You have solid trial prep skills and you can research and advocate for clients with the best of them. Show your talents to the firm with this convincing attorney resume sample.
Efficient litigation attorney with 5+ years of experience. Seeking to use strong research and litigation skills to advocate for clients at Charles & Marden. At WPG, averaged 1500 billable hours a year. Handled 120+ mediations with 91% settlement rate and settlements of $1M–$50M.
Bar Association
Member in Good Standing of the State Bar of Illinois
Experience
Attorney
Williams, Prior, & Groves
2014–2019
Developed 45 case files, bringing 10 to trial.
Achieved 91% settlement rate for 120+ mediations.
Billed an average of 1500 hours per year.
Reached 5 settlements in excess of $5M and one of $50M.
Junior Associate Attorney
Leadbetter & Clyde
2013–2014
Logged 15% more billable hours than firm's average.
Presented oral arguments in 3 tax delinquency proceedings.
Used LexisNexis to provide critical research for 100+ cases.
Expert Hint: On your business card, print, “Law Offices of [YOUR NAME].” It’s much more hirable than “entry-level attorney,” “unemployed,” or, “seeking work.”
If it doesn’t grab them in 6 seconds, they’ll move on to the other 500 resumes.
So—put these in your heading statement:
One adjective (efficient, dedicated)
“attorney”
Years of experience (1+, 8+)
What you’ll do, and where (advocate for clients at Charles & Marden)
Best attorney moments (averaged 1500 billable hours...)
Your header statement goes up top, but—
Write it last. That way you’ll have precedent to draw on.
See these associate attorney resume examples:
Attorney Resume Summary—Example
Good ExampleEfficient litigation attorney with 5+ years of experience. Seeking to use strong research and litigation skills to advocate for clients at Charles & Marden. At WPG, averaged 1500 billable hours a year. Handled 120+ mediations with 91% settlement rate and settlements of $1M–$50M.Bad ExampleExperienced attorney with a proven track record of successful litigation, trial preparation, and research. A client-focused team player with a deep knowledge of legal procedure and first-rate interpersonal skills. Recognized for a strong work ethic and ability to build lasting client relationships.
The point?
The second of those experienced attorney resume samples sounds great! If you can believe its claims.
Most employers won’t.
Meanwhile, the first example offers evidence.
You can do that in a resume for attorneys with no experience too.
See this next attorney sample:
Entry-Level Attorney Resume Objective
Good ExampleJunior attorney, skilled in research and LexisNexis. Performed 9 pro bono trial preparations for Cook County Small Claims Court. Judged MIG Moot Court Competition and wrote 4 decisions. Wrote monthly column in John Marshall Law School Blog.Bad ExampleEntry-level attorney and recent law school graduate with strong work ethic and a head for research. Have not yet worked for a law firm but am aggressively pursuing my law career. Skilled in legal procedure, research, client advocacy, and LexisNexis.
What’s the difference?
The first of these entry-level attorney samples has done due diligence. The second is just listing skills.
Expert Hint: Can’t get hired with your attorney resume? Volunteer. Even a few days or weeks of attorney volunteer work will help a skimpy resume. Plus you’ll build contacts.
3. Prepare Your Attorney Job Description and Skills Section
Awarded John H. Adkins award for academic research.
Case closed.
That litigation attorney resume education section shows research, writing, and other attorney skills.
5. Highlight Your Bar Association Membership
Your bar association membership can get you hired.
It’s great networking. Plus it’s proof you’re not some Slippin’ Jimmy.
So—
Put it right up top, beneath your summary.
This real estate attorney resume sample shows how:
Bar Association
Member in Good Standing of the State Bar of Illinois
Expert Hint: There are 778,700 attorney jobs, but 1.3 million attorneys in the US. You may need to send your resume for attorneys to 150+ job postings before you’re hired.
6. Complete Your Attorney Resume with Extras
What do you bring to the table?
Does your attorney resume just show you went to school and worked a bit?
That’s average.
Big firms don’t hire “average.”
You must bring something to the table—passion. Energy. Intelligence. Reliability.
Journal Note: Devaluing Originalism: Virginia Law Review, June 2019
Publications
Article on LexisNexis linked to by Fast Company.
Article on trial preparation appeared in The Appeal.
Additional Activities
Pro bono work for local Habitat for Humanity chapter.
Avid competitive sailor.
Bad Example
Additional Activities
Sailing
Pro bono work
Big disparity.
The first of those attorney resume examples could get in at Kirkland & Ellis.
It’s the details.
Expert Hint: Write a cover letter for your resume for attorney jobs (here are few examples of cover letters for legal jobs). Research the law firm first. Say what you love about it. Finally, display evidence of why you fit.
Key Points
Here’s how to write an attorney resume:
Use the attorney resume template up top. It makes a solid first impression with your best legal achievements.
Prove you have the attorney skills the job needs. List hours billed, Moot Court appearances, and other big accomplishments.
Create a heading statement with highlights from your resume for attorney jobs.
Write “additional” resume sections to show what you have on offer.
Got questions on how to write great resumes for attorney jobs? Not sure how to put attorney on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!
Tom Gerencer (CPRW) is a Certified Professional Resume Writer, career advice writer and a resume expert at ResumeLab. Tom has been featured on BBC News, NBC, The Economist, Business Insider, Fast Company, and dozens of other outlets. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages. Tom holds a degree in English from Colby College.
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