by many law schools to help students gain their first relevant experience. They earn credit by working under the supervision of an attorney on projects typically undertaken by entry-level attorneys.Heres an example:Lawyer Resume SampleEntry-LevelRIGHTAttorney Experience20152018Helped clients navigate legal process at neighborhood legal aid clinicConducted legal research for trial attorneys during externship at Daniel R Strann Law OfficesSummer associate assisting with trial strategy at Claylaird AssociatesAnd there you have it. A law resume work experience section without experience.Your lawyer job description on a resume shouldnt read like a handbook for Civil Procedure. Make it easy to digest with this guide: How to Describe Work Experience in a ResumeWhen making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score you r resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.5Is Your Education Section Making Them Reject Your Law Resume?Experience on a legal resume is crucial but your education will also be scrutinized closely. Especially early in your career as a lawyer.Lets be realistic, you cant make a Tier 4 school degree have the same impact as one from Stanford.ButYou can maximize the impact of your law resume education section regardless of your alma mater.How to do it? Dont neglect the basics: always include your college name and location, years in school, and degree. If you have a Juris Doctor then add your Bachelors degree too.Then add some more legal power to it by listing your relevant coursework, student honors, or publications.Think of this lawyer resume section as your ratio decidendi but youve got to add some obiter dicta to really set a precedent. Three or four extra bullet points will do the trick.Legal Resume Education Section ExamplesRIGHTJuris DoctorBoston University, 20122015Pursue d a concentration in intellectual property information lawWinning team, Homer Albers Prize Moot Court Competition 2015Published faculty/student paper in conjunction with Professor Leon Lam inAdministrative Law ReviewFairness and Efficiency in Patent and Trademark Office ProceedingsThats a unanimous verdict to be called for an interview.WRONGJuris DoctorWilliam and Mary Law School, 2012-2015,GPA 2.8This will land your application in the trash. You do not want to add a GPA like this on your resume. Only note it if its 3.5 or above.Pro Tip: If youve had more than 3 years of experience in a law job, dont list your GPA on a resume at all. The hiring manager wont care.Still not sure how to make your legal education shine? Find out more with our expert guide: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips Examples]6How to Put Skills on a Lawyer ResumeYour skills section on a resume for law jobs needs the snappy, attention grabbing power of a Johnnie Cochran one liner.Describe them wisely an d make them a powerful testimony in favor of your job application.Legal skills are highly specialized. A simple bullet point list of skills isnt the best approach.Think of a specific skill then back it up with a description of your legal expertise and/or achievements in that area.Look at these examples:Legal Resume SamplesSkillsRIGHTAbility to craft winning arguments for courtachieved successful outcome in 90% of contested cases.Adaptable to changeled on training in implementation and practice in 2019 data protection regulatory regime.Knowledge of key environmental protection legislationsubject matter expert in CERCLA, RCRA, mini-Superfund statute, chemical handling and registration laws.This candidate has read the job description. Selected the skills mentioned. Then matched them to their skills, and backed them up with incontrovertible evidence.Be specific, never generic.WRONGOral communication skills, written communication skills, advocacy skills, client service, legal research, o rganization, knowledge of substantive law and procedure, negotiation, drafting contracts.Your legal resume skills section shouldnt read like the table of contents of the U.S. Code. It isnt a brainstorming exercise where you mindlessly list every skill you can think of.Need more inspiration? Get started with these examples, but remember to add that testimony and evidence to make the skill specific to the law job youre applying.Skills for Legal ResumeLegal SkillsTort LawContract LawCorporate Law and GovernanceProbateFamily LawCriminal LawProperty LawAdministrative LawTransactional PracticeHard SkillsTech SkillsClient ServiceProject Management SkillsPlanningForeign LanguagesDocument ManagementLegal ProcedureLegal ResearchUpsellingSoft SkillsInterpersonal SkillsAnalyticalDetail OrientedTime ManagementTeamworkAdaptabilityConflict ResolutionDecision MakingAbility to work under pressureWeve got more expert advice on resume skills in our guide: 99 Key Skills for a Resume (Best List of Examp les for All Jobs)7Add Other Sections for a Job-Winning Legal ResumeWell say it again. The legal job market is super competitive.Youve got to go the extra mile to catch the recruiters eye and lock in that interview.Do that by adding other sections to your law resume. Go for things that show off your professional skills and dedication, like these:Awards and Honors on a Law ResumeThis is a perfect section to add awards youve achieved in your academic and professional career. For example, Deans Honors List if youre a new graduate, or awards from the American Bar Association for more experienced candidates.Publications on a Legal ResumeAdd journal publications youve written in your area of specialty.Volunteering on a Law ResumeA perfect way to add pro bono and community work to your resume.Conferences on a Legal ResumeIf youre a true legal eagle in your field then chances are you attend or even speak at conferences and symposia. Include this as an additional resume section to show your p assion and expertise for your area of specialty.See the sample legal resume below:Legal Resume SamplesOther SectionsJournalsThe Structural Constitution: Unitary Executive, Plural Judiciary, 119 W. Virginia L. Rev. 1089, 1099 (2014)ConferencesAviation Law SymposiumSpoke on panel about drone related criminal offences 2017Prevailing Wage Law ConferenceIf the hiring manager isnt sold already, they will be now.See more examples of other sections to add to your legal resume template in our guide: Resume Sections to Include on Your Resume.8Write a Lawyer Cover Letter to Nail Your Closing ArgumentWhether to include a cover letter or not is something of a split decision. Some employers ask for them and some dont.We advise you to write one. Its another way of making your legal resume stand out.Heres how:That Johnnie Cochran one-liner? Use one to start your cover letter. It has to be attention-grabbing.Make a case for you being the best candidate for this job.Set out your commitment, passion, enthusiasm, and eagerness to grow within the role and the company.Convince the hiring manager that you want to be part of the team and tell them the added value that youll bring.End your cover letter with a powerful closing argument. Refocus attention and cement your case for employment!Youre luckywe actually have a ready sample for you right here: Legal Cover Letter Sample GuideWant to know more lawyer cover letter tricks? See these articles: 35+ Best Cover Letter Tips, Advice Guidelines and How to Write a Job-Winning Cover Letter in 8 Simple StepsKey TakeawayCourt adjourned. Now your lawyer resume is more convincing than Johnnie Cochran in his prime.Here are some case notes to jog your memory when writing a job-winning legal resume:Outline your case on your legal resume with the reverse-chronological format for ease of reading.Open proceedings on your lawyer resume with a resume summary or objective to introduce your skills and qualifications.Dont neglect your resume education s ection. Your degrees, certification and added details are all essential on any legal resume template.Show evidence of your ability to excel with a well-crafted job history section. Make it relevant and dont just list responsibilities.Include your skills on your legal resume, backed up with further evidence. Youre in a specialist career so a list of bullet-pointed single words wont cut it.Add some additional sections to your lawyer resume. These will make you look like Perry Mason next to Lionel Hutz.Include a cover letter. Theyre still necessary and a job-winning addition to your law resume.When youre done, proofread and check your lawyer resume for errors. Dont let your case be lost on a technicality.And thats it. Youve just written the Marbury v. Madison of resumes!Got questions on how to write a lawyer resume? Ask away in the comments section. Well be sure to reply. Thanks for reading!