Getting a new job in the legal field can seem a bit daunting, especially if you’re not used to writing resumes. Showing a potential employer that you have all the skills necessary to win legal battles isn’t always easy. Even with the ResumeNerd resume builder, it’s not something that comes naturally to many people. Here’s how you can write a great legal resume.
Many positions exist within the legal profession. Here are a few jobs that you can use this professional resume for:
No matter what niche you practice in, these tips for creating your resume will help you craft the right law resume for any need.
If you’re looking for resume samples, look no further than the variety of lawyer resume examples available at ResumeNerd. These resume examples can be a great way to understand what the perfect resume should look like, allowing you to create each section of your resume in the most effective way possible.
Before you start writing your resume, you want to choose the right resume format. Your choice between the chronological format, functional format and combination format will depend on how much experience you have and what you want to emphasize. Once you’ve decided on a format, here’s how to construct the rest of your resume.
At the top of your resume, you’ll include a two- or three-sentence paragraph that will either be a resume summary or resume objective. A resume summary works best for those with lots of experience and goes over your best achievements and experience. A resume objective works best for those with less experience and covers your qualifications and skills.
All legal resumes need a mix of soft skills and hard skills. However, beyond basic skills like knowing how to read legal documents, the specific skills you cite as part of your resume will depend on your job title, legal experience and job search. It’s best to look at the job description and decide what skills you will include based on the description itself.
Depending on the position you’re aiming for, you may need a Doctor of Law degree on your legal resume. The most common degree to practice law in the United States is the Juris Doctor degree. List all your degrees you have in an education section.
Of course, if you’ve passed your bar exam, include your bar admission on your resume. You can also include affiliation or memberships with any legal organizations, especially organizations that have to do with your specific niche.
It’s always a good idea to write a cover letter and include it with your job application. This may be even more helpful for a legal resume, as you can give more insight into especially difficult cases you’ve handled or draw attention to the number of cases you’ve managed over the years. If you’re not used to writing a cover letter on your own, then the ResumeNerd cover letter builder can be a helpful tool.
If you don’t have formal experience in the legal sector, then you’ll want to use other sources indicating your ability to handle the legal requirements you’ll be managing. For example, you might cite academic experience, experience working as a legal assistant or experience as a volunteer in the legal field. You can also highlight your skills and education to show why you’re the right person for this job.
You should never submit the same resume to two distinct jobs. In every job, the hiring manager is looking for something specific and the closer you get to that specific view, the better your chances of getting the job. Read through the resume, note how the hiring manager describes their ideal applicant and reflect that concept back through your resume.
