Lawyer resumes are the first point of contact between prospective associates and their future employers. It’s absolutely essential to nail that first impression en route to a successful legal interview, a competitive offer, and a robust career. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, nor that lawyers fresh out of law school or in the middle of their careers know how to write a resume.

Luckily, we know resumes inside and out—from applicant and recruiter perspectives.

Below, we’ll briefly cover why legal resumes are so critical, then break down how to write a lawyer resume, common mistakes to avoid in one, and some additional tips for perfecting it.

The Importance of a Strong Resume for Associates

Well-structured resumes are critical for applicants because they communicate key information about who they are and what they’ll bring to a given position. They also indirectly communicate attention to detail through clear formatting, as well as industry wherewithal with knowledge of conventions and expectations. These are things firms, companies, and recruiters are looking for.

That’s why it’s important to cover all the bases, content-wise—see below—in a way that’s clear and easily accessible for readers. Following the quadrant design and balancing information across the page helps employers focus on what you want them to and retain it after reading.¹

Another factor to consider is just how competitive the legal field is at present. According to Reuters, lateral hiring fell 35% across law firms in 2023, with the fewest such hires seen since 2010.² In this difficult job market, having a strong resume is not just a positive—it’s an absolute necessity.

Key Components of a Strong Lawyer Resume

Resume conventions differ widely across industries, and it’s important to know exactly what’s expected in terms of both content and formatting. For example, standard resume conventions in tech (e.g., creative uses of space and color) typically won’t fly in traditional contexts, like law.

Here is a run-down of what a competitive legal resume should contain, in order:

• Contact information – The first thing recruiters should see is your full name, followed by your home or mailing address, your phone number, and a professional email address.

• Education – You should list your law school and any graduate or undergraduate schools you’ve attended, along with degrees, majors, and relevant certifications or honors.

• Professional experience – This is the most important part of the resume. You’ll list all the roles you’ve held in reverse-chronological order with detailed descriptions of the responsibilities you’ve had using strong, diverse action verbs wherever possible.³ This section is critical to showcase your legal expertise. 

• Highlight key skills and specializations related to litigation, legal research, negotiation, client relationship management, outreach, and more.

• This is also a good place to draw attention to pro bono and volunteer work.

• Licenses and certifications – You should have a section dedicated to relevant licenses you’ve achieved, such as bar admissions, along with specialized courses you have taken.

• This is also a place to list memberships in legal associations or organizations.

• Publications – Be sure to include any relevant or recent publications, such as articles or other contributions in scholarly or trade journals, as well as conference presentations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and How)

Just as there are things every lawyer resume should have, there are also clear-cut red flags that should be avoided at all costs. The easiest potential pitfall is including excessive or unnecessary information irrelevant to your legal career and/or the specific position to which you’re applying.

You should also be as specific as possible in descriptions, avoiding vagueness or ambiguity. Too often, lawyers assume that generalization equates to broader applicability, while the opposite is actually true: the more specific you are about an example, the better your reader can imagine it.

Tips for Crafting an Effective Lawyer Resume

Creating a strong resume requires attention to detail. You’ll need to customize a resume for the specific job or jobs you’re applying to, mirroring what the law firm or company values in both the language you use and the emphasis you exercise. A common practice is to have one boilerplate resume upon which you’ll iterate and customize to each application. If you apply to nine unique positions, you should have nine unique variations of your resume custom-tailored to each.

Another consideration is emphasizing your achievements over responsibilities. What you were tasked with is almost always less important than what you achieved within those boundaries. This can help you appear as an experienced lawyer to companies and recruiters. 

Beyond these overarching themes, it’s important to edit carefully for accuracy, clarity, and readability. Consider advanced editing practices like reading aloud and slowly to ensure it is completely free of errors or confusing language that could throw off a potential employer.

Working with a legal recruiter is one of the best ways to make a resume as strong as possible.

Advance Your Legal Career with E.P. Dine

Building and maintaining a strong lawyer resume is critical to success in a legal career, from locking down an associate position to advancing to partner, going in-house, or achieving other major career milestones. It all starts with a detailed, tailored, well-formatted resume.

E.P. Dine is an expert in lawyer associate hiring and recruiting to help legal professionals find the best positions for them. We work with lawyers, firms, and companies to determine fit and position legal professionals for sustained success. That includes coaching and preparation for interviews and advancement throughout your career.

To learn more about how we can help you advance as a legal professional, get in touch today!

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Sources: 

1. Purdue Online Writing Lab. Résumé Design. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/job_search_writing/resumes_and_vitas/resume_design.html
2. Reuters. Lateral hiring at law firms hits lowest level since 2010, NALP report finds.  https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/lateral-hiring-law-firms-hits-lowest-level-since-2010-nalp-report-finds-2024-03-27/
3. Harvard Law School. OPIA Job Search Toolkit | Action Verbs. https://hls.harvard.edu/bernard-koteen-office-of-public-interest-advising/opia-job-search-toolkit/action-verbs/‍