Format & Structure
Legal resumes follow a conservative format. Key principles:
- One page: Until you have 5+ years of experience
- Reverse chronological: Most recent experience first
- Clean design: Conservative fonts, clear sections, no graphics
- Consistent formatting: Same style for all entries
Standard Order
- Contact Information
- Education
- Experience
- Skills/Bar Admissions
- Activities/Interests (optional)
Key Sections
Education
Include:
- Law school name, location, degree, graduation date
- GPA (if strong - generally above median)
- Class rank (if in top third or better)
- Honors, journals, moot court
- Relevant coursework (only if highly relevant to position)
Experience
For each position, include:
- Employer name, location, your title, dates
- 3-5 bullet points describing accomplishments
- Action verbs to start each bullet
- Quantify results when possible
Skills & Admissions
- Bar admissions (state, year)
- Languages (only if professionally proficient)
- Technical skills relevant to legal practice
Writing Tips
Use Action Verbs
Start bullets with strong verbs: Drafted, Researched, Negotiated, Analyzed, Argued, Counseled, Managed.
Be Specific
- Bad: "Assisted with litigation matters"
- Good: "Drafted motions to dismiss and discovery requests in commercial litigation matters"
Quantify When Possible
- "Managed portfolio of 40+ client files"
- "Conducted due diligence on $15M acquisition"
Tailor to the Position
Emphasize experience relevant to the job. A litigation resume looks different from a transactional one.
Common Mistakes
- Too long: Keep it to one page until you're senior
- Typos: Proofread obsessively. Legal employers judge writing quality.
- Generic descriptions: "Responsible for legal research" tells nothing
- Irrelevant information: High school activities don't belong
- Unprofessional email: Use a professional email address
- Missing bar status: Include admissions or expected date