19 Law School Resume Examples & Guide for 2025

Pursuing a law career is both challenging and rewarding, requiring determination and a strong sense of purpose. Law school admissions are notoriously competitive, with an average acceptance rate of just 41% across all schools. At the top 15 law schools in the U.S., this rate plummets to a mere 12.6%.

Admission committees are exceptionally selective and it’s crucial to stand out in every aspect of your application. One key element that can make or break your chances is your resume.

Unlike a typical job-seeker resume, your law school resume should highlight your academic achievements, skills, and unique experiences—such as financial self-reliance, language proficiencies, community service, and leadership—while de-prioritizing some elements like objectives or summaries.

Let us help you show admission committees that you're more than just a number with a perfectly crafted law school resume.

Before we dive into the essential resume sections, let’s look at a law school resume sample you might want to emulate.

Law school resume sample

Each law school may have different requirements or specific formats for their application materials. Some schools may not even require a resume. Be sure to check the particular guidelines for each program you're applying to.

The sample provided can be further customized to suit your needs using Enhancv's resume builder, which offers tailored templates and design options to help you set yourself apart. We discuss the essential ones below.

How to format a law school resume

It's important to note that the example provided above differs slightly from the traditional reverse chronological resume format. In a law school application, your academic background is often the most relevant aspect, so it's essential to showcase it upfront. By highlighting your education first, you allow the admissions committee to immediately assess your qualifications and readiness for legal studies.

With that clarified, you should still use reverse chronological order to present your most recent and relevant accomplishments first, then work backward through your experience.

This structure also aligns well with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which some schools may use to scan and prioritize applications.

Different markets have specific resume styles – a Canadian resume, for instance, may require a different approach.

Here’s the preferred order of the resume sections on your law student resume:

• Header
• Education
• Experience
• Skills
• Optional: relevant additional sections such as Languages, Interests, Volunteering

Design tips

• Use standard margins (0.5-1") to keep the resume clean and readable and opt for a traditional, single-column layout.
• Stick to classic fonts such as Times New Roman or Volkhov (10-12 pt) and a black-and-white color palette for a professional and polished appearance.
• Aim for a one-page resume to show efficiency, as other application documents, such as your personal statement and references, will provide additional context.

Contact information

• In the header, include the details typically required by the law school—usually your name, phone number, and physical and email address.
• Specify your current job title and use a headline reflecting your aspiration to join law school.
• Add a LinkedIn profile link to showcase your professional network and accomplishments.
• Omit a photo to maintain focus on your qualifications and avoid potential biases.

File format

• Name your file clearly (e.g., "JackDuboisLawSchoolApplicant_Resume.pdf").
• Use PDF format unless the law school has a different requirement.

You’ll need to spend a lot of time scrutinizing your law school resume once it's finished. One way to do this more effectively is by using our resume checker, which evaluates your document across 5 categories.

Let's move on to explore the most prominent section of your law school resume—your educational background.

Law school education section: the key to admission

To set yourself apart in the competitive admissions process, your education section needs to go beyond just listing your bachelor’s degree, which every applicant has. It should be both concise and strong. Here’s what to focus on when building yours:

• List your degree or field of study, the university name and location, and graduation date.
• Include your GPA (if higher than 3.5) to demonstrate academic excellence and build trust.
• Leverage your participation in competitions, forums, or seminars to spotlight the practical skills you've acquired and how you've applied them in real-life situations.
• Underscore any academic achievements, awards, and scholarships to strengthen your application.

So, look at a good example of an education section for prospective law students.

You may wish to enhance your resume by including relevant certificates, especially those related to law, such as legal studies, paralegal work, or mediation. Certificates in public speaking, ethics, or language proficiency can also be beneficial.

Here are some certifications you can consider obtaining before applying to law school.

Now that we've covered education, let's move on to the experience section, where you can showcase your practical professional accomplishments.

How to write your law school resume experience

Prospective law students often engage in internships, part-time jobs, and active participation in extracurricular activities. When writing the experience section of your law school resume, it’s essential to present these in a way that underscores your readiness for law school’s challenges and your potential to contribute meaningfully to the legal community.

Here’s how to do that effectively:

• List your most recent jobs or internships in reverse chronological order.
• Describe your duties with strong, active verbs and keep your language clear and to the point. Avoid jargon unless it’s specific to the legal field.
• Don’t just list your tasks—emphasize what you accomplished in each role. Quantify your achievements where possible.
• If you held a job during school, mention how many hours per week you worked. This shows your ability to balance responsibilities, a skill that’s highly valued in law school.

Creating a targeted experience section

When building your experience section, use specific keywords that highlight skills law schools value—like leadership and analytical thinking—while clearly displaying your most relevant achievements in a way that directly connects with what they're seeking in future students.

Here are some excerpts from the JD program description we’ll use to tailor an experience section.

An impressive work history section should underline key personal skills and align with the values of the organization—this is what we refer to as a targeted resume.

This experience entry really plays to the applicant’s strengths by highlighting how their political science background has prepared them for law school. Even though they haven’t worked in a traditional legal environment, they’ve gained a diverse set of skills that make them well-prepared for the challenges of law school.

Should you quantify your impact on your law school resume

Another difference between a law school resume and a typical job resume is the lesser focus on numbers and metrics. While quantifying your impact is usually strongly encouraged in job applications, for future law students, the emphasis is more on the skills and values you’ve developed.

However, if you do have concrete evidence of your achievements, it’s still beneficial to include it in your experience entries. They could sound like this:

Next, let’s explore the best way to list your skills when applying to a law school program.

How to list your skills on a law school resume

When listing your strengths, it’s important to feature both hard and soft skills, demonstrating a well-rounded ability to succeed in the legal field.

Hard skills encompass specialized knowledge relevant to your area of interest, such as business, economics, or foreign languages, and are crucial for roles requiring technical expertise, like international development or litigation. Including these abilities in a dedicated skills section on your resume can enhance your candidacy by showcasing your readiness for a future legal career.

Soft skills are equally vital. They illustrate your ability to navigate complex relationships and work effectively in diverse teams—essential for both domestic and international legal practice.

Be sure to emphasize how you’ve developed these skills through coursework, internships, or extracurricular activities, as they are key differentiators in a law school application.

With your skills clearly presented, the next step is to decide whether you need a resume profile.

Do you need a summary or objective for a law school resume

Unlike traditional resumes, law school application resumes don’t require a summary or objective section. As the Center for Pre-Law Advising at the University of Wisconsin-Madison notes, “your objective is obviously to get into law school.”

Your personal statement will already provide a detailed explanation of your motivations, achievements, and aspirations. So, instead of creating a profile section, focus on showcasing your key academic accomplishments and personal strengths throughout your resume.

Here's a key expert tip to keep in mind when preparing your law school application:

It's essential to double-check with the institution you're applying to for any specific resume requirements, as different law schools may have unique preferences.

Once you've confirmed their guidelines, you can then focus on incorporating additional sections into your JD admission resume.

Additional sections to consider for a law school resume

Given that law school resumes differ from traditional job resumes, you might consider including additional sections that present your unique qualifications and experiences. Here are some suggestions:

• Academic projects: Showcase significant research papers, thesis work, or major projects that shine a light on your analytical and writing skills.
• Relevant coursework: List any courses particularly relevant to law, such as Ethics or International Relations.
• Publications: If you have authored articles, papers, or blog posts related to law or your area of interest, include them in a dedicated section.
• Professional affiliations: Specify memberships in relevant organizations, such as pre-law societies or debate clubs, that underscore your commitment to the legal field.
• Volunteer work: Emphasize long-term volunteer commitments, especially those that align with public service or legal advocacy, to show your dedication to community involvement.

In conclusion

Crafting a strong law school resume is all about demonstrating your unique experiences and skills in a way that highlights your readiness for the challenges ahead. By following our tips and tailoring your resume to each application, you’ll put yourself in the best position to stand out to admissions committees.