Pursuing a career as an attorney can require a strong resume that law office managers and other hiring managers can notice. As there are several specializations, each job description might have unique requirements for candidates to fulfill, and matching these can help get you an interview. When preparing your resume, reviewing resume samples can also help you with formatting and ensure you include the proper content sections.In this article, we discuss how to write an attorney resume and share several examples you can review when creating your own. When you're ready to apply for jobs, you can upload a resume file or build an Indeed Resume.To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.
How to write an attorney resume
Here are some steps you can take to write an attorney resume:
1. Use a formal format
A formal format can show your professionalism to hiring managers at firms, which is often a valued quality in attorneys. One component to consider for formatting is listing your professional experience in reverse chronological order so firms can see your most recent achievements first. It can also help to use a consistent and professional font size and style. If you adjust the style for headings, keeping them consistent throughout can help managers navigate the different sections in your resume easily.Related:Top Resume Formats: Tips and Examples of 3 Common Resumes
2. Write a strong summary
Your resume summary can provide hiring managers with a brief few sentences about your top achievements and qualities. You can mention one to two of your top skills along with the most relevant experience to the position for which you apply. For example, if the job states research several times, you might share a highlight of what research tools you've used and how you applied research to be successful in your role. Consider using metrics where possible to quantify the impact of your work.Related:How To Write a Summary of Qualifications for Your Resume (With Examples)
3. Describe your experience
Describing your work experience can show hiring managers your key responsibilities along with your achievements. You can list your previous roles, the firms or companies for which you've worked and the length of time you worked there. In several bulleted items, you can then describe your key responsibilities and the results of those actions. Consider using active verbs to show the exact tasks you've managed. For example, you might say that you managed 50 cases through trial annually or mention your client retention or satisfaction.Related:How To Write Work Experience on a Resume
4. Include your education
For your education, you can include the degree you earned along with the school where you earned it. If you've earned relative degrees, like a bachelor's before a juris doctor, you can include these in reverse chronological order. For graduates who completed their program in the past three years, you can include the graduation year in this section.Related:How To Write a Resume Education Summary (With Examples and Tips)
5. Include your Bar
Many firms may hope to see your Bar affiliation clearly stated on your resume. When you include your name at the top, you can start by adding Esq. to the end of it. You can also add a line that states the name "Bar Association" and mention that you're in good standing with them. If you're awaiting results, you can still mention the bar association and add that results are pending.Related:How To Write an Associate Attorney Resume (Plus Tips)
6. List your skills
You can include a list of your skills on your resume in their own section. This can be a bulleted list of soft and technical skills, or simply a list separated by commas or pipes. Consider reviewing the qualifications on the job description to see if they mention any particular skills or technology in their requirements and preferred qualifications section. Including these can show hiring managers you're the right fit for their firm and help your resume get through any automated scans.
7. Consider other sections
You can include several other sections on your resume, like volunteer experience, research projects, or publications you have. You might also include certifications as many lawyers pursue specific certifications in areas like juvenile or civil law. To include these, you can name the certificate you earned, the organization that provided it and the year you earned it. Consider only including extra sections if they can showcase your unique qualities or provide information relevant to the position.Related: How To List Certifications on a Resume (With Examples)Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.
