Attorney Resume Example
If you're hoping to start a career as an attorney, you'll need experience in representing clients' interests and conducting legal research. To succeed in your applications for attorney roles, you'll need a resume that reflects your relevant skills and experience. In this article, we'll highlight tips and examples for creating an attorney resume that makes a winning impression on recruiters and hiring managers.
After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a resume that really stands out from other attorney applicants. You'll learn how to show employers you've got the relevant qualities, skills and experience for the job, all presented in a format that employers prefer to see. The article also includes tips for formatting your resume according to your experience and strengths. Read on to learn how to write a perfect attorney resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Main elements of an attorney resume
Although the content of an attorney resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same.
If you're applying for an entry-level attorney role and have limited relevant experience, consider using a skills-based, or functional resume format. The layout emphasizes your skills and education above your work experience. Draw attention to your soft and transferable skills, as employers will value these highly for entry-level roles. You could also mention any internships, training or volunteer work that helps you showcase skills relevant to the position.
If you have some experience as an attorney, use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format and focus on showing how you've used the skills required for the job in your career to date. Rather than simply listing your responsibilities in each role, show the impact you made and offer evidence that demonstrates the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Senior job applications require a slightly different approach to mid-level or junior attorney roles. Use a reverse-chronological format focusing on your work experience, with a particular emphasis on the impact you've made. Some elements to include in a senior resume for maximum impact might include awards, publications, conference presentations or professional memberships. By adding these sections, it's likely that your resume will be longer than a junior resume.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Header and Personal Information
The resume header is the place to add your name and contact details, along with your LinkedIn URL if you have a profile, so employers can find more information about your career journey and skills. You don't typically need to add a photo, or any other personal information to this section. Keep your header clear and concise, with only the most necessary information included. Opt for a stylish, professional design that creates a strong first impression.
Use an email address that's professional and appropriate for professional communication. Typically this would be an email address based on your first and last name, or your initials. If necessary, you could include your profession or another unique identifier. Avoid using old email addresses that could be considered unprofessional or inappropriate. Additionally, always check your contact details before sending your resume to ensure they're up-to-date.
Cora Long
cora.long@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
5150 Maple Drive, Twin Peaks, WA
linkedin․com/in/cora–long123
Resume Summary
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. In addition, your objective should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for attorney roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description.
Alternatively, use this section to emphasize your career objectives and explain how and why this role is a suitable step for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for attorney roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. The graphic below showcases some good examples of what to include in your attorney resume summary.
Experienced attorney with a Juris Doctor (JD) and a proven track record as Senior Legal Counsel, specializing in corporate law, contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Demonstrates exceptional analytical skills, strategic thinking, and a strong commitment to ethical practice. Adept at leading legal teams, managing complex legal issues, and providing sound legal advice to senior management
Attorney with some background in law and handling legal matters. Worked in roles where I dealt with company-related issues and talked about contracts. Have experience in following rules and managing risks. Led teams and handled various legal situations, offering advice to higher-ups when needed
On the other hand, a resume summary can be ineffective if it lacks specific information about how your skills align with the job description, or fails to paint a picture of your unique qualities and talents. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your attorney resume summary
Work History
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as an attorney. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
In addition, include a few bullet points under each job, highlighting your key achievements so the hiring manager can see how they led to successful outcomes. Back up each point with evidence to show how you meet the job description.
An effective resume work experience section is one that constantly echoes the skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you used your skills to positive effect in each job. Each bullet point should be carefully crafted to showcase a particular skill or achievement relevant to attorney jobs, with evidence to show the value you added. Take a look at the examples below for some guidance on what works best for your work experience section.
Senior Legal Counsel, January 2022 - Present
Silverstein & Associates, LLP, Oakland
- Successfully negotiated and closed a $50 million international acquisition, ensuring compliance with multi-jurisdictional regulations and reducing legal risks
- Led a team to win a landmark intellectual property case, securing a $10 million settlement for the company
- Implemented a comprehensive compliance program, reducing potential liabilities by 30% and earning industry recognition for best practices
Senior Legal Counsel, January 2022 - Present
Silverstein & Associates, LLP, Oakland
- Handled various legal matters for the company, contributing to overall success and maintaining high standards of practice
- Participated in numerous negotiations and legal proceedings, supporting the company's strategic goals and enhancing team collaboration
- Developed and implemented legal strategies, ensuring effective risk management and compliance across multiple areas of law
The example above can give you some idea of what not to include in your resume work experience section. Ineffective work experience sections tend to focus too much on everyday responsibilities over skills and achievements. If you use vague descriptions of activities and fail to back up your achievements with evidence, you're likely to fail to make an impact on the reader.
Education
Under education, add details of any degrees or professional qualifications relevant to attorney roles.
An attorney role tends to require candidates to have a university or college degree, so make sure you list yours in your resume. A Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree or similar is the most suitable for this job, but you could also include any other relevant qualifications that show your litigation case management or intellectual property law.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. You can enhance this section by adding bullet points that show any outstanding grades, awards or achievements and any specialist subjects you studied. These details can make you stand out from other candidates.
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any university societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Juris Doctor (JD), 2017 - 2020
Howard University, Washington, D.C
Hard and Soft Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for attorney roles. Whether your skills include contract drafting expertise, time management proficiency or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for attorney jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as an attorney.
Showcasing hard skills on your attorney resume
Hard skills are the key technical skills required for attorney positions. They include specific industry knowledge and abilities that you could learn on the job, or through a specialist qualification. Furthermore, these skills are essential for an attorney resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective attorney resume hard skills list looks like.
- Legal research proficiency
- Contract drafting expertise
- Litigation case management
Showcasing your best soft skills
Soft skills are your transferable skills and personal qualities that make you a good match for an attorney position and the organization. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, and can often apply to multiple jobs and industries. In fact, as technology develops, soft skills are growing in importance for recruiters and employers, so be sure to add several of these to your resume. Think of your best soft skills and add up to five that match the requirements of the job description.
A good soft skills section would include skills that match the job description, and also reflect your key strengths and qualities. See the graphic below for an indication of what to include in a strong soft skills section for an attorney resume.
- Effective communication skills
- Critical thinking ability
- Time management proficiency
Certifications
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as an attorney. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for an attorney resume:
- Certified Legal Specialist, 2022
- Bar Association Membership, 2022
- Certified Mediator Professional, 2022
Additional Information
If you need to provide further evidence of your suitability for the job, optional sections can be useful for an attorney resume. Choose optional sections from the list below, if they help to showcase your relevant skills and experience.
Hobbies and Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world attorney experience. Think about adding hobbies and interests to your resume if they add some insight into your personality that you can't express elsewhere in your application.
Volunteer Work
If you're lacking relevant attorney work experience, volunteer work can help to show you still have the relevant skills. Include the title of your volunteer role, who you volunteered for, as well as the dates you carried out the work. Provide brief details of your responsibilities and the impact you made.
References
References aren't a standard attorney resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
References can be provided upon request.
Best strong verbs for your an attorney resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. The suggested action verbs below will help the reader to understand your key qualities and the impact you made on the organization.
- Advise
- Advocate
- Negotiate
- Draft
- Litigate
- Mediate
- Represent
- Counsel
- Interpret
- Strategize
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Example of an attorney resume
The attorney resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
5150 Maple Drive, Twin Peaks, WA
•
cora.long@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/cora–long123
Experienced Corporate Counsel with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Proven expertise in providing strategic legal advice, managing corporate legal matters, ensuring regulatory compliance, and negotiating complex contracts. Adept at mitigating risks and fostering business growth through sound legal counsel. Skilled in collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to drive organizational success.
Corporate Counsel
2020
-2022
LawBridge Solutions LLC (Chicago)
- Successfully negotiated and closed a $500M M&A deal, ensuring compliance and mitigating legal risks
- Implemented a comprehensive compliance program, reducing regulatory breaches by 40% within the first year
- Led a high-profile intellectual property litigation, securing a favorable $200M settlement for the company
Legal research proficiency
Contract drafting expertise
Litigation case management
Effective communication skills
Critical thinking ability
Time management proficiency
Certified Legal Specialist
Bar Association Membership
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of an attorney resume
- Quantify your career achievements by including evidence of your impact throughout your resume.
- Write a compelling resume summary or objective to introduce yourself and your key attorney skills.
- Order your work experience in a reverse-chronological timeline, starting with your most recent position.
- List your qualifications in your education section, including any necessary degrees or certifications, along with high grades.
- Use strong action words to demonstrate the impact you've made in each attorney role (e.g. 'draft', 'litigate', 'mediate').
- Don't lie or exaggerate about your attorney experience or achievements as it can harm your chances in the long term.
- Don't add hobbies and outside interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role.
- Don't use complex and elaborate formatting that can make your attorney resume less readable and more difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't forget to keep your header up-to-date with every application, to make sure you don't include old contact information.
- Don't clutter your document by trying to add too many details. Focus on core attorney skills and achievements that are relevant to the role.
Making an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are increasingly taking responsibility for the management and processing of job applications, helping hiring practices to become more efficient. This can include screening resumes by scanning and ranking each application according to how closely it matches the job description. When you're writing your attorney resume, there are several things you can do to make sure your resume stands the best chance of passing the ATS stage.
Follow these guidelines to create the best ATS-friendly resume:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Add keywords throughout your resume that help ATS software match your application to the job description. A higher match means your application is more likely to proceed to be reviewed by human eyes.
- Using clear, simple headings makes it easier for an ATS application to scan your resume, as it can easily identify what's in each section of your document.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions about an attorney resume
Accompanying your resume for attorney applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
A full, formal cover letter follows a traditional letter-writing structure and format. Add your header, the recipient's address an use professional greetings and sign-offs. In your first paragraph, introduce yourself and confirm the role you're applying for, along with your reasons for applying. Next, outline your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to the attorney job description. Finish by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and adding a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to contact you for further information.
You can create a professional cover letter in just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps using Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates.
If you have no experience, it's still possible to write a professional attorney resume that makes a positive impression on hiring managers. Use a skills-based resume format to highlight your relevant skills and education. This is more suitable for junior or entry-level roles where you might not have much work experience to showcase. Additional resume sections such as volunteer work, hobbies and interests, certifications and internships can all help you showcase your relevant skills. These can be more prominent in your resume if you haven't got a lot of work experience.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for attorney jobs. Resume headlines are also helpful for the ATS stage of the recruitment process, as they can help you reference the job title and one or two keywords for the role. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Aspiring Litigation Specialist Attorney
- Skilled Litigation and Compliance Expert
- Experienced Senior Legal Counsel
The resume format that gives you the best chances of success depends on your experience levels, as well as the type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. For applicants without much relevant work experience, a functional resume format tends to be best. This places the emphasis on your key skills and relevant qualifications. If, however, you have relevant work experience in the industry, it's typically best to use a reverse chronological resume format. This highlights your achievements in work, which is probably the most important factor for hiring managers to consider.
Key points for your attorney resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
