Home > 
11 Lawyer Resume Examples & Guide...

11 Lawyer Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Customize this resume with ease using our seamless online resume builder.

All resume examples in this guide

Fancy suits, 6-figure incomes, and a deadly combination of wit and cunning that win arguments.

Those are just a few things that come to mind when people think of lawyers.

Unfortunately, free self-help legal sites, virtual law offices, and legal outsourcing are cutting into the industry and forcing law firms to get creative.

Nowadays, you don’t get to the big bucks and fancy suits just because you have a Juris Doctor (JD). You have to prove your worth.

A lawyer’s job, after all, is all about what you can prove.

The competition is also fierce, both for those already in the field and those just starting out.

So to win a job, your resume and application materials have to be solid.

This guide will show you how to:

  • Write about your legal achievements without disclosing sensitive client data
  • Prove that not all lawyers are bad with technology and show off the legal tools you can use
  • Show off what you’ve learned from law school even if you didn’t come from an Ivy school

How to write a lawyer resume that gets read from cover to cover

Lawyers are known for being articulate, organized, and precise.

Clients and big law firms expect you to digest a lot of information in a short amount of time, keep discovery and client files organized, and be precise in your contracts and arguments.

Your resume may not be used to win a big case but it has to be articulate, organized, and precise too.

The lawyers who will read your resume are busy, and they prefer to read well-organized documents that highlight important information right off the bat. Make sure you format your resume correctly as well. Use easy to read fonts, pick a design that makes the sections easily visible, you can use different colours to make that happen. Also, use margins and headings for your resume. Last but not least, you need the right resume layout. If you are an experienced candidate the reverse-chronological layout might be best for you, because it will highlight your experience. However, if you are not, concider the functional-skill based resume layout that enphasize on skills, or the hybrid layout, which is a special blend of both.

Below are the most important resume sections.

top sections icon

Top 5 sections for a lawyer resume

  • Header
  • Summary
  • Professional Experience
  • Education
  • Licenses and Certification

An effective lawyer’s resume is well-articulated in that it clearly explains the kind of legal work you do and your ‘style’ as a lawyer.

Law encompasses a huge area of life and there are so many ways to be an effective lawyer.

Even within one practice such as personal injury, there are many sub-branches to specialize in like car or motor accidents, slip, and fall accidents, or premise liability.

Some lawyers like to win by finding precedents like the NFL precedent case that resulted in a $765 million settlement and can now be used as a precedent in relevant athlete-related injury. Other attorneys, however, win by going after the opposing party’s argument or credibility.

Your lawyer resume should also be precise enough that there are enough details to paint a clear picture of your qualifications and achievements.

top sections icon

5 things recruiters and law firm partners want to see in a resume

  • A header that states your legal practice and credentials
  • Experience section that details your qualifications and trackable achievements in and out of the courtroom
  • List of technical, job-specific, and soft skills that show how you can be an asset to their firm or business
  • Licenses, certifications, and credentials related to your legal practice
  • Education: Information about your pre-law and law degree, especially the school you attended.

Now that you have a big picture plan of what your resume should contain, let’s start off with the resume header.

Don’t just write your name followed by “J.D.” and call it a day.

Blake Smith J.D.
Corporate Attorney
212-871-7851
BlakeSmith@gmail.com
New York
WRONG

Your resume will be read by lawyers and non-lawyers so spell out abbreviations outside the J.D or J.S.D norm.

There are so many abbreviations like VAWA, DACA, SBA, etc. that it’s hard for even lawyers to keep up with all of them.

In the example above, it’s not clear what kind of corporate law Mr. Smith practiced. Does he handle mergers and acquisitions? Corporate governance and other operational issues? Or something else?

Blake Smith J.D.
Corporate Lawyer specializing in Securities Law
212-871-7851
BlakeSmith_CorpSecuritiesLawyer@gmail.com
New York
RIGHT

See? Much better.

His email also tells people what he does, and there’s an extra link to one of the lawyer directories where he’s listed, so that’s a plus.

Let’s continue strong with an attention-grabbing summary.

Summary: Your Lawyer Resume’s Opening Statement

Your resume summary is your opening salvo.

It sets the tone for how the judge and jury will look at your argument. The same goes for your resume.

You won’t get any points for writing a boring summary like this:

Summary
Experienced lawyer with 3 years in personal injury law. Prosecuted cases for accident victims and worked with insurance companies too
WRONG

Write a snappy paragraph that includes your legal specialty, most notable win, and how many years you’ve been in that field.

Lawyers tend to have a strong personality, so it’s also important to show how you can fit in your target firm’s corporate culture.

Summary
Battle-tested personal injury lawyer with over 125 cases won over a 5-year period for motor accident and workplace negligent victims in Texas. Strong-willed, detail-oriented, and compassionate advocate of the law.
RIGHT

Battle-tested is a better word than “experienced” as it shows the applicant handled his fair share of cases.

This summary also details the sub-specialties of personal injury law he specialized in, and his attitude towards work.

Professional experience: Details and evidence that build a winning application

Nothing turns off a recruiter more than a resume that reads more like a job description.

That’s doubly true for the legal profession where lawyers are judged by their billable hours, cases won, and money claimed for their clients.

Experience
Property Lawyer
Spectre and Litt
Oklahoma
Company Description
  • Mediated housing and property line disputes among investors and landowners
  • Advised clients on their legal rights and options to resolve disputes
  • Organized real estate documents and other evidence for court proceedings
  • Draft loophole-free agreements for commercial lease of land that will be used for office buildings
WRONG

The lackluster work experience portrayed above lacks quantifiable results. It’s hard to tell what happened as a result of said contracts and advice given to clients.

There’s also no information on the type of law firm, is it a boutique firm or one with international offices?

Big firms have more resources and to some extent, more complicated legal work. As such, it’s easier to break into other big firms if you’ve already been employed in one.

Here’s a better example of a experience section for a property lawyer:

Experience
Property Lawyer
Spectre and Litt
Oklahoma
Botique law firm that represents property developers and real estate investors in Oklahoma
  • Mediated over 56 housing and property line disputes among investors and landowners with one settlement amounting to $23 million
  • Saved property development client from entering into a contract with ambiguous provisions that could’ve cost them over $150K in fees annually
  • Draft commercial lease agreements for local and international properties worth over $58 million
  • Advised investors of duties to tenants to avoid criminal and civil liabilities, while also earning good ROI in line with property appreciation rates
RIGHT

The duties of the lawyer here are the same as those in the resume above, only with results added.

Even if the candidate disclosed the settlement amount and fees saved, he didn’t disclose the client’s name or the exact nature of their business to protect client confidentiality.

Not all lawyers are involved in business transactions though. If that’s your situation, you can always write about the cases you won, your skills in writing court documents, and your creativity in finding the appropriate charges to win your case.

That’s not to say you have to be a lead lawyer to write a good resume. Associate lawyers and even interns have something to contribute too.

For junior and associate lawyers, it’s helpful to include:

  • Details of pro bono cases you practiced on
  • Number of contracts drafted and reviewed
  • The monetary value of those contracts
  • Anything else you did to assist the partner mentoring you.

A briefing of your skills

There’s a rumor going around in certain forums that say attorneys are not keeping up with technology.

Wherever you fall on that generational and technological divide, it’s hard to deny that law firms now expect candidates to be competent in certain areas of technology.

Recruitment firm Robert Half surveyed over 200 lawyers in the United States and found that 6 out of 10 based their hiring decisions on the applicant’s technical skills.

When asked which areas they expect lawyers to be competent, they chose:

  • Cybersecurity - 48%
  • Data analytics - 43%
  • eDiscovery - 33%
  • Artificial intelligence - 31%
  • Blockchain - 17%
  • Don’t know - 6%
  • Not applicable - 9%

**Multiple responses were submitted

Demand for lawyers with knowledge of eDiscovery software and litigation systems to track evidence, case documents, and all client communications are high.

Some law firms even bring in candidates just to design complex databases to sort, index, and extract tones of data produced during litigation.

Jamy Sullivan
To provide superior client service, lawyers need to possess strong interpersonal abilities and leverage the latest technology, such as task automation, data analytics, and information management tools, to enhance productivity and derive more successful outcomes
Executive Director of Robert Half Legal
RIGHT

All that said, here’s a list of technical skills you may include on your resume:

top sections icon

Hard / technical skills list

  • Practice Management Software Programs: Bill4Time, PCLaw, Amberlo, etc.
  • eDiscovery Software: Ross, Concordance, Reveal, etc.
  • Analytical reasoning
  • Legal research
  • Drafting and editing court documents
  • Interviewing clients and witnesses
  • Data analysis

You can also include a separate section for the sub-specialty areas of law you practice. Below are examples from different practices:

Divorce Law Skills:

  • Annulment
  • Asset protection
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Domestic Violence
  • Grandparent Rights

Personal Injury Law Skills:

  • Car Accidents
  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Worker’s Compensation
  • Premise Liability
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Construction Accidents

Intellectual Property Law Skills:

  • Patents
  • Intellectual Property Strategy
  • Enforcement Litigation
  • Copyright and Infringements
  • Commercial Contracts
  • Design rights

Bank Law Skills:

  • Consumer Lending
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Art Loans
  • Money laundering
  • International Banking
  • Regulatory Compliance

How lawyers should describe soft skills on their resume

Arguing cases isn’t the sole job of an attorney so you need to show some soft skills on your resume too.

Below is an example that would work for many legal fields:

Strengths
Commercial Awareness
Kept up to date with latest COVID government updates and rulings to keep clients in the nursing and healthcare sector abreast of their responsibilities to employees and patients. Zero employee and nursing home complaints since COVID lockdowns started.
Clear and Flexible Communication Skills
Calm and compassionate communication style allows clients to open up and trust that I have their best interests. Strong and persuasive communication allows me to communicate with opposing counsel and relevant parties to fight for my client’s interest. Won 3 pro-bono cases within my first year at the company.
Critical Reading and Investigation
Speed reading combined with comprehensive online and database research skills helps me find precedents, incriminating evidence, and other useful info we can leverage for our legal strategy. Compiled trial preparation documents and requests 15% faster than other junior associates.
RIGHT

Just write the soft skill you have and describe how it allowed you to do the job better.

Lawyers are expected to have a range of soft skills, not just the ones listed above. Here are other examples:

top sections icon

Soft skills list

Education

It’s true that some law firms prefer candidates from top Ivy schools.

Other law firms prefer graduates from their own alma mater. If a partner from one of your target firms went to your school too, that’s worth mentioning in your education section.

Fresh graduates ought to list their class ranking, bar exam ranking, and GPAs as well if they’re good. Law is a competitive field, so you have to make the most out of every advantage you have.

Example:

University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas Juris Doctor 2012

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana B.A. (Public Communication, minors History, and English) 2009

Certificates

Lawyers have a variety of certifications to choose from depending on their field of practice.

Below are some of the most common:

top sections icon

Top 4 lawyer certificates for your resume

  • CIPP/E Certification
  • Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law
  • Certified Specialist in E-Discovery
  • Credit and Compliance Attorney Certification

Professional associations and memberships

This section is where you list your bar membership and other associations.

If you only have one membership, like the state where you practice, there’s no need to list it in a separate area.

You can just list the state where you’re licensed to practice at the top of the education section on your resume:

“Bar admissions: Texas” OR “State Bar Texas: 2018”

Listing the year shows when you got your license.

Don’t have a license yet? Waiting for results or waiting to be sworn in?

ABA for law students has a detailed guide on writing about bar admissions. Check it out.

If you’re a member of multiple associations, just list them in chronological order followed by the inclusive years of your membership.

Example: State Bar of Texas, Liaison, Federal Judiciary Committee, 1992 - 1997 Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 1989 - 1995

Publications

Articles you wrote about your legal specialty show your argumentative skills and prose. Getting published on a major legal site is also a badge of honor that adds to your credibility.

List those publications on your resume with the complete article title, publication name, and issue year.

Here’s an example way to list one of your published pieces from Price Ainsworth, Associate Attorney at Lorenz & Lorenz Personal Injury Lawyers:

Publications
The Federal Products Bill--Congress, The Courts and the Counterrevolution Against Consumers
129 Trial Lawyers Forum 22
(Co-authored with Broadus A. Spivey)
RIGHT

Key takeaways

  • Don’t neglect technological skills on your resume
  • Show quantifiable results in billable hours, settlements won, money savings, and increased productivity
  • Be as detailed as possible, without divulging sensitive client information, on your work history
  • State your legal specialty on the header, summary, and skills section of the resume. List your practice sub-specialties on the skills section too

Lawyer resume examples

Explore additional lawyer resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

By Role

Corporate Lawyer

This role often requires a strong understanding of business and finance. Highlight your knowledge in areas such as corporate tax, insurance, compliance, and contracts. Rather than listing, show how you've implemented this knowledge, e.g. “devised a new compliance strategy that…” Proven decision-making skills are also beneficial, so reflect this in your applications. For instance, discuss successful strategic decisions you've made within the corporate environment.
View Corporate Lawyer Resume

Criminal Lawyer

Your knowledge of criminal laws and courtroom proceedings is key. Highlight any significant cases you've worked on, mentioning specifics, like your role in the case or how your strategy contributed to the outcome, e.g., “facilitated a successful defense by…” Experience with negotiations and a knack for persuasion are also important. Don't just list them; demonstrate them.
View Criminal Lawyer Resume

Employment Lawyer

Make sure to highlight experience in employment law matters such as wage disputes, wrongful termination and discrimination claims. Discuss how you've resolved these scenarios, e.g., “resolved complex wage dispute by…” Knowledge of federal and state employment laws is key, so be sure to discuss examples that show your expertise.
View Employment Lawyer Resume

Immigration Lawyer

Indicate experience with immigration laws and policies, handling applications, appeals, and deportation cases. You could say things like “assisted client successfully gaining legal status by…”. Clients often come from diverse backgrounds, so showcasing language skills and cross-cultural communication could be beneficial.
View Immigration Lawyer Resume

Litigation Lawyer

Strong negotiation and dispute resolution skills are essential. Detail how you've used these skills to handle various cases, e.g., “negotiated a favorable settlement in…” Your understanding of civil litigation procedures should be clear, with examples that demonstrate your proficiency.
View Litigation Lawyer Resume

M&A Lawyer

Merge and Acquisition cases often require a solid background in business law and finance. Instead of just listing this knowledge, provide examples of how you've applied it, like “Managed successful acquisition of…” Strong negotiation skills, attention to detail and strategic thinking are advantageous.
View M&A Lawyer Resume

Patent Lawyer

If you've worked on patent applications, discuss the types you've handled, e.g., “contributed to granting of tech patent by…” Highlight your technical knowledge, without forgetting to demonstrate how you finished complex intellectual property hurdles.
View Patent Lawyer Resume

Personal Injury Lawyer

Demonstrate your knowledge in personal injury law and experience handling cases like slip and fall, car accidents or product liability. You could say “successfully represented victim of car accident, resulting in…”. Showcase your negotiation skill and compassion for clients.
View Personal Injury Lawyer Resume

Real Estate Lawyer

For real estate roles, illustrate your property law knowledge, focusing on transactions you've managed or assisted. For example, “facilitated successful property sale by…” Mastery in negotiation over property disputes or closings should be demonstrated.
View Real Estate Lawyer Resume

Trial Lawyer

Experience with high-stress courtroom situations is crucial. Share experiences that show your comfort in these scenarios e.g., “won a high-profile court case by…”. Clear communication, strong argumentation skills and proficiency in evidence collection should be highlighted.
View Trial Lawyer Resume
lawyer resume example

Looking to build your own Lawyer resume?

Enhancv resume builder will help you create a modern, stand-out resume that gets results
Variety of custom sections
Hassle-free templates
Easy edits
Memorable design
Content suggestions