Legal resume examples

How to Write a Perfect Legal Resume

Everyone understands that a law resume is an immensely important tool for an effective legal job search. This paper will not only serve to be a recitation of your life’s chronology (which is necessary to indicate, though) but also a presentation of who you are as a qualified legal professional. According to recent labor statistics, you only have 30 seconds of your potential employer’s time to catch their attention — so make sure to build a catchy document. Don’t know how? We’re here to help you out!

Which Resume Type Should I Choose?

There exist two main types of resumes — functional and chronological. A functional resume is a mix of your previous workplaces that are often not really connected to each other. This CV type will reflect that you are a motivated, initiative worker that is not afraid to take up new experiences and hungry for knowledge. A chronological resume is basically a set of events in your work history that show your career progression.

Create a chronological CV if you intend to join a law firm and avoid mentioning irrelevant jobs. Your resume will show that you are a consistent specialist, willing to grow in your legal profession.

Where Do I Begin?

The first paragraphs of your resume should contain the info that looks most impressive. State you’ve finished a prestigious law school at the beginning. Begin by mentioning your legal education if you have recently graduated. Starting with describing legal experience will be a better idea for those who have experience of a few years of working as a lawyer or a paralegal.

What Else Should I Include?

Apart from the education and work history, create a catchy opening statement and a professional summary. Use strong action verbs to describe your achievements: advantageous settlements and favorable verdicts. Never send an identical cover letter to different hiring managers — look into the law firm’s website, study their brand and values, and create a unique one for each particular organization.

Resume Format

Keep it simple and straight to the point — legal hiring managers want to see that you are organized and concise. Make the resume two/three pages long, describe your strengths (such as good leadership skills and self-discipline), and avoid flowery language.

Also, the UC Berkeley School of Law recommends opting for a laconic design of your CV. A legal resume normally implies the conservative white pages with some traditional readable font, headings, a bar admission, and bullet points. Overdecorating your documentation might be viewed as a sign of incompetence.

Relevant Skills and Interests

It is vital to input information about the best skills you possess because they might be the key factor why the hiring managers would want to make you a job offer. Among the most common ones to add into your skills section are the following:

• Management;
• Languages;
• Computer;
• Customer Service;
• And Others.

Most legal employers would prefer to look into the spectrum of your out-of-work hobbies to know more about your personality. If this is appropriate for the targeted company (study the job description closely to know more about the law firm), list some interests that you believe will enhance your professional image.

Final Words

Writing resumes, especially legal resumes might turn out to be a challenge for some legal professionals. Job seekers are advised not to hesitate to study the resume examples available. You will feel way more confident about your CV if you create one with a trustworthy resume builder.

FAQ

How do you write a legal resume?

Like any other professional resume, it should contain your personal data, education section, academic degrees, whether you’ve done volunteer work, relevant experience, and contact information. A good law resume has to be minimalistic, well-organized, and straightforward.

What are some legal skills to put on a resume?

According to labor statistics, most law firms want their employees to be good at legal writing, problem-solving, possess negotiation skills, and know how to deal with legal arguments. However, the skills you wish to indicate vary depending on the job position that you are about to get.

How do I write a resume for a law graduate?

If you recently graduated from one of the law schools, begin your career by becoming a legal secretary or a legal assistant. Use a resume builder to create an appropriate document. Describe your education, top skills, and interests! Don’t forget about a cover letter to show the hiring manager you are particularly interested in their law firm.