Lawyer Resume Example, Tips & Tricks

For attorneys who are looking for employment with a law firm, company, or government agency, there is no substitute for a truly compelling Lawyer resume. Fortunately, we’ve created this guide that includes a Lawyer resume example and some resume-writing tips and tricks you can use to ensure that your resume is ready to make the best possible impression on any prospective employer.

How to write a resume

As a Lawyer, you know that there’s more to a court case than just making an argument in front of a judge or jury. To prepare for a hearing or trial, you first need to conduct extensive research, develop convincing arguments, and prepare briefs that help to sway a court’s opinions. Well, the same principles hold true for your Lawyer resume. Without the right preparation and strategy, your resume will be just another document that hiring managers toss into the rejection pile.

But how do you write a great resume? What elements does it need to contain, and what strategies do you need to employ to ensure an employer can understand just how much value you can bring to their organization? Let’s examine some of the best tips and tricks you can use to craft your lawyer resume, including choosing the right format, creating a solid structure, and carefully tailoring your message to align with each employer’s needs.

Reverse chronological format is preferred

The format you choose for your resume can immediately draw a reader’s attention, so this is one of the most important decisions you will make when you craft your Lawyer resume. There are three main options, including the chronological, functional, and combination (a/k/a hybrid) formats. Most employers prefer to see a reverse chronological format since it enables them to quickly view your career progression, beginning with your current or most recent position.

You can choose a different option, but just be aware that some employers may be skeptical of a resume that doesn’t provide a clear timeline of employment. Moreover, the reverse chronological format enables you to use a straightforward structure that will be extremely familiar to the employers who see it.

How to tailor your lawyer resume

Your Lawyer resume will also need to be tailored to fit each job you’re applying for. Pay attention to the job posting and description and identify any specific terms used to describe the desired qualifications. These terms are keywords that you should include in your resume to ensure that it gets past the company’s applicant tracking system, or ATS. Adjust your skills and other text as needed to work those keywords into your narrative.

Lawyer resume example

Obviously, that’s a great deal of information to make sense of without being able to see an example that showcases these ideas. That’s why we’ve included a great Lawyer resume example you can refer to as you begin to assemble your own resume. Be sure to examine the various sections of the example to better understand how they all work in concert to create a convincing narrative that sells the job seeker as the best candidate for the job.

Key hard & soft skills for a Lawyer

Lawyers possess unique skills that are essential for serving their clients. Those skills include vital hard skills that they use to research and understand the law, as well as soft skills that help them to deal with clients, communicate their ideas and arguments, and interact with court personnel, juries, witnesses, and other members of the public. 

Your Lawyer resume should highlight your top hard and soft skills to ensure that prospective employers can recognize your potential value as a member of their team.

Hard Skills

A lawyer’s hard skills will include a wide variety of abilities they’ve learned during their formal education or through hands-on experience. These skills include those directly related to the practice of law, as well as some transferable abilities such as technical writing and analysis.

• Knowledge of civil and/or criminal law and procedure

• Contracts

• Analytical skills

• Legal research

• Technical writing

• Constitutional law

Soft Skills

Of course, soft skills are just as important for any successful attorney and should be highlighted on your Lawyer resume, too. These skills include interpersonal abilities and traits that enable lawyers to effectively work with others, manage time and tasks, and communicate in a professional and ethical manner. For example:

• Time management

• Critical thinking

• Ethics

• Presentation skills

• Negotiation

• Professionalism

Summary & last words

The best lawyers are always prepared to make the most convincing argument possible. In any job search, your Lawyer resume is the key to delivering the powerful narrative you need to gain a prospective employer’s attention and interest. Remember to focus on your key skills – both hard skills and interpersonal abilities, detail experiences that align with the employer’s needs, and deliver that information in a convincing narrative that highlights you as the best candidate for the job.

For maximum impact, don’t forget these key tips:

• Use the right format and structure

• Utilize bullet point examples for your achievements, rather than paragraphs

• Include a great summary statement that can capture the employer’s interest in just a few sentences

• Make sure that your skill section lists both hard and soft abilities

• Optimize your work experience section by focusing on aspects of each job that are relevant to the position you’re seeking

• Each time you apply to a different company, adjust your resume to tailor it to that job

Introduction to TopResume: Professional resume writers

The legal profession is more competitive than ever, and you need a truly outstanding Lawyer resume to capture any employer’s attention. The resume experts at TopResume are the partners you need to ensure that your resume achieves that goal. Each of our resume writers understands your industry and what employers want to see from job candidates. Contact us to learn more about how our professional resume writing services can help you advance your legal career.