Top Criminal Lawyer sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers & results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
A Criminal Lawyer resume experience section to be proud of
Criminal Lawyer Experience Section: Checklist
- List your positions in chronological or reverse-chronological order;
- Go for 4-6 bullet points;
- Add only relevant work experience;
- Include information about the challenges you’ve faced, the actions you’ve taken, and the results you’ve achieved;
- Use action verbs instead of filler words.
We’ve collected some of the top resume experience sections from real Enhancv users. Check them out when drafting your own Criminal Lawyer resume!
- Defended clients in 5 high-profile criminal cases, resulting in 3 acquittals and 2 plea bargains
- Managed a caseload of 20+ criminal cases simultaneously
- Conducted extensive legal research and drafted pleadings and motions
- Advised clients on potential outcomes and developed effective defense strategies
- Collaborated with law enforcement agencies and experts to build strong cases
- Supervised and trained junior lawyers and interns
- Achieved a client satisfaction rate of 95%
- Successfully settled 8 out of 10 cases before trial, saving clients time and money
- Conducted depositions, interviewed witnesses and experts, and drafted discovery requests and responses
- Negotiated favorable settlements with opposing counsel
- Drafted and argued motions and appeals before state and federal courts
- Developed strong relationships with clients and provided excellent customer service
- Supervised paralegals and legal assistants
- Successfully defended 15 clients charged with serious crimes, resulting in acquittals or significantly reduced sentences
- Conducted 20 trials, arguing motions and cross-examining witnesses, and achieved favorable outcomes for clients
- Negotiated plea bargains for 10 clients, resulting in reduced charges and shorter sentences
- Obtained dismissals or acquittals for 7 clients facing criminal charges, including drug possession and assault
- Negotiated favorable plea bargains for 5 clients, reducing charges and sentences
- Conducted legal research and drafted legal briefs, motions, and petitions for clients
- Secured convictions in 80% of the cases tried, including high-profile white-collar cases
- Drafted legal documents and argued motions before the court, resulting in favorable rulings
- Conducted investigations and worked closely with law enforcement agencies to build strong cases against defendants
PRO TIP
Don't make the same mistake everyone else does. What we mean is, don't list your Criminal Lawyer job responsibilities instead of your achievements. Recruiters know what you do. They want to know what kind of difference you can bring to their company. Focus on what you've accomplished.
Action Verbs for your Criminal Lawyer Resume
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Criminal Lawyer Resume: How to Write a Strong Skills Section
Checklist for an impressive Criminal Lawyer resume skills section:
- List both hard and technical skills that are important for the role;
- Check what the job description says and add some keywords based on that;
- Focus only on relevant skills;
- Try not to list things such as “communication”; rather, highlight your soft skills in other sections of your Criminal Lawyer resume.
Top skills for your criminal lawyer resume
Legal Research
Litigation
Case Analysis
Evidence Collection and Analysis
Criminal Law and Procedure
Trial Preparation
Negotiation
Legal Writing
Client Counseling
Cross-Examination
Persuasion
Empathy
Attention to Detail
Problem Solving
Communication
Active Listening
Time Management
Stress Management
Teamwork
Professionalism
PRO TIP
Add a Talent Section to your resume, where you can pick your top 3 soft skills and describe how you used them to complete a project or balance departmental communication.
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Criminal Lawyer resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Criminal Lawyer resume summary checklist:
- Your total years of experience
- The industry you’re coming from
- One or two most remarkable accomplishments that have helped you - turn into a great professional
- Short sentences that add value – avoid filler words and phrases
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a professional taster. Use it wisely. Effectively convey your professional profile and let the hiring manager know that if they hire you, they won’t be disappointed. Make sure to include keywords from the job description too! Elaborate on your abilities further in your experience section. Again, cater to the job description.
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Drafting a Job-winning Criminal Lawyer Resume
When drafting your resume, you can choose between three well-known formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Which format you decide to go for depends on two things: your personal preference and how experienced you are.
The reverse-chronological format is ideal for both really experienced people and those who joined the workforce just a couple of years ago. It’s also great if your experience combines different industries and jobs. Here, your most recent position comes at the top of your resume.
The functional skills-based resume format, on the other hand, is ideal for recent graduates or people who have no work experience whatsoever. It’s built around your skills, interests, and expertise. Ultimately, its goal is to show recruiters your biggest strengths and practical skills.
Combination resumes (also known as hybrid resumes) are great for all types of candidates – be they graduates, experienced professionals, or brave career changers. They usually follow a double-column format – one side focuses on your experience, while the other emphasizes your education, skills, interests, and accomplishments.
Check out our additional tips on perfecting your Criminal Lawyer resume’s style and layout:
- Choose traditional 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for a serif or sans serif resume font that’s easy to read yet looks professional (e.g. Arial, Verdana, or Calibri);
- Keep your Criminal Lawyer resume short: one-page template are preferable, but if you have over 10 years of experience, you can also go for a two-page format;
- Save your resume as PDF and choose a suitable name, e.g. NameSurnameResume;
Tired of looking for ways to make your resume stand out? Read this article!
